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Swedish aid minister faces complaint over Islamic Relief funding cut
🇸🇪 Sweden /Elections & Politics

Swedish aid minister faces complaint over Islamic Relief funding cut

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Swedish aid minister Benjamin Dousa is facing a complaint to the parliamentary ombudsman from the Left Party over his alleged interference in the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency's (Sida) decision to cut funding to Islamic Relief.
  • Dagens Nyheter reported that Dousa, who is critical of Islamic Relief, had private conversations on X with a terror researcher who also opposes the organization, and questioned Sida's decision not to consult Säpo (the Swedish Security Service).
  • Former aid minister Isabella Lövin criticized the government's policy, stating that children in life-threatening situations will no longer receive Swedish aid, and questioned how Dousa can sleep at night.

Sweden's aid minister, Benjamin Dousa, is under fire following a Dagens Nyheter investigation into the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency's (Sida) decision to halt funding for Islamic Relief. The Left Party has filed a complaint with the parliamentary ombudsman, accusing Dousa of improper ministerial influence.

Children in life-threatening situations will no longer receive Swedish aid. I don't understand how Benjamin Dousa can sleep at night.

— Isabella LövinThe former aid minister criticized the government's policy and its impact on aid to vulnerable children.

The controversy centers on Dousa's alleged private communications with Magnus Ranstorp, a terror researcher and Sida board member known for his criticism of Islamic Relief. According to reports, Dousa expressed frustration over Sida's decision to continue funding the organization after it was cleared of extremist ties, writing, "Completely bizarre. I promise to get to the bottom of this." He also inquired whether Sida had consulted the Swedish Security Service (Säpo), which confirmed it had not found any indications of extremist links.

Completely bizarre. I promise to get to the bottom of this.

— Benjamin DousaThe aid minister's private message to then-Director General Jakob Granit after Sida reassessed Islamic Relief's lack of extremist ties.

Former aid minister Isabella Lövin (Green Party) condemned the government's new precautionary principle, which requires Sida to pre-emptively ensure partner organizations have no ties to extremism. "Children in life-threatening situations will no longer receive Swedish aid," Lövin stated, questioning Dousa's conscience. Social Democrat MP Olle Thorell echoed this sentiment, calling the situation "heartless and shameful" and highlighting the contradiction of a minister and Sida board member seemingly celebrating the decision to cut aid while malnourished children face a lack of support.

What has emerged in DN's and ETC's reporting is clearly ministerial rule to me. He has obviously wanted to influence Sida in the decision about Islamic Relief.

— Lotta Johnsson FornarveThe Left Party's spokesperson for aid policy explained why she filed a complaint against the aid minister.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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