WAR IS DEATH, PEACE IS LIFE!
9 October 2023
As human rights defenders, we are concerned about the war and conflicts in our geography as well as in the Middle East and other parts of the world. The 1 October bomb attack in Ankara could have caused the death of many civilians. We reiterate our demand for an effective and objective judicial review of this incident and the hijacking of a vehicle and the death of a civilian in connection with this incident.
Following the incident in Ankara, we have been following with concern the statements made by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on 4 October and especially the all-out attacks in Rojava in which civilians were harmed. The fact that the United Nations also made a statement shows how worrying the incident is. International law and the Geneva Convention on law of war are constantly being violated.
As human rights defenders, we have always stood against the violent operations and war policy of the Israeli state against the Palestinian people. However, we would like to express that the attacks of the HAMAS organization the other day, in which Israeli civilians were also harmed, and the display of the bodies of civilians should also be opposed and not accepted.
After the attacks of HAMAS, we are also concerned about the launch of all-out attacks on the entire Palestinian geography, especially in the Gaza Strip, following the statements of Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, who is known for his violent policies on the Palestinian issue. We would like to announce to the whole public that we are against the operations launched by the Israeli army with the concept of total war, in which many Palestinian civilians lost their lives.
The escalating armed conflicts and wars in our geography and in the Middle East damage social peace on the one hand, while on the other hand preventing large segments of society from voicing their demand for peace. Even the most basic human rights, especially the right to life, are disregarded due to pro-security policies. As human rights defenders, we do not accept policies that prevent the exercise of rights and freedoms on the grounds of violence and conflicts.
War is not a solution. We will not give up our demands for peace in our geography and all over the world.
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION