Turkish aggression against northern Syria

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) demands the German Federal Government to clearly condemn the Turkish war threats against the Kurdish people, the Christians, and the Yazidis in northern Syria. "President Erdogan must fulfill his alliance obligations in NATO, without being rewarded with tacit consent to his military adventures – which is exactly what Germany and NATO have been doing since 1952," stated Dr. Kamal Sido, the STP's Middle East Consultant. "Now, Turkey has to take a stand against Putin's aggression in Ukraine – without demanding anything in return, as if at a bazaar. Sweden and Finland's NATO membership must not depend on support for Erdogan's war against the Kurdish people." Universal values like freedom, human rights, as well as minority rights and women's rights are an integral part of the European peace and security order. Autocrats such as Putin or Erdogan should not be allowed to play off security issues against freedom and human rights.
"Human lives are important – in Ukraine, Syria, Kurdistan, and everywhere else in the world important. The world is in shock about Putin's war against neighboring Ukraine. However, the deadly attacks of the Turkish army against defenseless civilians in the Kurdish areas of Syria and in Iraq must be condemned too," Sido emphasized. "People are dying there as well, and there is great insecurity and fear. Turkey is using drones to carry out attacks on cars, villages, bus stops… and no one is safe: children on their way to school, farmers on their fields, wedding ceremonies, funeral ceremonies…". The STP receives horrific news from the region almost every day. Ethnic and religious minorities are under threat not only by the so-called "Islamic State", but are also living in constant fear of Turkish air raids. This should be condemned: "Turkey, a NATO member, is not trying to hide the plans to drive the Kurdish population out of parts of the neighboring country, to prepare for an annexation. This must be stopped! Universal human rights must also apply to the Kurdish people and other population groups," Sido added.
The villages in Tall Tamer in the north-east of Syria – which were once only inhabited by Assyrian Christians – have been under attack by the Turkish army and their Syrian Islamist allies for several days. In May, 17 villages suffered from attacks by Turkey. The region was hit by at least 500 rockets and artillery shells. It is no longer possible to lead a normal life there. Turkey is attacking Christian churches and Muslim mosques in northern Syria. The Turkish army and their Islamist allies are also carrying out attacks on villages in the north of Aleppo, where Kurdish, Christian, and Alevi refugees from Afrin have found shelter. The Turkish president had publicly announced plans to establish a 30-kilometer-wide "security zone" along the 900-kilometer-long Turkish-Syrian border region. Turkey is already controlling large parts of the region. The minority groups who once lived there have already been driven out of the region.