Swedish Association of Christian Social Democrats
Encyclopedia
The Swedish Association of Christian Social Democrats organizes Christian
members of the Swedish Social Democratic Party
. The organization was founded in 1929. It is an associate member of the International League of Religious Socialists
.
The former Prime Minister of Sweden
Göran Persson
is a member of the organization.
groups and people. In November 2005 the organization together with the Social Democratic Students of Sweden
and the Muslim Council of Sweden
invited the Palestinian-British academic Azzam Tamimi
to hold a speech at a seminar at the Stockholm Mosque
entitled Islam and Democratic Development . Tamimi has referred to Israel
as a "cancer" and expressed support for the violent struggle of Hamas
and Hizbollah against Israel.
In March 2007 the Swedish Association of Christan Social Democrats together with the workers' educational association ABF
and the journal Folket i Bild/Kulturfront
invited the Israeli-born activist and musician Gilad Atzmon
to hold a speech at a seminar in Stockholm
entitled Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan: same occupation? . The invitation led to strong criticism from the chairman of the Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism
, who called Atzmon a "notorious anti-Semite".
In the summer of 2006, the priest Tommy Sandberg decided to leave the organization. According to the newspaper Dagen
, one of the main reasons was that the organization "looks between the fingers on antisemitic occurrences" .
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
members of the Swedish Social Democratic Party
Swedish Social Democratic Party
The Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
. The organization was founded in 1929. It is an associate member of the International League of Religious Socialists
International League of Religious Socialists
The International League of Religious Socialists is an umbrella organization of religious socialist movements in political parties throughout the world. Founded in the 1920s, it has member groups in 21 countries totalling 200,000 members...
.
The former Prime Minister of Sweden
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
Göran Persson
Göran Persson
Hans Göran Persson was the Prime Minister of Sweden from 1996 to 2006 and the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1996 to 2007. Conceding defeat in the September 2006 general election, he announced that he would resign as party leader, and Mona Sahlin was elected to succeed him as...
is a member of the organization.
List of chairpersons
- Bertil Mogård, 1929–1954
- Åke Zetterberg, 1954–1968
- Evert Svensson, 1968–1986
- Georg Andersson, 1986–1990
- Torgny Larsson, 1990–1992
- Berndt EkholmBerndt EkholmBerndt Ekholm, born 1944, is a Swedish social democratic politician, member of the Riksdag 1985–2006.-References:...
, 1992–1999 - Anna Berger Kettner, 1999–2005
- Peter Weiderud, 2005–present
Controversy
The Swedish Association of Christian Social Democrats has received criticism for its cooperation with various alleged islamist and antizionistAnti-Zionism
Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionistic views or opposition to the state of Israel. The term is used to describe various religious, moral and political points of view in opposition to these, but their diversity of motivation and expression is sufficiently different that "anti-Zionism" cannot be...
groups and people. In November 2005 the organization together with the Social Democratic Students of Sweden
Social Democratic Students of Sweden
The Social Democratic Students of Sweden is the student organization of the Swedish social democratic party Socialdemokraterna.Created again in 1990, the organisation today has about 1200 members spread out over the country, most of them being students at either universities or poly-technics...
and the Muslim Council of Sweden
Muslim Council of Sweden
The Muslim Council of Sweden is an umbrella organisation of Islamic organisations in Sweden. It was founded in 1990 by representatives of the United Islamic Parishes in Sweden and the Muslim Association of Sweden ....
invited the Palestinian-British academic Azzam Tamimi
Azzam Tamimi
Azzam Tamimi is a British Palestinian academic and political activist. He is currently the director of Institute of Islamic Political Thought in London and appears regularly on al-Jazeera, Press TV and other Arabic and English language television stations, and frequently publishes opinion pieces...
to hold a speech at a seminar at the Stockholm Mosque
Stockholm Mosque
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Mosque , commonly known as the Stockholm Mosque or the Stockholm Grand Mosque , is the largest mosque in Stockholm, Sweden. It is located at Kapellgränd 10, adjacent to the small park Björns trädgård, in the Södermalm district of Stockholm...
entitled Islam and Democratic Development . Tamimi has referred to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
as a "cancer" and expressed support for the violent struggle of Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
and Hizbollah against Israel.
In March 2007 the Swedish Association of Christan Social Democrats together with the workers' educational association ABF
Arbetarnas Bildningsförbund
Arbetarnas bildningsförbund is the educational section of the Swedish labour movement. ABF conducts seminars, classes and study circles on all kinds of subjects, including workshops, languages and music....
and the journal Folket i Bild/Kulturfront
Folket i Bild/Kulturfront
Folket i Bild/Kulturfront is a Swedish magazine for reports, art, literature, debate and culture. It is published by the organization of the same name.- Purpose :The stated aims of the magazine are:...
invited the Israeli-born activist and musician Gilad Atzmon
Gilad Atzmon
Gilad Atzmon is an Israeli-born British jazz saxophonist, novelist, political activist and writer.Atzmon's album Exile was BBC jazz album of the year in 2003. Playing over 100 dates a year, he has been called "surely the hardest-gigging man in British jazz." His albums, of which he has recorded...
to hold a speech at a seminar in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
entitled Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan: same occupation? . The invitation led to strong criticism from the chairman of the Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism
Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism
The Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism is a Sweden-based non-profit organization, founded in 1983, that works to counteract and spread knowledge about antisemitism. The organization claims political and religious independence.-History:...
, who called Atzmon a "notorious anti-Semite".
In the summer of 2006, the priest Tommy Sandberg decided to leave the organization. According to the newspaper Dagen
Dagen (Swedish newspaper)
Dagen is a daily newspaper in Sweden with the expressed purpose of being a Christian voice in the media noise. Its circulation is 18,400 ....
, one of the main reasons was that the organization "looks between the fingers on antisemitic occurrences" .
External links
- Broderskapsrörelsen, official website