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Turkish president speaks against 'Islamophobia' during COMCEC speech

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Turkish President Abdullah Gul said he is calling on Muslim countries to flight prejudice against Islam.

"Islamophobia remains a critical problem, which instigates unsubstantial prejudices against our region and Muslims. Terror plays a role in the persistence of such problems," he said during his inaugural address as the chairman of The Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation.

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COMCEC, which was established in 1981, is a multilateral economic cooperation organization for the Muslim world that meets annually in Istanbul.

This year's meeting was held Tuesday, and during his speech, Gul stressed that Muslim countries should tackle the world's challenges, the Anadolu Agency reported.

"Playing a more active role in the solution of global problems such as climate change, poverty, the fight against organized crime, immigration, radicalism, narcotics and human trafficking will certainly introduce new economic and commercial opportunities for Muslim countries," Gul said.

He also spoke to the conflicts within Muslim countries.

"Civil war in the neighboring country of Syria has turned into the self-destruction of a nation. It is primarily our duty to put out the fire, whether it occurs at our home or at a neighbor's. Otherwise, the cost will be massive for all of us," he said.

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