ISTANBUL - Stating that the Kurds are wanted to be left without a status in the 21st century, lawyer Bedirhan Sarsılmaz emphasized that the way to permanent peace in the Middle East is through solving the Kurdish and Palestinian issues through democratic means.

 

Following the attack on the General Directorate of Security in Ankara, a new attack was launched against Northern and Eastern Syria on October 4. While many people, including children, lost their lives as a result of the attacks, civilian settlements also became the target of Turkey. Evaluating the attacks, Bedirhan Sarsılmaz, a member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), drew attention that the AKP, which criticizes Israel's targeting of civilians in Palestine, is targeting civilians in North-East Syria. Lawyer Sarsılmaz described this situation as "insincere".

 

'LIFE MODEL IS BEING TARGETED'

 

Stating that the attacks on Northern and Eastern Syria are a continuation of the "war concept" put into effect by the AKP government after 2015, Sarsılmaz reminded that the Kurdish population experienced a serious decrease after the attack in Afrin and the demographic structure there was changed. Stating that Turkey is making attacks because it does not accept the status of the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria, Sarsılmaz said: “Civilian living spaces have started to be bombed, especially with UCAVs(Drones), for several years. When we evaluate these as a whole, the purpose of these attacks is to target the free life model that is intended to be created in Rojava, which is an example for the Middle East and is flourishing. The government started a very intense attack again, especially after October 1."

 

'KURDS ARE WANTED TO BE LEAVED WITHOUT STATUS'

 

Recalling Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's threats to the region, Sarsılmaz said: "The toll was heavy in the autonomous administration's statements. There were 580 air attacks in just one week. Many living spaces, including 18 water wells, 11 power plants, oil refineries, 2 hospitals and schools, were targeted in the places where this attack was carried out. The aim of these attacks is to keep Rojava silent and eliminate the status that has developed there. The clearest purpose of the attacks on Rojava is to leave the Kurds without status in the 21st century."

 

THE EFFECT OF THE WAR ON THE ECONOMY

 

Stating that the war policy pursued by the government is also very heavy in economic terms, Sarsılmaz said: "The bill falls to the public, as in many countries. AKP President Erdoğan himself confessed. Do you know how much a bullet costs? He actually admitted that the entire country's resources were transferred to the war and allocated them to the war budget. When we look at the latest situation, the situation of the people is not encouraging. Of course, this is a result of the war policy. Most recently, the Ministry of Family and Social Services made a statement and said that the number of households seeking help from the ministry because they could not pay their electricity bill reached 5 million. All of these are part of Turkey's aim and purpose to solve the Kurdish issue with security policies and war policies."

 

'TURKEY IS NOT SINCERE'

 

Stating that the AKP government condemned Israel's attacks on Palestine, Sarsılmaz said: "But when the government officials condemned the attacks of Israel, bombs were being rained down on Rojava. The government is "insincere" regarding Palestine. The government's tears are 'crocodile tears'. Regarding Turkey's condemnation of the attacks on Palestine, Israeli officials made statements such as 'You are also killing the Kurds.' It becomes clear that; Both sides know each other's role very well. Both sides know very well their approach towards civilians or their role in attacks on basic living spaces. That's why they blame each other in the same way. If Turkish officials are sincere, they can show their sincerity by immediately ending the attacks against Rojava."

 

Stating that the international arena remained silent regarding Turkey's attacks on North-East Syria, Sarsılmaz underlined that Turkey is obliged to implement the rules of international humanitarian law.

 

'THE ISSUES ARE SOLVED DEMOCRATICALLY'

 

Emphasizing that the Kurdish and Palestinian issues can be solved through democratic means, Sarsılmaz said: “These attacks against Rojava are also based on denying the identity of the Kurds. Despite this policy of the government, it is necessary to call for a solution to the issue through democratic means and to strive for this. It is clear that there will be no lasting, just peace in the Middle East without solving the Palestinian and Kurdish issues. For this reason, we, as legal institutions, should actually make an effort to raise the call for peace instead of war."

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu