Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson will not be welcome in Turkey next week to discuss Sweden’s NATO membership. Ankara cancels his visit due to anti-Turkish protests announced in Sweden. According to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, a meeting has lost importance and meaning as a result.
The Swedish ambassador also had to report in Ankara on Friday due to the protests. Right-wing extremist politician Rasmus Paludan plans to burn a Koran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm on Saturday. Ankara considers it unacceptable that Paludan has been granted permission for the “provocative hate crime” and asks that the Swedish government still ban the burning of the Koran.
Riots broke out all over Sweden last April because Paludan organized rallies where he wanted to burn the Qurans. A demonstration of supporters of the Turkish government is also expected at the embassy on Saturday, but the risk of clashes is estimated to be low.
Kurds
Last week, Turkey also withdrew an invitation to the speaker of the Swedish parliament after an uprising. The Turkish government was later enraged by an action by the Swedish Kurds, who hung a doll of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at his feet as if he were being executed.
The two countries have been at odds for months since Turkey prevented Sweden and Finland from joining NATO. Ankara stipulates that Sweden extradite up to 130 people whom Turkey considers Kurdish terrorists or who are allegedly involved in the 2016 coup attempt. Sweden has taken some steps and Jonson hoped to iron out any wrinkles with his visit next week .
Source: BNR
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