Turkish lawmakers to investigate Islamophobia abroad

ANKARA

A group of Turkish lawmakers will travel to the heart of Europe to investigate the rise of Islamophobia on the continent. 

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency on April 5, Ömer Serdar, the head of parliament’s Human Rights Committee, said they will hold meetings with state authorities during their visits to Germany, France and Belgium.

Serdar, a senior lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said they will discuss the issue of marginalization.

“We will investigate whether authorities take measures against the hostility of Islamophobic discrimination in Muslims’ daily lives,” he said.

Serdar said after their investigation they will prepare a report.

“After that, we plan to hold a symposium both nationally and internationally,” he added.

“We will try to define Islamophobic issues based on the legislation” in Western countries, said Adnan Boynukara, another top committee member.

He added that they would visit Berlin and Cologne on April. 9.

“We will meet with ministry authorities and NGOs. At the end of April, we will hold official talks in France and Belgium,” said Boynukara.