Turkey’s Jurists Union condemns terror acts in France

By Burak Dag

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's International Jurists Union on Friday condemned terror attacks in France and hatred against Muslims.

“We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks recently happening in France that killed innocent people,”read the statement. "Regardless of its justification and basis, we reject all kinds of terror unconditionally and condemn it in the harshest way."

The statement urged countries to "adopt a common attitude against terrorist organizations."

Recently, a knife attack occurred at the Church of Notre Dame de l'Assumption in Nice. Police arrested the attacker, taking him to a hospital as he sustained gunshot wounds, according to local media.

The Union also strongly condemned attacks against the Prophet Muhammad and the values of Muslims.

"On the other hand, on the grounds that the person who carried out the terrorist attack is of Muslim origin and so seeing all Muslims as equivalent to terror; we strongly condemn the attacks against the Prophet of the Muslims and the values of the Muslims," it said.

"We condemn the language of hatred against Muslims that started in France and spread to other European countries. At this point, we also condemn the hate language used by the French President and his approach accepting insult towards Muslims as freedom of expression, and we think that this attitude does not suit the President of a country like France."

Additionally, Turkey’s Youth Association Union condemned enmity against Prophet Muhammad in France and Islam across the world.

"Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the embodiment of peace and tranquility," the union said in a statement, adding that Prophet Muhammad continues to bring end to the rule of tyrants with his morals and teachings.

"Nowadays, those, who attack Prophet Muhammad for the sake of their personal ambitions political aims get even angrier and lose their controls when they see the defenders of Prophet Muhammad and Islam," it added.

It also said that the attacks against Muslims in Islamic geographic, such as Jerusalem, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, Eastern Turkistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Pattani and Aceh are signs of historical enmity towards Muslims who defend peace.

The statement also underlined that the immoral and unethical publications over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are the last example of the centuries-long ignorant and anti-Islamic movements.

Earlier this month, President Emmanuel Macron accused French Muslims of “separatism” and claimed Islam is "a religion in crisis all over the world."

Tensions further escalated after a schoolteacher was murdered in retaliation for showing his students offensive cartoons showing the Muslim Prophet Muhammad during a class on freedom of expression.

Macron paid tribute to the teacher and said France would "not give up our cartoons."

Insulting cartoons by Charlie Hebdo were also projected on buildings in a few cities.

Earlier this year, the magazine republished cartoons insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.

Several Arab countries as well as Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan have condemned Macron’s attitude toward Muslims and Islam, with President Erdogan saying the French leader needs "mental treatment."

Amid calls in many countries to boycott French products, Erdogan has also urged a boycott among Turkish consumers.