BERLIN
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has praised the world’s united stance against the Paris terror attacks and called for a similar stance against growing racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia in Europe.
His comments came during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday, a day after an estimated two million people and scores of world leaders rallied in the French capital to protest against the attacks.
“It is a very important responsibility for us, the Europeans, to protect our culture by demonstrating a common stance against growing number of Islamophobic acts and attacks to the mosques around Europe, just as we have taken a united stance against the recent terror attacks,” Davutoglu said.
The Turkish and German prime ministers spoke after a meeting at the German Prime Ministry, a day after the two leaders attended the “Unity March” in Paris, paying tribute to 17 victims of the attacks in the French capital on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket.
The Turkish PM strongly condemned the terror attacks but underlined they should not be associated with Islam.
He stressed: "Terror organizations should be referred to by their names. If it is committed by Al Qaida, we should refer to Al Qaida."
"Terror and Islam should not be referred together. Similarly, we should refer it with Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or Buddhism - otherwise we should fall into the trap of terrorists."
Growing fear
Last week's attacks in France and atrocities committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the Middle East have triggered suspicion and hostility towards Muslims and led right-wing populist parties to seek benefit from a growing fear of Islam.
In Germany, the growing support for Islamophobic movements like PEGIDA raised worries among politicians and immigrants.
The German Chancellor praised the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and non-Muslims in Germany.
She announced she would join a protest vigil Tuesday evening in Berlin organized by Turkish and Muslim organizations in order to condemn terror in France, but also highlight peaceful co-existence in Germany.
“Our former President Christian Wulff said that Islam is part of Germany. I share this view,” Merkel said in one of the strongest public remarks she has made, acknowledging cultural plurality in Germany.
“I am the Prime Minister of all people living in Germany regardless of their origin or background,” she stressed.
Language tests imposed
Germany has approximately four million Muslims; around three million of them of Turkish origin.
Davutoglu highlighted that Turkish community constitute an important bridge of friendship between the two countries and expressed support for efforts towards integration.
He stressed the importance of multi-cultural plurality in Germany.
“For the Turkish community to preserve its culture, language and traditions is the natural outcome of multicultural life in Germany,” he stressed.
In the past, Turkish and German governments had been at odds over integration.
Germany’s conservative governments had long criticized multi-culturalism and insisted that ethnic-Turkish children should first learn German.
Berlin also imposed German language tests for spouses from Turkey before granting them visas to live there with their husbands or wives.
