“Beginning from the Government; those who provoke-support violence culture and nationalism are responsible for the murder of an ecclesiastic in Trabzon”
An ecclesiastic, Andrea Sentore, was killed by armed attack in the 5th February 2006, in Trabzon. Some persons, who are from different areas, and the Government’s spokesman Cemil Çiçek state that they condemn the attack. On the other hand, this attack cannot be undertaken, independently, without regarding previous lynch and attack attempts. There are many lynch attempts and attacks, for example; in Trabzon, Samsun, Konya, Bozüyük (district of Eskişehir), İzmir and etc, during the 2005. Some persons regard themselves as both judgement and executioner, so they think that they have right to attack and kill everybody, who commit mistake, indeed, according to their point of views. Unfortunately, there are not any effective, investigations, court cases against those, who are responsible for these attacks and lynch attempts. Instead court cases are opened against those, who are the aggrieved persons. Public officers from different areas, especially the Government, and politicians evaluate these events as “rightful reaction of people/citizens”. Violence among the society provoked as much as it can. Any positive action did not carry out to develop tolerance and peace in the society. A mentality, which is composed of mainly religious and aggressive nationalism, provoked via using sensitive issues such as flag, country, religion and so on.
Illegal organizations, armed attacks and violence are shown as “legitimate” via using national and religious values in books, serial films and cinema. By using these means society, especially young people, is provoked.
As a result of these approaches; there were a lynching against cameraman in Adana and a murder of an ecclesiastic in Trabzon. Before facing with more serious event, peace-tolerance should be common and effective in the society via cooperation among the Government, State, Politicians and Non Governmental Organizations. We should object to war and violence without any discrimination.
We condemn the murder in Trabzon and demand that those who are responsible should be under detention and brought up before the court.
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCATION