According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sweden cannot count on Turkey’s support for NATO membership after the Quran was burned in Stockholm. “If you don’t show respect for the Turkish Republic or the religious beliefs of Muslims, then you can’t get any support from us in terms of NATO,” Erdogan said in Ankara on Monday.
NATO member Turkey has been blocking Sweden and Finland’s accession to the defense alliance for months. Turkey, in particular, accuses Sweden of supporting “terrorist organisations” such as the outlawed Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK and is demanding the extradition of a number of people Ankara considers terrorists. All 30 NATO members must ratify applications for NATO membership, 28 have already done so – only Turkey and Hungary are still missing.
Erdogan doll hanged in Stockholm
Protests in Sweden recently led to renewed problems with Turkey. Activists in central Stockholm, among other things, hung a doll from his feet that resembled Erdogan, prompting an angry reaction from Ankara. On Saturday, a Danish-born Islamophobic politician and provocateur added fuel to the fire by burning a Koran on Saturday at a police-sanctioned gathering near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. The move was a “disgrace,” Erdogan said.
The Swedish government had distanced itself from both this action and the Erdogan doll incident, but referred to the freedom of expression that applies in Sweden. “Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Twitter following the Quran burning. “But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. Burning books that are sacred to many is a most disrespectful act.”
Tensions rose
This strengthened the already strained relations between the two countries. Sweden applied to join NATO in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. For this to happen, all 30 member states must agree.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
