The Swedish Foreign Ministry has denied reports that the country's child services had been kidnapping Muslim children, claiming that the disinformation effort was designed to increase societal polarization.

Media outlets reported earlier this week that refugee parents made claims they couldn't visit their children because social services "kidnapped" them.

The Ministry wrote on Twitter that a disinformation campaign was underway on social media platforms "both in Sweden and abroad – alleging that Swedish social services kidnap Muslim children. This information is wrong. It is seriously misleading and aims to create tensions and spread mistrust."

The Ministry admitted that Swedish social services can remove children from parents against their will, yet only if a court order is issued, it claimed, maintaining that the step can only be taken to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of the child and "the working hypothesis is that the child will be reunited with its parents."

The Ministry also advised against believing damaging news designed to "confuse you or increase polarization between various groups."