Reactions against the Turkish state’s invasion against Afrin continue to grow. Switzerland’s Socialist Party (SP) Federal MP Beat Jans and SP Basel Canton MP Edibe Gölgeli issued a joint statement condemning the Turkish state’s invasion attempt and calling on international institutions and Switzerland to take action.

“WE CAN’T REMAIN SILENT”

“The Turkish state’s attacks against Afrin are unacceptable,” said the statement and demanded Switzerland to urgently reconsider the relationship with Turkey. The statement mentioned that the Turkish state has been bombing Afrin for days and said, “We have seen photographs of the Turkish state massacring Kurds many times to date, we have always chosen to remain silent. But today, once again, photographs of civilians massacred in Afrin are circulating around the world today, and we can’t stay silent in the face of that too.”

“INTERNATIONAL LAWS DISREGARDED”

The statement said the Turkish army has disregarded international laws and entered another country’s territory and continued: “This goes against the UN conventions. There should be an intervention to end this. The Turkish state cites the reason for the attack as security, but is utilizing a method with no legitimacy in the international arena, namely the invasion of another country’s territory. Most importantly, a region that has been the safest for civilians throughout the Syrian war is under attack today.”

“KURDS WERE DEFENDING OUR VALUES”

“Kurds in Rojava, i.e. the Kurds being bombed by the Turkish state today, have been fighting terrorist organizations, defending the values of Western countries and have been sacrificing themselves when necessary,” said the statement, pointing out the importance of the Kurds’ fight against ISIS, and demanded the Switzerland Federal Council to take immediate action against Turkey.

“FEDERAL COUNCIL SHOULD TAKE A CLEAR STAND”

The SP MPs also stressed that the Switzerland Federal Council needs to issue a public statement and condemn the invasion of Afrin and demanded that Switzerland freeze the free trade agreement with Turkey.