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Swedish Court Sentences Kurdish Individual to Prison for Financing Terrorism Following Turkish Request for Action

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In Sweden, a Kurdish man has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for various crimes, including an attempt to finance terrorism. This is the first instance where Sweden’s updated anti-terrorism laws have been utilized in a case involving the Kurdish militant group PKK. Turkey has long urged Sweden to take action against Kurdish separatists. Sweden’s aspirations to join NATO have been delayed, primarily due to Turkey’s demand for the extradition of individuals it considers terrorists.

Ahead of a NATO summit, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Lithuania. Sweden is hopeful for NATO membership and has received support from President Joe Biden. The timing of the court case was emphasized by commentators, who noted that it conveyed a message to Ankara that Sweden was cracking down on the PKK.

The convicted Kurdish man, who has Turkish origins, will be deported after serving his sentence. The judge highlighted that Sweden’s NATO bid did not influence the court’s decision. Last month, Sweden strengthened its anti-terrorism laws to criminalize arranging meetings to provide financial or other assistance to banned groups. Critics raised concerns about potential impacts on freedom of speech.

The sentencing coincided with a significant meeting in Brussels involving the foreign ministers of Sweden, Turkey, and Finland, ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius. Finland’s Foreign Minister expressed hopes for a swift announcement regarding Sweden’s NATO membership. Turkey’s President has voiced reservations about Sweden’s bid, emphasizing the need for further action.

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Far-right attacker receives tough punishment of 21 years imprisonment

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A Norwegian youngster, who killed his step-sister and opened fire at a mosque, has been sentenced to as many as 21 year imprisonment.

The punishment has come with a minimum term of as many as 14 years – recently, the country has hiked the minimum term for hate crimes.

It is said that the attacker was inspired by similar attacks happened in New Zealand in the recent past.

The attack is one of the gravest crimes the country has seen in its recent history.

The far-right movement is not less active this part of the world.     

In the year 2011, similarly, a right-wing extremist carried out a horrific attack in the country. Unlike this time, his minimum sentence was at least four year shorter than what has been awarded to the latest case of far-right extremism.

It is high time for the European countries to look into this matter seriously. Norway is not the only European country struggling with the issue of far-right extremism.

Many European countries like Germany, Poland and Hungary are vulnerable to this issue.

Germany has recently reported several similar cases. In some states, even the rebirth of Neo-Nazism has been reported.

The development exposes a serious threat which needs urgent intervention.

V

Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright