Emergency meeting on anti-Muslim violence to convene in Istanbul

ANKARA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- An emergency meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will be held on Friday in Istanbul to discuss rising anti-Muslim Violence following mosque terror attacks in New Zealand, Turkish Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

In a statement, the ministry said the upcoming meeting is upon the demands by Turkey, the current OIC Summit Chair, for discussing "the increasing Violence based on Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia."

The emergency ministerial meeting will be chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, it added.

Nearly 20 countries have already confirmed their participation in the event, which is also expected to be attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and delegation from New Zealand, according to Anadolu Agency.