Foreign Minister Ann Linde (S): We cannot just take the children from the mothers

It is the orphaned children of Swedish IS supporters who are the focus of the government's efforts, says Ann Linde when asked in the Aktuelltstudion.

- There are still some orphans who I think we can take home in a few months. But it is not about wanting or not wanting, it is about what is possible or not possible.

On the other hand, it is more complicated to help children who are still with their parents, says the Foreign Minister. Swedish Foreign Ministry cannot force forced children and the parents have generally not wanted to leave them.

Furthermore, Sweden does not intend to provide support to adults who have been part of IS, and according to Linde, it does not derive from the parents' responsibility to have joined the terrorist group.

- It is absolutely terrible and that parents take their children to a terrorist organization is not wise. At the same time, it is not so that we can only take the children away from the mothers.

Sweden has so far taken home seven orphaned children, which according to the minister are more than any other EU country. She dismisses allegations that Sweden has been passive or delayed in her actions.

- It's indecent to accuse us of not doing anything. We try to do the best we can out of this every day and there are enormous difficulties.

That, as some have called for, to bring home both adults and children and then prosecute the adults who have committed crimes is also a challenge, apart from the decision not to help adults who have joined IS.

Linde points out that Sweden has tightened anti-terror laws to more easily judge people who have joined IS, for example. But the measures have been criticized for not reaching those who joined before the law came into force, in 2016. Proving that someone joined after it became illegal is difficult, says Linde.