Threat Allegation: Central State Management Investigation
- On the night against Tuesday, Säpo (Swedish Security Service) arrested a person suspected of two counts of unlawful threats, expressen can reveal.
- - The suspected crime has bearing on our mission to protect the central state leadership, says press secretary Jonathan Svensson.
- At the same time, the activist group Rojavakommittéerna has made posts about actions at the private homes of ministers Johan Forssell and Benjamin Dousa.
On the night against Tuesday, Säpo (Swedish Security Service) arrested a person suspected of two counts of unlawful threats, expressen can reveal.
– The suspected crime has bearing on our mission to protect the central state leadership, says press secretary Jonathan Svensson.
At the same time, the activist group Rojavakommittéerna has made posts about actions at the private homes of ministers Johan Forssell and Benjamin Dousa.
Swedish Aid Accusations: Funding Ethnic Cleansing in Syria
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Swedish aid money is allegedly financing ethnic cleansing in Syria, according to claims made by the Rojavakommittéerna (Rojava Committees), a Swedish organization advocating for Kurdish rights. The allegations center around funds directed to the Syrian Interim Government (SIG),the political arm of the Syrian National Army,which the committees accuse of displacing Kurdish civilians in the Afrin region.
The Allegations Against the Syrian Interim Government
The Rojavakommittéerna asserts that Swedish progress aid, channeled through the SIG, is indirectly supporting actions that constitute ethnic cleansing. they specifically point to the displacement of Kurdish populations from Afrin following the Turkish military operation ”Olive Branch” in 2018. The committees claim the SIG facilitates the settlement of Arab populations in formerly Kurdish-majority areas, altering the demographic makeup of the region.
According to a report published by the Rojavakommittéerna in december 2023,approximately 300,000 Kurds have been displaced from Afrin as 2018,with manny of their properties seized by Arab settlers and armed groups affiliated with the SIG.The report details alleged abuses, including property confiscation, intimidation, and violence against Kurdish civilians. “Afrin – Six Years of Occupation and Demographic Change” (Rojava committees Report, December 2023).
Sweden’s Aid to Syria and the Syrian Interim Government
Sweden has provided substantial humanitarian and development aid to Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011. A meaningful portion of this aid is channeled through multilateral organizations like the United Nations, but some is also directed to local actors, including the SIG. In 2023,Sweden allocated approximately 3.8 billion SEK (approximately $350 million USD as of January 20, 2026) in aid to Syria. Humanitarian efforts in Syria 2023 (Swedish Government Report,February 2024).
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) states that its aid to the SIG is intended to support basic services, such as healthcare and education, in opposition-held areas of syria. Sida maintains that it has safeguards in place to ensure that aid is not used to support human rights abuses. However, critics argue that these safeguards are insufficient, given the SIG’s alleged involvement in abuses in Afrin. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency - Syrian Interim Government (Sida Partner Profile, accessed January 20, 2026).
Swedish Government Response and Investigation
The allegations made by the Rojavakommittéerna have prompted calls for an investigation by Swedish lawmakers. In November 2024, the Swedish Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs requested that the government assess the potential impact of swedish aid to the SIG on the human rights situation in Afrin. Swedish Parliament – Committee on Foreign Affairs (Official Website,accessed January 20,2026).
Johan Pehrson, a member of the Liberal Party and a vocal critic of the alleged misuse of aid, stated, “It is indeed unacceptable that Swedish taxpayers’ money could be contributing to ethnic cleansing. We need a thorough investigation to determine whether our aid is having unintended consequences and to ensure that it is used for its intended purpose.” (Statement to Swedish News Agency TT, November 15, 2024).
Potential Consequences and Future Aid
If the investigation confirms the allegations,it could lead to a reassessment of sweden’s aid policy towards Syria and the SIG.Possible consequences include a reduction in aid to the SIG, stricter monitoring of aid flows, and a shift towards supporting aid organizations that operate independently of the Syrian political factions. The outcome of the investigation is expected in early 2026.