Erdogan: we won't remain silent towards escalating racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia in Europe

ANKARA (A.A) - February 1, 2012 - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey would not remain silent towards racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia which was insidiously escalating in Europe. The current scene in France is the manifestation of this stealthy danger in Europe, added Erdogan who spoke at his Justice & Development (AK) Party meeting in Ankara on Wednesday. Recently, French Senate adopted a law which penalizes the denial of Armenian allegations regarding 1915 incidents during Ottoman Empire period. Under the law, people, who deny the Armenian allegations, are sentenced to one year in prison and 45,000 euro fine. On Tuesday, 77 senators and 65 parliamentarians in France applied to French Constitutional Council for the annulment of the law. The Council will announce its decision within a month. Erdogan thanked those senators and parliamentarians, and said that they launched an important initiative to prevent a historic mistake. He noted that this racist and separatist law, which limited freedom of thought and expression, would harm both Turkish-French relations and France's own values. Erdogan expressed belief that the French Council would act with common sense and make a decision which would not be against the values of France and the European Union. Everybody admitted that this initiative in France is not for clarifying 1915 incidents, said Erdogan, adding that French President Nicolas Sarkozy was trying to gain advantage ahead of the upcoming elections in his country. There is a racist approach and mentality under this law, said Erdogan, adding that Turkey would not remain silent towards the rising racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia in Europe. Erdogan said that seeing this danger and taking measures against it should be on the top of the agenda of the European Union.