Sağlam also made important evaluations about the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on violations against Arakanese Muslims, and the Uighur letter to China from 39 countries.

Reminding the French leader’s remarks claiming “Islam is in crisis”, Sağlam said: “Macron claimed that Islam is in a crisis and called for the struggle against the so-called ‘Islamic radicalism’. In France, which has previously banned mothers and students from wearing Islamic headscarves on school trips, insulting and derogatory statements against Islam and Muslims are considered freedom of opinion. Macron's recent racist statements about the religion of Islam are concrete evidence of the French regime's view of Islam and Muslims. These anti-Islamic statements have also encouraged racist groups in the country, leading to the start of acts of violence and insult against Muslims. At the same time, legal arrangements are being made in the country to create ‘French Islam’ under the name of combating radicalism. We strongly condemn the anti-Islamic steps that restrict Muslims ' freedom of worship and belief and fuel racism. Muslims, who are subjected to violent acts of the far right in European countries and whose symbols of faith are banned in the public sphere, do not receive sufficient support from the Islamic world. These insensitivities will further increase the pressure of states and racist groups on Muslims. As a matter of fact, 188 crimes of ‘hostility to Islam’ were recorded in Germany in 2.5 months. We invite the Islamic world to react at the highest level against these attacks and racist regimes that restrict the freedom of Muslims. Islamic countries should impose deterrent sanctions on countries hostile to Islam, especially France.”

Human Rights Watch report on Arakanese Muslims

Touching upon the report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) regarding Arakanese Muslims who were displaced from their homes due to Myanmar's brutal persecution, Sağlam said: “Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a 169-page report highlighting living conditions and human rights violations in 24 camps where 130 thousand displaced Arakanese Muslims are being forcibly held in Myanmar. According to the report, the people who have been forced to live in these camps, which were surrounded with barbed wire and checkpoints, are deprived of their freedom of movement and subjected to authoritarian practices. Many restrictions were placed on livelihoods, education, health care, and food and housing. Serious restrictions have also been placed on humanitarian aid from outside. Therefore, those who are forcibly held in the camps face malnutrition, diseases caused by lack of access to clean water, child and maternal deaths. The lack of educational and employment opportunities in the camps leads to systematic damage. Depriving 65 thousand children living in camps of the right to education is a violation of basic human rights. The racist Myanmar government's approach to Arakanese Muslims has become a systematic persecution incompatible with human rights and human dignity. International law is being trampled in Arakan. The UN and other international organizations should no longer be silent on this persecution. With the improvement of camp conditions, Arakanese Muslims should be allowed to return to their homeland as soon as possible with legal guarantees and international protection.”

The Uighur letter to China from 39 countries

Speaking about the declaration that was signed by 39 countries condemning China's repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang, Sağlam stated: “The United Nations issued a declaration on behalf of 39 countries regarding China’s persecution on Uighur Muslims. In the declaration, the UN expressed deep concern about human rights violations and ongoing developments in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, stated that more than 1 million people are being taken into mandatory political training camps, and described the news of arbitrary detention of more than a million people as extremely worrying. It was also said that, in addition, there are serious restrictions on Uighur culture, faith, expression and freedom of movement, and there are claims that forced birth control methods, including sterilization, were applied. China has been urged to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and independent observers to visit the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region immediately and unhindered. The declaration also drew attention to the claims about serious restrictions on Uighur culture, faith, expression and freedom of movement as well as forced birth control methods, including sterilization. China has been urged to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and independent observers to visit the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region immediately and unhindered. The declaration is humane and rightful, but not enough. Deterrent sanctions must also be imposed on Chinese government. It is a very painful and tragic situation on behalf of the Ummah that there are no other Islamic countries, including Turkey, except Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania, among the countries that have signed the declaration. The declaration should not only remain on paper, but the UN and international institutions should continue to take effective steps until the oppression and persecution of Muslims in East Turkestan is over.” (ILKHA)