Kristersson told a news conference Floderus, who was arrested in Iran 2022, was arbitrarily detained.

Iran on Sunday said it had begun a trial of the Swedish national, charged with spying for Israel and “corruption on earth,” a crime that carries the death penalty.

Speaking with reporters on a flight from Athens late on Thursday, Erdogan said the United States agreed with Canada on the issue, but that Sweden’s NATO bid was to be decided by Turkey’s parliament, after he sent the bill there for consideration in late October.

When Erdogan signalled at a NATO conference in July that Sweden would eventually get the green light, NATO member Canada quietly agreed to re-open talks with Turkey on lifting export controls on drone parts, including optical equipment, Reuters reported.

“On the issue of drone cameras we wanted from them, Canada is insisting: Sweden, Sweden. The U.S. is repeating the same thing,” Erdogan said.

Turkey, a NATO member, asked in October 2021 to buy 40 Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16 fighters and 79 modernisation kits for its existing warplanes.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration backs the $20-billion sale, but there have been objections in the U.S. Congress over Turkey’s delaying of NATO enlargement to bring in Sweden, and over its human rights record.

“If you have your Congress, I have my parliament. You say you will take a step in the F-16 issue after passing through Congress. I also have a parliament,” Erdogan said.

“If we are two NATO allies, then do what you have to simultaneously, in solidarity, and our parliament will take the necessary decision.”

The Canadian embassy did not immediately comment on the matter.

Last week, the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission delayed a vote on Sweden’s NATO membership bid in order to hold further talks on the subject.

The commission will likely resume its debate on the matter on Tuesday or Wednesday, one of the sources said. NATO foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on those days, Nov. 28-29, a gathering that some in the Western defence bloc had hoped would mark Sweden’s accession.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for comment.

Both Sweden and Finland had requested to join NATO in May last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

President Tayyip Erdogan raised objections at the time to both requests over what he said was the Nordic nations’ protection of those who Turkey deems terrorists, as well as their defence trade embargoes. Turkey endorsed Finland’s bid in April, but has kept Sweden waiting.

Turkey has demanded that Sweden take more steps to rein in local members of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States.

In response, Stockholm introduced an anti-terrorism bill that makes membership of a terrorist organisation illegal, while also lifting arms export restrictions on Turkey. It says it has upheld its part of a deal signed last year.

For ratification, the bill needs to be approved by the Turkish foreign affairs commission before being put to a full parliament vote, which could come days or weeks later. Erdogan would then sign it into law to conclude the process, the length of which has frustrated Ankara’s allies and tested its Western ties.

While NATO member Hungary also has not ratified Sweden’s membership, Turkey is seen as the main roadblock to Sweden’s accession.

Last week, the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission delayed a vote on Sweden’s NATO membership bid in order to hold further talks on the subject.

The commission will likely resume its debate on the matter on Tuesday or Wednesday, one of the sources said. NATO foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on those days, Nov. 28-29, a gathering that some in the Western defence bloc had hoped would mark Sweden’s accession.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for comment.

Both Sweden and Finland had requested to join NATO in May last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

President Tayyip Erdogan raised objections at the time to both requests over what he said was the Nordic nations’ protection of those who Turkey deems terrorists, as well as their defence trade embargoes. Turkey endorsed Finland’s bid in April, but has kept Sweden waiting.

Turkey has demanded that Sweden take more steps to rein in local members of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States.

In response, Stockholm introduced an anti-terrorism bill that makes membership of a terrorist organisation illegal, while also lifting arms export restrictions on Turkey. It says it has upheld its part of a deal signed last year.

For ratification, the bill needs to be approved by the Turkish foreign affairs commission before being put to a full parliament vote, which could come days or weeks later. Erdogan would then sign it into law to conclude the process, the length of which has frustrated Ankara’s allies and tested its Western ties.

While NATO member Hungary also has not ratified Sweden’s membership, Turkey is seen as the main roadblock to Sweden’s accession.

Erdogan submitted a bill approving Sweden’s NATO membership bid to parliament for ratification last month, a move welcomed by the alliance and Stockholm. Turkey had initially raised objections due to what it said was Sweden’s harbouring of groups it deems terrorist.

Speaking to reporters on a return flight from Kazakhstan on Friday, Erdogan said Stockholm had taken some steps regarding protests organised by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and also concerning arms embargoes on Turkey, but not on the activities of the PKK in Sweden.

“Our duty was to submit this to parliament in the first stage, we did that,” broadcaster Haberturk quoted him on Saturday as having told the reporters on his plane.

Erdogan also said planned talks in parliament about Turkey’s 2024 state budget would now take priority, suggesting that the approval of Sweden’s NATO membership might not be rapid.

“But we will try to facilitate the work (on ratifying Sweden’s NATO bid) as much as possible. We will try to show positive efforts as much as we can at this point, so long as our counterparts approach us positively.”

The bill must be approved by parliament’s foreign affairs committee before a vote by the full general assembly. Erdogan would then sign it into law.

Long-neutral Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year to bolster their security after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland’s membership was sealed in April, but Sweden’s bid had been held up by Turkey and Hungary.

President Tayyip Erdogan submitted the ratification bill for Sweden’s NATO membership bid to parliament last month, a move welcomed by Stockholm as it would clear the way for it to join the Western defence alliance.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said he wants a “speedy vote” by Turkey’s parliament and that the process was “going well”. But parliament’s foreign affairs committee chair Fuat Oktay said Turkey was in no hurry.

“Sweden’s NATO membership is just one of the international agreements on our agenda waiting for ratification,” Oktay told a meeting of lawmakers. “We will discuss it when the time comes … within the framework of our own priorities… What is urgent for others is not necessarily urgent for (us).”

The Sweden NATO membership bill must be approved by the committee before a vote by the full parliament, at which point Erdogan would sign it into law.

Long-neutral Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year to bolster their security after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland’s membership was sealed in April, but Sweden’s bid had been held up by Turkey and Hungary.

Turkey said Sweden must first take measures against supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and members of a network Ankara holds responsible for a 2016 coup attempt. Turkey treats both groups as terrorist organisations.

Sweden approved a new anti-terrorism law in July.

Sweden’s bid has been stranded in Hungary’s parliament since last year, with the ruling nationalists saying there is no threat to Sweden’s security and citing what they call undue Swedish allegations that they have eroded democracy in Hungary.

State news agency SPA reported the ministry’s response on Sunday, expressing the Kingdom’s outrage at the incident and its rejection of such flagrant acts that have been occurring repeatedly in several European cities under the guise of freedom of expression.

According to SPA, the incident took place with the knowledge of the local authorities, which has further intensified the condemnation from Saudi Arabia. The ministry called on the Swedish authorities to urgently address such acts and put an end to granting permission to extremist groups to carry out actions that fuel hatred and racism.

The desecration of the Holy Qur’an, a sacred text revered by millions of Muslims worldwide, is considered deeply offensive and disrespectful. It is seen as an attack on the religious sentiments of Muslims and a violation of their faith. The burning of religious texts or symbols is not only an act of provocation but also perpetuates a climate of hostility and intolerance.

Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation reflects the country’s commitment to protecting the sanctity of Islamic religious symbols and its rejection of any form of religious discrimination or incitement to hatred. The Kingdom has consistently emphasized the importance of respecting religious beliefs and promoting dialogue and understanding among different cultures and faiths.

The incident in Malmo serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance against acts of religious intolerance and extremism. It highlights the importance of promoting mutual respect and peaceful coexistence within diverse societies. Addressing such incidents promptly and effectively is crucial to maintaining social harmony and preventing further escalation of tensions.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ call for urgent action by the Swedish authorities underscores the need for measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts in the future. It is essential for governments and local authorities to ensure the protection of religious freedom and to combat all forms of discrimination and hatred.

International cooperation and dialogue among nations are vital in addressing religious intolerance and promoting a culture of respect and understanding. Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of this incident serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility to foster an environment that upholds the principles of tolerance, inclusivity, and respect for all individuals and their religious beliefs.

Speaking to reporters on his flight back from Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan, Erdogan said that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Sweden’s NATO membership bid last week in New York.

The U.S. administration is linking F-16 fighter jet sales to Turkey with Ankara’s ratification of Sweden’s bid, Erdogan said.

“If they (the U.S.) keep their promises, our parliament will keep its own promise as well. Turkish parliament will have the final say on Sweden’s NATO membership,” he said.

Sweida has been rocked by weeks of rallies against the Syrian government, first criticising worsening living conditions but then spreading to include calls for President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

According to security officials, the internal security forces court in Baghdad found the 18 police officers guilty of neglecting their duties by allowing the protesters to assault the embassy. The verdict, seen by AFP, stated that eight officers received three-year jail terms, seven were sentenced to two years and three months, and three others received 18 months in prison. The authenticity of the verdict was confirmed by an interior ministry official who attended the hearing.

In addition to the jail sentences, some of the police officers involved in the case were permanently disbarred from the force, as stated in the verdict. The officers, including members of the diplomatic protection forces, have the option to appeal the ruling.

The desecration of the Qur’an, which occurred multiple times in Sweden and Denmark during the summer, led to heightened tensions between the Scandinavian countries and several Muslim nations in the Middle East. In response to the protests in which the Qur’an was desecrated, Iraq retaliated against Stockholm by announcing the expulsion of Sweden’s ambassador.

Swedish authorities had permitted the demonstrations on the grounds of freedom of speech but clarified that granting permission did not signify approval of the actions taken during the protests. Despite this explanation, Iraq took the step of expelling the Swedish ambassador as a form of retaliation.

The court’s verdict regarding the police officers involved in the embassy attack reflects Iraq’s commitment to maintaining law and order and holding individuals accountable for their failure to prevent violence. The sentences aim to send a strong message that negligence in carrying out duties will not be tolerated, particularly in cases involving attacks on diplomatic premises.

As Iraq continues to address the aftermath of the embassy attack, it remains essential for countries and communities to engage in dialogue and promote understanding to prevent further incidents that could strain international relations. The case involving the police officers highlights the importance of upholding responsibilities and maintaining security in a challenging and sensitive environment.