Turkey Advises Citizens to Avoid Travelling to Europe During This Time

Turkey's government advised citizens not to travel to Europe because of anti-Muslim or anti-Turkish activities.

According to SchengenVisaInfo.com, Turkey shouldn't consider Europe a destination. There are "possible Islamophobic xenophobic or racist attacks" that may occur.

Turkey was angered at Rasmus Paludan. He is a far-right activist who set fire to the Quran in Sweden and Denmark earlier in the month. In the Netherlands, another far-right activist also desecrated the holy book in a provocative act. It also warned its citizens living in other countries not to go near areas where protests could escalate.

Turkey's President Recep TAYYIP Erdogan condemned Paludan's actions and called it an insult to all people, especially the Muslim community. According to a report from the news agency Associated Press, Erdogan warned Sweden not expect support for its NATO membership.

Turkey issued a travel warning for the United States, citing "verbal, physical attacks against foreigners, and acts of racism throughout the [country]", while similar advices against traveling to Turkey were made by Nordic countries like Sweden, Denmark and Finland. These same countries also urged citizens currently in Turkey not to protest.

After far-right protests by Kurdish Protests, Turks have taken to the streets of Ankara and Istanbul to demonstrate their disapproval.

"We want to make Swedes in Turkey aware that further manifestations may occur," the Swedish Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement.

The Quran-burning incident in Stockholm has prompted Sweden to join NATO, where Turkey is also a member. The Mediterranean country, however, said that it would not support Sweden's request to join the alliance following the far-right protests.

A number of embassies in Ankara, including those from the Nordic countries, warned citizens in Turkey about "possible terrorist attacks against places of worship."

Current NATO rules require that all thirty members must agree to allow new countries to join. Finland applied for NATO membership along with Sweden. It might be required to join the alliance by itself.

 

Source: schengenvisainfo.com