29 Jun, 2016 16:22

Double standards? Social media users flag muted response to Turkey attack

It’s becoming a familiar sight for famous monuments in major Western cities to light up with the colors of various national flags and causes when a terrorist attack happens.

In the case of Brussels and more recently Orlando, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up to pay respect to the victims, but social media users have asked why Turkey hasn’t been granted the same treatment?

so big ben and the eiffel tower will be lit up in the colours of turkey tonight then, yeah?
— Simon Henry (@simon3862) June 29, 2016

@Paris oh ya just gonna sit there and pretend nothing happened in turkey? Eiffel tower should be in lit up in red smfh.
— Mubin Becirovic (@MubinB91) June 29, 2016

Light the #eiffeltower up in #Turkey's colors to show solidarity and kill class of civilizations narratives.We're in this together #istanbul
— أحمد رامي (@hagrouna) June 28, 2016

Many people have said it seems as though Turkish lives are not as valuable - a similar sentiment was expressed in the case of Pakistani victims when terrorists attacked Lahore in late March, killing more than 70 people including many children.

- A beautiful silent message for the motherfucking hypocrites of the world, the self-proclaiming peacekeepers. Where's your filters now ? Where's your sympathies ? No voices heard for another Muslim bleeded this time around not some mentally fucked up caucasian belonging to some other faith #hypocrite #turkey #peace #doublestandards #jesuisturkey #Muslim #Islam #Allah #Islammeanspeace #condemn #bomb #blast #liveslost #equality #racism #saynotoracism #discrimination #turkeyattack #ataturkairport #istanbul #martyrs #prayforistanbul #paki #pakistani #aussie #australia
A photo posted by Ron Wadi (@like_a_makaveli) on Jun 29, 2016 at 4:03am PDT

Ah İstanbul.. 💔 I don't know what angers and hurts me most, the killing of innocent humans or the laughter of joy from people who accepts and supports this type of horrific acts. Next time, it could be your friend, sister, mother, your child.. or you. Fear Allah. Fear Allah. Fear Allah! #Istanbul#Racism#Terror#Turkey
A photo posted by Dilem S.⚜ (@dilemsuvakci) on Jun 29, 2016 at 6:58am PDT

Although Facebook activated its safety check feature to allow users in the area to notify friends and family they were unharmed, it did not allow people to change their profile pictures with a filter of the Turkish flag in solidarity with the victims.

This is the saddest thing😥 #PrayForTurkey pic.twitter.com/40DS613zhX
— eimear ✨ (@eimearod) June 29, 2016

Terrible event in Istanbul. I can't help but wonder if anyone will change their Facebook profile picture to the flag of Turkey anytime soon
— Ivan Avramović (@iavramovic) June 29, 2016

will facebook allow us to display turkey's colours dp filters or are they not white enough?
— shak (@schoolboyqaaf) June 29, 2016

Where is that Turkey flag Facebook filter? Or does this terrorist attack not count since it was in a predominately Muslim country?
— angelica schuyler (@KatiePepperoni) June 28, 2016

Three men killed 42 people and injured 239 after storming the airport in Istanbul, but no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

#jesuisparis #jesuisbrussels #jesuisturkey all hurt all #United #prayforpeace #jesuisbruxelles #plantu #terror #peace #love
A photo posted by Serge Thomann (@sergethomann) on Mar 23, 2016 at 7:59am PDT

Turkey has seen a rise in attacks in recent months, with some linked to Kurdish separatists or Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).

Landmarks across the world have now lit up to remember the victims.