NEWS CENTER – American linguist and one of the leading figures of the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Initiative, Noam Chomsky, speaking to the Yeni Ozgur Political newspaper, reacted to the Turkish state’s persecution of the Kurds.
Chomsky said, “Turkey has always been ruthless in its persecution of the Kurds. There have been a few moments when this situation seemed to change for a brief moment, as in the early years of this century. But they didn’t last long. And no opportunity is missed to oppress the Kurds,” he said.
Chomsky added: “Erdogan is trying to seize a big role for Turkey in the developing world order. In his eyes, possibly as a new Caliph. But if not this, it is at least a role of increasing spheres of influence of Turkey, which is not controlled by Russia or the West, but works in part with each of them, and also develops in Asia in cooperation with China. Thus, while Turkey remains a NATO member, Erdogan gladly accepts Putin’s offer to establish a new hub for the distribution of Russian gas to Europe, avoiding NATO controls and violating strong US demands. Kurdish freedom means almost nothing to both Russia and the United States. Just look back a few years. 1990s, when Turkey’s heaviest violent attacks against Kurds, It was one of the worst periods—and one that relied on US weapons supplied by Clinton in an ever-increasing stream as attacks and repression grew. And on this issue the USA was completely silent. And today, the role of the USA at that time is almost undisputed.”
Talking about the absolute isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Chomsky said, “Öcalan must be released from this captivity, which can only be described as inhumane. While his ideas inspire dramatic gains and developments in Rojava, they are also perceived as a threat to the illegitimate forces of all authoritarian regimes dominating the region,” he said.
