Erdogan Calls Europe an Open Prison for Muslims

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has referred to Europe as an open prison for 35 million Muslims, according to Lenta, citing Hürriyet Daily News.

The Turkish leader condemned the rise of Islamophobia and discriminatory policies in the European Union, particularly in France. He declared that Islamophobia is no less dangerous than the coronavirus and is spreading across European countries at the same rate.

“There is no difference between the atmosphere of hatred against Jews before World War II and the atmosphere being created today against Muslims,” Erdogan said. He noted that followers of Islam are increasingly being “stigmatized as foreigners,” especially women wearing hijabs.

The politician emphasized that European leaders are not fighting against Islamophobia and are using it for their own purposes. He believes the situation has reached a critical level where all Muslims in Europe face serious security threats.

Erdogan also criticized a proposed law in France aimed at combating extremism, stating that the law violates human rights, restricts religious freedom, and undermines democratic values. “We expect the French government to repeal this bill as soon as possible,” the president added.

In April, France's Ministry of the Interior presented a new anti-terrorism legislative draft that has faced criticism from human rights advocates, as some of its provisions violate privacy laws. The proposals within this initiative would allow authorities to regularly monitor individuals' online behavior and retain their data for longer periods.