The Liberal Party proposes that ‘Swedes’ who travel with children to countries that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) advises against should be punishable by imprisonment.

The background to the statement is that thousands of so-called Swedes are in Lebanon despite the deteriorating security situation recently, as the terrorist group Hezbollah and Israel appear to be approaching full-scale war.

READ ALSO: MFA urges ‘Swedes’ to leave Lebanon – in Arabic

The government has repeatedly urged those traveling to Lebanon to return to Sweden, as it may be difficult to provide assistance or evacuate if a war breaks out.

According to both Swedish Radio and Joar Forssell, foreign policy spokesperson for the Liberal Party, the ‘Swedes’ in Lebanon are there ‘to meet relatives’.

But now the Liberal Party wants to put an end to the Swedish family gatherings in the Middle East and therefore presents a legislative proposal to bring the travelers home. It should be a criminal offense to travel with children to countries that the MFA advises against.

READ ALSO: ‘Swedish Robina’ took parental leave in Afghanistan: ‘Third visit here’

– Today, we know that there are Swedes who take their children to countries where there is a travel advisory, risking their well-being. We must actually be able to prohibit that, says Forssell to Swedish Radio.

When asked what penalties the Liberal Party wants to see, Forssell responds fines or imprisonment.

IMAGE GALLERY: Here are the ‘Swedes’ who were evacuated from Sudan