Sweden violated its obligations to Ankara under the process of NATO membership, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. The department also decisively condemned the action of the burning of the Qur’an in Stockholm, noting that they did not see Sweden steps on the fight against terrorism.
“We once again emphasize that we expect specific and effective steps from Sweden in addition to rhetoric, especially in the fight against terrorism, in accordance with its obligations for a tripartite memorandum,” the statement said.
January 21, the Swedish radical Rasmus Paludan burned the Qur’an right in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. He stated that he wants to show complete freedom of speech and democracy in this way.
Ankara consistently blocks the issue of Sweden and Finland to NATO. Turkey handed over to Sweden and Finland a list of persons involved in terrorism, but they are still not issued by Ankara.