Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM457
2009-07-23 15:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

BETTER TO JOIN AL-SHABAAB THAN DRINK BEER IN THE

Tags:  PTER PINR PREL SO EUN SW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4835
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DE RUEHSM #0457/01 2041513
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231513Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4558
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000457 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2019
TAGS: PTER PINR PREL SO EUN SW
SUBJECT: BETTER TO JOIN AL-SHABAAB THAN DRINK BEER IN THE
METRO

Classified By: PolCouns Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000457

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2019
TAGS: PTER PINR PREL SO EUN SW
SUBJECT: BETTER TO JOIN AL-SHABAAB THAN DRINK BEER IN THE
METRO

Classified By: PolCouns Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Summary: Sweden was recently the target of a
recruiting visit by an al-Shabaab spiritual leader, Xasaan
Xussen, and a counter-visit by the Somali Minister of
Justice, Abdirahman Janaqoo. The MFA and security service
are concerned about the radicalization of Swedish-Somali
youth by al-Shabaab, especially given the low assimilation
rate of the Somali diaspora. There are currently around 20
known Swedish-born freedom fighters with al-Shabaab in
Somalia; some have died fighting. End Summary.


2. (U) Xasaan Xussen, a known spiritual leader for the Somali
terrorist organization al-Shabaab, spoke at a conference in
the Bellevue Mosque in Gothenburg on July 2-5, according to
the press and MFA. Xussen, who resides in Kenya, traveled on
a Kenyan passport to Sweden, Norway and Finland. At the
time, the MFA did not know which Schengen country issued the
visa, but it allowed him to transit all three Nordics without
going through immigration checks. The EU and UN do not list
al-Shabaab as terrorist organizations.


3. (U) The Bellevue Mosque is one of the largest mosques in
Gothenburg, with about 5,000 members, and the majority of its
members are of Somali origin, according to the local press.
The mosque was previously investigated by SAPO, the Swedish
Security Police, for receiving funds from al-Haramein, a
Saudi-based religious charity designated by the UN as a
terrorist organization. Miras Bektasevic, a Swedish-Bosnian
who was convicted of terrorist crimes in Sarajevo in 2007,
reportedly visited the mosque in the past.


4. (U) The Swedish Security Police, SAPO, publicly announced
it was aware of Xussen's visit. Malena Rembe, Chief Analyst
at the Counter-Terrorism Unit, said it is "highly unusual"
for persons spreading that kind of message to come to Sweden
and speak openly. According to Rembe, Xussen is very
controversial in the Muslim community, particularly among
Somali-Swedes, and there is concern among the Somali diaspora
that Xussen visited Sweden to recruit young people and
collect money for al-Shabaab. While al-Shabaab is not active

in Sweden, according to SAPO, there are currently around 20
Swedish citizens in Somalia fighting for al-Shabaab and a
handful of persons with Swedish passports have been killed
there. So far the organization's attacks have been focused on
targets in Somalia, but the group has threatened to attack an
individual in Sweden, Rembe said.


5. (C) In a July 17 meeting with poloffs, Ambassador Marika
Fahlen, Director of the MFA's West Africa and Horn of Africa
Department, said the Swedish government is watching closely
al-Shabaab activity in Sweden. There are about 25,000
Somalis living in Sweden, of whom 8,000 are citizens. Fahlen
said a large percentage of the Somali diaspora are
Swedish-born minors. Sweden has "failed at integrating"
Somalis into society, she lamented. The Somali community has
the lowest assimilation rate of all immigrant communities in
Sweden. There is a high rate of unemployment among young
adults and, according to Fahlen, some parents would rather
see their sons "fighting for al-Shabaab and the homeland than
drinking beer in the metro." The Somali diaspora is poorly
integrated in Swedish society--it has the lowest percentage
of entrepreneurs among immigrant groups.


6. (C) Due to great concern over Xussen's recruiting visit,
supporters of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
immediately brought Somali Justice Minister Abdirahman
Janaqoo and two parliamentarians to Sweden. Janaqoo
denounced al-Shabaab recruitment and warned young people not
to travel to Somalia. The Justice Minister made public
appearances at a mosque in central Sweden and at a Somali
community organization outside of Stockholm, and he held
meetings with Swedish officials. Fahlen said Janaqoo's visit
was also part of an effort to collect money to support the
TFG. The TFG depends on remittances, she said, estimating
the international total to range between $1.2 and 1.7 million
annually.

Taking Swedish Concerns to the U.S. and EU
--------------


7. (SBU) Fahlen said she was involved with the drafting of
the EU policy statement on Somalia, which should be presented
on July 27 during the GAERC. She remarked that it was
difficult to incorporate language in the statement that both
committed resources to engaging members of the Somalia
diaspora productively and, at the same time, prevented the
diaspora from doing "bad things." Fahlen also remarked that
her recent meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary for African
Affairs Johnnie Carson had been "extremely beneficial."

STOCKHOLM 00000457 002 OF 002


Fahlen plans to visit Washington in September, and would
appreciate appropriate meetings. She also expressed strong
interest in further developing the visitor program between
the Somali diaspora in Minneapolis and in Sweden, initiated
by Embassy Stockholm in 2007, to address integration
struggles.
SILVERMAN