Türkiye's concerns in mind, Sweden approves new anti-terrorism law
The law aims to criminalise membership in terrorist organisations, and would facilitate Sweden's NATO bid if it succeeds in addressing Türkiye's security concerns.
The bill was passed in a 268-34 vote with 47 lawmakers absent. It was opposed by the Left Party and the Green Party. / Photo: Reuters Archive
Sweden’s parliament has approved a new anti-terrorism law, which is seen as an important step in getting Türkiye to approve the Nordic country’s membership in NATO.
Wednesday's legislation is set to enter into force on June 1, and will give authorities broader powers to detain and prosecute people who support terrorist organisations.
People who participate in terrorist activities or cooperate with terrorist organisations will be sentenced to up to four years in prison. This includes those who participate in activities with the intent to support, strengthen or encourage a terrorist organisation.
If there are aggravating reasons, the penalty for these crimes will be a minimum of two years, which can be increased to a maximum of eight years for crimes deemed serious.
Those involved in crimes such as supplying weapons, ammunition, flammable and explosive materials, transportation support and renting land and property to a terrorist organisation can be sentenced to up to four years in prison.
If there are aggravating reasons for these crimes, prison sentences ranging from 1.5 to 7 years will be imposed.
Sweden's bid to join NATO
After the Russia-Ukraine war began in February last year, Finland and Sweden decided to abandon their decades-long military non-alignment policies and apply for NATO membership.
However, Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, asked the two Nordic countries to take concrete action against terrorist groups such as the PKK and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in order for them to join the alliance.
In June last year, Finland and Sweden signed a memorandum with Türkiye to address Ankara’s security concerns, and senior diplomats and officials from the three countries held various meetings to discuss the implementation of a trilateral agreement.
In March, the Turkish government said it would approve the process of Finland's NATO membership in parliament, adding that Finland had done what was necessary for the membership, whereas Sweden still had work to do.
On March 31, the Turkish parliament approved Finland's bid to join the alliance.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the US and the European Union — has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
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