Gabi Zimmer, chair of the GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament, comments on the military offensive against the Kurdish people in southeast Turkey:

"In the wake of the dirty deals agreed with the Turkish government on refugee policy, the European Union (EU) and its member states have passively accepted Erdoğan's war against the Kurdish people. They have deliberately turned a blind eye to the ruthless violations of basic human rights. Kurdish men, women and children are paying for Erdoğan's tyrannical self-interest with their lives on a daily basis."

"Since the election victory of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Erdoğan has been trying by all possible means to delegitimise policies in favour of the rights of the Kurds. The allegation that the demand by the Kurds for self-determination is a betrayal is absurd and the investigation into the co-chairmen of the HDP Demirtaş and his colleagues must be stopped immediately. Their rights as elected representatives must be respected."

"I urge the EU and member states to no longer turn a blind eye and to recognise and to condemn Erdoğan's brutal assault against the Kurdish population. His abuse of power and the impending massacre in Kurdish cities must be stopped; political talks with the HDP must be initiated without any further delay."

GUE/NGL Press Contact:

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

www.guengl.eu