ISTANBUL—As the Eiffel tower in Paris, the Trevi Fountain in Rome and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin all lit up in the colors of the Belgian flag after Tuesday's bombings, those of us in Turkey felt, once again, how starkly different the world media covers terrorist attacks in our country.

Image: © Pierre Tardieu/Xinhua Press/Corbis

Only a few days ago, an ISIS suicide bomber claimed at least five lives in the heart of Istanbul. And earlier this month, 36 people were killed in Ankara, with six attacks hitting Turkey since July, killing scores. And while the forces and dynamics behind these attacks deserve separate attention, the way in which international community covers these attacks is disappointing.

Right after the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks, all major international networks switched to breaking news coverage for days, putting their best reporters on the story and examining every angle in their broadcasts.

Flowers, wreaths and candles were lain in front of the Belgium Embassy in Warsaw, Poland after terror attacks killed 34 people in Brussels, Belgium . Image: Anna Ferensowicz/ Pacific Press

There were stories about the victims, their lives covered with diligence and emotion. Thousands of people on Facebook changed their profile pictures to French and Belgian flags, and ‘Je Suis Paris’ and ‘Je Suis Bruxelles’ were top trending phrases on social media. World leaders flocked to Paris, walking hand in hand against terrorism in unity and defiance.

Flowers, wreaths and candles were lain in front of the Belgium Embassy in Warsaw, Poland after terror attacks killed 34 people in Brussels. Image: Anna Ferensowicz/ Pacific Press

When a terrorist attack happens in this part of the world, we don't see the same international attention.

heart bleeds for Belgium but it makes me sick that noone reacted likethis for Turkey #PrayForBelgium #PrayForAnkara https://t.co/gXl2K02vwL — Sean (@seanyballs) March 22, 2016

None of the recent ISIS attacks in Turkey brought the colors of the Turkish flag to world capitals.

so horrific to hear what happened in brussels.. but why didn't ankara get the same kind of attention? — sophh (@gerrxrd) March 22, 2016

Breaking news coverage lasted a few hours only, if that. Turks desperately started ‘Je Suis Istanbul’ on social media but it never gained enough traction for a global trend.

Image: © Pacific Press/Corbis

The Turks, of course, have the added disadvantage of being censored by their own government. Whereas the French and Belgians have open and transparent media to follow the developments in the aftermath of terrorist attacks, the Turkish government immediately imposed a gag order on all media, and Twitter and Facebook were shut down in the country.

In Turkey, a generation has grown up with security guards at the entrance to malls. Turkey has been fighting the Kurdish separatist group the PKK for more than three decades, in a fight that's claimed more than 30,000 lives. But even by "Turkish standards" the escalation in terrorist attacks during the last six months has everyone highly afraid.

epa05219976 Turkish police and rescue teams inspect the scene of a suicide bomb attack at Istiklal Street in Istanbul, Turkey, 19 March 2016. Image: EPA

ISIS is a global terror network and it doesn't differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims when choosing its targets. It is a global threat that demands global cooperation but also global empathy.

It is an unfortunate and long-standing double standard that a life lost in a terrorist attack in the Western hemisphere counts more. This grim reality also leads international terrorist groups to shift their focus to the heart of Western cities.

Europe also has to come to terms with the plight of millions of Syrian refugees. Ignoring them and throwing them out of their countries is no solution.

March 19, 2016 - Athens, Greece - Six hundred refugees arrived by ferry to the Port of Piraeus after registering at the islands of Lesvos and Chios where they crossed from Turkey. Image: ZUMAPRESS.com

Turkey, a nation that's been hit hard by terrorism, is hosting more than 2.5 million refugees, way beyond its capacity.

Moreover, as observers have repeatedly pointed out, almost all of the terrorists in the recent attacks in Europe are homegrown radicals. And so, it follows that Europe needs to find a way to integrate its alienated and isolated Arab-European youth.

Image: © Marios Lolos/Xinhua Press/Corbis

While all resources should be made available to fight terrorism on a global level, simultaneous and effective measures should be taken to ensure political integration of Muslim youth in Europe.

Far right movements are on the rise in Europe, and millions of innocent Muslims living in Europe fear a backlash. Empathy and cooperation should go hand in hand in combatting terrorism.

Media attention should be equitable and without discrimination. Terror sees no borders and coverage should pay no attention to borders, either.

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