Ahead of Sweden’s election on September 13, the Vision Party announced its priorities on minority rights, combating discrimination, the political representation of Muslims, family policies and equality.
The party, founded in 2023, described the election as a critical test for Swedish democracy, the protection of minorities and freedom of religion. It argued that protecting Muslims’ rights would not weaken Sweden’s democratic resilience but would instead strengthen it.
Criticism of political rhetoric
The party argued that political discourse in Sweden 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 increasingly disappearing.
The statement said that issues such as closing mosques, possible restrictions on Muslims’ clothing and institutions, and calls for Muslims to abandon their religion were being debated at the highest levels of politics. The Vision Party said the issue was not criticism of Islam, but the portrayal of peaceful citizens’ identities as something they should abandon.
The party also assessed that the Sweden Democrats, known for their nationalist and anti-immigration stance, had previously been politically isolated but had recently assumed a central role in the bloc supporting the government and could exert more direct influence after the election.
File submitted to the UN
The Vision Party said it had submitted a 21-page file on the situation of Muslims in Sweden to three United Nations special rapporteurs. The file reportedly used 88 sources and documents.
The party said the document assessed that the debate had shifted from extremism and Islamism to discussions targeting Islam itself, Muslim institutions, ordinary Muslims and the open practice of religious faith. While the party did not claim that Sweden had banned Islam, it asked the UN rapporteurs to examine freedom of religion and belief, as well as issues concerning racism and minorities.
Reaction to Jomshof’s remarks
The statement also responded to remarks attributed to Sweden Democrats lawmaker Richard Jomshof that peaceful Muslims should first stop being Muslim.
The Vision Party argued that similar statements 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 issue of closing mosques and had drawn attention through the idea of appointing a minister for “de-Islamization.”
The party emphasized that religious views should be open to criticism, but that citizens must be treated equally regardless of their religion or beliefs. It 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 party’s electoral goals
The Vision Party said it aimed to win seats on municipal councils in the cities where it is contesting the election in the short term, and to secure representation in the Swedish Parliament by 2030 in the long term.
The party rejected the view that Sweden must choose between protecting Muslims and protecting national security. The statement said Muslims were an established part of Swedish society and participated in it as citizens, neighbors, professionals, parents and voters.
The Vision Party said Islam was not solely an immigration issue, noting that Swedish-born and ethnically Swedish citizens also practice the religion. It argued that Muslims’ rights are the rights of Swedish citizens.
