Participation in racist organizations that persecute an ethnic group may be prohibited

Increased activity from right-wing extremist, racist and anti-Semitic groups has given rise to an investigation into bans on racist organizations.

The assignment has been carried out by a parliamentary committee that has consisted of all parliamentary parties.

The Committee now proposes - which disagrees - that a ban on racist organizations be introduced.

Sweden has long been criticized by the UN for its lack of this.

- Today we received a collection of names from the Swedish UN Federation with 20,000 names, where it is demanded that Sweden should act with increased force against these movements, says Minister of Justice and Migration Morgan Johansson.

Freedom of opinion is protected

According to the proposal, freedom of association in the case of racist organizations is restricted only in the case of "associations whose activities involve the persecution of an ethnic group on the basis of ethnic origin, skin color or other similar circumstances".

However, the restriction must not extend so far that it constitutes a threat to the free formation of opinion or is made "solely" on the basis of political, religious, cultural or other views.

- In order not to conflict with the constitution's protection of freedom of opinion, the ban should only apply to organizations whose racist persecution is criminal.

You can not just intervene against the opinions of an association, the opinions must have led to criminal acts, says investigator Dag Mattsson.

Racist organization is defined as an association of persons who, through crime, persecute an ethnic group on the basis of ethnic origin, skin color or race.

The proposal: Two new crimes

The proposal is that two new crimes - which can lead to up to two years in prison - be introduced in the Criminal Code and proposed to enter into force on 1 July 2022:

1.

- participation in a racist organization's activities in a manner designed to promote, strengthen and support the organization and the formation of what will be one such organization.

2.

- providing certain forms of support to a racist organization if the act is intended to promote, strengthen or support the organization.

- There are clear indications that racist persecution crime is increasing in scope.

It creates unrest in society and can in the long run lead to division, polarization and deep contradictions that will not be able to be resolved in a reasonable way.

In the long run, the racist organizations can seriously threaten the order and security that should prevail in Swedish society, says Dag Mattsson.