Turkish president condemned for showing New Zealand mosque attack footage at campaign rallies

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses supporters during a rally in Eregli
AP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been condemned for showing footage of the New Zealand mosque attacks at campaign rallies.

He has ignored widespread criticism for using clips to denounce Islamophobia as he tries to stoke nationalist and religious sentiment ahead of local elections on March 31.

The video, which was blurred but had clear sounds of automatic gunfire, was shown to thousands of people at the rallies and aired live on Turkish television, despite efforts by New Zealand to halt its spread.

Mr Erdogan also threatened that anyone who comes to Turkey with anti-Muslim sentiments would be sent back in coffins, "like their grandfathers were" during a Gallipoli campaign.

Vigils in memory of New Zealand victims

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Speaking at a campaign rally in the northern town of Eregli Mr Erdogan also criticised New Zealand and Australia for sending troops to Turkey for the Gallipoli campaign in the First World War.

He claimed their motive was anti-Islam-oriented.

"What business did you have here? We had no issues with you, why did you come all the way over here?" Mr Erdogan said. "The only reason: we're Muslim, and they're Christian."

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison is to summon Turkey’s ambassador over Mr Erdogan's remarks. Mr Morrison said he was “very offended” by the comments which he said were not “very helpful”.

The video prompted widespread condemnation. Facebook said it removed 1.5 million versions of the footage in the first 24 hours after the attack.

Turkey's main opposition party has also criticised Mr Erdogan for showing the clip "for the sake of (winning) three or five votes" at the elections.

New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters said he had told his Turkish counterpart the video does not represent New Zealand. Mr Peters is due in Turkey later this week to attend a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation in Istanbul as an observer.

The New Zealand embassy in Ankara said Mr Peters had raised the issue with a Turkish delegation in New Zealand. It said the embassy in Ankara and other embassies worldwide had requested that media outlets not show the footage.

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