Demonstrations staged in Turkish cities against US military operations in Iraq

Anatolia news agency
19 Nov 04

Ankara, 19 November: Nongovernmental organizations have staged protests
against the US military operations in the Iraqi town of Al-Fallujah.

The Intellectual Hearths Kayseri Branch protested against the
occupation of Iraq at the Surp Kirkor Lusovoric Armenian Church in
Kayseri. Kayseri Intellectual Hearths Chairman Kemal Tekden issued
a statement there saying that the bullying carried out by the United
States against the civilian people in Iraq in the name of freedom and
democracy had turned into violence and barbarity in Al-Fallujah. Tekden
said that the killing of a wounded Iraqi in a mosque by American
soldiers would go down in history as the “most shameful episode in
the history of mankind”.

Noting that at no time in the history of the world had the holy
sites of any great and civilized state been violated Tekden said:
“Holy sites like mosques, churches and synagogues are inviolable
places. Even the primitive Aborigines respected holy sites. The
Ottoman State never showed the slightest disrespect to the holy sites
on the three continents it ruled over, which is why it is recalled as
a great state. Respect for holy sites is part of the glory of being
a great state. We invite the United States to stop being a powerful
and bullying state and become a state that respects humanity and
human rights.” [Passage omitted].

Adana

In a press statement issued by a group that had gathered outside the
Adana Sabanci Centre Mosque to protest the operations in Iraq it was
stated: “By pointing out that Muslim lands are being occupied one by
one the objections to bullying will grow with each passing day and
the voices will grow louder.”

Those in the group then held funeral prayers for the dead in
Al-Fallujah before dispersing.

Administrators of the Adana branch of the Human Rights Association
and a group of members held a protest in Inonu Park where they stated
that many civilians had died in the US army operation mounted in
Al-Fallujah. They said: “What is being killed is not just the people
of Iraq but all of mankind. Yet, the whole world is watching what is
going on as if it were a movie.” They called on workers and artisans
not to sell US goods and for the citizens to boycott them.

Bursa

Speaking at a press conference staged by the Confederation of
Turkish Public Sector Labour Unions (Kamu-Sen) Bursa Representation
the Provincial Representative Ramazan Karakoc said: “We strongly and
with hatred condemn this violence and wish that this bloody occupation
would end as soon as possible.”

Karakoc said that the US occupation of Iraq had gone on for a year
and a half and that during this time US President George W Bush was
“no better than” the Saddam regime.

Asserting that over 100,000 Iraqis had been murdered in Iraq
in one and a half years, Karakoc said: “What the US soldiers,
who exhibited monstrosity in murdering injured people in mosques,
did is no coincidence. The US authorities’ explanations are not
convincing. The real aim is to strike fear into the world.”

Izmir

Chairman of the Izmir Bar Association Nevzat Erdemir in a written
statement asked for an end to the inhumane and illegal coalition
forces’ attacks against the people of Iraq.

Erdemir said that for the UN and all of mankind and the world states
to remain silent and do nothing was “a huge disgrace to mankind” and
that those carrying out crimes against humanity ought to be brought
to justice.

Konya

The group that had set off from Sanliurfa on 22 October aiming to
get the headscarf ban lifted today arrived in Konya. After issuing a
statement in front of the Mevlana Museum they took part in a funeral
prayer for the dead of Al-Fallujah at the Serafettin Mosque.

Following the funeral prayer an anti-US protest was held. During the
protest anti-US slogans were chanted, and a US flag was doused in
gasoline and burn.

Trabzon

Ahmet Kilic, Trabzon provincial representative for Turk-Is [The
Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions], spoke at a press conference
held by the Trabzon Journalists Association on behalf of the Labour
Platform Trabzon Component. Asserting that the United States was
ignoring international law he said: “The United States and its allies
attacked Iraq before the eyes of the whole world ignoring international
law and international institutions. With these attacks they have
committed a crime against peace according to international law.”

Ahmet Kilic called on the Turkish government and public opinion to be
more aware of what was going on in Iraq and to act with more reaction.

Elazig

Elazig representatives of the Anadolu Youth Magazine together with
members of the Islamic Education and Solidarity Foundation held a
funeral prayer for the dead in Al-Fallujah.

After the funeral prayer, held at the Izzetpasa Mosque, Muhammet
Bakir issued a statement on behalf of the group at the mosque. He
said that the United States was murdering people regardless of women
and children in the Al-Fallujah operation, and that this situation
was an affront to humanity and to Islam.

The group later walked to PTT Square chanting slogans on the way. After
holding a prayer for the dead the group silently left the square.