Turkey: Terror and violence against Kurdish civilians

by Roni Alasor

Brussels, 9 September 2015 - Middle East Diplomatic (MED) - Over 400 terror attacks and violence actions against Kurdish civilians, shops and party offices of the pro-Kurdish HDP party have been registered in the last 24 hours in Turkey. Resent attacks, violence against Kurdish civilians, Kurdish party offices and media has been also strongly condemned by Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland and Group of European Socialists and Democrats in the EU Parliament.

All the attacks were perpetrated in Turkish cities by ultra-nationalists` crowds. HDP Head Quarter in Ankara was also attacked and all party archives have been burned.

In a press conference in Kurdish region capital Diyarbekir, the Co-Chairmen of HDP Selahattin Demirtas said that all the terror and violence actions against Kurds are organised and coordinated by the Turkish AKP government and Turkish deep state which involves often Turkish ultra paramilitary nationalist criminals, such as MHP.

Demirtas warned President Erdogan and AKP government do not play with fire to organise crime against Kurds, which might evolve into civil war in the country. He called for self-defence against attacks and underlined that "The current process we are going through is not an ordinary one, nor based on coincidences. This is a turbulent process that will lead up to a major fracture and changes in both our country and the Middle East."

Resent attacks in Turkey, violence against Kurdish civilians, Kurdish party offices and media has been also strongly condemned by Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland.

Jagland said "the recent attacks on political parties and media outlets which risk destabilizing democracy is alarming. I urge the authorities to do all they can to protect citizens and democratic life in the country”.

      

 

 

Also Group of European Socialists and Democrats in the EU Parliament strongly condemn the attacks by nationalist groups and pro-government protesters against the headquarters of pro-Kurdish party in Ankara and against media groups.

In a press statement, the S&D Group president Gianni Pittella, S&D MEP and rapporteur on Turkey, Kati Piri and S&D MEP and Group foreign affairs coordinator, Richard Howitt said that Turkish authorities must protect all political parties and media freedom.

The S&D Group underlines that “fundamentalism and nationalism is totally incompatible with European values. The Group condemns inflammatory rhetoric against Kurdish people and urges the Turkish government to take the necessary measures in order to guarantee fundamental rights, particularly the freedom of expression to all Turkish citizens, media freedom and pluralism in line with European standards”.

In his statement, S&D MEP and Group foreign affairs coordinator, Richard Howitt said : "We condemn these attacks on a democratic party which is an observer member of the Party of European Socialists, and express profound concern that this may be a politically-contrived act to damage the party in advance of the November elections."There is no future for Turkey which does not accord full political and civic rights to the Kurdish people."