SWEDEN
This is how bad it has got

Negative image of Sweden deters quota refugees - do not want to come here
Published at 070
In 2023, Sweden was supposed to receive just under 1,000 quota refugees, but it turned out to be just over half. The reason was that the image of Sweden discouraged some of the refugees and they preferred to stay in refugee camps.

The Tidö agreement between the government and the Sweden Democrats stipulates that Sweden would receive 900 quota refugees last year, a substantial reduction compared to the 5,000 that the previous red-green government had as an annual target. However, there were only 541.

According to the Migration Agency, the reasons for this are several - partly the increased threat image against Sweden and disinformation campaigns that the Swedish state would kidnap Muslim children, but also the Koran burnings.

- In the situation that arose, we have simply not been able to carry out any work due to the increased level of terrorist threats that have been made, says Oskar Ekblad, head of section at the Migration Agency, to Aftonbladet .

Before quota refugees are taken to Sweden, the Migration Agency and Säpo carry out checks on the persons on the spot, but due to the increased threat to Sweden these could not be carried out. This meant that they instead focused on Syrians in Jordan with the goal that 350 of them would be taken to Sweden. With reference to the image of Sweden, however, some declined the chance to come here.

Focus on the Congo
"Quota refugees to a large extent asked questions about Sweden linked to a negative image of Sweden," it says in the Migration Agency's report for 2023.

According to Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M), everything has been done to reach the target of 900 quota refugees and to improve Sweden's image in the Muslim world.

This year too, the state has a target of 900 quota refugees, but now with a focus on the Congo in particular and women, girls and LGBTQ people.