Billboard displayed in Istanbul warns of Sweden rape danger

A billboard displayed this week in Istanbul’s main airport warned travellers against visiting Sweden, describing it as having the highest rate of rape in the world, the latest salvo between EU-candidate Turkey and its European allies.

Ties between Ankara and Europe have worsened since last month’s failed coup, with Turkey accusing its Western allies of insensitivity, saying they were more concerned about a subsequent crackdown than the coup itself.

“Travel warning! Do you know that Sweden has the highest rape rate worldwide?” read the large advert.

Alongside the message was an image of the front page of the pro-government Gunes newspaper that read: “Rape country Sweden”.

State-run Anadolu Agency said a private company had paid for the advertisement.

Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters on Monday that Turkey had summoned Sweden’s ambassador to protest comments from foreign minister Margot Wallstrom about Turkish legislation on sexual abuse of children.

“(The) Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed. Children need more protection, not less, against violence, sex abuse,” Wallstrom had written on Twitter.

Cavusoglu said her comments were a scandal and based on false rumours, dismissing them as “the result of racism and anti-Islam sentiment in Europe”.