In a fiery speech delivered in the Swedish Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch ignited a heated debate on cultural integration, declaring that Islam must adapt to Swedish values. Busch, who also serves as the Minister for Energy, Business, and Industry, stated, “Muslims who do not integrate should leave this country,” while condemning practices such as honor killings, clan structures, beheadings, the stoning of women, and Sharia law as incompatible with Swedish society.
The remarks, made during a parliamentary session on April 6, were shared widely on social media, including a post by Dr. Maalouf on X, which featured an image of Busch speaking at a podium adorned with the Swedish coat of arms. The post, timestamped at 19:20 UTC, quickly garnered attention, with reactions ranging from support to skepticism.
Busch’s statement comes amid growing concerns over honor-related violence in Sweden, a topic that has been in the public eye since the high-profile honor killings of Sara Abed Ali in 1996, Pela Atroshi in 1999, and Fadime Sahindal in 2002. According to a Wikipedia entry on honor-related violence in Sweden, the Swedish Police Authority began specifically tracking such crimes in 2019, reporting 4,500 suspected cases by November 2021. A 2020 government report further highlighted that young women, men, and LGBTQ individuals are the primary targets of honor-related violence, which includes forced marriages, female genital mutilation, and other forms of coercion.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s comments reflect a broader tension in Sweden, a country known for its humanitarian values but grappling with the challenges of integrating a growing immigrant population. A 2022 Brookings report on the rise of the Sweden Democrats, a nationalist party, noted increasing Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslim immigrants, particularly following the 2015 refugee crisis. The report highlighted how the crisis has been leveraged by populist movements to critique the government’s immigration policies, a sentiment echoed in Busch’s speech.
Reactions to Busch’s statement on X were mixed. User Anthony Humpage (@anthonyhumpage) replied, “Bit late for that now, Madam, don’t you think?” suggesting that integration challenges may already be deeply entrenched. Meanwhile, @Road_Warrior_X1 shared a quote attributed to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, stating, “Islam is not a religion of peace, it’s a political theory of conquest that seeks domination by any means it can,” amplifying the sentiment behind Busch’s remarks.
Others, like @harukaawake, emphasized the need for Sweden to prioritize national security, while @Happytrundling expressed full support for Busch, stating, “She’s 100% .” However, @KeenHisAndHers raised a practical concern, asking, “They won’t adapt. Then what?” alongside images of Muslim community members at various events, hinting at the complexity of enforcing such a policy.
Busch, who has been an active figure in Sweden’s government, recently represented the country at the UN Summit of the Future in New York in September 2024, where Sweden played a key role in negotiating the Global Digital Compact, according to a Government.se press release. Her latest remarks, however, shift focus to domestic cultural debates, raising questions about the future of Sweden’s multicultural policies and the balance between national values and immigrant integration.
As the debate unfolds, Busch’s speech underscores the ongoing struggle to address honor-related violence and cultural integration in Sweden, a nation at a crossroads between its humanitarian legacy and rising nationalist sentiments.
