Several demonstrations were held in Stockholm on Saturday in connection with Turkey and Sweden’s NATO application. No disturbances have been reported in connection with the demonstrations, according to the police.
The far-right provocateur Rasmus Paludan received permission from the Stockholm police to hold a public gathering near the Turkish embassy in the Diplomatic City.
Paludan arrived with a police escort at 1 p.m. Interest in his demonstration, where he burned a copy of the Koran, among other things, was relatively low. In addition to police officers and journalists, there were around 50 spectators.
Outside the embassy
The pro-Turkish organization Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) also had permission for a demonstration on Saturday afternoon. The demonstration was held in support of Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan outside the embassy.
According to organizer Özer Eken from UETD, his organization does not care what Rasmus Paludan is up to.
– We decided on this demonstration before we knew he was coming here. We ignore him, he is a populist.
Around a hundred protesters had gathered to show their support for Erdogan.
March to Medborgarplatsen
A few kilometers away, on Norra Bantorget, a long-planned demonstration was also held in protest against Erdogan and the Swedish NATO accession. It is organized by the Kurdish Democratic Society Center.
– It has been very peaceful, says TV4 Nyheternas reporter on site at the demonstration.
Among the participants in the train were the Rojava Committees, who last week hung a doll representing Erdogan upside down outside the City Hall in Stockholm. The incident drew Turkey’s anger and created debate in Sweden. On Friday, Turkey summoned Sweden’s ambassador to the country. According to sources to the Reuters news agency, Turkey issued a “strong condemnation” of Paludan’s planned Koran burning and demanded that the demonstration permit be withdrawn.
Turkey cancels Defense Minister Pål Jonson’s planned visit to Ankara next week due to Danish-Swedish right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan’s permission to demonstrate and burn the Koran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm today.
In the clip above: TV4 Nyheterna’s reporter reports directly from the demonstration