Introduction
Report shows that Muslims are particularly at risk of discrimination
The Equality Ombudsman's annual report on discrimination in Sweden, released in May 2023, revealed widespread discrimination in the country. It identified people with Arabic or Muslim names and women wearing hijabs as particularly vulnerable, along with children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Opposition leader accuses government of being anti-democratic
In an article published in Dagens Nyheter, opposition leader Magdalena Andersson accused the Swedish government of implementing anti-democratic reforms, comparing them to the authoritarian measures of Viktor Orbán's government. She claimed these reforms threaten the rights of various groups, including the LGBTQI+ community, civil society, and journalists. The liberal government responded by accusing Andersson of making statements that themselves undermine democratic principles. The specific measures Andersson criticised include government party attacks on journalists' legitimacy and threats to suspend public funding for rights organisations critical of the Tidö Agreement. Concerns about an authoritarian shift in Sweden since the new government took office have been raised by multiple actors.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Police allow Quran burning protest following court ruling
On 28th June, a Quran-burning protest took place outside Stockholm Mosque, with police granting permission for the demonstration. This decision followed an administrative court ruling that earlier denials of such events were unlawful, citing the right to protest protected by the Swedish constitution unless there is a concrete security risk. The protest organiser, an Iraqi citizen who views Islam as dangerous, faces charges including hate crime and "agitation." The demonstration drew strong reactions, including condemnation from the Swedish government, which followed the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's call to prevent future Islamophobic attacks. Iraq's foreign ministry and several other Arab countries also criticised the Swedish authorities' decision to allow the protest.