Peace in Kurdistan campaign patron Margaret Owen OBE wrote the letter below in response to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s article in the Guardian yesterday:
JUNE 17TH
Dear Sir,
I write on the eve of flying to Istanbul to observe the fifth hearing of the “unfair” political trial of 45 Kurdish lawyers, indicted simply because they represent their leader Abdullah Ocalan. I am astonished that the Turkish Foreign Minister can declare (We represent all of Turkey, Monday June 17th) that his government “views peaceful protests as part of a democratic system” and these words on the very day that Erdogan accuses the protestors,( among whom 5,000 have been injured and four killed), of being “manipulated by terrorists”, and organised by foreign trouble-makers. Now he is going to call in the army to suppress all opposition. He will not listen.
Turkey alas is far from moving on to become a democratic state, with hopes of entering the European Union. It has now in detention over 10,000 political prisoners, including lawyers, academics, trade unionists, elected mayors and peace seeking politicians. It is no longer just the Kurds who are protesting, for their human rights, but over 50% of the population. Turkey has become fascist, racist and chauvinist. On what planet does its Foreign Minister live?
Margaret Owen O B E
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign