Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday condemned "reckless" and "highly offensive" comments made by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of the Christchurch mass shooting, Al Jazeera reported.
Australian PM denounces Erdogan for 'reckless' New Zealand attack comments
STEPANAKERT, MARCH 20, ARTSAKHPRESS: Erdogan, while campaigning for local elections, presented the attack as part of an assault on Turkey and Islam and warned anti-Muslim Australians would be "sent back in coffins" like their grandfathers at Gallipoli - a blood-drenched WWI battle.
The source reminds that more than 8,000 Australians died fighting Turkish forces at Gallipoli, which has a prominent place in Australia's collective memory.
"Remarks have been made by the Turkish President Erdogan that I consider highly offensive to Australians and highly reckless in this very sensitive environment," Morrison said after summoning the Turkish ambassador and dismissing the "excuses" offered.
"I am expecting, and I have asked, for these comments to be clarified, to be withdrawn ... I expect that to occur," said Morrison, who also faces an election challenge in the coming weeks.
Turkish ambassador Korhan Karakoc said he had a "frank" conversation with Morrison when the envoy was summoned to Parliament House on Wednesday.
