Turkey urges action against Islamophobic attacks

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will not stand idle in the face of Islamophobic attacks, said Turkey's foreign minister on Friday.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the OIC in Istanbul, convened at Turkey's request, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu vowed to take a stand "against all this hate speech, violence, and terrorism with both our speech and practical steps."

No religion or belief can be defined by violence and terror, Çavuşoğlu said, adding that peace is "at the heart of Islam."

For his part, OIC Secretary General Yousef Al-Othaimeen urged action to stem anti-Muslim hate speech, saying terror has no language, religion, or race.

Al-Othaimeen called last week's deadly attacks in New Zealand a "turning point" for Muslims, adding that they will not be deterred from taking steps to curb violence.

Also speaking at the event, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that his country places great importance on freedom of religious belief, calling attacks on Muslims "attacks on all of us."

The biggest police investigation in New Zealand's history was launched in the wake of the attacks, Peters said, and the terrorist responsible will spend the rest of his life alone in a cell.

A week ago today, at least 50 Muslims were killed and as many injured when Australian-born Brenton Tarrant, 28, entered the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch and shot worshippers in cold blood, including four children younger than 18.