Quran burning in Stockholm sparks protests in Istanbul, sours Sweden-Turkey ties | 5 factors

A far-right chief burned a duplicate of the Quran in Stockholm final week. The incident has sparked protests in Turkey.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 24, 2023 20:37 IST

Protesters collect in entrance of the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul on January 22. (AFP picture)

By India Today Web Desk: Last week, Rasmus Paludan, chief of Danish far-right political get together Hard Line, staged a protest outdoors the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm. During the demonstration, Paludan burned a duplicate of the Quran. The incident in Stockholm has set in movement a sequence of protests in Turkey.

The Quran-burning incident in Stockholm has additionally prompted Turkey to talk on Sweden’s NATO membership.

Here’s all that has occurred:

Rasmus Paludan had burned a duplicate of the Quran throughout a protest on January 21 outdoors the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. The protest on Saturday was accepted by the Swedish police regardless of Turkey’s objections.

The burning of the holy guide sparked protests in Turkey with demonstrators gathering outdoors Swedish Consulate in Istanbul. Protesters set Paludan’s picture on hearth.

A girl holds a Quran throughout a protest outdoors the Swedish consulate in Istanbul. (AP picture)

They carried inexperienced flags that includes the Islamic proclamation of religion and banner that mentioned “We condemn Sweden’s state-supported Islamophobia.”

Protesters maintain copies of the Quran in entrance of the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul. (AFP picture)

While Swedish leaders condemned the Quran-burning incident, additionally they defended their nation’s broad definition of free speech.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted late Saturday that freedom of expression was essential to democracy however added that “what is legal is not necessarily appropriate.”

“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,” Kristersson mentioned.

Freedom of expression is a elementary a part of democracy. But what’s authorized shouldn’t be essentially applicable. Burning books which are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act. I wish to specific my sympathy for all Muslims who’re offended by what has occurred in Stockholm at this time.
— SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) January 21, 2023

The Quran-burning incident and the following protests replicate the stress between the 2 nations. On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Sweden that it mustn’t anticipate his backing to affix NATO. Erdogan mentioned the burning of the Quran was a “hate crime” that might not be defended by free speech.

Several Arab nations, together with Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait, have denounced the Quran-burning incident in Stockholm.

(With inputs from AP, AFP)

Published On:

Jan 24, 2023