President Erdoğan: The virus of Islamophobia rapidly spreads particularly in European countries

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the final of the Holy Quran Recitation Contest broadcast on TRT1.

Drawing attention to the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Erdoğan said: “Developed countries and international organizations unfortunately didn’t perform well during the pandemic days which affected the whole humanity. The order of luxury the West built upon others’ blood, labor, and underground and overground riches has once again been exposed by the pandemic. We see that the cut-throat competition for masks, medication and ventilators witnessed in the earlier days of the pandemic is now being evident for vaccines. Those, who never quit talking about human rights, don’t move a muscle about billions of people’s access to vaccine under convenient conditions. It is enough to show the gravity of the issue that there are still nearly 100 countries with no access to first doses of the vaccine yet and that some countries seek to send the vaccines which they decided not to administer to their own citizens due to their risks to Africa and Asia under the disguise of aid.”

“ISLAMOPHOBIA IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS THE CORONAVIRUS”

The ongoing process also revealed the social maladies plaguing the Western society, the President said. “Racism, discrimination, animosity towards immigrants, and intolerance are just a few of these maladies. Without doubt, Islamophobia among them is just as dangerous as the coronavirus. This virus has rapidly been spreading particularly in European countries.”

“Europe, which is home to 35 million Muslims, including 6 million Turks, is now increasingly turning into an open-air prison for our brothers and sisters,” President Erdoğan warned. “I am putting it openly that there is no difference between the climate of hatred created against Jews before World War II and the atmosphere that is being instigated against Muslims today. To be a Muslim, to live like a Muslim in many Western countries, especially in France, is now enough to be labeled as ‘other’. Particularly women wearing headscarf are the primary victims of this wave of hatred that is on the rise in Europe.”

Underlining that European politicians unfortunately seek to exploit the virus of Islamophobia, which plagues the society, instead of fighting it, President Erdoğan stated that the situation has now reached an alarming level with Muslims who live in Europe facing serious threats against their security.

“TURKEY IS READY TO WORK WITH EVERYONE, INCLUDING FRANCE, ON INTEGRATION AND THE FIGHT AGAINST TERROR”

The French government’s insistence on passing the ‘law to combat extremism’ despite the Muslim community’s reaction has further raised concerns, President Erdoğan pointed out. Underlining that the draft law in France will incite extremism, President Erdoğan said that the promulgation of such a bill which is openly in contradiction with human rights, religious freedom and European values will guillotine the French democracy.

“We invite the French authorities, especially President of France Mr. Macron, to act with common sense. We expect the French Government to reverse as soon as possible this draft law passed by the Senate on April 12,” President Erdoğan said, adding that Turkey is ready to work with everyone, including France, on integration and the fight against terror.