Courageous stand of Kurds should gain deserved support

[Anthea]

Chomsky: Courageous stand of Kurds should gain the deserved support

Noam Chomsky pointed out that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is renewing some of the most harsh and brutal policies that the Turkish state has carried out against Kurdish rights.

Renowned linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky is among the over 1000 academics who recently signed a “We will not be a party to this crime" declaration against ongoing war of the Turkish government against the civilian population in Turkey's Kurdish region. Support is growing to the petition by academics who have manifested a stance against the onslaught on Kurdish people, and called upon the Turkish state to resume peace talks with the Kurdish movement.

The academics are now facing pressure and legal actions upon an instruction by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who called them "traitors" and “so-called intellectuals”. Dozens of those who undersigned the declaration of peace are now being dismissed from duty or detained by anti-terror police, while their offices are also being raided by police for a detailed search of “evidence of links to terror”.

'SHAMEFUL EFFORTS TO CONSOLIDATE THE AUTHORITARIAN RULE'

Speaking to ANF English service about the repression faced by defenders of peace against war, American philosopher and professor Noam Chomsky said Turkish President Erdogan’s attack on free expression is another shameful step in his efforts to consolidate authoritarian rule.

Calling out to Kurds and their growing struggle against Turkish state's attacks, Chomsky said; “I hope that your courageous stand will gain the popular and international support it richly deserves.”

'THE MOST BRUTAL POLICIES AGAINST KURDS BEING RENEWED'

Regarding the genocidal attacks conducted by Turkish state forces against civilian population in North Kurdistan, Chomsky said; "Erdoğan is unfortunately renewing some of the most harsh and brutal policies that the Turkish state has carried out against Kurdish rights.” He underlined that; “Whatever the explanation may be for his acts, they cannot be justified.”

Yesterday, Chomsky rejected Erdoğan's invitation to Turkey to "see the situation with his own eyes." In an email to the Guardian he said: “If I decide to go to Turkey, it will not be on his invitation, but as frequently before at the invitation of the many courageous dissidents, including Kurds who have been under severe attack for many years.” Chomsky also claimed Erdoğan was operating double standards on terrorism.