STRASBOURG, France
The head of the Council of Europe Wednesday denounced recent terrorist attacks on Turkey’s security forces that have seen more than 30 martyred since Sunday.
“Recent events in Turkey are very worrying,” Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said in a statement on the council’s website. “I strongly condemn the deadly attacks on Turkish security forces. And I express my sincere condolences to all victims of violence over the past days.”
Turkey has been shaken by violence since the PKK resumed its armed campaign at the end of July. In that period, around 100 members of the security forces have been martyred in attacks focused on Turkey’s southeastern provinces.
On Sunday, 16 soldiers were martyred in a roadside bomb attack in Hakkari province. Another 13 were martyred in an attack in Igdir province Tuesday.
In an apparent reference to mob attacks on media outlets and the offices of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Jagland added: “I am also alarmed by the attacks on political parties and media outlets which risk destabilising democracy."
“I urge the authorities to do all they can to protect citizens and democratic life in the country.”
His comments were echoed by Anne Brasseur, president of the council’s assembly, who said she was “gravely concerned about the recent terrorist attacks and the escalation of violence in Turkey.”
She added: “The terrorist attacks against the army and the law enforcement officials are unacceptable. I strongly condemn these and convey condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and authorities of Turkey.”
Brasseur also railed against attacks on the media and political parties.
“I strongly condemn the attacks against the HDP headquarters and several local offices as well as against the Hurriyet [newspaper] offices in Istanbul,” she said. “This is very worrying in the light of the forthcoming early parliamentary elections, which have to be held in a pluralistic and free political and media environment.”
Calling for an end to the “spiral of violence”, Brasseur said the violence threatened Turkey’s stability and had far-reaching regional implications.
