Monitoring Desk
STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s foreign ministry on Saturday warned Swedes in Turkiye to avoid crowds and demonstrations following protests over the burning of the Qur’an by a far-right politician in Stockholm last week.
Last week Turkiye suspended talks with Finland and Sweden on their applications to join NATO after the demonstration at which Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Hard Line political party, burned a copy of the Qur’an outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
Rasmus Paludan’s actions have led to demonstrations in several Muslim countries and Turkiye.
“Swedes in Turkiye are asked to stay updated on the development of events and to prevent demonstrations and large gatherings,” the foreign ministry said.
Demonstration expected outside Sweden embassy in Ankara
“Continued demonstrations are expected outside the Sweden embassy in Ankara and the consulate general in Istanbul in the next few days.”
After Rasmus Paludan’s protest, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he supported freedom of speech.
Finland and Sweden applied last year to join NATO after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
They need support from the NATO military alliance. Turkiye has said Sweden, in particular, must first take a more clear stance against what it sees as terrorists for it to back NATO membership for the two Nordic countries.
