Archive for September 10th, 2010

In 2006, Mahmoud Aldebe, one of the Board members of the Muslim Council of Sweden (SMR) sent a letter to all the political parties demanding that Sharia law be enacted in Sweden.  The backlash that ensued included condemnation from all parties and one party, the Swedish Liberal Party, requested an investigation into public funding for the organization.  Now there is a new rise in anti-immigration — and more specifically anti-Muslim immigration — in Sweden.  This story is from Reuters.

Swedish far right eyes first parliament seats

By Patrick Lannin and Johan Ahlander
LANDSKRONA, Sweden | Fri Sep 10, 2010 7:53am EDT

LANDSKRONA, Sweden (Reuters) – In Sweden’s last general election, a surge in voter support for an anti-immigrant party in this small, southern coastal town shocked a nation long regarded as one of the world’s most liberal.

That party, the Sweden Democrats, now hopes to win its first parliamentary seats in elections on September 19, a radical departure for the country could make forming a new government more difficult for the established parties.

Svenny Hakansson, 77, looks like a kindly grandfather — mild-mannered and friendly, with an easy smile. Yet the local councilor’s political views are tough.

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