Erdogan: No NATO for Sweden as long as it allows Koran burning

Periskopi

1 February 2023, 17:08(3 years ago)

Turkey's president, Rexhep Tayip Erdogan, commenting on Sweden's NATO application, said his country would not give up <x0 Green Framework” Sweden's membership in the alliance as they allow the burning of the Koran. As long as you allow your burning, tear-off of my holy Koran book, we don't mean "poo" your access to [...]

As long as it allows the burning, tear-off of my holy book, the Koran, we will not say your entry into NATO”, Erdogan said.

Praising Finland, the Turkish president said: “Our position regarding Finland is positive, while regarding Sweden is not positive”.

On Friday, Danish-Swedish extreme politician Rasmussen Paludan burned a copy of the Koran in front of a mosque in Denmark, Anadolu writes.

Sweden and Finland officially applied for NATO membership in May last year, a decision prompted by Russia's war against Ukraine, which began on February 24th 2022.

But, Turkey, a NATO member for more than 70 years, voiced objections, accusing both countries that they tolerate and even support terrorist groups, including organisation that claim to be terrorist PKK and other organisation. FETO, the group they considered to be behind the coup effort of July 15, 2016.

Last June, Turkey and the two Nordic countries signed a memorandum at a NATO summit to address Ankara's legitimate security concerns, paving the way for their eventual membership in the alliance.