Protests in Sweden infuriates Turkey

A demonstration against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sweden's NATO bid, arranged by the Kurdish Democratic Society Center at Norra Bantorget in Stockholm, Sweden, Jan. 21, 2023 – Reuters
A demonstration against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sweden's NATO bid, arranged by the Kurdish Democratic Society Center at Norra Bantorget in Stockholm, Sweden, Jan. 21, 2023 – Reuters

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Protests broke out on Saturday in Stockholm supporting Kurds and due to Turkey and Sweden’s bid to join NATO, burning a copy of Koran near the Turkish Embassy and raising tension with Turkey.

This comes in tandem with the need of Sweden to Ankara’s backing to gain entry to the military alliance.

At the demonstrations, speakers stood in front of a large red banner reading “We are all PKK”.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is a Kurdish group that is outlawed in Turkey, EU countries, and the US.

Turkey, alongside several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait condemned the Koran-burning.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the vile attack on our holy book … Permitting this anti-Islam act,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Reporting by Emma Jamal