The Vision Party announced its demands concerning Muslims’ rights, freedom of religion and the protection of minorities ahead of the election to be held in Sweden on September 13. The party, founded in 2023, described the election process as a critical test for Swedish democracy and minority rights.
The party listed combating discrimination, the political representation of Muslims, family policies and equality among its priorities. It argued that protecting Muslims’ rights would not weaken Sweden’s democratic resilience, but would instead strengthen it.
Criticism of Sweden’s political discourse
The Vision Party argued that political discourse in the country had long distinguished between terrorism, violent extremism and Islamism on the one hand, and Islam and ordinary Muslims on the other, but that this distinction was gradually disappearing.
The party said that issues including the closure of mosques, possible restrictions on Muslims’ clothing and institutions, and calls for Muslims to abandon their religion were being discussed at the highest levels of politics. The Vision Party said the real issue was not criticism of Islam, but the presentation of peaceful citizens’ identities as something they should abandon.
The party also assessed that the Sweden Democrats, known for their nationalist and anti-immigrant stance, had previously been politically isolated but had recently assumed a central position in the bloc supporting the government and could exert a more direct influence after the election.
Dossier said to have been submitted to the United Nations
The Vision Party said it had submitted a 21-page dossier on the situation of Muslims in Sweden to three United Nations special rapporteurs. According to the party, the dossier used 88 sources and documents.
The document argued that the debate had shifted from extremism and Islamism to Islam itself, Muslim institutions, ordinary Muslims and the open practice of religious belief. The party said it was not claiming that Sweden had banned Islam, and asked the UN rapporteurs to examine freedom of religion and belief, as well as issues concerning racism and minorities.
Reaction to Richard Jomshof’s remarks
The statement also criticized remarks attributed to Sweden Democrat Member of Parliament Richard Jomshof, according to which peaceful Muslims should first stop being Muslim.
The Vision Party argued that the same approach would amount to telling peaceful Jews to abandon Judaism, Christians to abandon Christianity or atheists to abandon atheism. The party said Jomshof had linked Islam to extremism, was among those who had raised the possibility of closing mosques, and had made headlines with the idea of appointing a minister responsible for “de-Islamization.”
The party said that religious views could be criticized, but emphasized that citizens should be treated equally regardless of their religion or beliefs. The Vision Party called on the new government to strengthen efforts to combat religious discrimination and hate crimes, improve the security of vulnerable institutions such as mosques, and act proportionately regarding restrictions on religious clothing, worship and civil society organizations.
The Vision Party’s election goals
The Vision Party said that in the short term it aimed to win seats on municipal councils in the cities where it is contesting the election, while in the long term it aimed to be represented in the Swedish Parliament in 2030.
The party rejected the view that Sweden had to choose between protecting Muslims and protecting national security. It said Muslims were an established part of Swedish society and participated in it as citizens, neighbors, professionals, parents and voters.
The Vision Party also said that Islam was not solely an immigration issue, noting that Swedish-born and ethnically Swedish citizens also belonged to the faith. The party therefore argued that Muslims’ rights were the rights of Swedish citizens.
