Turkey condemns Austria’s ban on political symbols

By Can Erozden</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Turkey on Wednesday condemned Austria’s move to ban the use of Rabaa sign, an anti-coup symbol, and Turkey’s nationalist “Grey Wolves” salute.</p> <p>“We do not accept this and we strongly condemn it,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding: “These political and religious symbols are not even remotely related to extremism.”</p> <p>The statement came a day after the law on amendments to the “Symbol Act” from 2014, prohibiting the symbols of extremist organizations in Austria, was adopted after the voting in the Austrian National Council. </p> <p>Rabaa sign, a four-fingered hand gesture, became a world symbol for anti-coup protesters around the globe after it was first used by Egyptian protesters against a military coup staged to oust Mohamed Morsi in mid-2013.</p> <p>&quot;If the Austrian authorities sincerely wish to tackle extremism, they should first look to their own country. They should stop turning a blind eye to the ever-increasing extreme right and racist tendencies that have infiltrated even mainstream politics and take effective measures through an exercise of soul-searching,” the statement said.</p> <p>“Yet, xenophobia and racism are phenomena that foreigners living in Austria unfortunately face on a daily basis. In a country with hundreds of thousands-strong Turkish community this situation disturbs the social peace and renders impossible the integration which local authorities attach importance,&quot; it added.</p> <p>The Foreign Ministry called on Austria to “correct this mistake,” saying the “development is deeply offending Turkey and the Turkish community and Muslims in Austria.&quot;</p> <p>The statement, however, welcomed the inclusion of the symbol of the PKK terrorist organization into the law. </p> <p>&quot;The inclusion of the symbols of the PKK terrorist organization into the law is a positive step in the right direction in the fight against terrorism, albeit a late one. We will closely follow how this particular part of the regulation will be implemented,&quot; the statement added.</p> <p>In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children.