Turkiye denounced Sweden after protests in front of its embassy in Stockholm including the burning of a Quran by far-right supporters and a separate demonstration by Kurdish activists.
Al Jazeera reports Ankara said on Saturday it was cancelling a visit by Sweden’s defense minister aimed at overcoming Turkey’s objections to its NATO membership.
Sweden needs Turkey’s backing to gain entry to the military alliance as fears in Europe grow after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Quran burning was carried out by Rasmus Paludan, leader of Danish far-right political party Hard Line. In April last year, Paludan’s announcement of a Quran burning “tour” during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan sparked riots across Sweden.
Surrounded by police, Paludan set fire to the holy book with a lighter outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Saturday following a long diatribe of almost an hour, in which he attacked Islam and immigration in Sweden, according to Al Jazeera. About 100 people reportedly gathered nearby for a peaceful counterdemonstration.
This sparked protests in Istanbul and Ankara on Sunday. The Associated Press (AP) says participants in Sunday’s event carried green flags featuring the Islamic proclamation of faith and banner that said “We condemn Sweden’s state-supported Islamophobia.” A sign on a window of the Swedish Consulate read, “We do not share that book-burning idiot’s view.”
The protests have reportedly renewed concerns about Turkey holding up Sweden and Finland’s bid to join NATO. Turkiye has not yet ratified the Nordic nations’ memberships in the military alliance, saying Sweden needs to address Ankara’s security concerns.
According to AP, Turkish officials slammed Sweden for allowing the Quran-burning protest but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not comment on it during his weekend speeches.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reportedly tweeted late Saturday that freedom of expression was crucial to democracy but added that “what is legal is not necessarily appropriate.”
Several Arab countries – including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait – also denounced the Quran-burning.
