The Kurdish diaspora in the Swedish government opposed the country’s accession to NATO

The possibility of Sweden joining NATO caused a wave of discontent among the local Kurdish diaspora, represented in the government

⠀

One of the representatives of the Kurdish autonomy in northeastern Syria, Shiyar Ali, stressed that the main objection is that Stockholm’s entry into the alliance and the strengthening of relations with Turkey, the only NATO country opposing the accession of the Swedish side, will happen “at the expense” of the Kurds.

⠀
The Kurds, in particular, oppose being deprived of one of their key sanctuaries. About 100 thousand Kurds live in Sweden – one percent of the total population of the country. Six Swedish parliamentarians are of Kurdish origin.

⠀
Turkey has set a number of conditions for Sweden and Finland, which is also applying for NATO membership: among them, in particular, the lifting of sanctions, the provision of intelligence and the extradition of members of organizations that Ankara considers terrorist.