Turkey urges world to stop using 'provocative language'

By Diyar Guldogan and Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay on Monday has called on the world to stop promoting "provocative language" after Friday's terrorist attacks at two mosques in New Zealand.

"We have to start using different language. Entire world has to stop promoting some type of provocative language," Oktay told reporters along with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Oktay and Cavusoglu are paying a visit to Christchurch to emphasize Turkey's common resolve against Islamophobia and xenophobia and to highlight the country's solidarity with New Zealand amid terror attacks.

At least 50 people were killed when a terrorist opened fire on worshippers during Friday prayers at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch.

Oktay said terror and terrorists have "no religion, no race, and no geography".

Cavusoglu, for his part, said an emergency meeting of the Council of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will convene on Friday in wake of terror attacks in New Zealand.

"Here [during the meeting], we will form a commission to follow the decisions that we have taken now. We will take this issue to all platforms, including the UN. We will not let it go," he said.

Cavusoglu added Muslims both in New Zealand and in the world are "extremely uncomfortable" with growing Islamophobia and racism.

Oktay and Cavusoglu visited the injured people, including three Turks, at the hospital.