The suspect, whose nationality has not been disclosed, is currently being held in custody in Stockholm. The Swedish Prosecution Authority refrained from providing further details about the case, including whether the alleged surveillance targeted Uyghurs living in Sweden or abroad.

Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist stated in an official announcement:

“The man is suspected of having illegally collected information and intelligence on people in the Uyghur environment on behalf of the Chinese intelligence service.”

The Chinese embassy in Sweden responded to Reuters via email, saying it was not aware of the case, and declined to comment further.

While the case remains under investigation, human rights organizations continue to accuse Beijing of extensive repression against Uyghurs in East Turkistan (referred to as Xinjiang in Chinese official discourse).

China has repeatedly denied allegations of abuse, labeling such claims as lies and interference by Western countries.

In 2022, a landmark report by the United Nations stated that China's “arbitrary and discriminatory detention” of Uyghurs and other Muslims in the region could amount to crimes against humanity.

This case also highlights a broader pattern of transnational repression by Beijing. China has been repeatedly accused of monitoring, intimidating, and conducting espionage against diaspora communities — not only Uyghurs but also Tibetans, Hong Kong activists, and other dissident groups living abroad.