Sweeden: Turkey denounced Sweden following protests in front of its embassy in Stockholm that included the burning of a Quran by far-right sympathisers and a separate rally by Kurdish activists.

According to Ankara a visit by Sweden’s defence minister was postponed in order to assuage Turkey’s concerns about joining NATO. Sweden needs Turkey’s support as concerns in Europe increase in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in order to join the military alliance.

Mr. Rasmus Paludan, the head of the Danish far-right political group Hard Line, burned the Quran. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Mr. Paludan’s announcement of a Quran burning “tour” in April of last year caused riots throughout Sweden. Mr. Paludan, surrounded by police, attacked Islam and immigration in Sweden during a nearly hour-long diatribe before setting fire to the holy book with a lighter. Nearby, about 100 people gathered for a peaceful demonstration.

“If you don’t think there should be freedom of expression, you have to live somewhere else,” Mr. Paludan quoted.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the vile attack on our holy book… Permitting this anti-Islam act, which targets Muslims and insults our sacred values, under the guise of freedom of expression is completely unacceptable,” the ministry responded right after the statement.

Several Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait also denounced the Quran burning. A small group gathered in front of the Swedish embassy in Ankara to condemn the Quran burning. There was also supposed to be a protest in Istanbul on the 21st of January 2023 night.

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