ISTANBUL—Following weekend protests in Stockholm by anti-Islamic activists and pro-Kurdish groups, Turkey’s president on Monday warned Sweden not to expect support from Sweden to join a military alliance, followed by NATO. It raises serious questions about expansion.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the Quran-burning protests of Rasmus Pardan on Saturday, saying it was an insult to everyone, especially Muslims. It was particularly outraged by Swedish officials who allowed it to take place outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
“It is clear that those who allowed such despicable acts to take place in front of our embassy cannot expect charity from us regarding the NATO membership application,” Erdogan said of the weekend protests. As mentioned in the first comment, Sweden allowed the Pardan demonstration.
Just as Sweden and Finland emerged at the forefront of NATO membership after Russia’s war against Ukraine and the withdrawal of their longstanding policy of military non-alignment, the burning of the Qur’an has turned people across Turkey’s political circles. pissed off.
Erdogan also criticized Sweden for allowing pro-Kurdish protests, where demonstrators waving flags of Kurdish groups. The Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) has been in rebellion against Turkey for decades. The PKK is considered a terrorist group in Turkey, the European Union and the United States, but its symbol is not banned in Sweden.
“So you will allow terrorist organizations to rampage in your boulevards and streets and count on our support for NATO membership. He said that if Sweden did not show respect to NATO members Turkey and Muslims, “they will not get any support from us on NATO issues.”
Ah joint memorandum Turkey, Sweden and Finland circumvented a veto to Turkey’s membership at NATO’s Madrid summit signed in June, confirming the PKK as a terrorist organization and pledging to stop its activities. Continued protests have enraged Ankara, which said Sweden must address Turkey’s security concerns and demands that the Turkish parliament ratify NATO’s demands. there is
“If they love members of terrorist organizations or enemies of Islam so much, I encourage them to mention their own country’s security,” he added. Hundreds of pro-Kurdish protesters Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walked over a photo of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, and a statue of Erdogan was hung on a lamppost at an earlier protest. Turkish officials canceled the bilateral meeting in response.
Swedish officials say freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Swedish constitution, which does not allow incitement to violence or hate speech, but gives people broad rights to express their views publicly. Emphasizes. Demonstrators must apply to the police for permission to hold public gatherings. Police can only deny such permits for exceptional reasons, such as risks to public safety. Swedish officials have said freedom of expression is essential to democracy, and have criticized Pardan’s actions as disrespectful and something they disagree with.
An anti-Muslim activist of both Danish and Swedish citizenship, Pardan founded political parties in both countries that failed to win seats in national, regional or local elections. In last year’s Swedish parliamentary elections, his party received just 156 votes nationwide. His burning of the Qur’an sparked protests in Turkey over the weekend, with demonstrators burning his picture and Swedish flags.
