Sweden: They burned the Koran outside the Turkish embassy – Anger from Ankara

Sweden-Turkey relations are on a tightrope as on Saturday afternoon, in the context of demonstrations outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, the Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan burned a copy of the Koran.

He claimed that he took this action in order for Sweden to obtain freedom of speech.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he hoped the Swedish authorities would not allow the aforementioned Koran-burning protest rally to take place.

The video (59:17) shows the politician setting fire to the Muslim holy book at today’s event.

Anger from Ankara

This move caused the wrath of Turkey, which condemned the burning of the Koran, characterizing it as a “hate crime”.

“Allowing this anti-Islamic act, which targets Muslims and insults our sacred values, under the guise of ‘freedom of expression’ is completely unacceptable. This is a pure hate crime. We call on the Swedish authorities to take the necessary measures against the perpetrators of this hate crime,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Press Release Regarding the Burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden https://t.co/zKDfN1FiEu pic.twitter.com/wzAb79jlfw

— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) January 21, 2023

In a post on his social media account, the president of MHP Devlet Bakhcelian ally of Erdogan, reacted to the burning of the Koran.

Bakhceli spoke of “treacherous provocations of domestic and foreign origin” and of “a despicable conspiracy and cruel action against the Koran that caused the fury of the Turkish-Islamic world and the end of our patience.”

“The permission of the Swedish administration to a degenerate Danish politician to burn the Koran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm is not only a scandal, but also a clear demonstration and embodiment of brutality and vandalism,” he added.

“Islamophobic provocations are appalling. Sweden has a lot of freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean that the Swedish government, or I, support the views expressed,” he said in a post on Twitter. the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Tobias Billström.

Islamophobic provocations are appalling. Sweden has a far-reaching freedom of expression, but it does not imply that the Swedish Government, or myself, support the opinions expressed.

— Tobias Billström (@TobiasBillstrom) January 21, 2023

Erdogan’s AK Party Vice President and spokesman, Omer Celik, also reacted indignantly: “Allowing the burning of the Koran is a threat to all religions and freedom of belief. Sweden has encouraged the threat to humanity’s most important values.”

Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.