Istanbul: Turkey has canceled the visit of the Swedish defense minister after Sweden gave permission for anti-Turkey protests. Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador on Friday to protest. Sweden’s green light for protests amid Turkey’s opposition to Sweden’s bid to join the NATO military alliance angered Turkey.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson’s visit on January 27 has been cancelled. He said the visit was not important because Sweden allows anti-Turkey protests.
Relations with Turkey are important to Sweden. He tweeted that the discussion on security and defense issues will continue later. Several performances are scheduled to take place in Sweden. Far-right Stram Kurz party member Rasmus Paludan, who has announced that he will burn Islam’s holy book, the Koran, has been given permission by police to stage a protest outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. Meanwhile, pro-Turkish and pro-Kurdish groups have planned demonstrations in the Swedish capital.
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu told reporters that attacking the Koran cannot be considered freedom of speech, and that he hoped Swedish authorities would revoke the permit for the protest. Turkey is holding off on accepting Sweden’s application to join the NATO military alliance until the Swedish government cracks down on groups it considers a security threat.
At the same time, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström stated that Sweden respects freedom of expression.
