The motion was submitted by Assyrian MPs Yusuf Aydin and Paul Sabo, alongside their fellow party member Magnus Jacobsson. The initiative seeks to make the persecution of Christians a greater priority in Swedish policy and strengthen the country's role in defending freedom of religion and belief at the European and international levels.
Registered in the Swedish Parliament under number 2026/27:260, the motion -- Protecting Christians Around the World -- and was submitted on 5 November. It outlines four main demands, calling on the Swedish government to take concrete action against religious persecution rather than limiting its response to political statements and declarations.
The MPs' first demand is the adoption of a comprehensive national action plan to combat the persecution of Christians. The plan would include measures to reduce discrimination, violence, and other violations targeting Christians, both in Sweden and around the world.
They also called on the government to work through the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) to oppose laws criminalizing blasphemy and the imposition of the death penalty for changing one's religious beliefs. They further urged action against other forms of persecution and repression targeting individuals because of their religious affiliation.
The motion also addresses the protection of converts to Christianity during asylum proceedings in Sweden. It calls for stronger legal safeguards to ensure that their applications are assessed fairly and that they are not subjected to discrimination or deported to countries where they could face persecution because of their beliefs.
In support of their demands, the MPs cited data from Open Doors, which indicates that more than 388 million Christians worldwide face severe persecution and discrimination because of their faith. According to figures cited in the motion, the organization also documented the killing of 4,849 Christians because of their religious beliefs and attacks on 3,632 churches and Christian buildings during the period covered by its 2026 report.
The motion noted that attacks on churches, forced displacement and the targeting of people because of their religious affiliation continue to threaten the survival of Christian communities in several parts of the world. These threats are particularly acute in countries where Christian populations have declined as a result of war, persecution, and instability.
The demands are particularly significant for historic Christian communities in the Middle East, including Assyrians, who have endured successive waves of violence and displacement over recent decades, particularly in Syria and Iraq. Armed conflicts and extremist attacks have contributed to declining populations and a shrinking presence in their historic homelands.
The motion not only calls for the protection of Christians abroad but also raises questions about whether Sweden's asylum procedures and domestic legal policies are consistent with its international obligations concerning freedom of religion and belief and human rights.
The initiative comes amid efforts within the Swedish Parliament to give greater attention to religious persecution in discussions on foreign policy and human rights. However, the motion remains a parliamentary initiative, and the implementation of its proposals will depend on the outcome of parliamentary proceedings and the government's response.
Through this initiative, the MPs are presenting the Swedish government with demands that go beyond simply condemning persecution. They are calling for a practical framework combining diplomatic action, legal protection and international accountability to ensure that Christians can freely practice their faith and live in safety and dignity.
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