SWEDEN

Åkesson: Reconsider residence permits for Syrians
After the Assad regime fell in Syria, Syrians are now celebrating around the Western world, including in Sweden. Many have moved to Sweden with the motive of fleeing Assad's rule, which is why Jimmie Åkesson went out on X yesterday and called on Syrians in Sweden to "go home".

The sudden fall of the Assad regime means a huge change in the Middle East where the consequences and future developments in the region are difficult to predict. What has emerged is that the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, HTS, which is the dominant force that brought down Assad, is sponsored by Turkey. Its leader is Ahmad al-Sharaa, 42, a former leader within Al-Qaeda.

Bashar Hafez al-Assad, born September 11, 1965 in Damascus, was the country's president from July 17, 2000 until his fall on December 8. The end of his rule in Syria was celebrated around Europe, including in Stockholm at Sergels Torg, which can be seen below, among other things.

Immigrant Syrians cheering on the streets of Stockholm, Sweden 🇸🇪 If you think that these people will willingly return to Syria now that Assad is gone, you are deluded. On the contrary, they are here to stay, and a new wave of refugees will arrive

Demonstrations were also held in Malmö and Gothenburg.

The changed situation in Syria caused Jimmie Åkesson to go out on X/Twitter and call on Syrians to go back to their homeland. He also promises to demand that the government introduce stricter ID checks to counter a potential wave of migrants to Sweden.

Unfortunately, there is much evidence that Syria has now emerged from the ashes of the fire because destructive Islamist forces are behind the change of power. I note that there are groups that are happy about this here in Sweden. You should see this as a good opportunity to go home.

New situations also require new assessments. Therefore, it is important that the residence permits are reviewed for the individuals who have chosen to move from Syria to Sweden.

I will also raise the issue of tighter ID checks with the government to strengthen the Swedish border in the event of a potential wave of refugees.

The moderate foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard tells Aftonbladet that "it is a bit early to say" whether residence permits should be reconsidered. She also urges people to leave Syria.

In 2023, according to Statistics Norway, Sweden had 197,201 people with Syria as their country of birth; 109,320 men and 87,881 women.