RACISM INCREASING IN EUROPE: TURKISH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

Istanbul, 7 Rajab 1435/6 May 2014 (MINA) – The Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek has said during the visit in German, Racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia are increasing by the day in Europe.

Cicek’s comments came as he received the Lower Saxony President of the state parliament, Bernd Busemann, at the Turkish Parliament on Monday, Anadolu News Agency reported as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

Cicek said: “Racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia should be pursued in earnest in Europe, which is our expectation.”

Referring to Turkey’s EU membership process, Cicek said Turkey seems to be a country which was continually negotiating its membership with the EU.

However, he stressed: “There is no obvious chapter to negotiate with the EU.”

“If the EU will not open the chapters, the relationship between the EU and Turkey does not benefit in practice.”

‘Shocking’ murder case

Meanwhile, Busemann drew attention to the ongoing National Socialist Underground (NSU) murder case in Germany which he said had shocked the country, adding that the victims were mostly of Turkish origin.

The group is believed to be responsible for the murders of nine immigrants to Germany (eight Turks and a Greek) between 2000 and 2006.

Busemann said: “The NSU murders should be cleared up.”

While German police have long sought suspects among the Turkish community – even families of the victims – for the crimes, it was revealed in 2011 that the right-wing group the “Zwickau terror cell” was behind the killings.

The case has been ongoing in Germany and the German court has yet to pass sentence. (T/P015/P04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)