Swedish FM says the portrayal of an executed elected President outside City Hall is deplorable
Turkey summons Swedish ambassador over 'heinous' protest action
Turkish officials describe the mannequin depicting Erdogan hung outside the city hall in Stockholm as “terrorist propaganda” by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party and other Kurdish militant groups.
Thursday 12/01/2023
Swedish FM says the portrayal of an executed elected President outside City Hall is deplorable
ANKARA - Turkey has summoned the Swedish ambassador to convey Ankara’s displeasure after a mannequin depicting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was hung outside the city hall in Stockholm, state broadcaster TRT reported.
Turkish officials on Thursday described the incident as “terrorist propaganda” by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and other Kurdish militant groups.
TRT said the ambassador was informed that Turkey strongly condemns the “heinous act.” Turkish officials also said the act was contrary to an agreement that Turkey has reached with Sweden and Finland under which the two promised to crack down on Kurdish militants as they seek Turkish approval for their NATO membership bids.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom condemned the act.
“The Government safeguards an open debate on political choices, it strongly repudiates threats and hate directed towards political representatives. The portrayal of an executed elected President outside City Hall is deplorable," Billstrom wrote on Twitter.
Fahrettin Altun, the communications director for Erdogan’s office, responded to Billstrom's tweet by condemning the incident and urging Swedish authorities “to take necessary steps against terrorist groups” without delay.
“That PKK terrorist can challenge the Swedish government at the heart of Stockholm is proof that the Swedish authorities have not taken necessary steps against terrorism – as they have been claiming in recent days,” Altun tweeted in English.
In November, the ambassador was similarly summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry after images that allegedly insulted Erdogan were projected on the Turkish Embassy building in Stockholm.
Sweden and Finland abandoned their long-standing policies of military nonalignment and applied for membership in the military alliance after Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
NATO-member Turkey hasn't yet endorsed their accession, which requires unanimous approval from all existing alliance members.