STOCKHOLM (AP) – Turkey canceled a planned visit by the Swedish defense minister on Saturday in response to anti-Turkish protests that have heightened tensions between the two countries as Sweden seeks Turkey’s approval of NATO membership.
Danish far-right activists, with police permission, protested outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, burning the Koran, the holy book of Islam. Another pro-Kurdish demonstration was scheduled for late Saturday in the Swedish capital.
In response, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that as Sweden continues to allow “disgusting” demonstrations against Turkey, the January 27 visit of his Swedish counterpart Paul Jonsson was “no longer important.” not,’ he said. Mr Johnson tweeted that he had met Mr Akar in Ramstein, Germany on Friday and had “agreed to postpone the meeting with Mr Ankara”.
“Our relationship with Turkey is very important to Sweden and we look forward to continuing our dialogue on common security and defense issues at a later date,” he wrote.
The Swedish government’s efforts to improve relations with Turkey have been complicated by demonstrations by pro-Kurdish activists that have infuriated the Turkish government. On Saturday, anti-Islamic activist Rasmus Pardan staged a protest to burn the Koran in front of the Turkish embassy, heightening tensions.
Surrounded by police, Pardan protested, making derogatory remarks about immigration and Islam. About 100 people gathered nearby for a peaceful counter-demonstration.
In another protest later on Saturday, pro-Kurdish and anti-NATO activists planned to march through downtown Stockholm.
Swedish officials stressed that freedom of expression is guaranteed in Sweden’s constitution, which does not allow incitement to violence or hate speech, but gives people broad rights to express their views in public. Yes, demonstrators must apply to the police for permission to hold public rallies.
Turkish officials condemned the Quran-burning protest on Twitter, and Swedish authorities for allowing it. Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called it a hateful crime against humanity. Ruling party spokesman Omer Celik accused Swedish authorities of protecting hate crimes.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told journalists that attacking the Quran can’t be considered freedom of expression and said he hoped Swedish authorities would cancel the permit for the protest. Erdogan’s nationalist ally, Devlet Bahceli, said parliament wouldn’t ratify Sweden’s NATO membership “under these conditions.”
Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador Friday to condemn the planned protests, saying protests by pro-Kurdish groups linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, would be a violation of the joint memorandum signed between Turkey, Sweden and Finland that prevented a Turkish veto for the Nordic countries’ NATO accession in June. Turkey, the US and the EU consider the PKK to be a terrorist group, and Sweden and Finland have also “confirmed” that classification in their memorandum.
A statue of Erdogan was hung on a lamppost amid Kurdish protests in early January.Turkey condemned the Swedish public prosecutor’s decision not to conduct an investigation, urging Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson to The prime minister described the protests as “an act of sabotage” against Sweden’s bid to join NATO. Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador earlier this week and canceled the visit of the Swedish parliamentary speaker following the incident.
All her NATO member states must ratify Sweden’s and Finland’s applications for membership in their parliaments. This was after Russia’s war with Ukraine forced the Nordic countries to abandon their long-standing non-aligned military policy. Turkey has said it has no objections to NATO’s expansion, but will not ratify the agreement until its demands, including the extradition of terrorist suspects, are met.
