Turkey is very unhappy that the far-right politician Rasmus Paludan was given permission to hold a demonstration outside the Turkish embassy in Sweden’s capital. It was expected that he would try to burn a Koran – something he has also done on previous occasions. Paludan said during the demonstration that he is “against violence” and is critical of being called a “right-wing extremist”. Photo: Joakim Registad / news The police were in place at the embassy in Diplomatstaden with large resources. There were few counter-protesters present. After giving a speech, Paludan set fire to a Koran. During the demonstration, Paludan said that he is “against violence” and critical of being called a “right-wing extremist”. – It is not particularly right-wing extremist to think that you must follow the Danish and Swedish constitutions. Claims it could have consequences The Turkish parliament will not approve Sweden’s NATO application under these conditions, says Devlet Bahceli after the demonstration. He is the leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and one of President Tayyip Erdogan’s supporters. Bahceli (left) is one of President Tayyip Erdogan’s supporters. Photo: ADEM ALTAN / AFP Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for the Turkish president, told the state channel in Turkey: – Attacks on sacred values are modern barbarism. To allow this action is to promote Islamophobia. The leader of the Turkish opposition party CHP, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, also reacts to the Koran burning: – We are well aware of the purpose of this lack of respect, which will harm billions of Muslims. I curse this fascism, which is the pinnacle of hate crime, he writes on Twitter. Canceled official visit Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson was scheduled to visit the Turkish capital next Friday after being invited by Akar. – At the present time, Jonson’s visit to Turkey on 27 January has lost its meaning, so we have canceled the visit, says Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. The reason must be Rasmus Paludan’s protest in Stockholm. Sweden’s Minister of Defense Pål Jonson Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB Early on Saturday, Pål Jonson also confirmed that the meeting in Turkey will not happen: – Yesterday I met my Turkish colleague Hulusi Akar at the American military base in Ramstein, Germany. We decided to postpone the planned meeting in Ankara until further notice, Jonson wrote on Twitter. The canceled state visit would have been the first meeting between Sweden and Turkey at ministerial level after last week’s diplomatic crisis. It arose when a doll depicting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was hung outside Stockholm City Hall. A doll depicting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was hung outside Stockholm City Hall. Photo: TWITTER @REALROJKOM / Reuters – Bottoms in Turkey’s deep insecurity Turkey expert Einar Wigen believes that Sweden’s NATO membership is now in danger because Erdogan and Turkey will constantly assert themselves. – It is rooted in Turkey’s deep insecurity about its place in the world, where the slightest insult must be dealt with harshly. Paradoxically, this constant overreaction makes Turkey’s position in the world far more precarious, as they become unreliable partners for other countries. The Middle East professor says that the Turkish authorities are free to react as they wish, when the provocation cannot be linked to the Swedish government. – When Turkey chooses to create diplomatic crises out of marginal groups’ political stunts, it is part of the negotiations on Swedish NATO membership, and Turkey’s need to appear strong, he says. More demonstrations 500-600 participants are also expected at a separate demonstration in Stockholm to protest against Sweden’s NATO application and show support for the Kurds. In addition, a group of pro-Turkish protesters, the Union of European Turkish Democrats, has been given permission to gather outside the embassy.
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Turkey’s foreign minister hopes Sweden will prevent Koran burning – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
