(AFP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday blamed France’s nationwide riots on “institutional racism” and the country’s colonial past.
The French government has been battling riots and looting in Paris and across the country since 17-year-old Nahel M. — a French citizen of Algerian background — was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic stop last Tuesday.
Erdogan has portrayed himself as a defender of the world’s Muslims since leading his Islamic-rooted party to power in Turkey two decades ago.
He blamed the French unrest Monday on “Islamophobia” that he linked to France’s colonial past.
