Turkey issues travel warning for Europe after protests | WGN Radio 720

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey issued a travel warning late Saturday to citizens living in or planning to travel to European countries, citing Islamophobia and anti-Turkish demonstrations.

The warning came after last weekend’s protests in Sweden, where anti-Muslim activists burned the Koran and pro-Kurdish groups protested against Turkey.

Turkey’s foreign ministry urged citizens to take precautionary measures and stay away from demonstration areas. He also said people should go to local authorities if they face xenophobic or racist attacks.

Turkey condemned far-right activist Rasmus Pardan for burning the Quran in Stockholm, which he repeated in Copenhagen on Friday. Ankara also summoned the Dutch ambassador after another far-right activist ripped out pages of the Quran in The Hague.

The Turkish government also said there was an increase in anti-Turkish protests by “groups linked to terrorist groups”. This refers to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been in rebellion against Turkey for decades. waving The protests come in response to promises by Sweden and Finland to block PKK activities in their countries and gain Turkey’s approval for a NATO bid.

Following the protests, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Sweden not to expect support for its application to join the military alliance. Turkey has also indefinitely postponed a key meeting in Brussels that was to discuss her NATO membership of Sweden and Finland.