Erdogan: Sweden can't join NATO if Quran-burning is allowed

Supporters of a religious group 'Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan' stand over a representation of Swedish flag during a rally to denounce the recent desecration of Islam's holy book by far-right activists in Sweden and the Netherlands, in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 27, 2023. (Ikram Suri / AP)

ANKARA, Turkiye -

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Wednesday that Turkiye won't allow Sweden to join the NATO military alliance as long as it permits protests desecrating Islam's holy book to take place.

Turkiye, which has been holding off approving Sweden and Finland's membership in the Western military alliance, has been infuriated by a series of demonstrations in Stockholm by activists who have burned the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy and hanged an effigy of Erdogan. It has indefinitely postponed a key meeting in Brussels that would have discussed the two Nordic countries' entry into NATO.

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"Sweden, don't even bother! As long as you allow my holy book, the Quran, to be burned and torn, and you do so together with your security forces, we will not say `yes' to your entry into NATO," Erdogan said in a speech to his ruling party's legislators.

Swedish government officials have distanced themselves from the protests, including by a far-right anti-Islam activist who burned copies of the Quran in Stockholm and Copenhagen, Denmark, while also stressing that the demonstrations are protected by freedom of speech.

On Tuesday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson denounced the activists who carried out the demonstrations as "useful idiots" for foreign powers who want to inflict harm on the Scandinavian country as it seeks to join NATO.

"We have seen how foreign actors, even state actors, have used these manifestations to inflame the situation in a way that is directly harmful to Swedish security," Kristersson told reporters in Stockholm, without naming any countries.

Sweden and neighbouring Finland abandoned decades of non-alignment and applied to join NATO in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. All NATO members except Turkiye and Hungary have ratified their accession, but unanimity is required.

Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara has fewer problems with Finland becoming NATO member than with its neighbour Sweden. He stressed, however, that it was up to the military alliance to decide whether to accept one country only or the Nordic duo together -- something that both countries are committed to.

Should NATO decide to deal the membership processes of the Nordic neighbours separately, "(Turkiye) will then of course reconsider (ratifying) Finland's membership separately and more favorably, I can say," Cavusoglu said during a joint news conference with his Estonian colleague in Tallinn. He did not give a timeframe.

Erdogan also repeated that Turkiye's view on Finland's membership was "positive."

"But it is not positive about Sweden, that should be known," Erdogan said.

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Tanner reported from Helsinki