Turkey’s intelligentsia takes stand against terrorism

ANKARA

At least 500 people from Turkey’s intelligentsia, including journalists, writers and academics have signed a joint declaration condemning terrorism.

The signatories to an email-circulated declaration include several prominent personalities from Turkey, including Atilla Yayla, Birol Akgun, Fahrettin Altun, Faruk Beser, Gulay Gokturk, Mehmet Akif Kirecci, Meryem Ilayda Atlas and Nihal Bengisu Karaca.

The declaration says: "We the undersigned academicians, writers, journalists, and citizens who feel a responsibility towards society, take up our pens in order to state that we stand with Turkey in its struggle against the increasing terrorism it faces and the terror organizations behind the attacks."

"We defend Turkey’s right to fight against terror and its responsibility to do so; we regard actions and discourses that harm the culture of democracy and are separatist and discriminatory as support for terrorism and denounce them."

Since mid-July, numerous clashes between Turkish security sources and the terrorist PKK organization have occurred in southeastern parts of Turkey.

The PKK -- also designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU -- renewed its armed campaign against the Turkish state this summer.

Since July, more than 150 members of security forces have been martyred while, according to the government, more than 2,000 PKK terrorists have been killed.

ANKARA

At least 500 people from Turkey’s intelligentsia, including journalists, writers and academics have signed a joint declaration condemning terrorism.

Since mid-July, numerous clashes between Turkish security sources and the terrorist PKK organization have occurred in southeastern parts of Turkey.

The PKK -- also designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU -- renewed its armed campaign against the Turkish state this summer.

Since July, more than 150 members of security forces have been martyred while, according to the government, more than 2,000 PKK terrorists have been killed.