Sweden, Denmark and Norway call for caution in Turkey
The diplomatic ministries of Sweden, Denmark and Norway appealed to their citizens staying in Turkey to be careful and avoid gatherings. This is due to the tense atmosphere after the burning of copies of the Koran at demonstrations in Stockholm and Copenhagen.
“The Swedes in Turkey they are asked to follow developments, avoid large gatherings and demonstrations, sign up for the list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and download the Ministry of Foreign Affairs app for travellers, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed. Sweden in Ankara, in front of which anti-Swedish demonstrations had previously taken place, including burning the Swedish flag, was closed to the public. The Swedish consulate in Istanbul is still operational, but “be careful when entering”. Similar appeals to their citizens to avoid gatherings in Turkey were issued by diplomacy ministries Denmark and Norway.
Crisis in Swedish-Turkish relations
In recent days, the Danish-Swedish provocateur Rasmus Paludan, founder of the anti-Muslim Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party, burned a Koran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm and in Copenhagen. This caused a crisis in Swedish-Turkish relations. President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Sweden cannot count on joining NATO, Ankara canceled a tripartite meeting with the Swedish and Finnish authorities. The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Danish ambassador for an interview.
Protest in front of the Swedish diplomatic mission in AnkaraERDEM SAHIN/PAP/EPA
Main photo source: ERDEM SAHIN/PAP/EPA
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