Davut Demircan
06 February 2020•Update: 07 February 2020
ANKARA
Turkish officials condemned the European Parliament on Thursday for holding an event attended by some of the ringleaders of the PKK terror group and its supporters.
Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin described the event as “embarrassing scandal”.
“The European Parliament that opened its doors to the PKK, which the European Union recognized as a terrorist organization, openly supported terrorism and committed a crime," said Kalin.
“Those who let PKK terrorists speak under the roof of European Parliament became a partner in their crimes,” he added.
Condemning the event, Turkey's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said: “Europe has been turning a blind eye to PKK’s terror activities for decades. Now, they are going further and hosting PKK/YPG terrorists in the European Parliament. If Europe is not going to stop a designated terror group and its activities, how can we talk about common security?”
“PKK has been recruiting, fundraising, organizing and propagating on European soil for far too long. When it comes to judging Turkey on human rights, Europeans don’t lose a second to criticize us. When it comes to actually doing something about terrorists, they are silent!,” Altun said in a series of Twitter posts.
“Under the guise of freedom of speech, PKK terrorists have been using Europe as a launching ground to plan and organize attacks against our country. Europe must drop its double standards and show they truly care about common regional security. Enough is enough,” he added.
Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, also condemned the event.
“Although they [EU] recognized [PKK] as terror group, they are tolerant to those terrorists who attack Turkey. We have warned them many times, European Parliament should not become the venue for PKK terrorists or other terrorists," said Celik.
“These are terrorists against humanity who are wanted with a red notice,” he added.
Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also slammed the European Parliament.
“Giving permission to PKK terrorists wanted with a red notice to speak and threatening Turkey in European Parliament is shame and disgrace,” he said.
The conference, titled ''The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds," was held by the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday.
Some ringleaders of the terrorist organization in Europe -- Adem Uzun, Remzi Kartal and Zubeyir Aydar -- who are in the red category of Turkey’s wanted terrorist list -- attended the conference.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
