Ex-ISIS members working in public facilities raise concern in Sweden
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Former members of the Islamic State (ISIS) who returned to Sweden work in public institutions, raising concerns about the country’s policy on handling and monitoring these individuals, a Swedish media outlet reported on Friday.
According to an investigation led by Swedish media Expressen, out of 83 ex-ISIS fighters who have returned to Sweden, 21 are currently employed in professions involving children, young people, and vulnerable individuals.
Sweden’s Minister for Schools, Lotta Edholm, has called the government’s approach “naive.”
Despite warnings from security services about the risks associated with returning jihadists, 24 ex-ISIS fighters have managed to secure jobs with public employers.
The concern is that these individuals, having lived in and fought for ISIS-controlled territories, can potentially contribute to radicalization and recruitment within Sweden.
Edholm told reporters, “It is completely unacceptable that people who are ISIS terrorists work in Swedish schools, leisure centers and the like. This should not be allowed to happen.”
She argued that Swedish society has been too naive and called for increased diligence from employers, especially within the education system, to thoroughly screen the backgrounds of potential employees.
She emphasizes the need to collaborate more between the police, social services, and schools.
“The authorities need to work together. We are now looking at how we can break down the secrecy between agencies so that the police, social services and schools can talk to each other without secrecy getting in the way,” she said.
In response to these revelations, an investigation has been announced to further examine the employment of former jihadists in Swedish institutions.