10 February 2023
The attempted attack on the Turkish Embassy in Bern by supporters of the PKK-YPG terrorist organisation, and the offensive incident involving the Turkish flag, were protested. Civil society organisations in Switzerland issued a press statement to condemn this offensive incident.
Making the press statement on behalf of the organisations, the President of Beyazay Switzerland, Suat Şahin, said:
Although the purpose of the Peace Spring operation launched by the Turkish Armed Forces on 9 October is known, a perception is being created in European public opinion as though it were directed against our Kurdish brothers and sisters. The purpose of the operation is:
To break up the terror corridor being created along Türkiye's southern borders
To prevent attacks on Türkiye from the southern borders
To eliminate the PKK-YPG and DAESH terrorist organisations
To create a safe zone that will allow our Syrian brothers and sisters who were forced to leave their homeland to return. Although this is known, describing it in other ways is a lapse of reason. Our Kurdish brothers and sisters and Turks have lived together in peace for centuries.
The President of Beyazay Switzerland and representatives of other civil society organisations paid a visit of solidarity to Türkiye's Ambassador in Bern, Mr İlhan Saygılı.