Erdogan Exploiting Protests in France: Erupted Due to Racism and Country’s Colonial Past
In an attempt to exploit the crisis in France, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday that France’s “colonial past” and “institutional racism” were the reasons behind the violent protests and acts of rioting in the country.
Erdogan, after a cabinet meeting, declared that “Islamophobia is one of the causes of the recent protests in France, and it is one of the causes of protests throughout the country,” commenting on the recent crisis following the killing of a 17-year-old of Algerian origin by a police officer during a traffic check.
He further stated, “In countries known for their colonial past, racial culture has turned into institutional racism, and the root of the events in France is a social structure belonging to this mentality. The majority of immigrants who are forced to live in ghettos and suffer from systematic oppression are Muslims.”
This is not the first time Erdogan and Turkish officials have criticized what they describe as racism in France against immigrants and its colonial history in Algeria, especially amidst previous tensions between Ankara and Paris over various issues, including Turkish support for Islamic groups and exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, or regarding the recognition of the Ottoman massacres against Armenians.
Erdogan compared the deaths of hundreds of migrants in late June off the Greek coast to the deaths of “the five wealthy individuals who dove to see the Titanic,” stating that the media’s focus on the recent incident “indicates the arrogant, inhumane colonial mentality based on white supremacy,” noting that two of the five victims were Pakistani.
Erdogan seeks to respond to criticisms directed at his regime by French authorities regarding its treatment of ethnic minorities such as the Kurds. The recent acts of violence in Paris and other French cities provided him with a timely opportunity.
Turkish media closely monitor the riots that erupted in France after the death of the young man, especially the public television channel TRT, which constantly highlights that the young man born in France is of Algerian origin.
Currently, most cities and regions in France, especially the capital Paris, are experiencing widespread and violent protests following the killing of teenager Nael El-Mezroui by a French police officer, even though he posed no threat to the officer’s life, and the officer fired at him from point-blank range, as shown in a recorded video.
