Turkish embassy threatens U.S. Kurds and friends
I can verify that the news below is true. Of course, we should not be surprised by this as they have been known to target demonstrators around the world in the past, as well.
Vigil held for northern Kurdistan in DC, demonstrators threatened 4/4/2006 KurdishMedia.com
Washington, DC (KurdishMedia.com) 4 April 2006: Yesterday in Washington, DC, a group of Kurds from various parts of Kurdistan and their American supporters gathered in Sheridan Circle in the heart of Washington DC to honor the children killed in northern (Turkish-occupied) Kurdistan over the past few days. This day-long vigil, organized by the Kurdish National Congress of North America (KNC) and American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN), took place across the street from the residence of the Turkish ambassador to the United States and just one block from the Turkish embassy.
Kurdistan flags and a large banner was displayed saying “Turkey Hands Off Children of Kurdistan - Honk for Kurdish Freedom.” Many drivers responded enthusiastically and a number of people visited the site during the vigil to express their support for the demonstrators.
Staff from the Turkish embassy came to the site of the vigil to take pictures of the demonstrators. After arriving on foot and departing, they returned in a vehicle with diplomatic plates. A verbal confrontation ensued, and the staff from the Turkish embassy stated to the demonstrators, “We will get you” and “We will take care of you.” A demonstrator remarked to KurdishMedia.com that it was the first time since arrival to the US well over a decade ago that this person had experienced politically-motivated threats at such an event.
The vigil sought to honor the victims of recent violence in northern Kurdistan and raise awareness of the plight of the Kurds of the region. While the tragic events in Amed (Diyarbakir) and elsewhere in northern Kurdistan have mobilized Kurds worldwide, with demonstrations of solidarity taking part in Suleimani, Iraqi Kurdistan as well as Qamishlo in Syrian Kurdistan and Iranian Kurdistan, mainstream Western media coverage of these events has remained minimal.