Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the demonstrations of "yellow jackets" "revealed the failure of Europe in the examination of democracy and human rights and freedoms," adding that "those who raised anti-refugees and Islam for political populism fell into the hole they dug."
"We are following with concern the streets of Europe," Erdogan said in a speech at a ceremony marking the opening of a number of projects in the Oscodar district of Istanbul, adding: "Are you watching what is happening in Europe? Coup d'état ".
"Now you can see the silence of those who tried to stink our streets with blood and burn them with fire, the streets of many European countries, especially Paris, are burning," he said.
"Look what the police of those who have been insulting our condition and accusing it of repression are doing. Our police are fair."
Erdogan expressed his opposition to scenes of chaos caused by demonstrators in the streets of Europe and excessive force against them alike.
He pointed out that "those who raised the anti-refugees and Islam for political populism fell into the hole they dug." "The walls of security and prosperity that they have nurtured are beginning to be shaken by their own citizens, not by refugees and Muslims," he said.