An effigy of President Erdoğan ‘carrying’ a rainbow flag, displayed by the groups Rojava Committees and Queers against Fascism at Stockholm’s Pride march on Saturday drew sharp criticism from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, which is already at odds with Sweden over a number of issues.
The controversial effigy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had already gained international attention earlier this year, when it was hung upside-down by the ankles outside Stockholm’s city hall by the Kurdish group Rojava Committees. It made a bold reappearance, this time being placed upright on a truck, with a rainbow flag in its hand.
The Rojava Committees caused a minor diplomatic crisis in January when they displayed the same Erdoğan effigy and published a video comparing Erdoğan to the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who was hung upside down after his execution towards the end of World War II. The incident caused a peak in tensions between Sweden and Turkey following Sweden’s bid to join NATO.
The Rojava Committees marched together with the network Queers against Fascism, carrying flags linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and highlighting that Turkey’s repression extends not only to Kurds but also to LGBTQ+ individuals in Turkey.
Turkey classifies the PKK as a terrorist organisation and has put pressure on Sweden to criminalise activities related to it, challenging the boundaries of freedom of expression and assembly. Pride’s press department has confirmed the presence of these flags.
The Rojava Committees, supporters of Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria’s Rojava region, are central to this controversy. The Ministry’s swift response highlighted Turkey’s disapproval of “allowing a PKK-affiliated group to spread propaganda” at the parade and denouncing the act as a “heinous” one against their president.
“This ‘heinous act’ was allowing our Erdoğan effigy to hold a rainbow flag,” said the Kurdish group via social media. “The regime in Ankara is showing its true, homophobic face through its offensiveness. But we will not allow homophobes in Ankara or anywhere else to silence us!“
Adding to the discourse, Turkey’s Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç voiced his concerns on the platform X, formerly Twitter. He criticised Sweden’s lack of response to what he described as “provocations against our president” and “capitulating to terrorism”.
Several Turkish media outlets described the effigy’s colourful decoration as a “shameless provocation carried out by terrorist supporters”, targeting Erdoğan, with the images of PKK flags and the effigy blurred out of vision.
The incident unfolds as President Erdoğan is pushing for the revival of Turkey’s EU membership process. He suggests that Brussels facilitate Turkey’s EU accession in exchange for Turkey endorsing Sweden’s NATO membership. Erdoğan’s proposal has received mixed feedback, particularly in light of concerns about Turkey’s human rights and its democratic regression.
President Erdoğan recently announced in a press conference that the Turkish parliament would discuss the ratification of Sweden’s bid to join NATO after its return from summer holidays, placing it “in order of priority”.
