CHRONICLE: Relatives have been left alone with guilt and shame

For several years I have followed the phenomenon around the Swedes who went from one of the world's best countries to the world's worst terrorist organization and killer sect, the Islamic State.

As early as 2012, the first Swedes began traveling to Syria to commit jihad.

In 2014, IS is proclaimed the so-called Caliphate.

About 300 traveled from Sweden to join IS.

Sweden is at the top, third per capita in Europe.

So what has Sweden done to counteract this?

Unfortunately very little.

Neither preventive measures nor legislation have been in place.

There has also been a lack of sensible efforts for those who have returned.

For example, there are no de-radicalization programs.

Nothing stopped these people from traveling and of the 150 who came home again, only a few have been brought to justice.

Price: increased terrorist threat in Sweden

The price has been paid by those who have suffered terrible abuses from IS.

These include all the Muslims killed in Syria and Iraq, those killed in IS terrorist attacks and the Yazidi women and children who were kidnapped and sold as sex slaves.

Something that the UN classifies as genocide, which Sweden has not done.

The price is also that today we have an increased terrorist threat in Sweden.

Because at the same time as trips to Syria and Iraq gained momentum, the pro-violence Islamist milieus have grown in Sweden.

And the relatives of several of those who were sucked into the terrorist sect have also had to pay the price.

Sweden has been late in this matter on several levels.

There are relatives who have supported their children's choices, but a large group whose children have traveled is as much against IS as any of us.

Their voices have barely been heard.

Relatives are left alone

After SVT's reporting on the relatives' testimonies, I receive a text message from a mother whose daughter traveled to IS.

She writes, “thank you for giving a picture from the perspective of the relatives.

it needs.

Being a relative is a struggle with guilt and shame.

I have learned to live with shame, but it is more difficult with guilt. ”

The relatives have been left alone with their guilt and shame. Instead, we should listen to them to learn lessons so that more people are not drawn into the worst of killer sects.