Finnish Social Democratic Students (SONK) strongly condemns the violence of the Turkish police force and government against the political protesters across Turkey. SONK stands firm in solidarity with the people of Turkey and our comrades in the Republican People's Party (CHP) Youth fighting for the freedom of speech and against the brutal oppression by the state.
SONK also extends its condolences the the CHP Youth for the death of our comrade Abdullah Cömert in demonstrations in Antakya.
”We are shocked that the Turkish government decided to react to a peaceful demonstration with teargas and water cannons”, says Otto Köngäs, the vice president of SONK. “Now is the time for all friends of freedom and democracy to take a stand and demand that the Turkish government cease the war it’s waging on its own people!”
Violent crackdown by the Turkish police force has been going on for over a week. Reports of the situation come through social media and foreign news outlets, since the government-controlled Turkish media has been completely silenced. The rest of the Europe can no longer watch idly by as the freedom of speech and democracy are under attack.
"Violence combined with tracking down and arresting activists, tweeters and others who participated in protests is very worrying and something we cannot ignore. European politicians and governments must take a stand in defence of democracy and freedom of expression, as the civil society all across Europe has" President of Young European Socialists Kaisa Penny continues.
SONK urges all European bodies to demand that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan immediately halt the government’s violent repression of the demonstrations. Erdogan must recognise that election victories give no right to trample over basic human rights.
More Information:
Otto Köngäs
SONK Vice President
+358440825612
Kaisa Penny
Young European Socialists President
+358407217212
Sosialidemokraattiset Opiskelijat - SONK ry. http://www.sonk.fi/
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