Swedish banks close business accounts of Suryoye in Södertälje

SÖDERTÄLJE, Sweden — Bank accounts associated with businesses owned by Suryoye (Syriacs-Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) in the Swedish city Södertälje have, since the start of 2022, reportedly been blocked, suspended or closed with no clear reason provided to the account holders. No official comment has been issued by the banks, only replying that the action was done at the request of the police or that the accounts were supposedly engaged in money laundering. The number of blocked or closed bank accounts this year is reportedly in the hundreds.

Of the city’s 100,000 residents, more than 35,000 are Suryoye (Syriacs-Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans), many of them independent business owners.

Two Syriacs, Mousa Kerimo and Andriyas Nayis, who own real estate and rental businesses in Södertälje demanded answers from the banks about the recent and arbitrary decision against their businesses. In comments to our news desk, they said that they would not terminate the relation with their bank until they received an answer from the authorities about this decision.

They stated that they had nothing to hide regarding their business and were given little information about the suspension or closure of their accounts. They also stated that they will follow up on this case until they receive a convincing answer. The bank reportedly pledged to discuss the matter with them.

Mousa Kerimo and Andriyas Nayis stressed that they had not committed any violation and reached out to the media after the bank failed to adequately answer their questions.