YTB President Turus Outlines the Multidimensional Fight Against Racism and Islamophobia in Cologne

Addressing a special session of the academy, which was held with the participation of young people from various parts of Europe as part of UID’s capacity-building activities for the Turkish community abroad, Turus noted that racism and anti-Islam sentiment have increased at an alarming rate globally in recent years.

Emphasizing that the attacks faced by the diaspora are rooted in a historical process, Turus said that the trajectory from the 1972 Rotterdam incidents to Solingen, Mölln, the NSU murders, and the 2020 Hanau massacre clearly demonstrates that Europe is confronting a structural problem.

Pointing out that current data is also concerning, Turus stated that approximately 20,000 offenses and crimes motivated by racism are recorded annually in Germany, and that attacks on mosques are on the rise in many European countries.

Turus explained that YTB addresses racism and anti-Islam sentiment through a multidimensional framework and summarized the ongoing efforts as follows:

“As YTB, we continue our wide-ranging activities, from reporting efforts and strengthening rights-claiming mechanisms through the NESAM Portal, to legal support processes, academic projects, and publications.”

He underlined that hate incidents affecting citizens are systematically recorded, legal support is provided in landmark cases, and awareness is increased through international cooperation. Turus also emphasized the importance of the NESAM Portal, which enables citizens living abroad to easily access information and application mechanisms related to discrimination and hate crimes. He recalled that 16 detailed guides covering 8 countries have been made available to citizens through the portal.

We Will Continue the Fight Under All Circumstances

Highlighting the importance of the International Society Academy in strengthening social awareness and intellectual capacity, Turus thanked the UID family and concluded his speech with the following words:“We will confidently continue our determination to protect the rights and dignity of our citizens on every platform and under all circumstances.”