A Turkish assault of genocidal scale against the Kurds is imminent following the local elections due to the government’s attempt to rally nationalist support amid an economic crisis, leveraging anti-Kurd sentiments and the geopolitical strategy to distract from domestic issues and solidify power post-elections, said Evdilmelik Fırat writing for the Yeni Yaşam daily on Monday.
“We are on the brink of elections. The economic crisis post-general elections has morphed into a collapse, a situation merely delayed for the local elections. The worst is yet to come after these elections,” Fırat stated.
He called for unity among those who stand for democracy, freedom, equality, and those fed up with exploitation, poverty and misery to steer clear of equations that favour the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)-Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) coalition.
Fırat noted the deepening economic crisis in Turkey, which he believes the government may use as a pretext for aggressive actions against the Kurds to rally nationalist support and distract from domestic issues. The timing post-election suggests a planned escalation once political positions are secured.
He highlighted the Turkish government’s military and diplomatic moves as clear indications of an intent to deepen the conflict with the Kurds. This included the Iraqi Security Council’s classification of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a banned organisation and the consolidation of international alliances to isolate and target Kurdish populations.
Fırat pointed to the government’s efforts to demoralise the Kurdish population through arrests and psychological tactics, aiming to sever the Kurdish struggle from broader movements for rights and democracy within Turkey.
He underscored Turkey’s engagement in diplomatic efforts, notably with the US and Europe, to gain tacit approval or direct support for actions against the Kurds, framing these as part of a broader genocidal strategy openly declared by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Fırat concluded that the Kurdish movement’s resistance and the recent advancements in their defensive capabilities could pose a significant challenge to Turkey’s plans. He stressed the importance of unity and the role of the upcoming elections in preventing the escalation of violence, suggesting that the outcome could influence the feasibility of Turkey’s genocidal ambitions.
