Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that the statements of his ally, the leader of the "Sweden Democrats" party, Jimmie Åkesson, calling for stopping the construction of mosques and demolishing some of them, are "disrespectful and increase division."

Ulf Kristersson condemned the leader of the far-right party supporting his government after he called for the demolition of some mosques.

The leader of the "Sweden Democrats" party, Jimmie Åkesson, called for "confiscating some mosques and leveling them to the ground" during a speech at his party's annual conference last Saturday, saying: "We must start confiscating and demolishing mosques where propaganda hostile to democracy, Sweden, homosexuals, and Jews is spread or generally misleading."

Kristersson, whose coalition government does not include the "Sweden Democrats" party but relies on its support, also described the statements as "lacking respect."

He affirmed: "I think it is a disrespectful way of expressing oneself that stirs polarization.. and it misrepresents what Sweden stands for internationally."

Åkesson's speech sparked anger in Sweden and abroad and forced Kristersson to issue a statement emphasizing the "constitutionally guaranteed right to religious freedom" in Sweden. He explained: "We in Sweden do not demolish places of worship.. As a society, we must resist violent extremism whatever its justification, but we will do so within the framework of a democratic state and the rule of law."

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister from the "Social Democratic" party, Magdalena Andersson, called on the current prime minister to "dismiss all 'Sweden Democrats' party officials working in government offices in Stockholm."

She said via the "X" platform that "this kind of statements harms Sweden's image and does not facilitate our NATO membership request, and exacerbates polarization in our country," pointing out that making such statements reflects "a disregard for prioritizing the security and safety of Sweden and the Swedish people."