Move FM Global News

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is calling on the UN and the international community to mark an annual International Solidarity Day Against Islamophobia.

Erdogan has nominated 15 March.

Turkey’s leader was speaking at the opening ceremony of 35th Ministerial Meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) on Wednesday.

“Those who claim to be defending democracy and human rights play ostrich when it comes to Muslims, and migrants are abused in their own lands,” Erdogan said.

March 15 has been nominated by the Turkish president because on that day, 15 March this year, fifty-one Muslims were massacred by a white supremacist at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Erdogan also took aim at Israel.

“Those who are trying to turn Jerusalem, which is a sacred city for three religions, into a center of their beliefs by looting it are making a big mistake,” he said.

He accused Western countries of “spoiling Israel knowingly or unknowingly,” which was fueling tensions.