Sweden ready to extradite the first Turkish citizen since the NATO application
Sweden is preparing to extradite a man to Turkey for the first time since the NATO application.
Both Sweden’s bid and Finland’s bid to join the alliance were delayed due to concerns from NATO member Turkey that the two Nordic neighbors would not extradite people they consider to be terrorists.
Turkey, which has veto power over new applicants, hinged its approval of the applications on a series of demands, one of which was the issue of extradition.
Finland and Sweden submitted their NATO applications after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sweden has given a “promise” to extradite “73 terrorists”.
But the first extradition case to reach Swedish courts involved credit card fraudster Okan Kale, who was convicted of crimes in Turkey in 2013 and 2016.
Kale’s name is on a list published in Turkish media of people Ankara wants to extradite from Sweden. The Swedish Ministry of Justice does not want to comment on whether he was on the list.
– This is a normal routine matter, says Ministry of Justice spokeswoman Angelica Vallgren. “The extradition request was received last year.”
Kale has been in Swedish custody since December 2021.
In an agreement signed by Sweden and Finland at a NATO summit in Madrid in late June, the two countries agreed to review Turkish extradition requests “quickly and thoroughly”.
Erdogan has said that Sweden and Finland are havens for Kurdish militants.
Turkey vetoed Finland and Sweden joining NATO in June, putting the countries on the fast track to the 30-nation alliance.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the adoption of the two countries would map out a plan for the alliance “in a more dangerous and unpredictable world”, transforming regional security and strengthening its presence in Europe.
Turkey’s objection to Finland and Sweden’s membership had threatened to overshadow the summit in June where the leaders wanted to show unity as Russia wages war in Ukraine.
Updated: August 11, 2022, 5:46 p.m