Support By Some European States To Far-Right Movements 'Disgraceful': Turkish President Erdogan

ADDS REMARKS BY PRESIDENT ERDOGAN

By Esra Tekin and Dilara Hamit

ISTANBUL (AA) — It is "disgraceful and scandalous for Western democracies" that far-right movements in some European countries have been receiving state support, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

"The fact that far-right movements are supported by the state itself in some European countries is a tragedy, disgraceful and scandalous for Western democracies," Erdogan said in a speech at the International Democratic Union Capacity Building and Training Workshop in the Turkish capital Ankara.

"Today, the Neo-Nazi terrorism fueled by hatred against Turkish and Muslim (people) has reached levels that threaten the lives and property of our people," Erdogan added.

He stressed that Türkiye cannot remain silent in the face of "heinous" acts of racist terrorism, pointing to the killing of dozens of Turkish nationals abroad.

On the recent Solingen arson attack, Erdogan stated that he urged his German counterpart to investigate the attack thoroughly, ensuring that "no stone is left unturned" and that those responsible are held accountable without fail.

Three decades ago, a far-right arson attack in Solingen killed five members of a Turkish immigrant family, in one of the most severe instances of racist violence in modern Germany.

This March, four members of a Turkish-Bulgarian family were killed in a fire, and over a dozen others were injured, some seriously, in the same city.

He said that Türkiye welcomed Germany's acceptance of regulations facilitating dual citizenship after "many years of resistance."

Lamenting that instances of Islamophobic and racist attacks have not been given the same sensitivity afforded antisemitic acts, he asserted that those who "issue human rights report cards left and right watched as 35,000 Palestinians, including 15,000 children, lost their lives."

"Those who talk about press freedom whenever it starts, didn't utter a single sentence about more than 140 journalists who lost their lives in Israeli attacks.

"They continued to stand behind Israel as if nothing had happened, as if 35,000 innocent people hadn't died, continuing to provide diplomatic and military support," he said.

Almost no Western leader has responded to this brutality, save for "a few conscientious statesmen," said the Turkish leader, adding: "No brave soul has emerged to tell Israel, 'Enough is enough'."

Highlighting that students and academics, including anti-Zionist Jews, are protesting against "the massacre" in Gaza at some US universities, Erdogan said: "These people face violence, oppression, harassment, and even torture simply because they advocate for 'Stop the massacre in Gaza.'"

Reaffirming Türkiye's commitment to maintaining attention on Israel's "genocide" on the people of Gaza despite pressure by the "global Zionist lobby," he said it was "no coincidence" that there has recently been an increase in "campaigns targeting us and our country."

"These campaigns have but one goal: To silence us and Türkiye," he said.

Stating that Ankara has been showing "astute and brave stance" on not only anti-Islam and xenophobia but also Gaza, Erdogan said that Türkiye is providing the most humanitarian aid to the region with approximately 50,000 tons.

Ankara is closely watching the "hypocritical policies" of Western leaders who have been "lecturing" the country on democracy and freedom, Erdogan also said, pointing to the silence of these leaders on Israel's "massacres" in Gaza.

Türkiye rejects antisemitism in same way it opposes Islamophobia, xenophobia and all forms of cultural racism, he stressed.​​​​​​​ -