Sweden stops state support for Islamic organizations in country

Muslims performing a collective prayer during a religious holiday. Photo: Banaras KHAN/AFP

Muslims performing a collective prayer during a religious holiday. Photo: Banaras KHAN/AFP

On January 20, 2026, Swedish authorities decided to completely stop state funding for the aid organization Islamic Relief Sweden (IRS), reports European Conservative.

This concerns the Swedish branch of the international Islamic Relief network, which has received substantial funding from the budget over the past ten years. According to authorities, the volume of funding during this period amounted to more than 120 million euros.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency stated that the organization does not meet the criteria ensuring there are no ties to violent extremism or anti-democratic behavior. This was precisely the reason for refusing further grant allocations.

Islamic Relief Sweden rejected the accusations and stated that the organization is engaged exclusively in humanitarian activities and has no links to any external political groups.

The authorities' decision was supported by representatives of the "Sweden Democrats" party, who called the cessation of funding a necessary measure and stated that taxpayers' funds should not be directed to organizations with questionable reputations.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that in Nigeria, Islamists killed 13 Christians.

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