Banners against friendship with Christians, Jews draw ire in central Turkey
Banners including hate speech against Jews and Christians were posted near bus stops in central Turkey, prompting social media uproar. 'Don't befriend Christians and Jews,' read the banners posted by religious youth organizations.
Duvar English
Banners against being friends with Christians and Jews in the Central Anatolian province of Konya have stirred anger among social media users, with many expressing shock on hate speech being so blatant on the streets.
"Don't befriend Christians and Jews," read the banners, which were put near bus stops by religious groups Anatolian Youth Association and National Youth Foundation.
The phrase is a part of a verse from Quran, which goes on to say, "They are friends of each other."
The banners were removed by Konya Municipality officials upon uproar on social media.
I spoke to Konya Municipality officials. The banners including hate speech against Christians and Jews were removed upon the reaction received," pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Garo Paylan said on Twitter on Oct. 22.
"The struggle against hate speech and hate crimes continues!" he added.