The Sweden Democrats are intensifying their criticism of Islam ahead of the election. This has provoked a strong reaction from the Centre Party. According to party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, Jomshof’s statements constitute an attack on the freedom of religion that applies in Sweden.
One of the politicians who has been most prominent in the debate about Islam and criticism of Islam is Sweden Democrat (SD) veteran Richard Jomshof, who recently published the book Kafir.
In the book, Jomshof focuses on Islam and what he describes as an ongoing Islamization of Swedish society. The book has also become part of the Sweden Democrats’ election campaign, with Jomshof joining the party’s election tour to meet voters and discuss the role and influence of Islam in Sweden.
When asked by Dagens Nyheter how the harsher rhetoric might affect Muslims living in Sweden, Jomshof instead shifts focus to what he describes as the consequences of large-scale immigration from Muslim countries.
He cites, among other things, terrorist attacks, honor culture, and what he calls the “creeping Islamization” of Sweden.
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But when the question is posed more concretely—what he would say to those Muslims in Sweden who do not fall under the issues he lists, but instead live peaceful lives—he has a clear message.
– Well, first of all, they can just stop being Muslims, says the SD top to DN.
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“Why Should Religions Get a Free Pass?”
The statement has sparked a debate on what role politicians should have regarding people’s religious convictions. Swedish constitutional law includes protection against discrimination, including on the grounds of religion, while freedom of religion means people have the right to have or decline a religion.
However, the SD top does not agree that politicians should be cautious in their approach to religious groups for that reason. When asked whether a politician should encourage people to leave a certain religion, he replies that religious groups should not be exempt from public debate.
– Why should religions have a free pass? Religious groups can believe whatever they want. They must accept that we can also think whatever we want about them. And we have to be able to dislike each other, Jomshof tells DN.
C: ”Attack on Freedom of Religion”
The Centre Party has sharply criticized Jomshof’s statement. The party leader, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, argues that freedom of religion is a fundamental right that applies regardless of which religion a person practices or if the person believes in no religion at all.
At the same time, the Centre Party makes a clear distinction between Islam as a religion and Islamism or religious extremism. According to the party, extremist movements and anti-democratic ideas should be combated, but that is different from casting suspicion on people for their beliefs.
READ ALSO: Centre Party to “Tame” Islam – Wants to Train Imams in “Swedish Values”
The criticism towards Jomshof also emphasizes that political leadership should help reduce divisions in society rather than deepen them. The Centre Party has therefore linked the issue to the larger debate over how much influence the Sweden Democrats should have in a future government.
No Freedom of Religion
Jomshof has responded to the Centre Party leader’s statement with a pointed counter-question, claiming that there is hardly any real freedom of religion within Islam.
