There is an increasing amount of material in the information space alleging the systematic removal of children by the juvenile justice system from the families of Muslim refugees and even legalized Muslim immigrants in Sweden. The issue is important, so we cannot and will not ignore it.
Let’s start with the fact that this problem has two aspects — the attitude towards youth policy in general and what is happening in Sweden specifically. Regarding the first aspect, the way modern states treat children, especially their compulsory integration, such as compulsory education in state schools, vaccination, etc., is not inherent in Islamic society. This is especially true of the practice of removing children from their families on the basis of an expanded list of reasons. That is, not because their lives or health are at risk or they are exposed to sexual violence, but because they perform poorly in school, live in uncomfortable conditions, etc. This also applies to the removal of children from religious or simply conservative families because they receive a traditional rather than a «modern» education, including in matters of gender and relationships.
As for Sweden, some of our readers live in that country, so we decided to find out what is happening there. Is the information being actively discussed a real problem, or is it a media and public campaign with unclear political goals? Our trusted source, who knows the Swedish juvenile justice system well, assures us that the information being circulated is extremely biased and gives readers and viewers an extremely one-sided picture. On the other hand, journalistic ethics do not allow us to simply dismiss such reports. Ideally, a full journalistic investigation should be conducted on the ground, meeting with all interested parties and understanding their arguments. We do not have the financial resources to do this, but if someone were to sponsor such a project, we would be willing to take it on.
But another question arises — why are the authorities of those countries, whose state media are currently covering this issue extensively, with a certain angle, not taking it seriously? For example, Qatar, whose «Al Jazeera,» or Turkey, whose TRT, do it? If there is even a possibility that what their state media is reporting is true, why don’t they seek official clarification from the Swedish authorities? For example, with the Uyghurs in China, the Turkish authorities did just that — they asked for clarification and were offered to send their official representatives to see everything on the ground. It is true that in China they are completely isolated from reliable sources of information, but Sweden is not a totalitarian China. No one can prevent Qatari or Turkish representatives from meeting with local parents and children and gathering the necessary information.
Finally, we call on the Muslim community to seek concrete results on such important issues, rather than just rhetoric and reassurances. If there is indeed lawlessness against Muslim families in Sweden, where they are deprived of their children on religious grounds, then after confirming the truth, it is necessary to trumpet it to the world and demand international action against this country. And if it ignores it, like China with the Uyghurs, then the question of evacuating these families should be raised, which should be carried out by the authorities of developed Muslim countries. When it comes to distortion and one-sided reporting, it is necessary to identify those responsible and give an objective assessment of the situation there.
Muslim children are a serious matter, and therefore the reporting of this issue and the response to it should be taken seriously.