Excerpt:
Swedish authorities have said they are looking into an Islamic group which is encouraging Muslims in Sweden to abstain from voting in the upcoming election.
The Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir has launched a campaign under the slogan ‘Use your voice – but not in the election’, arguing that it is “sinful” for Muslims to take part in non-Islamic votes.
Sweden’s Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) is monitoring the campaign and has informed the Swedish Election Authority, as well as producing a handbook for communicators in order to help them deal with campaigns urging non-voting, Dagens Nyheter reported.
Kirstine Sinclair, a professor in Middle Eastern studies at the University of Southern Denmark, told the Local the group has carried out similar activities in other countries. They are “well-known in connection with Danish general elections” for example, she said.