Sweden might as well give up its ambition to join NATO. That was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s message in response to the Quran-burning in Stockholm over the weekend. “Those who caused such a disgrace in front of our embassy should not expect any benevolence from us on their NATO membership applications,” Erdogan said yesterday after a Cabinet meeting in the capital, Ankara, reported Anadolu. “If you do not show respect to the religious beliefs of the Republic of Türkiye or Muslims, you will not receive any support for NATO [membership] from us,” he added.
Erdogan stressed his view that no individual has the freedom to insult the faith of Muslims or other religions and beliefs. “The heinous action in Sweden is an insult to everyone who respects the fundamental rights and freedoms of people, especially Muslims,” he added.
