Socialdemocrats for Faith and Solidarity (Swedish:Socialdemokrater för tro och solidaritet[sʊsɪˈɑ̂ːldɛmʊˌkrɑːtɛrfœrˈtruːɔ(k)sʊlɪdarɪˈteːt,-fœˈʈruː-]ⓘ), formerly theSwedish Association of Christian Social Democrats (Swedish:Sveriges kristna socialdemokraters förbund, commonly known asBroderskapsrörelsen, "the Brotherhood Movement") organizesreligious members of theSwedish Social Democratic Party. The organization was founded in 1929 as an organization for Christian social democrats. Since 2011, it has been open for members of all religions.[1] It is an associate member of theInternational League of Religious Socialists.
The formerPrime Minister of SwedenGöran Persson is a member of the organization.
The Swedish Association of Christian Social Democrats has received criticism for its cooperation with various allegedIslamist andanti-Zionist groups and people. In November 2005 the organization together with theSocial Democratic Students of Sweden and theMuslim Council of Sweden invited the Palestinian-British academicAzzam Tamimi to hold a speech at a seminar at theStockholm Mosque entitledIslam and Democratic Development (Swedish:Islam och demokratiutveckling).[2] Tamimi has referred toIsrael as a "cancer" and expressed support for the violent struggle ofHamas andHezbollah against Israel.[3]
In March 2007, the Swedish Association of Christian Socialdemocrats together with the workers' educational associationABF and the journalFolket i Bild/Kulturfront invited the Israeli-born activist and musicianGilad Atzmon to hold a speech at a seminar inStockholm entitledIraq, Palestine and Afghanistan: same occupation? (Swedish:Irak, Palestina och Afghanistan: Samma ockupation?). The invitation led to strong criticism from the chairman of theSwedish Committee Against Antisemitism (SKMA), who called Atzmon a "notorious anti-Semite".[4] In a reply, Ulf Carmesund of the Swedish Association of Christian Social Democrats countered that SKMA is on a dangerous path, devaluing the whole concept of antisemitism, when they attempt to apply the term toantizionism. Atzom is critical of Israels policies and of organizations that spuriously support Israel in the name of all Jews.[5] Scholars at Lund University Sameh Egyptson criticize "the Brotherhood Movement" for its cooperation with The Muslim Council of Sweden, SMR over which the Muslim Brotherhood has an influence. In this collaboration, it had been agreed that activists in SMR should be included in social democratic electoral lists for the Swedish parliament, the county council and municipalastes.[6]
In the summer of 2006, the priestTommy Sandberg decided to leave the organization. According to the newspaperDagen, one of the main reasons was that the organization "turns a blind eye to antisemitic occurrences" (Swedish:"ser mellan fingrarna på antisemitiska företeelser".).[7][full citation needed]
