Türkiye strongly condemns ‘vile attack’ against Quran in Sweden

Türkiye has strongly condemned the burning of the Quran in entrance of its embassy in Sweden’s Stockholm.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the vile attack on our holy book, the Quran, in Sweden today, despite our repeated warnings earlier,” a press release by the Turkish Foreign Ministry mentioned.

“Permitting this anti-Islam act, which targets Muslims and insults our sacred values, under the guise of ‘freedom of expression’ is completely unacceptable. This is an outright hate crime.”

The burning of Islam’s holy e book happened beneath the safety of Swedish police.

Türkiye referred to as on Swedish authorities to take obligatory measures in opposition to the perpetrators of the hate crime, additional inviting all nations in addition to worldwide organisations to take concrete steps in solidarity in opposition to anti-Muslim hate.

“This despicable act is yet another example of the alarming level that Islamophobia and racist and discriminatory movements have reached in Europe,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry mentioned.

READ MORE: Türkiye summons Swedish envoy over permission to burn Quran in Stockholm

‘Crime in opposition to humanity’

Earlier right now, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu mentioned he hoped the Swedish authorities wouldn’t permit a protest that features burning the Quran. 

Cavusoglu mentioned the protest couldn’t be categorised as freedom of expression.

Meanwhile, Ankara cancelled Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson’s upcoming go to to Türkiye in response to Sweden’s permission for the hateful act to go forward.

Turkish National Defence Minister Hulusi Akar mentioned it was unacceptable to stay silent over the incident. “It was necessary to take action and take precautions.”

Türkiye’s presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin additionally posted on Twitter that the burning of the Holy Quran in Stockholm is a “hate crime and a crime against humanity.”

“Allowing this action despite all our warnings encourages hate crimes and Islamophobia. The attack on sacred values is not freedom, but modern barbarism,” he mentioned.

READ MORE:
Sweden’s permission for Quran burning ‘racist’, ‘hate crime’: Cavusoglu

Sweden’s backing of terror and hate

Sweden’s backing of terrorists and hateful components taking refuge in its society got here to the fore once more final week when a Swedish prosecutor dismissed complaints in opposition to supporters of the wished terror group PKK/YPG, who have been accused of defaming and threatening the lifetime of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

The PKK/YPG supporters had hung an effigy likened to the picture of Erdogan from its toes on a pole in entrance of town corridor throughout a protest in Stockholm. Swedish prosecutors mentioned “their actions do not constitute a criminal offence.” 

The incident prompted Ankara to summon Sweden’s ambassador, the most recent in a collection of diplomatic run-ins between the 2 nations. 

Scenes of protests in Stockholm have been a specific challenge talked about by Turkish authorities up to now, with Erdogan saying members of the outlawed PKK/YPG terror group shouldn’t be allowed to parade round Sweden. 

In its greater than 35-year terror marketing campaign in opposition to Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been accused of killing over 40,000 individuals, together with ladies, youngsters, and infants. The YPG/PYD is its Syrian department.

On Friday, too, Türkiye warned Sweden that permitting the propaganda actions of PKK and affiliated circles, who’ve introduced holding an illustration in Stockholm, is a transparent violation of the tripartite settlement. 

Finland and Sweden formally utilized to affix NATO in May final yr, abandoning a long time of navy non-alignment, a call spurred by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But Türkiye – a NATO member for over 70 years – voiced objections, saying the 2 nations have been tolerating and supporting terrorist teams. 

Later in June 2022, Türkiye and the 2 Nordic nations signed a memorandum at a NATO summit to deal with Ankara’s safety issues, paving the best way for his or her eventual membership within the alliance. Seven months have handed because the signing of the memorandum, and Sweden is but to fulfil the agreed situations.

READ MORE:
Sweden’s permission for Quran burning ‘racist’, ‘hate crime’: Cavusoglu

Source: TRTWorld and companies