Oral statement of the Association at the United Nations Human Rights Council: Violation of human rights in Sweden by granting asylum to members of terrorist organizations

 

 

 

The following text is the statement of the association on item 6 – UPR Sweden at the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, entitled “Human rights violations in Sweden by providing asylum to members of terrorist organizations.”

 

The full text of the statement is as follows:

 

Statement of the Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism

 

Item 6: UPR Outcome of Sweden

Mr. President,

The Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism (ADVT) would like to appreciate the Government of Sweden for its commitment towards UPR process.

Regarding the issue of counter terrorism, the Swedish government has taken a number of measures, including adoption of the Terrorist Crime Act (Terroristbrottslag) to criminalize participation in and financing of terrorist organizations.

However, in recent years, members of a number of terrorist groups playing role in Iran and other countries have taken refuge in Sweden and have freely directed their subversive acts and even influenced the decision-making of the government.

Consequently, in order to counter terrorism and in accordance with international instruments and the Sweden’s Terrorist Crime Act, the ADVT recommends that Sweden:

• Fulfill its international commitments in countering terrorism and refrain from selective implementation of the Terrorist Crimes Act;
• Based on the provisions of the 1951 Refugee Convention, refuse to grant asylum status to members of terrorist organizations and revoke the asylum of criminals who had previously received asylum;
• Provide appropriate conditions for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the members who have not committed grave terrorist crimes and have been deceived by terrorist groups, in order to take a step towards ending the cycle of violence and terrorism;

• Fully cooperate with the Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights to uphold the rights of Iranian victims of terrorism in the United Nations and other international bodies.