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.
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😥 #PrayForTurkeypic.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.
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.
Yesss!!! #Turkish flag is on Eiffel Tower #TUR#Turkey 🇹🇷pic.twitter.com/pxkr9zE4Fq
— İsa Burak GONCA (@IsaBurakGonca) June 12, 2016
READ MORE: From Australia to US, cities light up for Turkey as darkness falls (PHOTOS)