It is now blatantly obvious that xenophobia is rising and populism is dauntingly spreading across Europe.

Just like the Jews who were turned into targets in the first quarter of the last century, Turks are hates figures for Europe at the moment.

Germany is imposing de facto restrictions on freedom of travel, communication and expression of Turkish nationals because of their ethnic and religious affiliations.

The Netherlands deported a minister of Turkey, a prospective EU member, and the Dutch police prevented Ankara diplomats, in violation of the Vienna Convention.

Meanwhile, Austria has issued calls for "the declaration of Turkish politicians to be unwanted men."

Yesterday, people who barricaded Bulgaria's streets were uttering threats to block Turkish nationals from voting.

Millions of Turkish-national EU citizens living in various European countries are uneasy and worried about the future.

Certainly, European politicians are disturbed when their Turkish counterparts liken themselves to Nazis. Fortunately, European political figures, at least those who are not prepossessed by competition with fascist parties, do not mention establishing ghettos yet.

In fact, fascism gradually ran rampant in the 1930s – a period that headed toward World War II, resulting in the destruction not only for the Jews, but also for all of humanity.

Moreover, political movements that represented central politics at that time were against this populism.

Now, however, center-right, liberal and even leftist parties in Europe are matching their assimilation policies in elections through their racist and Nazi-enthusiast politicians.

We have many Cem Özdemirs who started his political career in the Greens and has continued as an average fascist with proposals to prevent Turkish TV broadcasts these days.

In other words, xenophobia and populism that are turning Turks into targets now are becoming central and legitimate. The saddest thing is that this collective madness is in the name of protecting European civilization.

Well, what about the guarantee of humanism, which is said to be the root of European civilization, and off-told civil society, while all this is happening?

I wonder whether our European colleagues will try condemning proposals to censor this newspaper, Daily Sabah, to avoid it reaching European politicians, even as a mere formality.

I wonder whether activist and intellectuals, who are concerned about spending a few hours more in airport lines due to Donald Trump's decrees, are disturbed by those who say "go home" to EU-citizen Turkish nationals. They now have a pure race.

This is a such a painful picture that it even pushed Pope Francis to say, "Some of them — the so-called anti-system or populists — capitalize on the fears in face of an uncertain future in order to form a message full of xenophobia and hatred towards the foreigner" and warned against forgetting Adolf Hitler's acts.

Theodor W. Adorno said, "Writing poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric." Let us see who will be able to unabashedly talk after the possible pains, tragedies and breakaways that might emerge unless this trend is stopped.

S.O.S!