Muslims most affected by hate speech, says Erdogan

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - Muslims are most subjected to hate speech, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.

Erdogan was speaking at an event co-hosted by Turkey and Pakistan on encountering hate speech at UN headquarters.

"Today, Muslims are the most subjected to hate speech, cultural racism, discrimination and insults. Muslims' workplaces, homes, worshipping places are targeted by racist and fascist groups almost every day," said the president.

He said Muslim women are harassed for wearing headscarves on the street and workplaces.

"As a country, which has 6.5 million citizens abroad who are impacted by hate speech and attacks, we cannot overlook this issue," he added.

Erdogan noted that hate speech is normalized by populist politicians and media and cannot be considered within freedom of opinion.

He also denounced violence against Muslims in India who eat beef and urged respect for freedom of faith.

"In India, how will we defend Muslim youth who are being whipped, beaten by machetes and even sentenced to death just for eating beef," Erdogan said.

Cows are considered sacred in the Hindu religion and there has been a rise in attacks on Muslim cattle owners by Hindu nationalists, with several self-styled cow protection groups emerging.

Turning to the situation in Kashmir, he said it has turned into an open-air prison and its residents have become prisoners.

"Important duties fall on all [foreign] state institutions," said Erdogan, and urged more active steps on regional and international levels.

Reacting to attacks on Islam, the president said linking Islam, a religion of peace, with terror is an immoral slander. It is unacceptable, he said.

"We will continue to pioneer all efforts to actively fight against Islamophobia, racism and hate speech," he added.

*Dilara Hamit in Ankara contributed to the story