Turkey summons Danish envoy over Paludan’s new Koran-burning protest

Turkey summons Danish envoy over Paludan’s new Koran-burning protest
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Far-right politician Rasmus Paludan has burnt another copy of Koran outside the Turkish Embassy in Copenhagen on Friday

Turkey summoned the Danish Ambassador to Ankara on Friday over Denmark’s permission to Rasmus Paludan, the far-right politician who has burnt a copy of Koran in Stockholm last week to replicate the same act in Copenhagen.

"It was conveyed to the ambassador that we strongly condemn the permission of this provocative act, which clearly constitutes a hate crime, and that this attitude of Denmark is unacceptable," sources from Turkish Foreign Ministry told state-run Anadolu news agency.

According to the sources, it was emphasized to Danish Ambassador Danny Annan that Turkey expected the said act not to be allowed.

Paludan who on Thursday has reportedly threatened to do the same thing again on Friday, carried out his action as he said and burned a copy of Koran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Copenhagen, Reuters said.

Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the Danish far-right political party Stram Kurs (Hard Line) has burned a copy of Muslim’s holy book of Koran during a manifestation outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Saturday.

The incident caused outrage in Turkey and Turkish politicians including the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have blasted Swedish government for allowing such an incident to take place in their country. Turkish officials said under these circumstances, Stockholm should not expect Ankara to ratify Sweden’s NATO accession documents.

Paludan who holds both Danish and Swedish citizenship, told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he would replicate his protest every Friday until Sweden is admitted into NATO, AP said.