ANKARA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday slammed countries which he said have become a shelter for the terrorists who are fleeing Turkish justice.
“Bloody murderers, who mean to the right to life, which is the most basic human right, are protected under the pretext of political asylum seekers, and can lead their lives freely without being subjected to any legal investigation.
“I would like to express with regret that some of the countries we are with under the roof of NATO, the Council of Europe or the UN have turned into shelters for bandits fleeing Turkish justice,” Erdogan said at the International Ombudsman Conference in the capital Ankara.
About the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen, Erdogan said: “As it is known, the ringleader of FETO, who killed our 252 citizens on July 15 and bombed our parliament and the presidential building, can continue to oversee his terrorist organization from his mansion in America.”
FETO orchestrated a defeated coup in Türkiye on July 15, 2016, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 wounded. Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
Erdogan said the PKK terror group members, who are sought with a red notice, can organize protests in the center of Europe under the auspices of police, and attack Turkish citizens and representatives.
The events in Paris constituted the latest example of this, the Turkish leader said, adding: “I hope that the incidents that show the mistake of making a distinction between good terrorists and bad terrorists will start a new era in the fight against terrorism.”
European countries need to take measures against supporters of terrorism, Erdogan urged, warning that otherwise, terrorism will spread like a “cancer.”
Late December, supporters of the PKK terror group amassed at the site of a deadly shooting in Paris, perpetrating acts of violence and clashing with security forces in protests that ensued over the next two days and left 31 police officers injured, along with a protester.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
Some 550,000 Syrians returned home cleared of terrorists
Erdogan said Türkiye has welcomed more than 4 million oppressed people and victims of various incidents, including 3.5 million Syrians who fled the conflict zones.
So far, around 550,000 Syrians from Türkiye have returned to regions in Syria that Ankara cleared of terrorists, he said.
“These numbers will increase as the diplomatic contacts that we, as Russia, Syria and Türkiye, have been carrying out for a while yield results,” Erdogan added.
On Dec. 28, defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Türkiye, Russia and the Syrian regime met in Moscow for talks. At the meeting, the top defense officials agreed to continue tripartite meetings to ensure stability in Syria and the wider region.
Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye will continue to fulfill its duties until peace and stability is established in Syria.
Turning to illegal Greece pushbacks of irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea, the Turkish leader said the number of migrants rescued last year reached 20,000.
“On the other hand, countries that leave the refugees to die at sea, in the Aegean, even kill them deliberately by sinking their boats, beat them, rob them, and forcibly push them out of their borders, unfortunately, are held in high esteem.
“Despite all the images, witnesses, news and complaints, unfortunately, no steps are being taken against those who see this persecution of immigrants,” Erdogan said.
Russia-Ukraine war
During the Russia-Ukraine war, Türkiye contributed to the solution of the food and energy crisis, which negatively affected the lives of billions of people, by implementing the grain corridor through the Black Sea and the prisoner exchange deal, Erdogan said.
About the possible opening of a humanitarian corridor, Erdogan said: “(Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye) Seref (Malkoc) made a proposal about a corridor, especially for the injured, we are already ready for that.
“We bring the wounded not only from Russia and Ukraine, but also from Syria, Azerbaijan and Libya, to have their treatment in our hospitals and send them back.”
About Afghanistan’s ban on higher education for young women, Erdogan said preventing education for girls is “inhumane and against Islam,” adding: “There is no such thing in our religion. These girls should receive education.”
Erdogan also said in many parts of the world, people’s most fundamental human rights continue to be violated “blatantly.”
