New Delhi:- In Sweden, on the burning of the Quran NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg spoke in the morning that burning the Quran is Offensive and Objectionable but not that illegal. However, the Chief adjusted Sweden’s accession to NATO.
The United States on Thursday said it condemned the burning of the Quran outside a mosque in Sweden, but added that granting permission to demonstrate was in favour of freedom of expression, not action.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday criticized the protest in Quran burning in Sweden would disturb the relationship or could be a problem to the country’s bid for membership in NATO.
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Erdogan told members of the Justice and Development Party that he equated "those who authorized crimes" with those who committed crimes. Swedish police have allowed protests outside a central Stockholm mosque on the grounds of freedom of expression after a court overturned a similar Koran-burning ban.
A man tore up and burned the Quran outside Stockholm's main mosque on Wednesday, the first day of the Islamic Eid al Adha holidays. This action infuriates Turkey, which should support Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
US State Department spokesman Matt Miller said at a daily press conference that the US government believed the demonstrations had created an "environment of fear" that effectively restricted the ability of Muslims to practice their religion freely. "We're going to say we condemn it," Miller said.
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"We believe this demonstration will create an environment of fear and affect the ability of Muslims and members of other religious minorities in Sweden to freely exercise their rights to freedom of religion and belief." added.
"We also believe that granting permission to this demonstration supports freedom of expression, not the conduct of the demonstration." Swedish police had allowed anti-Quran protests. But after the fire, police accused the man who started the fire of hate speech against an ethnic or national group.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Sweden sought NATO membership. But Turkey, an ally, has stalled the process, accusing Sweden of harboring people it considers terrorists and demanding their extradition. Miller declined to say whether the demonstrations and their aftermath would affect Turkey-Swedish relations and thus NATO membership but reiterated the US position that the Nordic countries are ready to join the alliance.
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"The time has come for Sweden to become a full member of NATO," he said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Sweden for burning the Koran in Stockholm and said Turkey would never yield to its policy of provocation and intimidation.
The Quran was burned in front of a mosque in Sweden on Wednesday and on Miller’s reaction was not as insulting as it depicted the practices of the Muslim’s and the NATO Chief said it is not illegal but also offensive to burn a Quran.