Turkish PM voices concern over rising Islamophobia in Europe

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglou Thursday reiterated his country's strong condemnation of the Paris attacks last week as well as all acts of terrorism but he also voiced concern over increasing attacks against Muslims and mosques in Europe
He praised the international solidarity shown against the attack on the French magazine, but asked "where is the same solidarity when mosques are attacked," noting that 94 mosques have been attacked in Germany alone.
Davutolgou was speaking at an event organised by the Brussels-based think tank Friends of Europe
He said that the anti-Islam PEGIDA movement in Germany has the same extremist mentality as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq who he said have nothing to do with Islam.
The Turkish Premier said that under the Nazi rule in Germany, Jews were blamed for the economic problems and today Muslims are being accused for the same reasons.
Davutoglou said 45 million Muslims are living in Europe, including six million Turks who today are afraid of rising Islamophobia in Europe. "They will stay in Europe, but unfortunatley Europe is not ready to respond tothese challenges," he said.
He said that Turkey is a rising economic and political power and the EU will become stronger if it takes Turkey as a member.
The Turkish Premier is in Brussels today for a one-day visit and is to meet EU leaders later.