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'Did you know that Sweden has the highest rape rate worldwide'

Following the Sweden Foreign Minister's base-less twitter remark on Turkey's laws and the Vienna airport's repetition of the claim, the Istanbul airport responded

Ersin Çelik
14:23 - 19/08/2016 Friday
Update: 11:28 - 19/08/2016 Friday
Yeni Şafak

A message, which reads, “Travel Warning! Did you know that Sweden has the highest rape rate worldwide?” displayed on a news ticker at the Istanbul Atatürk International Airport on Friday.



It aimed to warn travelers who intended to travel to Sweden for summer vacation or other region.



The message was taken from a headline of Turkish daily Güneş newspaper as it published a long story on Sweden's rape records.



The move from Istanbul airport comes days after Sweden's Foreign Minister Marot Vallstrom's baseless claims over Turkey's law on child sex.



She twitted on Sunday, "Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed. Children need more protection, not less, against violence, sex abuse."



Protests and reactions to the Swedish FM's unjustified remarks


Hundreds of social media users protested by claiming she was spreading an anti-Turkey campaign on false information, while some users called on her to apologize to Turkey.



The Turkish foreign ministry had also filed an official complaint against her statement, as Deputy PM Mehmet Şimşek and Justice Minister Bekirbozdağ harshly criticized her and slammed her for having lack of knowledge on Turkish laws.



Vienna compounds the defamation


The Vienna airport had also stated similar anti-Turkey propaganda publishing a false claim on its running digital screen claimed that Turkey allows sexual intercourse with children under the age of 15.



Though the statement was removed later following harsh criticism, the Swedish FM had yet to apologize to Turkey.



Turkey officially condemns Vienna airport's and Vallstrom's claims


"We deplore and strongly condemn that an international airport, located in the center of Europe and used by passengers from different countries, was abused by a discredited newspaper to spread irresponsible, distorted and falsified messages which defame a friendly country and nation,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement.



Turkish Constitutional Court has also released a statement regarding the false claim on Monday and clarified that there was no such law in Turkey.



"The allegations are baseless," said the court in the statement after explaining the legal aspects of the matter. "Sexual intercourse with and abuse of minors under 15 continue to be classified as crimes under Turkish law," the statement added.



Europe has displayed its anti-Turkey stance several times, mainly after the failed coup attempt on July 15 that led Turks to think that Europeans could be behind the coup attempt.



A news update was displayed at the airport after the foiled coup that read, "Traveling to Turkey means you are supporting [President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan."



The message was a quote form a story in Kronen Zeitung, an Austrian newspaper that is known for its black propaganda against Turkey.







#Sweden
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8 years ago