Anti-Swedish protests are continuing in Turkey over the weekend in response to yesterday's Koran-burning by Danish-Swedish activist Rasmus Paludan as well as the anti-Erdogan demonstrations in Stockholm by Kurdish protesters. Even though the Koran-burning by Paludan drew few spectators, it appears that the reaction in Turkey is mostly over this particular act (which took place near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm).
Thus far, there has been no real violence reported either in Turkey or Sweden, but that could change quickly. It is a delicate diplomatic situation, and perhaps a decisive blow against Sweden's hopes to gain a Turkish yes vote for admittance into NATO.
The below article from SVT (Swedish State TV) is translated by Fousesquawk.
https://www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/nya-protester-i-turkiet-efter-koranbranningen-i-stockholm
Caption: Large protests in the Turkish town of Batman after Koran burning in Stockholm
New protests in Turkey after Koran burning in Stockholm
Updated today 08:26. Posted today at 07:59
For the second day in a row, there were protests outside the Swedish consulate in Istanbul. The protesters are in reaction to Saturday's Koran burning near Turkey's embassy in Stockholm. Demonstrations are now happening in other locations in Turkey.
Protests outside Sweden's consulate in Istanbul began Saturday evening when hundreds of people gathered to express anger over the Koran burning outside Turkey's embassy earlier on Saturday. There were also protests held outside the embassy in Ankara.
The protests continued Sunday. About 250 people were gathered outside the Swedish consulate in Istanbul, the news bureau AP is reporting. From pictures from the location, police are seen guarding the consulate's entrance, and riot barriers are set up on the sidewalk outside the consulate.
"It was Islamist organizations that have organized the protests. It is primarily religious conservative, believing Muslims who are taking part in the protests," says SVT's Turkey correspondent Thomas Thoren.
"An attack against all Muslims"
In the city of Batman in southeast Turkey, the protests are considerably more extensive. Thousands of persons, many carrying Korans have gathered in the city's streets.
"We strongly condemn this action. It is impossible for any Muslim to accept, it is an attack against all Muslims," says one demonstrator in the city to the Reuters news bureau.
Many Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait, have also condemned the Koran burning, Al Jazeera reports.
Another demonstrator in the city of Batman tells Reuters that it is obvious that people in Turkey and other nations are reacting to Rasmus Paludan's act.
Compared to Kristallnacht
President Erdogan's communications chief, Fahrettin Altun, is comparing the weekend's Koran burning to Kristallnacht in 1938.
"Would Swedish authorities excuse such terrible actions as freedom of expression, in this situation?" he says to Dagens Nyheter.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) has expressed sympathy for Muslims who have been offended by Saturday's demonstrations in Stockholm. Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) has expressed the government's distancing from Paludan's action.
Expect continued protests
The Swedish embassy writes in Sweden Abroad that continuing demonstrations can be expected outside the embassy in Ankara and the general consulate in Istanbul in the coming days.
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