Authorities in the Netherlands have decided to temporarily close the Dutch consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul in the face of «an increased threat of attack» following the burning of copies of the Koran in the European country.
«Recent demonstrations in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, where copies of the Quran were burned and torn, may evoke anti-Western sentiments and lead to demonstrations and protests,» the Dutch consulate has stressed.
In this context, the diplomacy of the Netherlands has issued a travel alert, insisting on the temporary cessation of the activity of the consulate in Istanbul since Monday, with which it has referred its citizens to carry out the necessary procedures through the Embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
«At the moment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no indication that there is a threat to individual Dutch travelers,» the consulate in Istanbul has reassured in a statement which also stresses that it is active yellow alert, which recommends caution in Turkey to possible security risks.
Last week there were demonstrations in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands in which copies of the Koran were burned, which has sparked criticism from Turkey and other Muslim countries.
In fact, Turkish authorities have gone so far as to cancel meetings with Swedish representatives, further delaying the possibility of Sweden receiving the ‘green light’ to join the Atlantic Alliance, still pending ratification by Turkey and Hungary.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
