Islamist Party Demands UN Review of Sweden Democrats – Claims Muslims Are Oppressed

The Vision Party has submitted a 21-page petition to three UN special rapporteurs calling for a review of developments concerning the religious freedom of Muslims in Sweden. At the center of the petition is the Sweden Democrats’ Richard Jomshof and several of his statements about Islam and Muslims.

The Vision Party has approached the UN Special Procedures with a documented petition regarding Muslims’ freedom of religion and belief in Sweden. The complaint was submitted on August 26 and is addressed to, among others, UN special rapporteurs for freedom of religion and belief, racism, and minority issues.

The party wants the rapporteurs to consider jointly writing to the Swedish government about these developments. The documentation, according to the Vision Party, comprises 88 source references and includes public statements, parliamentary proposals, and material about the situation of Muslim congregations.

At the center of the petition is Richard Jomshof, a Member of Parliament for the Sweden Democrats. The Vision Party argues that his statements must be seen in the context of the Sweden Democrats’ growing political influence through the Tidö Agreement and the party’s potential future role in government.

Points to Statements from Jomshof

The Vision Party refers, among other things, to previous statements from Jomshof where he has criticized Islam and Islamism. The party particularly highlights statements where Jomshof has drawn connections between Islam and extremism, as well as remarked that Sweden may need special policies to counter what he describes as Islamization.

In the petition, the party also references Jomshof’s statement that Muslims who do not want to accept his views can “stop being Muslims.”

The Vision Party claims the political debate has gradually shifted from focusing on terrorism and violent extremism to also encompassing Islam as a religion, Muslim institutions, and religious expressions.

The party also points to political discussions and proposals concerning mosques, calls to prayer, Muslim independent schools, religious garments, and the funding of Muslim organizations.

Links the Issue to the Sweden Democrats’ Government Influence

A central part of the petition deals with what the Vision Party describes as the Sweden Democrats’ changed position in Swedish politics.

The party emphasizes that the Sweden Democrats previously stood outside of government, but thanks to the Tidö Agreement, they have now gained significant political influence. The Vision Party also refers to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson opening up the possibility of the Sweden Democrats joining a future government.

According to the Vision Party, it is this development that makes Jomshof’s statements particularly significant. The party argues that the issue is not just about the rhetoric of a single politician but about what consequences such a political line could have if people with similar views gain ministerial or administrative responsibility.

The Vision Party also emphasizes that they are not claiming the government supports Jomshof’s views.

Wants the UN to Review Religious Freedom

In its petition, the Vision Party asks the UN, among other things, to draw attention to Muslims’ ability to practice their religion, protection for mosques and Muslim congregations, and the political discussion about Muslim institutions.

The party describes the development as a threat to the ability of Muslims to live openly in Sweden and warns that political proposals currently targeting certain religious institutions could in the future have broader implications.

The Vision Party also demands that the Sweden Democrats’ leadership take a position on Jomshof’s statements. If the party does not support them, the Vision Party believes Jomshof should resign from his political assignments and be expelled from the party.

Submitting a case to the UN Special Procedures does not in itself mean that Sweden has been found to have violated human rights. Special rapporteurs can, among other things, draw governments’ attention to human rights issues and request information, but a petition from a political organization is not the same as a decision from the UN that Sweden has violated religious freedom.

Formed After the Nyans Split

The Vision Party is a breakaway from the Muslim-oriented Nyans Party. The new party was formed at the beginning of 2023 after an internal conflict within Nyans, where several prominent members had tried to remove party leader Mikail Yüksel. When the attempt failed, the group left the party and instead formed the Vision Party.

One of the main dissenters was Sead Busuladzic, who sat on the Landskrona municipal council after the 2022 election. Nyans had won a seat in the municipality, but after the defections, the seat became associated with the new Vision Party. Busuladzic stated at the time that the group wanted to pursue a more realistic policy and not act in a populist manner.

Despite the split, there are several political points of contact between the parties. Issues of discrimination, racism, and the rights of minorities have been central to both Nyans and the Vision Party. Among other things, the Vision Party has demanded that Muslims and Afro-Swedes should be recognized as national minorities.