The “Kurdish Fox” Extradition Dilemma
Ever heard of Rawa Majid, but perhaps know him better as the “Kurdish Fox”? Majid’s name is not unknown for those with an eye on Swedish crime news. He’s allegedly leading the notorious Fox network, a criminal organization linked to multiple serious instances of violence from his comfort zone in Turkey, where he holds citizenship. The heat on the Swedish government is rising to pressurize Turkey into handing him over.
However, it seems simpler than done. Michael Sahlin, ex-Swedish Ambassador to Turkey, delves into reasons why we probably won’t see the “Kurdish Fox” back in Sweden anytime soon.
Kurdish Fox: A Turkish Citizen
Why won’t Turkey extradite Majid? The answer is citizenship and some big buck deals associated with it. Sahlin explains that similar to Sweden, Turkey refrains from extraditing its citizens. But, there’s a twist in the Turkish side of the story.
“For national economic reasons, Turkey offers an opportunity to invest a certain amount of money and acquire citizenship.” – Michael Sahlin
This clever financial tactic transforms wealthy individuals, like Majid, into Turkish citizens. Bucking this trend by handing Majid over would in effect hurt this lucrative business idea.
Who is Rawa Majid? Quick Recap
For those not in the loop, Majid, aka the “Kurdish Fox”, is suspected of playing a pivotal role in Sweden’s ongoing gang violence. His Fox network is engaged in several public shootings, murders, and other violent incidents. Apart from being an alleged kingpin, Majid is also under suspicion for drug trafficking within Sweden. His infamous story began in Uppsala, where he was born in 1986, but took a turn towards criminality later in life.
Turkey’s Possible Bargaining Chip
Sahlin goes further in his analysis, indicating that Majid’s extradition issue might be seen as a trading chip by Turkey, considering Sweden’s ongoing NATO membership negotiation. Given this backdrop, it’s unlikely that Turkey would forfeit their hold on Majid, a bargaining asset, without gaining any significant conditions in return.
Police Cooperation: The Way Forward?
Sweden’s Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, recently addressed this issue, subtly shifting focus from extradition to enhanced police cooperation between countries.
>”It underlines the need for police authorities and security police to cooperate between countries to access criminals regardless of which country they direct their crime from.” – Ulf Kristersson
Sahlin agrees with Kristersson, viewing it primarily as a policing issue while acknowledging the politics intertwined with it. Nevertheless, for Sweden, the pressing question remains – Why isn’t the “Kurdish Fox” being tried in Turkey? As Sahlin hints, political manipulation might be the answer.
