PUK and Swedish Social Democrats Reaffirm Historic Friendship

PUKMEDIA

Salar Mahmoud and Leif Nysmed.

Salar Mahmoud, Head of the Foreign Relations Central Board of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), met with senior Swedish Social Democratic politician Morgan Johansson at the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag).

Johansson, the Swedish Social Democratic Party’s foreign policy spokesperson and Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, welcomed Mahmud’s visit. Discussions covered Sweden’s upcoming general election, scheduled for 13 September, as well as ways to strengthen the longstanding ties between the PUK and the Swedish Social Democratic Party as sister parties.

Johansson reaffirmed his party’s commitment to protecting the rights of refugees in general and the Kurdish diaspora in particular.

Johansson has held several senior ministerial positions across three Swedish governments, including Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Justice and Minister for Migration. He has also served as Deputy Prime Minister and has been a Member of Parliament for 28 years.

During his visit to the Riksdag, Mahmud also met with Leif Nysmed, a Social Democratic MP and Chair of the Sweden-Kurdistan Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Mahmud thanked the group for its continued support for the Kurdish cause, particularly its efforts to secure recognition of the Anfal Genocide by the Swedish Parliament. Both sides stressed the importance of continuing these efforts and promoting dialogue to help prevent future international crimes against the people of Kurdistan.

The discussions also covered the growing presence and influence of the Kurdish diaspora in Sweden, with both sides highlighting its active contribution to Swedish society and the success of Kurdish candidates in securing seats in local councils and parliament.

The Sweden-Kurdistan Parliamentary Friendship Group includes members from all eight parties represented in the Riksdag and closely coordinates its activities with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Representative to Sweden.


PUKMEDIA