Effigy of Erdogan Hanged by Feet in Stockholm, Causing Outrage in Turkey

Turkish prosecutors are investigating an incident in Stockholm involving an effigy of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as reported by Reuters.

In footage first released on Twitter by the Sweden Solidarity Committee, the effigy can be seen hanging by its feet near Stockholm City Hall, with a few individuals standing beside it.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Friday to TV4 that the act was "extremely serious" and referred to it as sabotage.

Turkey has summoned the Swedish ambassador in connection with the incident.

The Turkish Anadolu Agency reported that an investigation was initiated after Erdogan's lawyer filed a lawsuit. "A request has been submitted to the Ankara prosecutor's office to start an investigation against those responsible," Erdogan's lawyer, Hussein Aydin, wrote on Twitter.

In response to Turkish pro-government media broadcasting footage of the incident, Aydin highlighted that the event was allegedly organized by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Last year, Sweden and Finland signed a trilateral agreement with Turkey aimed at overcoming Ankara's objections to their NATO membership applications, which require approval from all 30 NATO member countries.

Kristersson told TV4 that there is a "risk" that the incident could impact the NATO membership process. "I would say, this is sabotage against Sweden's application to NATO," he stated.

A diplomatic source indicated that Turkey has communicated its response to Swedish Ambassador Stefan Herström at the Foreign Ministry.

Erdogan's press secretary, Ibrahim Kalin, condemned the "disgraceful" protest and stated that Swedish authorities must take concrete action in accordance with the law and agreements with Turkey.

The Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Sentop, has canceled a visit that his Swedish counterpart was scheduled to make to Turkey on January 17.

On Sunday, Kristersson stated that Sweden is confident Turkey will approve its NATO membership application, but it will not meet all of Ankara's stipulated conditions.