Kurds protested the Treaty of Lausanne on its anniversary
Kurds protested the Treaty of Lausanne on its anniversary
Kurds living in Switzerland protested the Treaty of Lausanne in front of the building where it was signed. Protestors also urged UN to take actions against the pressure on the Kurds by the Turkish government.
Hundreds of Kurds and friends of Kurds gathered in Place Riponne square marched until the building where the Treaty of Lausanne was signed on 24 July 1923. Some Turkish socialist parties and immigrant’s organisations supported the protest.
Speaking at the protest chair of the Kurdish assembly in Lausanne Metin Aydýn said that Ismet Inönü who was in the delegation signed the treaty on behalf of the Kurds. However, he signed a treaty denying the existence of the Kurds and separating them into fours pieces.”
Spokesperson of the Kurdish Assembly in Basel Bahattin Altuntaþ said Switzerland where the treaty of Lausanne signed which made the Kurdish people suffer since should play its role for a democratic solution of Kurdish problem. Reminding the execution of Kurdish guerrillas seized alive by the Turkish soldiers and destruction of their bodies Altuntaþ said Turkey is violating the Geneva Convention and the other state parties should take an action against this brutality and other inhumane treatments on the Kurdish people.
The Treaty of Lausanne was the peace treaty signed in Lausanne between the Ottoman Empire and Western allies after the annulment of the Treaty of Sèvres (1920). While Treaty of Sèvres was recognising the existence of Kurds and allowing them to found their own state where they are the majority, the Treaty of Lausanne not only denied Kurd’s right to self determination but also their existence. Only non-Muslims were recognised minority under this treatment which also prevented the Kurds to enjoy minority rights recognised to Greeks, Armenians and Jews.
Hundreds of Kurds and friends of Kurds gathered in Place Riponne square marched until the building where the Treaty of Lausanne was signed on 24 July 1923. Some Turkish socialist parties and immigrant’s organisations supported the protest.
Speaking at the protest chair of the Kurdish assembly in Lausanne Metin Aydýn said that Ismet Inönü who was in the delegation signed the treaty on behalf of the Kurds. However, he signed a treaty denying the existence of the Kurds and separating them into fours pieces.”
Spokesperson of the Kurdish Assembly in Basel Bahattin Altuntaþ said Switzerland where the treaty of Lausanne signed which made the Kurdish people suffer since should play its role for a democratic solution of Kurdish problem. Reminding the execution of Kurdish guerrillas seized alive by the Turkish soldiers and destruction of their bodies Altuntaþ said Turkey is violating the Geneva Convention and the other state parties should take an action against this brutality and other inhumane treatments on the Kurdish people.
The Treaty of Lausanne was the peace treaty signed in Lausanne between the Ottoman Empire and Western allies after the annulment of the Treaty of Sèvres (1920). While Treaty of Sèvres was recognising the existence of Kurds and allowing them to found their own state where they are the majority, the Treaty of Lausanne not only denied Kurd’s right to self determination but also their existence. Only non-Muslims were recognised minority under this treatment which also prevented the Kurds to enjoy minority rights recognised to Greeks, Armenians and Jews.
