NZ attack shows growing hostility to Islam: Erdoğan

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday condemned the deadly attack on two mosques in New Zealand, saying it illustrated the growing hostility towards Islam “idly” watched by the world.

“With this attack, hostility towards Islam, that the world has been idly watching and even encouraging for some time, has gone beyond individual harassment to reach the level of mass killing,” Erdogan was quoted as saying by Turkish media.

The Turkish leader, who often criticizes Islamophobic attitudes, called for the West to act to prevent similar attacks.

“If measures are not taken right away, news of other disasters will follow this one. I am calling on the world, in particular the West, to take quick measures,” he said.

Read more: New Zealand shootings death toll jumps to 49

He had earlier condemned the attack on Tweeter: “May Allah have mercy on the victims and grant a speedy recovery to the wounded.”

His spokesman Ibrahim Kalın called it a “fascist” attack that “shows how anti-Muslim rhetoric and hatred leads to murderous acts. The world must break its silence over Islamophobic hatred.”

Attacks on two Christchurch mosques left at least 49 dead, with one gunman — identified as an Australian extremist — apparently livestreaming the assault that triggered the lockdown of the New Zealand city.