Türkiye summons Swedish envoy over permission to burn Quran in Stockholm

Sweden has allowed far-right racist chief Rasmus Paludan to burn copy of the Muslim holy ebook in entrance of the Turkish embassy constructing in Stockholm.

Türkiye warns Sweden that allowing the propaganda activities of PKK and affiliated circles is a clear violation of the tripartite agreement. — Türkiye warns Sweden that permitting the propaganda actions of PKK and affiliated circles is a transparent violation of the tripartite settlement.
(AA Archive)

Türkiye has summoned Sweden’s ambassador to Ankara after the Swedish authorities allowed a far-right, anti-Muslim racist chief to burn a duplicate of the Quran outdoors the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, diplomatic sources mentioned.

Rasmus Paludan, a convicted racist, obtained a allow from the Swedish authorities to burn the Muslim holy ebook in entrance of the embassy constructing on Saturday, January 21, The Washington Post reported.

“Upon learning that the act of burning our holy book, the Holy Quran, near our Stockholm embassy in Sweden, was allowed, the Swedish ambassador to Ankara was summoned to our ministry today,” sources within the Turkish international affairs ministry mentioned.

It has been conveyed to the Swedish ambassador that Türkiye strongly condemns the provocative act, “which is clearly a hate crime”, the sources added.

“Sweden’s attitude is unacceptable. We expect the act not to be allowed, and that insults to sacred values cannot be defended under the guise of ‘democratic rights’.”

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

Finland and Sweden formally utilized to affix NATO in May final 12 months, abandoning a long time of army non-alignment, a call spurred by Russia’s army motion in opposition to Ukraine. 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 way in which 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 suggestions.

Rasmus Paludan – a recurring offender

Paludan, who heads Denmark’s far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) get together and holds each Danish and Swedish nationalities, is a controversial determine.

In 2020, he was convicted of racism and sentenced to jail after he posted anti-Islam movies on his get together’s official social media handles. Though Paludan had appealed the conviction, a Danish High Court nonetheless upheld the choice, discovering the politician responsible of racism.

The 41-year-old racist chief mentioned he “wants to mark some freedom of speech” after the hanging of an effigy likened to the picture of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Stockholm final week drew a robust response from Ankara, DailyMail reported.

This is not the primary time Paludan has tried to cover behind the facade of “freedom of speech”. In April final 12 months, Sweden’s Malmo had been set aflame when riots erupted following Paludan’s announcement to go on a “Quran burning tour” throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Over 40 folks had been arrested, leaving some injured, when protesters took to the streets in opposition to Swedish authorities’ determination to permit the far-right chief’s plans to burn the copies of the Muslim holy ebook.

Paludan additionally burned a duplicate of the Quran in 2019, wrapping the holy ebook in bacon and tossing it within the air.

In September 2020, Paludan was banned from coming into Sweden for 2 years. Later in October of the identical 12 months, he was prevented from coming into Germany for a while after the controversial politician introduced plans to carry a provocative, anti-Muslim demonstration in Berlin.

Sweden’s backing of terror, hate

Sweden’s backing of terrorists and hateful parts 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 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 newest in a sequence of diplomatic run-ins between the 2 nations.

Scenes of protests in Stockholm have been a selected situation talked about by Turkish authorities previously, with Erdogan saying members of the outlawed PKK/YPG 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 40,000 folks, together with ladies, kids, and infants. The YPG/PYD is its Syrian department.