Kristersson on the Koran burning: "Everything that is legal must not be appreciated"

In recent weeks, several high-profile political actions have been directed against the Turkish government from Swedish soil.

The activist group Rojava Committees, which previously stated that they support the PKK's movement, has used a hanging doll representing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in several demonstrations, and the far-right politician Rasmus Paludan has burned the Koran in connection with a demonstration outside the Turkish the embassy.

The PKK is an organization that is labeled a terrorist by both Turkey and Sweden.

This at the same time as the Turkish government is still delaying notification of Swedish NATO membership.

Criticized the demonstrations

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has drawn attention to both events by simultaneously highlighting the fact that the actions are protected by Swedish freedom of expression, while at the same time he has criticized the actions themselves.

He described the use of the Erdogan doll as "abhorrent" and pointed out that the burning of religious scriptures is "deeply disrespectful" to the faithful.

Why do you condemn individual actions such as those within the framework of freedom of expression?

- I'm saying both things.

I say these are legal things that should be legal, but everything that is legal must not be appreciated.

- If someone in another country hung a doll in a mock execution of a leading Swedish politician, many would have thought it was horrible.

The Swedish government has been criticized from the right as well as the left for appeasing the Turkish government too far.

But that is an incorrect description, believes Kristersson.

- If you want to join NATO, you must act in such a way as to facilitate Swedish NATO accession, but we do all that within the framework of Swedish legislation and Swedish freedom of expression.

Turkish reactions

In Turkey, Rasmus Paludan's burning of the Koran received a lot of attention this weekend.

Erdogan's spokesperson Fahrettin Altun wrote on Twitter that Sweden "must act immediately against hate-filled provocations against Turkey and Islam" and that "Swedish authorities cannot hide behind excuses about freedom of expression."

How do you perceive this landing in Turkey?

- It is clear that we can have different views on this, but we have always been crystal clear that Swedish law and Swedish freedom of expression apply.

If you want to burn the Koran, you do it.

But that does not prevent you from thinking that it is a very polarizing act.