Sweden must extradite ‘terrorists’ if wants to join NATO: Türkiye

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye has criticized Sweden along with other European states over tolerating what it considers “a continuing terrorist’ presence.”

The country’s president has said that the extradition of “terrorists” is necessary for the Nordic country to earn the right to enter NATO.

“We’ve told them (Sweden), ‘Look, if you don’t extradite the terrorists you have then we can’t ratify this (NATO membership) in our parliament’,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a youth meeting in Mugla southwestern Turkiye.

“First of all, they need to extradite nearly 130 terrorists in order for their bids to pass our parliament, (but) unfortunately they have yet to do this,” he added.

Citing a joint press conference he held last November with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Erdogan said he told Sweden to extradite suspect Bulent Kenes to Türkiye. Kenes is a member of Fetullah Gulen’s political movement opposed to Erdogan, labelled a “terrorist” outfit by the Turkish regime.

“Interestingly, their court rejected the deportation of Bulent Kenes to us,” Erdogan added.

Erdogan pointed out that demonstrations by Kurdish nationalists are often seen on the streets of the capital Stockholm “despite our warnings… unfortunately, there was no action on stopping PKK/PYD demonstrations.”