The new bill will not prevent people from flying the flag of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey
As diplomatic relations between Ankara and Stockholm have frozen, Sweden’s government announced today that it would tighten its anti-terror laws, months after signing a memorandum with Turkey aimed at lifting Ankara’s objections to ratifying Stockholm’s membership. in NATO.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this week that – as long as Sweden allows books of the Koran to be burned and destroyed – Turkey will not agree to Sweden’s application to join NATO.
In response, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said Sweden has an extensive freedom of expression charter and has no intention of curtailing it.
Freedom of assembly in the PKK
The new bill, which the government hopes will be implemented in June, will give authorities more powers to arrest and prosecute people who support terrorist organizations in any way, financial or otherwise.
Until now it has been difficult to prosecute someone for terrorism unless their actions can be linked to a specific action, Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömer explained. The new bill will cover any kind of participation in a terrorist organization.
However, Stromer clarified that the new bill would not affect the right of assembly or prevent people from flying the flag of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, the US and Europe.
The Swedish minister explained that the need for tougher anti-terror laws became even more apparent after the 2017 attack in central Stockholm, when a man drove a van into pedestrians on a busy shopping street, killing five people.
The Swedish minister also added that the threat level in Sweden has increased recently as the country is considered a legitimate target after a copy of the Koran was burned at a rally by far-right politician Rasmus Paludan last week.
Sweden has pledged to strengthen cooperation with Turkey in the fight against terrorism, as part of a memorandum the two countries signed in June, which was aimed at lifting Ankara’s objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
