The Swedish government wants an end to foreign funding of Swedish mosques and other denominations. It hopes that a ban on foreign financing can prevent attempts at radicalization.
“Violent extremism and anti-democratic attitudes have no place in Sweden,” Minister of Culture Jeanette Gustafsdotter said.
Earlier this month, the government announced a tightening of the so-called democratic conditions for religious communities that receive public support. Now, it also wants to put an end to foreign funding of religious communities in Sweden.
“There are signs that foreign interests are trying to influence the interpretation of religion, sometimes in an extreme and violence-glorifying direction. This is something we take seriously,” Gustafsdotter stated.
Significant transfers
According to Minister of Integration and Migration Anders Ygeman, there have been “significant financial transfers” to various congregations in Sweden.
“It can naturally lead to demands on how the congregations should work, to the interpretation of religion, and their positions. We simply do not want to see that in Sweden,” Ygeman added.
The proposal for a ban on financing from abroad is now being considered, and it is being discussed how such a ban should be formulated and followed up, as well as whether it should apply to financial contributions from all countries.
Not a total ban
Ygeman does not foresee a total ban but rather a regulation on foreign financing.
The government emphasizes that a ban must also apply to all types of religious communities, not just Muslims.
“It is not linked to one religion, although we may have seen the worst examples there,” Ygeman said.
Source : © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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