Turkish president rules out backing Sweden joining NATO unless it ends attacks on Quran

Baku, February 1, AZERTAC

Türkiye rules out greenlighting Sweden joining NATO as long as it permits attacks on Islam’s holy book the Quran, the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, according to Anadolu Agency.

"We will not say yes to (Sweden’s) entry into NATO as long as you allow our holy book, the Quran, to be burned, torn apart, and to be done with (the approval of) your security personnel," Erdogan said, referring to the recent burning of a Quran in Stockholm, the capital.

"We closely follow developments regarding NATO's enlargement process. Our view on Finland is positive, but not on Sweden," he said, signaling a willingness to support Finland's NATO bid separately from Sweden’s.

His remarks came after Danish-Swedish extremist Rasmus Paludan last week burned copies of the Quran on two separate occasions, first outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm and then later in front of a mosque in Denmark. Paludan also said he would burn the Muslim holy book every Friday until Sweden is admitted to the NATO alliance.