01:32Turkey: Protesters burn Swedish flag in Istanbul following Quran burning by far-right politician in Stockholm
Protesters burned Swedish flag in Istanbul on Saturday outside the Swedish consulate after ultra-nationalist and Danish politician Rasmus Paludan burned the Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
Footage shows protesters burning Swedish national flag and rallying while chanting ‘Allah Akbar’ near the Swedish consulate building.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry in Sweden issued a statement condemning the act.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the despicable attack on our holy book. Allowing this anti-Islamic act, which targets Muslims and insults our sacred values, under the guise of freedom of expression is totally unacceptable,” Ministry’s official statement reads.
The actions of the far-right politician were also condemned by the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, later in the day.
“Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act. I want to express my sympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm today,” he wrote on Twitter.
On the same day, Ankara cancelled Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson’s planned to visit while Turkish diplomats summoned the Swedish ambassador to Ankara after the incident.
Turkey has not yet given its consent to Sweden to join NATO, as it sees Sweden as supportive of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorist by Turkey.
Rasmus Paludan far-right politician leads the (Hard Line) party in Denmark and holds dual Danish and Swedish citizenship.
01:32Protesters burned Swedish flag in Istanbul on Saturday outside the Swedish consulate after ultra-nationalist and Danish politician Rasmus Paludan burned the Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
Footage shows protesters burning Swedish national flag and rallying while chanting ‘Allah Akbar’ near the Swedish consulate building.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry in Sweden issued a statement condemning the act.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the despicable attack on our holy book. Allowing this anti-Islamic act, which targets Muslims and insults our sacred values, under the guise of freedom of expression is totally unacceptable,” Ministry’s official statement reads.
The actions of the far-right politician were also condemned by the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, later in the day.
“Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act. I want to express my sympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm today,” he wrote on Twitter.
On the same day, Ankara cancelled Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson’s planned to visit while Turkish diplomats summoned the Swedish ambassador to Ankara after the incident.
Turkey has not yet given its consent to Sweden to join NATO, as it sees Sweden as supportive of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorist by Turkey.
Rasmus Paludan far-right politician leads the (Hard Line) party in Denmark and holds dual Danish and Swedish citizenship.