‘Silence’ over PKK attacks shows Western hypocrisy: Turkey’s presidential spokesperson

ISTANBUL

Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın has criticized the West for “staying silent” in the face of attacks by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), especially the recent assassinations of two local officials from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

Kalın’s comments on July 3 came after Aydın Ahi, the AKP’s deputy chairman in the Özalp district of Van, and Orhan Merccan, the party’s deputy chairman in the Lice district of Diyarbakır, were shot dead in two separate armed assaults on July 1 by the PKK.  

“We have to make a note of the fact that those in Europe, the U.S. or other places who voice criticism against Turkey in its fight against PKK terror organization, stay silent in the face of these massacres, attacks, and assassinations,” Kalın said. 

“This is a grim situation showing the double-standards they display regarding the fight against terrorism,” he added, vowing that Turkey will continue its fight against terrorism “regardless of what other countries say.”

“It is out of the question for us to take a step back on this path for the unity and solidarity of the country,” Kalın said.