Sweden: unease about new anti-terror law
A new anti-terror law comes into force in Sweden today. Any support, organisation or financing of terrorist groups, which at EU level also includes the PKK, is now punishable. Stockholm hopes this will dispel Ankara's opposition to Sweden joining Nato. Commentators are sceptical.
The people are paying with their freedom
Aftonbladet takes a critical view of the new law:
“The problem is not only the morally dubious prospect of someone who treats those wounded in war or who cooks soup for others suddenly being punished for being a terrorist. The main problem is that there are different views on whether an organisation should be categorised as a terrorist or a liberation organisation. The corresponding international classifications are not exactly crystal clear on this either. ... To what extent the capricious despot in Ankara will be seduced by the claim that the law was passed to demonstrate Sweden's goodwill remains to be seen. ... We must not forget that there is a price to pay for the military alliance. The state is slowly but surely expanding its power at the expense of the citizens.”
Hopefully Sweden will stick to the rule of law
The Süddeutsche Zeitung is worried:
“The Kurdish community in Sweden is now living in fear, as are Turkish opposition members who fled Erdoğan. So far, Sweden has consistently acted in accordance with the rule of law. Anyone with a residence permit or who has been granted asylum or is a Swedish citizen will not be extradited. One can only hope that in the Nato poker the conservative government led by Ulf Kristersson will continue to focus on the principles of the rule of law as much as on the demands of the Turkish despot.”