He started as a local politician in 2017 and was elected to the parliament in 2022, where he has been a strong voice against Islamization. After enduring hate and threats, he is now leaving politics to be able to spend more time with his family.
During the party’s recent national conferences, it was noticed that Rashid Farivar was not on the parliamentary lists, and in a lengthy post on social media, he explains the reasons for this.
“Sweden is the land of opportunities. It is a fantastic country for those who want to develop, succeed, and are willing to make an effort,” Farivar begins the post.
“I could never have imagined that one day I would receive the finest assignment one can get in Sweden: to represent the Swedish people in parliament. Sometimes I think that I have received more than I could ever have dreamed of – precisely because Sweden is such a fantastic country,” he continues.
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He chose the Sweden Democrats specifically for the party’s politics and the perseverance Jimmie Åkesson showed in debates and speeches. But serving in the Swedish parliament, Farivar argues, is a demanding and heavy task that takes a toll on family life, especially if one lives far from Stockholm and has young children.
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During the term, he has seen how the assignment has affected his wife’s health and career, their relationship, and the well-being of their children. Additional factors are the increasingly tough political climate where the tolerance and consideration that previously characterized Sweden are no longer as obvious. Severe hate, threats, and harassment have become everyday occurrences for many.
Palestine bullies
In this context, Farivar specifically points out the Palestinian activists who have become increasingly aggressive and intrusive since the massacre in 2023. Last summer, he was attacked by several members of such a group outside the parliament. Despite clear camera evidence, the case was dropped.
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The thought of leaving politics seriously arose last year when his wife was diagnosed with a serious illness, even though she subsequently fully recovered.
At the end of the term, I will therefore leave politics altogether. I want to return to a normal life – as Jimmie Åkesson so aptly described in his speech at the National Conferences last Saturday: ‘[…] an ordinary citizen, an ordinary voter with an ordinary, completely normal job, an ordinary, completely normal life with ordinary, completely normal interests, and an ordinary, completely normal circle of acquaintances […].’ I feel that I am almost done with my democratic national service, and it is soon time for me to do something else.