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Well known public intellectuals Baskın Oran, Melek Ulagay, Orhan Alkaya and Gençay Gürsoy appealed for peace in Turkey on the occasion of ‘World Peace Day’ (1 September). They stated that there was a need to unite against the war.
They spoke to Ali Barış Kurt from Fırat News Agency. Professor Baskın Oran stated that the government does not only consist of the Justice and Development (AKP) and Nationalist Movement (MHP) parties, but also consists of “religious extremists, racists, tamed Ergenekon members and nationalists” whom he referred to as “the Four Horsemen of the apocalypse”.
Baskın Oran stated that whilst these two AKP-MHP sides had differences, what united them was Turkish nationalism and hatred of the Kurds.
Writer and director, Melek Ulagay, also described the recent period of ‘war politics’. Ulagay urged the international community to impose serious sanctions against those who implement a war policy: “Action should be taken. Serious sanctions should be imposed”.
He added: “This is not destiny. I’m so angry. Regional countries and the world should take this very seriously. It is impossible for a one-man regime to benefit the people. This one-man regime must be eliminated for peace to prosper”.
Professor Gençay Gürsoy, a neurologist, evaluated the current war as “a public health problem” in terms of its consequences.
The artist Orhan Alkaya called for unity in opposing the war: “The burning issue today is how to create a viable alliance”.
