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The parliamentary constitutional committee, which includes all parliamentary parties, proposes that freedom of association be limited to associations that “engage in or support terrorism.” In this way, the purpose is to create space for new legislation that will outlaw participation in terrorist organizations.
– Terrorism is a very serious crime that must be addressed, justifies the president of the commission, Judge Anders Eka, a constitutional amendment.
According to Anders Eka, Sweden’s international cooperation against terrorism is another important reason to change the legislation, since Swedish anti-terrorism laws should not differ too much from those of other countries.
– The reasons that speak in favor of restricting freedom of association are much stronger than the reasons that speak against it, he says.
Behind the proposal there is a large political majority. Only the Left Party opposed the proposal, considering that the interference in freedom of association was too great. The moderates support the proposal, but they also want, for example, violent organizations and criminal gangs to be exempted from constitutional freedom of association.
“He doesn’t see any problem moving forward”
Justice Minister Morgan Johansson is satisfied with the committee’s proposal.
– There is a force in the fact that there is such a large majority behind this proposal, he says and adds:
– I don’t see any problem in going ahead with this.
The previous proposals were stopped by the Legal Council
Already in 2019, the government presented a proposal to criminalize participation in terrorist organizations, a proposal that was stopped by the Legal Council, which considered that the proposal was contrary to freedom of association. However, the Constitution Committee’s proposal for a restriction on freedom of association creates room for a new proposal, says Morgan Johansson.
– The next step is to fill that space with a proposal, he says.
However, since constitutional changes must be preceded by a parliamentary election, the government cannot return with a new proposal until after the change of year 2023, when the change in the form of government will take effect.
