Some opposition groups in Turkey have been vocal about the situation in Palestine, while remaining silent about the Turkish attacks on North and East Syria, Eren Keskin, the co-chair of the Human Rights Association (İHD), said during the association’s 21st Ordinary General Assembly in Ankara on Saturday.
The assembly was marked by discussions on human rights, the Kurdish question and the search for peace in the region.
During her address to the assembly, Keskin highlighted the historical context, mentioning that the Republic of Turkey was founded by a structure linked to the Armenian genocide in 1915, and that over the past century, various methods have been used to erase differences within the country.
Discussing the Kurdish question, Keskin pointed out that peace in the region cannot be achieved without addressing the official ideology and recognising that the Kurdish problem extends beyond Turkey to the other parts of Kurdistan, including the Kurdish-majority regions in Iran, Syria and Iraq. She drew a parallel between the situation in Palestine and the Kurdish-held regions in Syria, and urged opposition organisations to evaluate their alignment with government actions.
Akın Birdal, Honorary President of İHD, underlined the importance of defending human rights and freedoms as essential elements of humanity. He stressed that the century-long history of the Republic of Turkey has been marked by human rights violations, with the Kurdish problem being a central issue that must be solved through democratic means.
Birdal stated that peace is a priority for the creation of an equal society and that freedom will only come to the region through peace.
During his speech, Birdal also paid tribute to the Free Press for its commitment to informing the public and highlighted the challenges faced by journalists in the country.