08:45 PM
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Ankara – (BBC)
Three protest marches took place in Stockholm today, Saturday, one anti-Turkey and rejecting Sweden’s accession to NATO, the second anti-Islam and including burning a copy of the Qur’an in front of the Turkish embassy, and the third pro-Turkish.
And the anti-Turkish and anti-Islam demonstrations led to an escalation of tension between Ankara and Stockholm, at a time when the latter needs Ankara’s support to join NATO.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the burning of the Koran and allowing hostile action targeting Islam under the cover of freedom of expression. It urged Sweden to take action against the perpetrators and called on all countries to take concrete steps against Islamophobia.
A separate demonstration took place in the city in support of the Kurds and against Sweden’s attempt to join NATO.
A group of pro-Turkish protesters also held a rally outside the embassy.
