Turkey warns citizens of Islamophobic, racist acts in US, Europe

Turkey has issued a warning to its nationals against possible Islamophobic, xenophobic and racist acts in the United States and Europe after its Western partners warned its citizens in Turkey about potential terror attacks.

Turkish Foreign Ministry advised its residents in the US and Europe to act calmly in the face of potential xenophobic and racist harassment and assaults and to stay away from regions where demonstrations may increase in two different travel advices.

According to the government, recent spikes in anti-Islamic and racist activities demonstrate the perilous extent of religious intolerance and hostility in Europe.

Security advisories were issued for its people on Friday by a number of embassies in Ankara including those of the United States, Germany, France and Italy warning of potential retaliation strikes by terrorists against houses of worship.

This came after previous events in Europe that desecrated the Holy Quran. On Saturday, the Swedish foreign ministry also issued a warning to its residents living in Turkey to stay away from gatherings and protests.

Tensions between Turkey and Sweden have increased after a far-right, anti-immigrant lawmaker desecrated the Holy Quran last week near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm during a demonstration. Ankara has denounced similar Quran-burning incidents that occurred in the Netherlands and Denmark.

The abhorrent act of desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden was also harshly criticized by Pakistan which emphasized how the action offended the 1.5 billion-strong Muslim population worldwide.