The Swedish government has been accused of trying to “outlaw poverty” after it presented plans for a national begging ban.
The centre-right coalition, backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats, has announced a nine-month inquiry into the implementation of a national begging ban, saying that if it is deemed feasible such a prohibition could become law.
At a press conference on Monday, the Sweden Democrats group leader, Linda Lindberg, took aim at people she claimed were coming from other EU countries “to beg outside our shops”. Sweden could not, she said, act as “Europe’s conscience”.
But Stockholms Stadsmission, a Christian social organisation working with vulnerable people in the capital, condemned the move. Fanny Siltberg, a spokesperson, said: “To ban begging, or to require permission to beg, is just shifting the problem in a futile attempt to outlaw poverty.”
She added: “Instead, we believe that this group’s vulnerability can be reduced through structural poverty reduction and work against discrimination – both in home countries and within the EU. It is long-term work. In the meantime, society needs to take responsibility, for example offering paths into the workplace and housing market and in that way reduce the social vulnerability of these people.”
Aida Samani, the deputy legal director of the human rights organisation Civil Rights Defenders, said the government could face legal action if it goes ahead with the proposal.
“It is remarkable that the government is prioritising this in a situation that they themselves describe as a crisis of organised and violent crime,” she said. “Then there is the question of the lawfulness of a ban. As far as I can see a national ban on begging would most likely not be lawful.”
Banning begging, she added, would contravene the right to a private life and freedom of expression as expressed in the European convention on human rights, enshrined in the Swedish constitution.
The government said that begging has risen in Sweden since the early 2010s. Samani, however, questioned the extent to which begging is a problem for the country..
Civil Rights Defenders said it would be monitoring the situation and could mount a legal challenge if it becomes law.
The proposed begging ban is part of an overall shift towards “more oppressive policies” in criminal and migration policy, Samani said, and of “disregarding human rights and freedoms”.
The proposal, which has been in the works since the formation of the government two years ago, has already caused disagreement within the coalition of the Moderates, the Liberals and the Christian Democrats.
Anna Starbrink, a Liberal MP, wrote on Facebook: “I will not contribute to the introduction of such a ban. Of course, measures are needed to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people. But people in need cannot be forbidden from asking for help.”
The Sweden Democrats provide outside support to the government.
