Photographs from the massacres committed by the Turkish state in Sur, Cizre, Nusaybin and Gever are being exhibited in the European Parliament (EP). The exhibition organised by HDP Europe Representation Office consists of 32 photographs. The exhibition includes photographs by Sertaç Kayar, Aziz Oğur and Aurore Belot and is titled “Destruction of Cities in the Kurdish Region in Turkey and Human Rights Violations”. The exhibition launched yesterday in a large ceremony.

VERGIAT: WILL ERDOĞAN BRING DEMOCRACY BY SHOOTING CIVILIANS?

Marie-Christine Vergiat spoke in the opening ceremony, stating that she will speak in her native French, because “This is a principle.” Vergiat pointed out the situation in Turkey and said: “Since July 2015, the situation is more than concerning. Especially in the eastern part of Turkey, with ‘curfews’ and bombings.”

Vergiat stressed that the atrocity was visible in the photographs in the exhibition and continued: “When we see these photographs or other relevant ones, one can think they were taken in Syria unless explicitly stated that they were taken in Turkey. What is dramatic about this situation that I can call a civil war is that the law of war and human rights are not respected. Mr. Erdoğan claims to fight terrorism. One can’t fight terrorism by murdering civilians and tearing down entire cities. We are concerned about the situation in Turkey. Our concerns have grown since July.”

Photographer Aurore Belot said: “I leave you to the photographs. They speak better than I can.”

SARIYILDIZ: ERDOĞAN IS AFRAID THESE WILL BE SEEN

HDP Şırnak MP Faysal Sarıyıldız stated that the photographs in the exhibition only covered a fraction of the atrocities, and continued: “These photographs are but a small part of the atrocities committed in Kurdistan. I have photographs of people burned in basements on my phone. There are photos of body parts in plastic bags, in hospital morgues. They are afraid these will be exhibited because they were caught red handed. All of Europe needs to see these.”

Sarıyıldız said Erdoğan spent great efforts to stop these photographs from being seen there, and that they are afraid their crimes will come to light.

İHD Chairperson Öztürk Türkdoğan said: “These photographs here are present in our reports. They are on the desks of Turkish authorities and international institutions. We want justice to be served.”