Erdogan: Europe preparing its own end amid Islamophobia

By Merve Yildizalp Ozmen

KAYSERI, Turkey (AA) - The president of Turkey warned on Saturday that Europe was preparing its own end amid rising Islamophobia across the continent.

"Europe is preparing its own end with its front against Muslims," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, addressing a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party at a stadium in the central province of Kayseri.

"If they aren't rid of this disease as soon as possible, it will collapse all of Europe from within," Erdogan added.

Erdogan's remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron accused Muslims of "separatism" and described Islam as "a religion in crisis all over the world."

"What can we say of a head of state who behaves like this to millions of members of a different faith in his country," said Erdogan.

"First of all, [Macron needs] mental checks."

He asserted that European fascism had entered a new phase with attacks on the rights of Muslims, referring to a recent police raid on a mosque in Germany's capital Berlin that he had denounced on Friday.

The Turkish president also accused France for being complicit in Armenia's decades-long occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan.

- Azerbaijan taking back occupied land

During his speech, Erdogan underlined that Azerbaijan was retaking its land from Armenian occupation as fighting continued between the neighboring countries.

"I spoke with [Azerbaijan's president Ilham] Aliyev this morning," he said. "Now, our Azerbaijani brothers are marching towards the occupied territories. They have started to take them back."

Describing Turkey and Azerbaijan as "two states, one nation," Erdogan said: "We'll continue to give all kinds of support to the struggle to liberate the occupied territories of Azerbaijan."

Since clashes erupted on Sept. 27, Armenia has repeatedly attacked Azerbaijani civilians and forces, even violating two humanitarian cease-fires in the past two weeks.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Upper Karabakh.

Four UN Security Council resolutions and two from the UN General Assembly, as well as international organizations, demand the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territory.