Amnesty: The Tidö Government Introduces Race Laws

On Monday, the Swedish parliament is expected to vote on the government’s proposal for stricter conduct requirements for residence permits. If passed, it would mean that Sweden will have race laws. This is according to Anna Johansson, Secretary General of Amnesty International Sweden.

The proposal means that it will become easier to deny or revoke residence permits for people who are considered to have demonstrated poor conduct—that is, a way of life showing misconduct or a lack of respect for Swedish rules. However, it is not only about criminality.

Other factors such as benefit fraud, undeclared work, repeated debts, failure to follow government decisions, or posing a security threat may also be taken into account when the Migration Agency decides whether someone can remain in Sweden. According to the government, the aim is to be able to deport or deny more people who are not considered to meet the requirements for residing in the country.

In an opinion piece, Amnesty International Sweden’s Secretary General warns that the reform could lead to “racial discrimination” and that it builds on “racialized notions of ‘Swedishness’ and ‘Swedish values,’ rather than clear legal regulations.”

Anna Johansson fears that Sweden could become a new South Africa with apartheid and claims that the same system exists today in Israel regarding the country’s alleged treatment of Palestinians.

Demands the Proposal be Scrapped

She also argues that the proposal is part of a political trend where fundamental human rights are steadily eroded and that this happens through the normalization of “overtly racist statements.”

When legal proposals lack a clear human rights perspective, it first hits racialized people, minorities, refugees, migrants, and undocumented individuals. But it doesn’t stop there—in the end, everyone’s rights are undermined.

Racism is not acceptable. An equal society where human rights apply to all is not built by suspecting certain groups, but through fairness, inclusion, and equal treatment for everyone. Sweden should uphold equal rights for all—not compromise with them. Our message is clear. Throw the conduct proposal where it belongs—in the bin.

Climate—A Favorite Issue

Anna Johansson became Secretary General of Amnesty International Sweden in March 2022. She holds a Master of Arts in International Economic History from Stockholm University and has completed leadership training at Harvard Business School. She has previously worked in the UK on issues such as social justice, asylum and migration, and human trafficking. In Sweden, she has worked as head of social services for the Stockholm City Mission.

– The climate crisis and its clear threats to our human rights, an ongoing pandemic that has deepened :censored:6:cdd6bbaa89: inequality, and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and in war-torn Ukraine, Yemen, and Tigray. We are living in a time that is crucial for Sweden and the world, not least from a human rights perspective, and where Amnesty’s importance and work are more vital than ever, said Johansson in 2022.