Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan burned the Koran in front of the Turkish embassies in Stockholm and Copenhagen. The actions were organized by the ex-employee of the propaganda channel Russia Today, Chang Frik.
Due to the provocation, Turkey canceled the previously planned visit of Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonsson. The trip was supposed to take place today, January 27.
What the provocateur said
The Swedish publication Helsingin Sanomat called Rasmus Paludan, who burned the holy book of Muslims, an Islamophobe. The politician heads the Hard Course party. In comments to local reporters, he confirmed that he had received an offer to set fire to the Koran from Frick, who now works with a subsidiary of Russia Today. In addition, another journalist from the far-right publication Exakt 24 was a co-organizer of the provocation.
It was their idea to burn the Koran in front of the Turkish embassy,” Paludan said.
He added that he received financial support for the share assistance of 320 SEK from Chang Frick. He used this money to consider an application for permission to demonstrate from law enforcement officers. Paludan promised to smoke the Koran every Friday until Sweden was accepted into NATO.
Provocation in Denmark
Paludan decided to repeat the provocation in Denmark. He burned the Koran in Copenhagen. The CNN Türk publication said that after that, Turkey called the Danish ambassador.
“The Danish ambassador in Ankara was summoned to the Foreign Ministry after it became known that Denmark allowed the action related to the attack on the sacred Koran. The ambassador was told that permission to re-burn the Koran is unacceptable,” one of the diplomats said anonymously. =”ltr”>To The Insider, Frick confirmed that he had paid the money to Paludan. However, he makes sure that no one demanded that the Qur'an be burned.
I personally did not encourage the burning of religious scriptures. I wanted to help protest directly against Turkey, not irritate Muslims, the propagandist said.
He objected that his actions are connected with the instructions of the Kremlin. Frick is known to have visited Moscow and participated in propaganda shows. In addition, in his social networks, he showed photos in which he posed in T-shirts with the image of Vladimir Putin and the symbols of Russia. p>
What is known about Turkey's reaction
- Turkey did not support Sweden's entry into NATO. After the incident with the burning of the Koran, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar canceled Paul Jonsson's visit to Ankara. At the meeting, which were supposed to discuss all the claims regarding Sweden's entry into NATO.
- Akar said that the visit of the Swedish colleague would no longer make sense. According to him, the Swedish authorities ignore anti-Turkish actions. He is waiting for Stockholm's reaction.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that after the burning of the Koran, one should not wait for his support for Sweden's entry into NATO.
- Sweden, together with Finland, received June 29, 2022 from NATO official invitation to join. Protocols for accession were accepted by all member countries, except for Turkey and Hungary.
