A Swedish appeals court has upheld the guilty verdict of an individual charged with attempting to finance the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). This decision may have implications for Turkey’s consideration of Sweden’s NATO application.
Ankara has repeatedly accused Sweden of sheltering members of militant groups on its soil, asserting that Sweden must take decisive action against these groups before it can gain NATO membership.
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union (to which Sweden belongs), the United States, and Turkey, initiated an armed struggle against the Turkish state in 1984.
Earlier, in July, a lower court sentenced Yahya Gungor, a Turkish Kurd, to four years and six months in prison, followed by deportation. His charges included gun-related crimes, attempted extortion, and efforts to fund terrorism.
The Svea Court of Appeal, echoing the district court’s findings, concluded that Gungor had attempted to coerce a Kurdish businessman in Stockholm into providing financial support to the PKK at gunpoint.
In its statement, the appeals court affirmed the district court’s verdict, with the exception of the deportation ruling, which it nullified. The court explained its decision by stating, “The Court of Appeal … makes the assessment that there will be obstacles to enforcing the deportation once the man has served his sentence.”
Sweden has maintained that it has met the demands outlined in negotiations with Turkey, including the introduction of legislation that criminalizes membership in a terrorist organization.
Recently, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan indicated his intention to submit Sweden’s NATO membership ratification to parliament in the coming autumn. However, he also emphasized that he expects Stockholm to take actions against terrorism in exchange for Turkey’s approval.
Both Sweden and neighboring Finland submitted NATO membership applications last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland successfully joined the alliance in April.
