ISTANBUL, Turkey — Following weekend protests in Stockholm by an anti-Islam activist and pro-Kurdish groups, Turkey’s president cast serious doubt on NATO’s expansion on Monday, warning Sweden not to expect support for its bid for membership in the military alliance.
On Saturday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Rasmus Paludan’s Quran-burning protest, calling it an insult to everyone, especially Muslims. He was especially enraged at Swedish authorities for allowing the demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm to take place under “the protection” of security forces.
“Those who allowed such vileness to occur in front of our embassy can no longer expect any charity from us regarding their NATO membership application,” Erdogan said in his first remarks about the weekend protests, adding that Sweden must have calculated the consequences of allowing Paludan’s demonstration.
The burning of Islam’s holy book in Turkey infuriated people across the political spectrum, just as Sweden and Finland appeared on the verge of NATO membership after abandoning their long-standing policies of military nonalignment in the aftermath of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin now stands to benefit as the world’s most powerful military alliance’s potential expansion appears to be stalled.
Sweden And Findland Bid For NATO
Erdogan also chastised Sweden for allowing pro-Kurdish protests in which demonstrators waved flags of various Kurdish groups, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has been fighting Turkey for decades. Although the PKK is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, the European Union, and the United States, its symbols are not prohibited in Sweden.
“So you will let terror organizations run wild on your avenues and streets and expect our support for getting into NATO. That is not going to happen,” Erdogan said, referring to Sweden and Finland’s bids to join the military alliance. He stated that if Sweden does not respect NATO member Turkey or Muslims, “they will not see any support from us on the NATO issue.”
A joint memorandum signed in June by Turkey, Sweden, and Finland averted a Turkish veto of their NATO membership bid at the Madrid summit, where they recognized the PKK as a terrorist organization and committed to preventing its activities. Protests have enraged Ankara, which has stated that Sweden must address Turkey’s security concerns and demand that the Turkish parliament ratifies their NATO request.
“If they love terrorists and Islamophobes so much, we recommend that they entrust their countries’ security to them,” he added. On Saturday, several hundred pro-Kurdish protestors walked over a photograph of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and an Erdogan effigy was hung from a lamppost in a previous protest. In response, Turkish officials canceled bilateral meetings.
Swedish Constitution Guarantees Freedom Of Expression
Swedish officials have emphasized that the Swedish Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and gives people broad rights to express themselves publicly, though incitement to violence or hate speech is not permitted. Demonstrators must apply to the police for a public gathering permit. Only in exceptional circumstances, such as threats to public safety, can police deny such permits. Top Swedish officials have stated that freedom of expression is critical to democracy while criticizing Paludan’s actions as disrespectful and ones with which they disagree.
Paludan, a Danish and Swedish citizen, founded far-right parties in both countries that have failed to win any seats in national, regional, or municipal elections. In Sweden’s parliamentary election last year, his party received only 156 votes nationwide. Over the weekend, protesters in Turkey burned his photograph and a Swedish flag in response to his burning of the Quran.
SOURCE – (AP)
