Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has suggested his country is unlikely to stop exercising its veto and allow Sweden to join NATO ahead of a crucial upcoming conference for the security alliance, meaning the country’s Kurdish community expects further repression as the government attempts to demonstrate compliance with Turkey’s demands. Turkey, which wields a veto as a founder member of NATO, is demanding further domestic repression of Kurdish political activity and the deportation of members of Sweden’s Kurdish diaspora, even following the passage into law of a new terror act widely seen as intended to reassure Turkey that Sweden will take a harder line against the Kurds.
Benny Gustafsson, the Chairman of the Solidarity with Kurdistan Committee in Söderhamn, Sweden, has been targeted by the Turkish media for organising humanitarian support for the Kurdish regions in Syria. The retired headmaster has received death threats as a result of his political and humanitarian efforts on behalf of the Kurdish cause. He spoke to Medya News to discuss increased threats and repression against the Kurdish community and political movement in Sweden.
Has the Kurdish community already faced changes or threats as a result of Sweden’s bid to join NATO?
For a long time, the Kurdish movement has noticed an increased interest from the security police. Already about ten people, perhaps more, have been deported. Just from my own small town, two friends have been expelled. Since Sweden applied for membership in NATO, [Swedish Security Service] SÄPO’s actions have increased and many people are worried. SÄPO’s investigations are classified and even the courts are not told the reason for the [deportation orders] they decide on — neither the defendant nor the lawyer.
During the last year, Swedish banks have also been closing bank accounts linked to the Kurdish political movement. Nor can new accounts be opened in other banks, because of a new law about ‘money laundering and terrorist financing’! I just received a phone call informing me that the security police have brought in another seven or eight people for questioning today.
What further changes do the Kurdish community fear if Turkey does remove its opposition to Sweden joining NATO?
The Kurdish movement does not take a position on the NATO issue itself, but if Sweden bows to Erdoğan’s demands, there is a great risk that he will increase the pressure on Sweden’s government. Sweden is already sitting in his lap, so to speak. After all, he has already secured the removal of an arms embargo against Turkey and other benefits.
The public mood in Sweden used to be broadly against joining NATO. What changed?
The Swedish people were previously against Swedish NATO membership. Two hundred years of non-alignment and peace have been reassuring. Therefore, Sweden’s government and Parliament were very quick to push through an application [to join NATO], practically without debate, either in the press or among the public. This process was also facilitated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
How to assess NATO’s policy is difficult, but the argument against NATO is that it is not a peace organization but a war organization. That is why Sweden chose to remain independent until now.
The public mood in Sweden used to be broadly against joining NATO. What changed?
The Swedish people were previously against Swedish NATO membership. Two hundred years of non-alignment and peace have been reassuring. Therefore, Sweden’s government and Parliament were very quick to push through an application [to join NATO], practically without debate, either in the press or among the public. This process was also facilitated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
How to assess NATO’s policy is difficult, but the argument against NATO is that it is not a peace organization but a war organization. That is why Sweden chose to remain independent until now.
