Stoltenberg condemns manifestations of Islamophobia in Sweden

Türkiye considers anti-Islamic demonstrations in the Scandinavian countries unacceptable, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Ankara, Report informs via Anadolu.

"Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are also crimes against humanity. All these actions have nothing to do with universal human norms," the minister said.

In turn, the NATO Secretary General condemned the manifestations of Islamophobia in Sweden, while recalling the reaction of the prime minister of this country, who condemned the provocation with the burning of the Muslims' holy book - the Quran.

On January 21, the Stockholm authorities allowed a protest rally outside the Turkish embassy. The protesters burned the Quran. After that, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Sweden could not count on Türkiye's support in its application for NATO membership.

Speaking about the alliance's expansion, Stoltenberg said at the press conference that Sweden and Finland had taken significant steps towards joining NATO.

"At the same time, I consider Türkiye's security concern justified. One of the points of the Trilateral Memorandum was the fight against terrorism. At the same time, I think that the time has come to approve the applications of both countries," Stoltenberg said.