Erdogan’s ‘concern’ over France protests mocked

Remarks made by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over France’s "failure in democracy" following boiling protests were ridiculed and criticized in the Middle East.

Erdogan expressed, Saturday, his concern regarding the chaos caused by the ‘Yellow Vest’ protests in Paris, while pointing to France’s discrimination against refugees and Islam, independent news site T24 reported.

The Turkish president, known for his repressive approaches towards demonstrations and opponents, stressed, while delivering a speech in Istanbul, he is against the chaos caused by the protesters, as well as the disproportionate use of force by French police.

"The picture that has emerged shows us that Europe has failed in the lessons of democracy, human rights, freedoms," Erdoğan said, adding, "Those who provoke hostility against refugees and Islamophobia have been caught in their own trap."

He assured that the law enforcement in Turkey acted in a humane way. At the same time, he urged to consider the situation in France and note how the local police treated protestors.

The Turkish media cover the protests, with scenes of them being broadcast extensively in recent days, showing students kneeling with their hands above their heads after their arrest near Paris.

"Look what the police forces of those who criticize our police are doing," Erdogan said.

Social media users mocked Erdogan’s statements, citing his own questionable policies and human rights record.

Turkey has been regularly criticized by many countries and human rights organizations, which denounce the "decline of the rule of law in the country in recent years."