Medya News
Daily News
Breaking News
Subscribe
  • Home
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • More
    • Audio Articles
    • Economy
    • Culture & Art
    • Ecology
    • Newsletter
    • Daily News
Youtube
PODCAST
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • More
    • Audio Articles
    • Economy
    • Culture & Art
    • Ecology
    • Newsletter
    • Daily News
Youtube
PODCAST
No Result
View All Result
Medya News

Zübeyir Aydar to Sweden and Finland: Don’t give in to the blackmails of Erdoğan

KCK Executive Council Member Aydar says that the Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde's remark about Sweden being the first country to list PKK as a terror group reflects an approach that ignores the sensitivities of the Kurdish people.

5:31 pm 27/05/2022
A A
Zübeyir Aydar to Sweden and Finland: Don’t give in to the blackmails of Erdoğan
Share post

Medya News interviewed the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council Member Zübeyir Aydar, a former MP in the Turkish parliament and one of the Kurdish political figure whom the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently asked to be silenced by Swedish authorities.

Aydar recently joined as a speaker in a conference at the Swedish parliament on 27 April to express his views on ‘issues surrounding democracy in Turkey and the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] ban.’

Opposing Sweden and Finland joining NATO, Turkey blocked an early move to fast-track the two countries’ requests on Wednesday, demanding they extradite “terrorists” and that the alliance respect its concerns.

Ann Linde, Swedish foreign minister, responded on Friday with a tweet saying that Sweden listed the PKK as a terrorist group before everyone else. She said:

“Due to the vastly spread disinformation about Sweden and PKK, we would like to recall that the Swedish Government of Olof Palme was first after Turkey to list PKK as a terrorist organization, already in 1984. EU followed suit 2002, when Anna Lindh was Swedish FM. This position remains unchanged.”

Medya News: Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde responded to Turkish president Erdoğan with a tweet, saying that it was Olof Palme’s Sweden in 1984 that first listed the PKK as a terror group, and that the EU followed to do so much later in 2002. Was this the kind of response you were expecting?

Zübeyir Aydar: As a matter of fact I wasn’t expecting such a cheap response from the minister to the blackmails of an autocrat like Erdoğan. The response is both full of errors, and it also is befitting of Sweden in terms of stance and approach. It reflects an approach that ignores the sensitivities of the Kurdish people.

Actually the minister knows better than anyone else that the PKK is a liberation movement. She’s also aware that this terror label is unjust and harms the just struggle of a people immensely. Olof Palme was a friend of the Kurdish people like he was a friend of all oppressed people. The efforts to blame PKK in the case of his assassination was one of the greatest conspiracies in history. In June 2020, 35 years after the murder, as the chief prosecutor announced that the case was closed, a statement was released saying that PKK was among the victims of the case. While we, Kurds, have been expecting an official apology from the state of Sweden, Linde’s response to Erdoğan’s blackmail is at the least unfortunate.

On the other hand, PKK has never been labeled as a terror organisation in the context of Swedish laws. The constitution of Sweden does not have an article for labeling an organisation as a terror organisation. I’d also like to further note that PKK was first listed as a terror group by the United States in 1997, by the United Kingdom in 2000, and by the EU in 2002. The Swedish parliament ratified this move in 2002 because of the EU legislation that requires member states to follow a procedure, only after vigorous discussions, and there is no legal ground to implement this decision in Sweden.

While this is the case, and considering a high court’s decision in Belgium and rulings by the Court of Justice of the EU, it has been officially acknowledged that PKK is the representative of Kurdish people’s struggle for liberation, and that it is one of the actors in the conflict.

I call upon the Western countries, particularly upon Sweden and Finland, not to give in to the blackmails of Erdoğan’s Turkey. I call upon the civil society and political organisations in Sweden and Finland to oversee that their governments do not make concessions against the just struggle of the Kurdish people.

Is the issue concerned here Sweden, or is it about meeting in a halfway with the US?

Erdogan is actually trying to strengthen his hand by saying Sweden is a terror incubator, or a terror nest. There is a multifaceted plan. He is addressing Sweden and Finland on the one hand, and the US on the other. He is trying to get concessions from the US on issues such as arms sales, the Halk Bank trial, and moves to be made by IMF. He is trying to negotiate. This is also a message to other NATO countries, in the specific to Sweden. On the one hand, he winks at Russia, which is against NATO’s expansion. He is trying to get a favourable result. Whether he achieves or not will depend on our own struggle and the struggle of our friends.

Among the demands by Turkey is reportedly a demand that you should not be allowed to speak in the parliaments of two countries.

Turkey set ten conditions. In one of these, my name was mentioned. It seems that our moves offended their feelings. He [Erdoğan] says, ‘These people should not make appearances.’ This is not a demand addressing only Sweden, but a message to all NATO countries. But this will not work. We will continue with our struggle at every level. Two days ago I was in the European Parliament for meetings. People will not close the doors to us just because Erdoğan wanted them to. We have our own contacts as well.

Have you taken any steps in Sweden regarding latest developments? Do you think that the Swedish government will make concessions to Ankara?

Turkey is all-out attacking the Kurds. It is attacking the values of the Kurds in Rojava [Northeast Syria], and Sout Kurdistan [Kurdistan Region of Iraq]. It uses chemical weapons several times every day in South Kurdistan. It takes a hard line with the people in North Kurdistan [Kurdish-majority provinces in Turkey]. There are more than ten thousand political prisoners there. Torture and ill-treatment have become a common practice in Turkish prisons. There are deaths in prisons. The government blocs the paths of democratic politics completely. It is crushing all opposition.

We are calling out upon all NATO countries, the Western bloc, Sweden, and Finland. Do not use us to negotiate with Turkey. Do not support or be a partner in Turkey’s war and war crimes in Kurdistan. Turkey and Erdogan should not shape up your Kurdish policy. Do not let yourselves descend to the position that Turkey and Erdogan want. Make friends with the Kurdish people. Do not face the opposition of the Kurdish people. We say this to all NATO countries, the entire Western bloc, and Sweden and Finland in particular: We want to be friends with you. The Kurds are extending a friendly hand to you. You can take precautions for your safety, but we do not want you to use us to negotiate with Turkey.


Share post
Tags: Trending

Related Posts

Syrian rebel commander voted for Erdoğan in Turkish elections

Syrian rebel commander voted for Erdoğan in Turkish elections

May 28, 2023
Violence erupts in Turkey’s presidential election, celebrations turn deadly

Violence erupts in Turkey’s presidential election, celebrations turn deadly

May 28, 2023
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition calls for strengthening of democratic politics amidst election turmoil

Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition calls for strengthening of democratic politics amidst election turmoil

May 28, 2023
HDP former co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş criticizes the ECHR

Kurdish politician defies defeat, calls for undeterred fight for democracy

May 28, 2023
Erdoğan slams Turkey’s LGBT community in first speech after election

Erdoğan slams Turkey’s LGBT community in first speech after election

May 28, 2023
Child killed by Turkey-backed groups in Syria’s Afrin as they celebrate Erdoğan’s presidency

Child killed by Turkey-backed groups in Syria’s Afrin as they celebrate Erdoğan’s presidency

May 28, 2023

Videos

Reports of pro-government groups crowding polling stations as Turkey’s voting window closes
POLITICS

Reports of pro-government groups crowding polling stations as Turkey’s voting window closes

May 28, 2023

All News

Syrian rebel commander voted for Erdoğan in Turkish elections

Violence erupts in Turkey’s presidential election, celebrations turn deadly

Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition calls for strengthening of democratic politics amidst election turmoil

Kurdish politician defies defeat, calls for undeterred fight for democracy

Erdoğan slams Turkey’s LGBT community in first speech after election

Child killed by Turkey-backed groups in Syria’s Afrin as they celebrate Erdoğan’s presidency

Medya News

Impressum

About us

Privacy Policy

Subscribe
Contact

 

No Result
View All Result
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • Ecology
  • Economy
  • Culture & Art
  • Daily News
  • Breaking News
  • Newsletter
  • Authors
  • Podcast

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist

Loading
Contact