Cyprus-Forum.com

[joe]

Minority rights and Turkey

http://www.cyprusweekly.com.cy/default. ... =Viewpoint

The minority rights report on Turkey that was published recently is a damning indictment of Turkey for the oppression and denial of basic human rights of its national minorities.

The report states bluntly that Turkey's numerous ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities remain unrecognised by the state, are increasingly under threat, with many of their members imprisoned even for daring to use their own language

What is worse, this oppression is on the rise as a result of growing pressure from extreme Turkish right wing groups, the report adds.

Turkey, of course, ignores this international denunciation and criticism of its policies with the tacit backing of its powerful military allies, the United States and other NATO member states.

These governments raise hell in connection with much milder rights violations by other states, but choose to remain silent and inactive in connection with the serious crimes committed by Turkey with such impunity

One would have expected the international community to react strongly to this situation, with the UN and other bodies imposing tough punitive measures on Turkey just as they have done in some other cases, such as against South Africa over its apartheid policy.

Cyprus, and tens of thousands of Cypriots, are victims of Turkey's rights violations.

Most regrettably, they have been waiting for years for even the slightest punitive action against Turkey for its refusal not only to respect human rights, but even worse, its rejection of the judgements of the International Human Rights Court that found her guilty of “continuing grave violations” in connection with the rights of the ethnically cleansed Greek Cypriot population of the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus.

Some people complain we keep harping on this theme. We feel such criticism is unfounded and will continue doing so until the international community, and Turkey's bosom companions, do what they should have done many, many years ago - take punitive action against Turkey to force it to behave like a civilised, law abiding state.

As we said before, their failure to do so and toleration of Turkey's crimes makes them just as guilty.

[shahmaran]

Yeah everyone is guilty but the Cyrpriots, what a load of cack....

[utu]

Regardless, if Turkey does not take concrete steps to stop persecution of its minorities, the EU will never let them in.

[zan]

Regardless, if Turkey does not take concrete steps to stop persecution of its minorities, the EU will never let them in.

We have been persecuted by the "RoC" since 1963 and they got in.

[BC Numismatics]

Turkey has got a lot of things to do before it can ever think of ever becoming a candidate for E.U. membership.One of them is to repeal the clause in its criminal code that criminalises the criticism of 'Turkishness',which has been used to harrass journalists,& led to the murder of Hrant Dink.Another thing that Turkey needs to do is accept that what was committed against the Armenians was genocide.Of course,Turkey needs to pull its illegal occupation force out of northern Cyprus & recognise Cyprus as an independent country with its own native population.

Aidan.

[zan]

Turkey has got a lot of things to do before it can ever think of ever becoming a candidate for E.U. membership.One of them is to repeal the clause in its criminal code that criminalises the criticism of 'Turkishness',which has been used to harrass journalists,& led to the murder of Hrant Dink.Another thing that Turkey needs to do is accept that what was committed against the Armenians was genocide.Of course,Turkey needs to pull its illegal occupation force out of northern Cyprus & recognise Cyprus as an independent country with its own native population.

Aidan.

And you need to read a bit more about what happened in the years of the so called Genocide.......

[BC Numismatics]

Zan,here's an article; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Genocide .

To this day,Turkey also still refuses to recognise Armenia's existence.

Aidan.

[zan]

Zan,here's an article; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Genocide .

To this day,Turkey also still refuses to recognise Armenia's existence.

Aidan.

If you are getting all your information from Wiki then please I implore you to do more reading else where and add a little common sense into it. Try reading a book called "Birds without wings"...It is a fictional story based account and shows how things might have developed. There is no question about how many people were killed but the actual events are still to be discussed openly by the Armenians. I am no expert in this but this one issue makes no sense to me. Why not have an open discussion and open up records.

[BC Numismatics]

Zan,it goes to prove that ordinary Turks like yourself are extremely gullible.Successive Turkish governments have been telling lies about their human rights record,not only to the international community,but also to the people of Turkey themselves.

Aidan.

[zan]

Zan,it goes to prove that ordinary Turks like yourself are extremely gullible.Successive Turkish governments have been telling lies about their human rights record,not only to the international community,but also to the people of Turkey themselves.

Aidan.

If that is the way you approach this subject then it is no wonder how you think. The brain washing has come your way I am afraid. Turkey has its problems just like any other country and the human rights records of many countries before and after they got into the EU is testament to that. If you are going to concentrate all your venom on one country then you will always get a distorted figure....