Erdoğan hosts religious minorities for iftar, warns against Islamophobia and anti-Semitism

2026-03-10 - 22:32

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted representatives of Türkiye's religious minorities for an iftar dinner in Ankara on Tuesday, emphasizing that the country stands as an example where everyone enjoys freedom of religion and conscience and mutual respect prevails. Addressing the event, Erdoğan highlighted that religious communities can maintain their own institutions in Türkiye, reflecting the nation's commitment to pluralism. Warning against hatred "Islamophobia, which has been on the rise in recent years, clearly threatens both our people and the culture of coexistence," Erdoğan said, drawing attention to growing discrimination against Muslims in Western countries. He stressed that intolerance cuts both ways: "Just as Islamophobia is a crime against humanity, anti-Semitism is also a crime, an evil that cannot be considered reasonable or legitimate." Terrorism condemned The president also condemned attacks on all places of worship, stating that Ankara has no tolerance for "Daesh/ISIS-like dark organizations that bomb mosques, churches, and synagogues indiscriminately, showing no respect even for places of worship." His remarks underscored Türkiye's position that terrorism targeting religious sites is unacceptable regardless of the faith community targeted. Message of coexistence The iftar gathering with religious minority representatives demonstrates Türkiye's tradition of interfaith dialogue and respect for diverse communities during Ramadan. The event serves as both a gesture of inclusion and a platform to articulate Ankara's principles regarding religious freedom and the rejection of all forms of religious hatred and discrimination.