Atila Altuntas

Far-right leader’s anti-mosque remarks could undermine Sweden’s NATO bid: former Swedish envoy Jimmie Akesson's suggestion to demolish mosques is extreme, unfortunate, says Michael Sahlin, Sweden's former ambassador to Türkiye

November 26, 2023 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) A far-right Swedish politician proposing blocking new mosques and demolishing existing ones could undermine the country’s NATO hopes, warned a former Swedish diplomat on Sunday. Jimmie Akesson, leader of the country’s far-right Sweden Democrats, on Saturday proposed a ban on the […]

Swedish far-right leader suggests ban on new mosques, destruction of existing ones Mosques generate support for Palestine, protests in favor of it, according to Jimmie Akesson

November 25, 2023 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) The leader of a far-right party in Sweden on Saturday proposed a ban on the construction of new mosques and suggested the destruction of existing ones. Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson, who supports Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s coalition government in Sweden, […]

Majority of Swedes favor ban on Quran burning: survey Increase in public support comes as government looking to discuss regulation that would prevent provocative acts of targeting Muslim holy book

August 31, 2023 Mehmet Solmaz and Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) Swedes who want a ban to be introduced for burning the Quran and other holy books have increased to 53%, two points higher than the previous poll. The latest survey was conducted by the Swedish opinion poll company SIFO. Some 37% […]

Police block Pakistani man from preventing Quran burning in Stockholm 'Swedish politicians need to stop acts of Quran burning,' says Malik Shahza

August 28, 2023 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) Deeply moved by the Quran burning in Sweden, Pakistani national Malik Shahza has called for an end to such recurrent acts of desecration of Islam’s holy book in the European country recently. Shahza, a cardiac patient who has undergone bypass surgery, […]

Sweden grants over 27,000 citizenships to Syrians in 2021 Total of 85,000 migrants get Swedish citizenship in 2021, says Swedish Migration Agency

December 31, 2021 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) Sweden granted at least 27,340 citizenships to Syrians in 2021, the country’s migration agency said on Friday. According to [the] Swedish Migration Agency’s report, 85,000 people were granted Swedish citizenship during the year. At least 4,067 Somalis and 3,471 Eritreans also […]

Christian Council of Sweden condemns Quran burning Council terms acts by Danish far-right group 'barbaric'

September 13, 2020 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) The Christian Council of Sweden on Sunday condemned the burning of the holy Quran in Sweden in recent weeks. Ten prominent Christian reverends of the Scandinavian country, including the Archbishop of the Swedish Protestant Church Antje Jackele, released a statement against […]

Sweden: Islamophobic politician expelled from her party Iranian-origin politician expelled as she harmed confidence of party 'seriously' because of her views, acts on religion

August 28, 2019 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) An Islamophobic politician was expelled from [the] Left Party in Sweden as the politician’s views on religion contradicted with party policy, said the secretary-general in a press conference on Wednesday. Secretary-General of [the] Left Party Aron Etzler said the politician Amineh […]

Sweden dismisses swimming head for anti-headscarf remarks Swimming federation president criticized children athletes using headscarf

February 14, 2019 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) The Swedish Athletic Federation dismissed its swimming federation president due to anti-headscarf criticisms Thursday. The federation decided Ulla Gustavsson will be removed from office after a meeting. The federation said it would not discriminate against athletes, nor allow anyone to do […]

Swedish official faces probe for Islamophobic remark Vice mayor of southern town linked Islamic call to prayer to terrorist suicide bombings

November 9, 2018 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) Prosecutors are investigating a top city official in southern Sweden over Islamophobic remarks. Christopher Larsson, vice mayor of the southern coastal city of Karlskrona, is accused of committing a hate crime in a social media posting last year. On Facebook, arguing […]

Norway: Number of converted Muslims increases recently Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang reports approximately 3,000 Norwegians convert to Islam in recent years

September 24, 2018 Atila Altuntas

(Anadolu) The number of converted Muslims in Norway increased to at least 3,000 in the recent years, a researcher at Oslo University’s Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages said. Norway’s leading Verdens Gang newspaper reported on Sunday that the number of […]