WITHOUT RESPECTING ISLAM SWEDEN SHOULD KEEP NATO HOPES LOW: ERDOGAN

Mon 23 January 2023:

Recep Tayyip Erdoan, the president of Turkey, said on Monday that wiithout changing course on showing respect for Islam and cracking down on terror groups, Sweden should not expect any good news from Türkiye on its NATO bid, Anadolu Agency reported.

“Those who caused such a disgrace in front of our embassy should not expect any benevolence from us on their NATO membership applications,” Erdoğan said after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.

Erdoğan’s pointed remarks came after Rasmus Paludan, an extreme-right Danish politician, on Saturday burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, under police protection and with permission from the Swedish government.

“If you do not show respect to the religious beliefs of the Republic of Türkiye or Muslims, you will not receive any support for NATO (membership) from us,” he added.

Erdoğan stressed that no individual has the freedom to insult the faith of Muslims or other religions and beliefs.

“The heinous action in Sweden is an insult to everyone who respects the fundamental rights and freedoms of people, especially Muslims,” he added.

Turning to a recent provocative protest in Stockholm by supporters of the terrorist group PKK, also with police permission, Erdoğan said: “We’ve said from the beginning, you have terrorist groups roam your streets, and everywhere, and then you expect us to support you in joining NATO. There’s no such thing. Don’t expect such support from us.”

He added: “If they love the members of the terrorist organization and the enemies of Islam that much, we advise them to delegate their country’s defense to them.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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