image source: By JayCoop derived from BlankMap-World.svg, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://tinyurl.com/kuemt6ey
Sweden’s application for Nato membership has stalled. At the high level Munich Security Conference this weekend, even Nato chairman Stoltenburg seemed to imply that it was certainly possible that Finland would get full Nato member status before Sweden.
Sweden’s road to Nato has been rocky from the start. After Paludan’s Koran-burning stunt, a time-out was called but diplomatic back-and-forths have continued.
Post-Paludan and the freedom of expression
Since Paludan, the police have twice denied permission to burn the Koran publicly. The first they denied was a Paludan copycat. The second was similar, but in front of Iraq’s embassy. The denials have opened a whole debate on Sweden’s freedom of expression.
The police denied permission to burn the Koran in front of the embassies on the grounds that it would cause allvarliga störningar av den nationella säkerheten. They worried that the demonstration would disturb or perhaps weaken national security.
National security
National security is not officially a reason to deny permission to demonstrate. It’s not in the lawbooks. Instead, permission to demonstrate can be denied only if it seriously disturbs the order or safety of the public at the demonstration. Permission can also be denied if there was a serious disturbance or danger to those present at a similar, previous event.
Paludan’s similar, previous event caused no disturbance to those few who were present. These two recent denials are therefore a wider interpretation of the law than has been seen for decades.
These decisions have not, however, been recognized by Türkiye to be the deviations from the norm that they are. Nato chair Stoltenberg was glad that more Koran demonstrations were averted (as were many people). Still, Türkiye’s foreign minister stated at the same meeting that Sweden has not done enough to stop PKK or YPG activities. Furthermore, Türkiye considers Koran burnings a hate crime.
Hate speech?
In Sweden, Koran burning alone is not equated with hate speech against a specific group of people. Burning a Koran has not been regarded as speech in the same way as actually speaking, writing, drawing, or even wearing certain clothing has been regarded as speech. One legal opinion states that while the Koran is written and therefore speech, the physical act of burning is neither speech nor illegal. Freedom of expression is a point of pride in Sweden, and a lot is required to shift that sentiment.
Awkward, but not bad news
With these divergent views on fundamental legal definitions, it may be a longer road to Swedish Nato membership than anyone thought. It will be awkward and uncomfortable if Finland becomes a Nato member while Sweden remains outside, but it’s not a dead end.
While efforts are stalled for the moment, Türkiye’s acceptance of Finland is not necessarily bad news for Sweden. It means that Türkiye is not running Russia’s errands, that it is not opposed to Nato’s expansion, and that it recognizes the worth of additional countries in this region to Nato. Its acceptance of Finland shows that it is not unsusceptible to pressure. In addition, Türkiye has said it realizes that it is not anti-Muslim or anti-Türkiye sentiment driving some extremist actions, but anti-Nato sentiment.
Erdogan still has an election to get through and the situation between Sweden and Türkiye is fluid. The hope is that if Finland indeed gets in before Sweden, they will continue to push for Sweden’s inclusion from the inside.