Turkish parliament speaker: Terrorism threatens all humanity

ISTANBUL

Terrorism threatens all of humanity, said Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek on Tuesday, strongly condemning all terror acts across the world and calling for a joint stance and fighting against it. 

"I, as a member of a nation that has lost around 40,000 victims to terrorist acts, strongly condemn all terror acts," said Cemil Cicek during the opening speech at the 10th conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. 

Cicek said the conference was timed to take place in a period in which key developments have been occurring in Muslim regions and the world. These include critical and substantial developments that directly interest Muslim people's peace, welfare and security in Syria, Iraq, Palestine and other Islam countries, he added. 

Touching on the relentless threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Cicek said this group's activities had become a source of threat and instability to the whole world. 

"Terrorism is a crime against humanity which we should all strongly condemn," said the parliament speaker.

Cicek also asked for a joint response against the other terrorist attacks in Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in addition to the Paris attack that killed a total of 17 people in the first week of January. 

Cicek attached importance to the anti-Islam remarks uttered following the Paris attack and noted: "Members of a religion cannot be labeled with the names, symbols and remarks used for the terrorists."

As long as humanity does not take a joint stance and fighting against all kinds of terrorism, it will not be possible to eradicate terrorism, he added. 

During his speech, Cicek said the parliaments of Islamic countries had a key responsibility for maintaining the peace and security of the member countries' populations as well as contributing to regional and global peace.