The biggest Arab association in Turkey, the Anatolian Arab Unity Movement Association, has been closed down by a court decision for mentioning in its constitution: “co-presidency, struggle for women, children, youth, the disabled, for ecology and against poverty, defence of rights and public health and use of the old names of settlements”.

The court session held on Tuesday in Mardin to discuss the complaint filed against the association decided to close down the biggest Arab association in Turkey.

The Anatoalian Arab Unity Movement Association president Mehmet Ali Aslan has issued a statement regarding the court decision, saying that the decision to close down an association in which Muslim, Christian, Alevi and Sunni Arab people are organised jointly proves that the authorities are afraid of this unity of people and their organising together.

Aslan said the government is not taking concrete steps although it continues to talk about the peace and resolution process before the elections and added: “Currently there are court cases against two Arab and Mıhalmi associations in the region. The attitude of the resolution process towards the Arabs in the country should not be like this”.

Aslan also criticized NGO’s for not supporting their association during the case and added that they will take the case to the ECtHR if the decision of the local court is approved by the Supreme Court after their appeal. Aslan said they will share with the public the reasons of the court decision after it is released in the coming days by the court.