Sweden tells citizens to avoid crowds in Turkey after Koran burning

STOCKHOLM, Jan 28 (Reuters) – Sweden’s foreign ministry
on Saturday warned Swedes in Turkey to avoid crowds and
demonstrations following protests there over the burning of the
Koran by a far-right politician in Stockholm last week.

Last week Turkey suspended talks with Sweden and Finland on
their applications to join NATO after the protest at which
Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish far-right political party
Hard Line, burned a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish
embassy in Stockholm.

Paludan’s actions have led to demonstrations in a number of
Muslim countries as well as in Turkey.

“Swedes in Turkey are asked to stay updated on the
development of events and to avoid large gatherings and
demonstrations,” the foreign ministry said on its advice page
for Swedes abroad.

“Continued demonstrations can be expected outside the
embassy in Ankara and the consulate general in Istanbul in the
coming days.”

After Paludan’s protest, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf
Kristersson said he supported freedom of speech.

“But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. Burning
books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act,”
Kristersson said on Twitter.

Sweden and Finland applied last year to join NATO following
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

They need support from all 30 members of the Alliance.
Turkey has said Sweden in particular must first take a clearer
stance against what it sees as terrorists, mainly Kurdish
militants and a group it blames for a 2016 coup attempt, in
order for it to back NATO membership for the two Nordic
countries.
(Reporting by Simon Johnson, Editing by Angus MacSwan)