Sweden is a European state that tries to present itself as a center of tolerance. In this context, there are various political groupings in the country. However, right-wing groups are becoming a threat in many respects. Some recent developments in particular confirm this. For example, the burning of the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book, by the far-right politician Rasmus Paludan is not only an attack on Islam, but also reveals a plenty of weaknesses in security.
The threat posed by right-wing groups in Sweden can be evaluated from many perspectives. First of all, it should be emphasized that 20% of the Swedish population, which is about 10.5 million people, is made up of various ethnic groups. A significant part of this 20% comes from Muslim countries.[1] For example, according to 2019 data, Arabic is the second most spoken language in the country.[2] So there is a significant Muslim population in Sweden. In a study prepared by the Pew Research Center, based on data from 2017, it was found that 8.1% of the Swedish population believes in Islam.[3]
The data in question shows that white supremacist extremism and the far-right in the country are against a significant part of society. Moreover, not only Muslims but also members of religious groups other than Christianity are also likely to be targeted. Thus, although Sweden aspires to be a center of tolerance, it is becoming a country where various ethnic and religious groups are uneasy. It is possible that this unease will turn into conflict as a result of the provocations of right-wing extremists like Paludan.
Judging by the statements of the Stockholm administration, the attack on the Qur’an is condemned. However, the said attack is not considered a hate crime, and no necessary steps are taken. In fact, Paludan stated in his last statement that he will continue his attacks on the Qur’an.[4] In such an environment, the radicalization of various groups in Sweden is possible. Moreover, there is a possibility that various organizations around the world may organize an attack in Sweden.
It is known that the far right is an upward trend in Europe. At a time when attacks by white supremacist groups are on the rise, far-right groups that cite economic problems as the reason are said to increase pressure on governments by using arguments such as anti-immigration. This can lead to corruption and trivialization of liberal values. In such an environment, fascist leaders like Adolf Hitler can emerge. In other words, the liberal order that has dominated for almost 70 years can be destroyed.
On the other hand, Western sources argue that the attack aforementioned was a hybrid war tactic of Russia. Because Russia is uncomfortable with the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As a matter of fact, it is claimed that Paludan’s attack on the Qur’an was organized by Chang Frick, a journalist who worked for the Russian-based Russia Today and Ruptly. It is stated on Frick’s social media accounts that he wears a T-shirt with the picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin printed, thus trying to draw a line between the attack and the Swedish Government.[5]
Whether or not Frick played a role in organizing the attack, the accusations that right-wing groups in Europe in general, and in Sweden in particular, were instrumentalized by Russia are substantiated by what happened. This is because, although Sweden has expressed that it wants to join NATO against the Russian threat, its policy of tolerance toward right-wing extremists has turned it into a country where foreign states operate. This situation may cause Sweden to face bigger attacks or provocations in the future.
At this point, the question arises whether Sweden’s membership will contribute to security or threat perception NATO. After all, Sweden is a “safe haven” for various radical groups, especially far-right groups. While the country does not yet have the necessary capabilities to prevent attacks by these groups within the country, joining NATO would also destabilize the alliance. Therefore, it can be said that Stockholm can become an actor that can create a security gap in NATO. In other words, NATO can become an open area of operation for Russia through Sweden.
As a result, it would be an incomplete reading to believe that far-right groups in Sweden only attack the values of other identities and interpret the issue in this way. This is because it is clear that these groups represent a significant security gap both nationally and across Europe. Despite the propaganda that the Stockholm administration had nothing to do with the Paludan attack, Sweden does not take measures to prevent new attacks and does not neutralize groups that act as an extension of states defined as threats. It is also treating this incident, which constitutes a hate crime, within the framework of freedom of expression. For this reason, although it is said that Sweden will contribute to NATO in terms of security, it is possible to argue that it will create a major security weakness.
[1] “People and Society”, CIA Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/#people-and-society, (Date of Accession: 27.01.2023).
[2] “Sweden”, European Commission, https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-education-systems/sweden/population-demographic-situation-languages-and-religions, (Date of Accession: 27.01.2023).
[3] “Europe’s Growing Muslim Population”, Pew Research Center, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2017/11/29/europes-growing-muslim-population/, (Date of Accession: 27.01.2023).
[4] “Сжегший Коран радикал пригрозил Эрдогану новыми провокациями из-за Швеции и НАТО”, Москва 24, https://www.m24.ru/news/za-rubezhom/27012023/544878, (Date of Accession: 27.01.2023).
[5] Roland Oliphant-Campbell MacDiarmid, “Kremlin-Linked Journalist Organised Quran-Burning at Turkish Embassy in Stockholm”, The Telegraph, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/26/kremlin-linked-journalist-organised-quran-burning-turkish-embassy/, (Date of Accession: 27.01.2023).
