Turkey says “offensive caricatures” of the Prophet Mohammed are being used to intimidate Muslims in Europe under the guise of freedom of expression.
European attitudes demonizing Muslims are reminiscent of how the Jews in Europe were treated in the 1920s, said Fahrettin Altun, communications director at the Turkish presidency.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s policies to defend his country against radical Islam have angered Turkey, which is predominantly Muslim even if officially a secular country.
Altun’s comments came a day after France recalled its ambassador following a statement from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which he suggested Macron needed “mental checks.”
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures at a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on September 21, 2020. (Adem ALTAN / AFP)
“The dog-whistle politics of offensive caricatures, accusations of separatism against Muslims, and mosque raids isn’t about freedom of expression,” Altun says.
“It’s about intimidating and reminding Muslims that they are welcome to keep the European economy going, but they will never belong — against the backdrop of lectures about integration.”
— AFP
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