Erdogan says Sweden lost NATO bid support as Turkey fumes at Quran burning
Three days of protests followed a demonstration in Stockholm as President Erdogan says Sweden lost Turkey's support for its NATO accession
ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Swedish authorities Monday over protests in Sweden.
Turkish reactions to protests in Stockholm — in particular the burning of a Quran by a far-right figure — have shown a growing gulf between the countries as Sweden and Finland try to win Turkey’s support for their NATO membership. The Quran burning by anti-immigrant activist Rasmus Paludan outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm Saturday sparked three days of protests across Turkey.
“Those who encourage or excuse this perversion have no doubt considered its consequences as well. … If you are really respectful of human rights and freedoms, then you will first respect the religious beliefs of Turkey and Muslims. If you don’t show this respect, sorry but you won’t get any support from us about NATO,” he said in a televised speech after a cabinet meeting.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, who last week cancelled a meeting with his Swedish counterpart as the anti-Turkish demonstrations were given the go-ahead, led the political response in Ankara.
