UPDATE 2 – Turkey, OIC urge fight against Islamophobia, terrorism

UPDATE WITH MORE REMARKS BY OIC SECRETARY GENERAL</p> <p>By Andac Hongur</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey’s foreign minister and the head of an international Muslim bloc on Friday urged the world to wage a battle against Islamophobia, intolerance, racism, and terrorism.</p> <p>&quot;We call upon the whole world as a country that has built its foreign policy on human values and as president of the OIC summit,&quot; Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told an emergency Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Istanbul. &quot;Let's take a comprehensive look at hostility towards Islam, intolerance, racism and terrorism, and fight against them together.&quot;</p> <p>Cavusoglu said Turkey appreciated the attitude of New Zealand's people and government in the aftermath of the terrorist attack and saying: &quot;We hope that this attitude will set an example for the countries of the world and especially for the politicians in the countries where racism is increasing.&quot;</p> <p>“We will support New Zealand's struggle against terrorism, extremism and anti-Islamism.”</p> <p>Last Friday, at least 50 Muslims were killed and as many injured when a terrorist entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand and shot worshippers in cold blood, including four children younger than 18.</p> <p>Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, the OIC’s secretary general, said that in the wake of last week’s attacks, March 15 should become a day of international solidarity against Islamophobia.</p> <p>Othaimeen said: “I would like to thank the government of New Zealand for its political, legal and humanitarian attitude after this terrorist attack. All of our member countries agree on this issue.”</p> <p>He underscored the “hidden danger” of the live broadcast of the massacre which requires an immediate action against it.</p> <p>&quot;We must act in common against hate speech,&quot; he said, and added: &quot;We must be wary of the provocative language in the digital world. We must block negative messages that will mobilize large audiences.&quot;</p> <p>Othaimeen said the attacks against women wearing headscarves in Europe &quot;are fed by similar sources&quot;, referring to the hate speech in the digital world.</p> <p> </p> <p>*Writing by Beyza Binnur Donmez and Erdogan Cagatay Zontur