Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Sweden not to expect support from Turkey in its bid to join NATO after a copy of the Koran was burned in its capital, Stockholm.

It should be noted that after the war between Ukraine and Russia started last year, Sweden and Finland are trying to get membership of NATO, the military organization of the United States and European countries.

These two European countries have also formally applied for NATO membership.

But Turkey blocked their request using its veto power as a NATO member. Since this move by Turkey, there has been a series of protests against Turkey in Sweden.

During these protests, a copy of the Holy Quran was also burnt outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, after which various Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have strongly condemned this act.

A few days before that, some Kurdish protesters in Sweden hanged the effigy of Turkish President Erdogan upside down.

What did Erdogan say?

Many countries of the world have condemned the burning of the copy of the Holy Quran in Stockholm. These countries include Turkey.

"Sweden should no longer expect us to support Turkey's efforts to join NATO," Turkish President Erdogan said. Those who have insulted our country in front of the embassy cannot expect any mercy from us regarding their request.

It should be noted that the Swedish government had already given permission for last Sunday's protest. However, there was no indication from the protesters that their plan was to burn a copy of the Quran in protest.

Calling it an insult to religion, Erdogan has said that this act cannot be defended under the guise of freedom of expression.

The Swedish government has also condemned the protest.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billsturm called it a "frightening" incident.

He wrote on social media that 'There is freedom of expression in Sweden, but that does not mean that I support the government here or the sentiments expressed in the demonstration.'

Sweden's response to Erdogan's statement:

The Swedish government has expressed its reaction to this statement of Erdogan. Swedish Foreign Minister Bill Sturm has said that he wants to fully understand Erdogan's statement before saying anything on the issue.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has also said on this issue that freedom of expression is a valuable thing in NATO countries and such actions are certainly inappropriate but they do not automatically become illegal.

Turkey, a Muslim-majority country, has described the Swedish government's decision to allow the protest as completely unacceptable.

Protest demonstrations:



Erdogan has said that no one has the right to disrespect sacred things. And when someone insults us, we show him his place.'

Let us know that after this incident, Turkey has canceled the visit of Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson. Turkey said the visit had now "lost its significance and meaning."

On this decision of his government, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said that before this decision, "it was seen that no action was taken against this hateful protest."

After Sweden's senior ministers arrived in Ankara in recent days, there were hopes that Sweden could soon become a member of NATO countries.

NATO membership:

Turkey is already a member of NATO. Because of this, it is able to prevent any other country from becoming a member of NATO.

Along with blocking Sweden's NATO application, it has also made various demands on Sweden. These include the extradition of some Kurds whom Turkey calls 'terrorists'.

A month ago, Sweden's prime minister said Kurdish protesters who hung Erdogan's effigy upside down in Stockholm were trying to sabotage his bid to become a NATO member.

A Swedish minister condemned the protests, but Turkey said condemnation was not enough.

Condemned by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia:

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly also strongly condemned the desecration and burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden.

Shahbaz Sharif says that words are not enough to condemn the heinous act of desecration of Holy Quran by a right-wing extremist in Sweden.

He says that the cloak of freedom of speech cannot be used to hurt the religious sentiments of one and a half billion Muslims around the world. This is unacceptable.