Protests in Stockholm on Saturday against Turkey and Sweden’s bid to join NATO, including burning of a copy of the Koran, sharply heightened tensions with Turkey at a time when the Nordic country needs Ankara’s backing to gain entry to the military alliance. 

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the vile attack on our holy book ... Permitting this anti-Islam act, which targets Muslims and insults our sacred values, under the guise of freedom of expression is completely unacceptable,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. Its statement was issued after an anti-immigrant politician from the far-right fringe burnt a copy of the Koran near the Turkish Embassy.