Sweden’s decision to pay $34,000 to refugees who want to leave the country voluntarily has caused a stir in Afghan media. Ariana News publishes commentary on current affairs.
Last week, the Swedish government said it would increase payments to migrants who agree to leave the country from 10,000 krona ($978) to 350,000 krona ($34,000) and simplify the application process. This decision will take effect in 2026.
Sweden, which has a population of 10.6 million, had more than 250,000 refugees by mid-2023. Outlining the new policy, Sweden’s Migration Minister Johan Forsel He described it as a “paradigm shift.” The country opened its borders widely to refugees of Syrian, Afghan and Iraqi origin in 2015.
Several other European countries already have schemes that pay migrants to return home: around $2,000 in Germany, $2,800 in France, $1,400 in Norway and more than $15,000 in Denmark, according to AFP. However, in Sweden the initiative provoked a strong response among both Swedes and migrants. Here is what they are writing on Swedish social media.
user-cb3l“They will take the money, but they will never leave. It is too late for temporary solutions.”
somali78“I’ll take them and never leave.”
Susann Leinonen“More people are coming to my country for money now and I have to work even harder.”
feather face01“They will take these 34 thousand, leave Sweden and appear in the United Kingdom in a week.”
Tehmudjinkhan2207“I’m Swedish, I don’t understand why we have to throw money at anyone. When you give away money like that, all the scammers in the world will come here to take advantage of it. Criminal groups will easily find ways to abuse this.”
juanmash327“I’m in Africa, once our brothers hear this, you will regret this bad idea, I promise you.”
