Of course. How could anything from the Qur’an be hateful or inciting?
The billboards quote this Qur’an passage: “O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as friends or allies. They are friends and allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.” (5:51)
What could be more peaceful?
“Turkish Hate Speech Posters Remain Controversial,” International Christian Concern, December 19, 2019:
12/19/2019 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Street posters appearing in Konya this October which warned passer-byers to “not make friends” with Jews and Christians remain a controversial topic among locals. The posters, which were removed following an outcry, may still return back to the streets.
The criminal compliant which removed the posters alleged that these statements incited locals to hatred and hostility towards religious diversity. A warning was made that it encouraged aggressive incidents directed towards Christians and Jews. However, according to officials, the statements made on the posters were taken directly from the Koran and thus the crime of incitement did not occur.
Turkey is officially a secular country, but under the government of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has moved towards Islamism as a way to build and strengthen a political power base. Hate speech towards religious minorities have become common place by many government officials, and throughout society….