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THE TERRORISM THAT ISRAEL, IRAN, AND TURKEY HAVE IN COMMON
by Esra'a (Bahrain)
MidEast Youth
http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/06/06/the-terrorism-that-israel-iran-and-turkey-have-in-common/
June 6 2010
I will first start by revealing that I completely sympathize with the
Palestinian struggle for justice and freedom from Israeli oppression.
It's vital for everyone to join forces in exposing Israel's crimes and
systematic abuse. But I refuse to stand by other murderous governments
just because they suddenly share this sympathy. Iran and Turkey are
everywhere in the Arab media, praised as heroes, with Turkish and
Iranian flags held high in almost every flotilla protest. This is
disturbing for me, and I'm sure it's even more disturbing for the
millions of individuals who have suffered and continue to suffer
under these regimes.
Let us not forget the number of people within Iran and Turkey who
are also struggling for justice and human rights, namely ethnic and
religious minorities who have been killed, kidnapped, tortured, and
oppressed for decades, by the very people who are now being idolized
as "peace activists." Who is the Turkish government referring to when
Erdogan says "human rights for all" and "thou shalt not kill?" Who?
The gnomes in his garden? Or real people suffering in his name?
The Palestinian crisis is a serious one. It has to be taken in
absolute seriousness. This is a real human rights violation,
committed by a government (Israel) that has proven itself to have
no limitations when it comes to violence, while maintaining their
total disrespect and disregard for the international community at
large. It is therefore upsetting to see the governments of Iran and
Turkey abuse this situation for its own self-serving and political
gains. Clearly if either countries had an iota of respect for human
rights, if either countries were sincerely run by "peace activists,"
things would be different. The world would have sufficient reasons to
take Iran and Turkey seriously, and then be able to see Israel for
what it really is: a country run by criminal behavior. Until then:
two wrongs doesn't make a right. Just because Iran and Turkey are
expressing solidarity with Palestine makes neither of them innocent.
Neither of them are championing the Palestinian cause if they are
committing similar crimes at home. There are different motives for
their "support." And there is something very cunning about their
words, almost each of which echoes decades of their violence towards
innocent minorities.
I stand in these protests and I see the Turkish and Iranian flags
being waved in my face, and it conjures up images of dead Kurds
and dead Armenians and dead Christians and dead Baha'is and dead
political dissidents and dead sincere human rights defenders. These
aren't my heroes! Those they killed were. These abusive governments
are using Palestine in an effort for us to dismiss their own human
rights violations.
Palestine will live, and it will be fought for. But in what world do
we live in if we are forced to support a criminal's fight against
another criminal? They are the same murderers exchanging guns and
daggers. They do not have my support. Do they have yours?
Note: Opinions expressed here are my own and they do not represent
Mideast Youth as an organization.
From: A. Papazian
by Esra'a (Bahrain)
MidEast Youth
http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/06/06/the-terrorism-that-israel-iran-and-turkey-have-in-common/
June 6 2010
I will first start by revealing that I completely sympathize with the
Palestinian struggle for justice and freedom from Israeli oppression.
It's vital for everyone to join forces in exposing Israel's crimes and
systematic abuse. But I refuse to stand by other murderous governments
just because they suddenly share this sympathy. Iran and Turkey are
everywhere in the Arab media, praised as heroes, with Turkish and
Iranian flags held high in almost every flotilla protest. This is
disturbing for me, and I'm sure it's even more disturbing for the
millions of individuals who have suffered and continue to suffer
under these regimes.
Let us not forget the number of people within Iran and Turkey who
are also struggling for justice and human rights, namely ethnic and
religious minorities who have been killed, kidnapped, tortured, and
oppressed for decades, by the very people who are now being idolized
as "peace activists." Who is the Turkish government referring to when
Erdogan says "human rights for all" and "thou shalt not kill?" Who?
The gnomes in his garden? Or real people suffering in his name?
The Palestinian crisis is a serious one. It has to be taken in
absolute seriousness. This is a real human rights violation,
committed by a government (Israel) that has proven itself to have
no limitations when it comes to violence, while maintaining their
total disrespect and disregard for the international community at
large. It is therefore upsetting to see the governments of Iran and
Turkey abuse this situation for its own self-serving and political
gains. Clearly if either countries had an iota of respect for human
rights, if either countries were sincerely run by "peace activists,"
things would be different. The world would have sufficient reasons to
take Iran and Turkey seriously, and then be able to see Israel for
what it really is: a country run by criminal behavior. Until then:
two wrongs doesn't make a right. Just because Iran and Turkey are
expressing solidarity with Palestine makes neither of them innocent.
Neither of them are championing the Palestinian cause if they are
committing similar crimes at home. There are different motives for
their "support." And there is something very cunning about their
words, almost each of which echoes decades of their violence towards
innocent minorities.
I stand in these protests and I see the Turkish and Iranian flags
being waved in my face, and it conjures up images of dead Kurds
and dead Armenians and dead Christians and dead Baha'is and dead
political dissidents and dead sincere human rights defenders. These
aren't my heroes! Those they killed were. These abusive governments
are using Palestine in an effort for us to dismiss their own human
rights violations.
Palestine will live, and it will be fought for. But in what world do
we live in if we are forced to support a criminal's fight against
another criminal? They are the same murderers exchanging guns and
daggers. They do not have my support. Do they have yours?
Note: Opinions expressed here are my own and they do not represent
Mideast Youth as an organization.
From: A. Papazian