Erdogan blames French unrest on ‘Islamophobia’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has portrayed himself as a defender of the world’s Muslims since leading his Islamic-rooted party to power in Turkey two decades ago, blamed France’s nationwide riots on “Islamophobia” that he linked to France’s colonial past. Al Jazeera reports that Erdogan also criticised the widespread looting that accompanied the unrest though, saying that “the streets cannot be used to seek justice”.