Mikail Yüksel
Mikail Yüksel is a Swedish politician of Turkish origin, founder and leader of Partiet Nyans. He is widely acknowledged for his skill as a communicator and for mobilising voices in Swedish politics that previously had limited representation. According to commentary in the Swedish press, he has the ability to articulate complex issues of integration, discrimination and minority rights in a manner that resonates with voters.
Yüksel was born in Kulu, Turkey, and immigrated to Sweden in 2001. He worked in a variety of jobs — including dishwasher, pizza maker, taxi driver, warehouse worker and IT technician — before entering university studies. His background gives him a perspective of both lived experience and academic training. He later studied political science and public administration at the University of Gothenburg.
Political career
Yüksel entered formal politics via the Centre Party but was excluded in August 2018 amid allegations of links to the Turkish ultranationalist organisation Grey Wolves. In 2019 he founded the party Partiet Nyans and became its leader. The party presents itself primarily as an advocate for Muslims and other minority groups in Sweden, focusing on issues such as discrimination, social inclusion and the rights of families under Sweden’s child protection system.
Advocacy and positions
Yüksel has garnered attention as an outspoken voice on Islamophobia and minority rights in Sweden. He and his party have called for stronger legal protections against hate crimes targeting Muslims and have intervened in public debates about acts they consider provocative, such as Quran burnings. Under his leadership, the party has also highlighted alleged misuse of Sweden’s child protection law in cases affecting Muslim families.
Controversies
Yüksel has been criticised for statements perceived as sympathetic to certain Turkish national‑political positions. In particular, his avoidance of the term “genocide” when discussing the 1915 Armenian killings has been noted by Swedish media. During the 2023 Israel–Hamas conflict, Yüksel and his party drew attention for suggesting that Hamas be removed from the EU terrorist list — a stance that triggered substantial criticism from Swedish political commentators.