Björn Söder’s speech at the seminar Uzbekistan’s Experience Countering Religious Extremism, promoting Interreligious Dialogue, and Reintegrating Former Members of International Terrorist Organizations in the Swedish Parliament on March 24, 2026
Members of parliament,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
A very warm welcome to the Swedish Parliament and to this highly important and timely seminar.
Let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation for the great interest we see here today. It clearly demonstrates that the issues we are gathered to discuss – religious extremism, interreligious dialogue, and reintegration – are not only relevant, but truly essential for the future of our societies.
We live in a time when borders are becoming less distinct – not only for trade and communication, but also for threats. Extremist ideologies, often with religious overtones, spread rapidly, recruit effectively, and influence people far beyond the regions where they originally emerged.
This is not a problem confined to one region. It is a shared challenge.
Sweden, like many other countries, has experienced this firsthand. We have seen how individuals become radicalized, how they are drawn into violent extremist environments, and how this, in the worst cases, leads to acts of terrorism that strike at the very heart of our open society.
We have also suffered from terrorism ourselves. One of the most tragic examples is the attack in Stockholm in 2017, carried out by an individual of Uzbek origin. It is an event that has left deep marks on our society.
At the same time, it is important to be clear: the actions of a single individual must never define an entire country or its people.
And that is precisely why today’s seminar is so important.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has undertaken significant reforms and taken decisive steps to counter religious extremism. Efforts have been made to strengthen freedom of religion and belief, to promote dialogue between different faiths, and – importantly – to develop concrete mechanisms for the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals previously involved in extremist environments.
These are not easy issues. They concern people, identity, and belonging – and, in many cases, the challenge of breaking deeply rooted destructive patterns.
But they also concern something greater.
They concern the kind of societies and world we want to build.
Do we want a world where people are driven apart – where mistrust, fear, and extremism take hold?Or do we want a world founded on respect, dialogue, and responsibility?
I believe the answer is clear to all of us here.
But the path forward requires effort. It requires courage. And it requires a willingness to learn from one another.
And in this regard, I believe Sweden has much to gain from listening to and learning from Uzbekistan’s experiences.
We must dare to ask questions:
What has worked?
What challenges have been encountered?
Which methods have proven effective in preventing radicalization – and in helping individuals return to a normal life?
It is through this exchange of experiences that real progress is made.
I would also like to emphasize the importance of interreligious dialogue. Regardless of which faith we belong to – or whether we belong to any at all – we share a common responsibility to stand against extremist distortions of religion and belief.
Extremism often grows where knowledge is lacking and where people are set against one another.
Dialogue, on the other hand, builds bridges.
And it is through these bridges that we can foster understanding, respect, and ultimately a more peaceful world.
It is therefore of great value that we have gathered here today representatives from different religious communities, academia, authorities, politics, and civil society.
I would also like to particularly acknowledge the personal testimonies we will hear today. Experiences from individuals who have themselves been part of extremist environments and have successfully reintegrated into society are invaluable. They provide insights that no report or analysis can fully replace.
Finally:
This seminar is not only an opportunity to listen – it is an opportunity to reflect, to challenge our own perspectives, and to strengthen our shared efforts against extremism.
At its core, this is about something very simple – yet profoundly difficult:
To build a world where people can live together in freedom, security, and mutual respect.
With those words, let me once again thank all participants – and especially our guests from Uzbekistan – for being here and sharing your experiences.
I look forward to a very insightful and inspiring seminar.
Thank you – and once again, a very warm welcome.
