THE Turkey warned its citizens on Saturday about the risk of “possible Islamophobic, xenophobic and racist attacks” at United States and Europe, after its Western allies warned their citizens in Turkey of possible terrorist attacks.

In two separate travel instructions, the Turkish Foreign Ministry advised its citizens in the United States and European countries to “act calmly in the face of possible xenophobic and racist harassment and attacks” and “stay away from areas where protests could intensify.”

The recent increase in “anti-Islamic and racist actions” reflects whatdangerous dimensions of religious intolerance and hatred in Europereports the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

As APE-MPE reminds, several embassies in Ankara, including those of the United States, Germany, France and Italy issued a warning on Friday to their citizens in Turkey, in which they were asked to be alert to the risk of “possible retaliatory attacks by terrorists against places of worship”.

This development took place after the recent incidents with the burning copies of the Koran in Europe.

Her Foreign Ministry Sweden also advised its citizens in Turkey on Saturday to avoid crowds and demonstrations.

A far-right politician and opponent of immigration burned a copy of the Koran last week near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm during a protest, raising tensions between Turkey and Sweden. Similar acts of burning copies of the Koran in the Netherlands and Denmark also drew strong condemnation from Ankara.