Islamic youth forum shows solidarity with Turkey's democracy

An international meeting of Muslim young people held in Turkey has called on the Islamic world to stand with Turkish democracy.

The first Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC) issued a declaration on Wednesday to show solidarity with Turkey and its democratic system.

Nearly 300 young people representing 56 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries gathered in the southern Turkish province of Antalya. The camp was held by the OIC and its affiliated youth wing in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports.

A declaration from the camp read: "We invite the leaders and institutions of the Muslim world as well as the youth of the Muslim world to show their solidarity with Turkish democracy via various channels, including media and social media.

"We, the young citizens of OIC countries, strongly denounce the bloody coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which happened in brotherly Turkey and condemn all kind of illegal and brutal actions targeting peoples and governments of our countries," it said.

At the closing ceremony Elshad Isgandarov, the head of ICYF-DC, said the body's condemnation of the July 15 coup plot "showed the world public how Muslim youth are determined to stand with their brothers in Turkey against the coup bid.

"On the other hand, it didn't go unnoticed that how the active countries in world politics failed to stand with Turkey against those who tried to overthrow Turkey's democracy by a treacherous coup attempt."

Muslim youths designed a hashtag campaign — #YouthWithTurkey — which reached seven million people on social media, and invited Western youngsters to support the Turkish people in fighting for democracy.