A protest outside the Turkish consulate in Milan was organized by Matteo Salvini, Federal Secretary of the Lega Nord, holding placards with slogans such as “Turkey will never be in Europe” and “Hands off Hagia Sophia.”
Salvini stressed that “it is not possible to convert world historical and political – beyond Christian religious – heritage into mosques. It is not possible for Islamic fanaticism to erase centuries of history, rights, freedom and conquest. And therefore it is not possible for the Turkish regime to convert churches into mosques without anyone saying a word. Let us hope that the international community and the European Union, which is flooded by the Turkish regime with millions of Turks, will react. They said it was only the first step. If we bow our heads, in a little while we will see the cathedral [of Milan] being converted into a mosque.”
Davanti al consolato turco a Milano.
Non è possibile che il fanatismo islamico e il regime turco cancellino secoli di storia, di diritti e di Libertà. Speriamo che la Comunità Internazionale e l’Unione europea, che ora sta riempiendo…? LIVE ? https://t.co/1gdRewDlCK pic.twitter.com/H53I3ul1a5
— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) July 13, 2020
He also added that he would block any kind of funding to the Turkish regime “and I would close once and for all the issue of Turkey’s accession to Europe. We have given more than 10 billion euros to a regime that is converting basilicas into mosques, and I think we have gone too far.”
…la Turchia di miliardi, reagiscano.
A furia di chinare il capo, rischiamo di trovarci una moschea al posto del Duomo.
Giù le mani da Santa Sofia. pic.twitter.com/Hpx5z29Ye2— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) July 13, 2020