Supporters of Terrorist Organization Protest New Terror Law in Sweden
Supporters of the terrorist organization PKK/YPG have staged provocative protests in Sweden, continuing to disrupt social peace. Around a thousand supporters of the terrorist group took to the streets of Stockholm to protest against the new terror law that came into effect on 1st June. The protesters were permitted to carry out the demonstration, which extended over several hours and urged the Swedish government to repeal the law, leading to disruptions. The supporters demanded that the government must resign, and demonstrated with banners which read “No to NATO” and other provoking slogans.
The supporters of terrorism went beyond their limits and knocked down the poster of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and marched over it. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization in Sweden; nevertheless, supporters of terrorism are still allowed to protest.
The new Swedish anti-terrorism law implies that those individuals that sustain terrorism activities would face imprisonment periods of four to eight years. The said law also permits the government to prosecute those who support or finance terrorist organizations. Moreover, the leaders of terrorist organizations in Sweden can be given a twenty to twenty-five-year penalty if convicted under this law.
The law was passed in the parliament with the vote count of 268 in favor and thirty-four against on the 3rd of May. Meanwhile, forty-seven parliamentarians did not participate in the voting process.
The NATO membership of Sweden, much like that of Finland, was vehemently opposed, and the reason, in Turkey’s opinion, was their support to terrorist organizations such as PKK/YPG. However, Finland, after negotiations with Turkey, became an official member of NATO in April. Still, Sweden’s application for NATO membership is currently uncertain due to security concerns, and non-compliance with Turkey’s persistent demands for tough measures against terrorism activities within the country. Thus, Sweden’s NATO membership is considered a distant possibility, and even Hungary has not granted approval for Sweden’s NATO membership. The anti-terrorism law that came into effect recently is seen as a crucial step towards Sweden’s NATO membership.
In conclusion, Sweden’s tolerance for the supporters of terrorism is an alarming situation, where they are given the platform to protest. The government must act against the dissemination of radical ideas, and the recent anti-terrorism law is much-needed legislation to counter terrorism activities. The solution lies in the implementation of stringent measures to address terrorist activities, thereby mitigating security concerns and paving the way for Sweden’s NATO membership.
