Paris fears reprisals after copies of the Koran were burned during anti-Turkish protests in Sweden and Denmark.
France and the United States on Friday night urged their nationals in Turkey to show “vigilance” in the face of the threat of attacks in retaliation for copies of the Koran burned during anti-Turkish demonstrations in Sweden and Denmark.
“In light of the recent cases of Koran burnings in Europe, the US government is warning its citizens of possible terrorist attacks on places of worship in retaliation in Turkey,” the US Embassy in Ankara said. “Terrorists could attack without warning and attack places of worship frequented by Westerners,” she said.
The American mission recommends “staying alert, avoiding crowds and keeping a low profile.”
“Exercise the utmost vigilance”
At the same time, the French Mission in Ankara emailed a similar message to its nationals present in the country, citing the United States’ warning.
“As the risk of a terrorist attack in Turkey remains high, as recalled by the US Embassy’s January 27, 2023 security alert, French nationals staying in or transiting through Turkey are urged to take maximum To show vigilance, particularly at places of gathering likely to be visited by foreigners, including places of worship,” she said.
A diplomat said the press release was to be posted online on the websites of the Foreign Ministry and the French Embassy in Ankara in the evening.
Diplomatic crisis between Ankara and Stockholm
Several demonstrations took place in Stockholm last week and in Copenhagen on Friday, during which copies of the Koran, Muslims’ holy book, were burned by an extremist who claimed to be protesting Turkey’s veto on Sweden’s entry into NATO.
Ankara has been blocking the expansion of the Atlantic Alliance to include that country and Finland since May, and has been demanding that Stockholm hand over Kurdish refugees whom it considers “terrorists”.
These incidents have been denounced and condemned by the governments concerned and by Western capitals, particularly Washington.
However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Sweden can no longer count on Turkey’s “support” for joining NATO and negotiations are officially suspended.