Swedish far-right leader suggests ban on new mosques, destruction of existing ones

By Atila Altuntas

STOCKHOLM (AA) – The leader of a far-right party in Sweden on Saturday proposed a ban on the construction of new mosques and suggested the destruction of existing ones.

Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson, who supports Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's coalition government in Sweden, said in an event in the southeastern city of Vasteras that migrants should not have the right to build new mosques.

Akesson, who is disturbed by anti-Israeli protests and the support by Swedish media for Palestine, said that the protests were originating from the mosques, thus suggesting their demolition.

He also asked for a ban on new mosque constructions.

"In the long term, we should start seizing and demolishing mosques where anti-democratic, anti-Swedish, homophobic, and anti-Semitic propaganda is generating from," according to Akesson.

The Sweden Democrats, with Nazi roots, became the second-biggest party in parliament following general elections last year.