Turkey warns West against ignoring Islamophobia

<p>By Yesim Sert Karaaslan and Ilkay Guder</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Turkey warned the West on Wednesday about ignoring Islamophobia, saying doing so could fuel further deadly attacks.</p> <p>&quot;Ignoring Islamophobia can lay the groundwork for similar terror attacks” as last week’s New Zealand mosque attacks, said Turkey’s National Security Council in a statement, adding that those attacks showed hostility towards Turkey, referring to anti-Turkish messages in the terrorist's manifesto.</p> <p>In a regular meeting, the council also firmly condemned the terrorist attacks on two mosques in Christchurch and the killing of &quot;innocent people for their beliefs.&quot;</p> <p>At least 50 Muslims were killed and as many injured when Australian-born Brenton Tarrant, 28, entered the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch and targeted those inside with gunfire, including four children under age 18 shot dead in cold blood.</p> <p>The council also said that Turkey will continue to fight all terrorist groups with unwavering determination and will never allow the formation of a terrorist corridor along the country’s southern borders.</p> <p>It added that migration from Syria cannot he halted without clearing terror groups from Manbij, Syria and east of the Euphrates and ensuring stability there.</p> <p>Turkey has promised to launch an operation against terrorist PYD/YPG forces in Syria, east of the Euphrates.</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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children. The PYD/YPG is its Syrian branch.</p> <p>Separately, the council stated that it reviewed security measures to ensure peaceful local elections on March 31.</p> <p>Turkey has taken all security measures for the upcoming local elections, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said earlier on Tuesday.</p> <p>&quot;We are sure that the election will take place in a secure environment without any problems,&quot; he said.</p> <p>A total of 12 political parties are competing in the polls.</p>

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