David Phillips: Erdogan supports terrorist groups, violates human rights, must stop attacking Kurds

In an article in Al-Arab newspaper, Dr. David Phillips, Director of the Human Rights Institute at Columbia University said about the upcoming meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Turkish counterpart Recep Erdogan at the NATO summit scheduled to be held on June 14^th, "A senior adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to behead Turkey's rivals, and warned Biden that NATO summit meeting in June is the last chance for our dear ally, America."

It is certain that Biden and Erdogan will have a contentious conversation. Alongside US concerns about Turkey's aggressive behavior in the region, Biden should highlight Erdogan's poor human rights record at home.

Kurds treatment is considered a major concern. Since 1980, Turkey has banned five major Kurdish political parties and is now trying to dissolve HDP. Turkey must release HDP leaders, including Former Co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Vigan Yuksekdag, in addition to reinstating more than 150 elected officials of HDP, who were excluded from the local government to be replaced by the guardians loyal to the regime.

More than 40,000 people were killed during the conflict between the state and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which aspires to gain more political and cultural rights for Kurds inside Turkey, and there is no military solution to the Kurdish question. Instead, Erdogan should renew the internationally mediated peace process.

Biden should urge Turkey to avoid confrontation, respect the territorial integrity of neighboring countries, and stop destabilizing cross-border military operations, as in Syria, Turkey has imposed a “security barrier,” as its jihadist mercenaries continue to attack the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that help the United States on the ground.

There is an urgent need for an accountability mechanism for the jihadist mercenaries who loot, extort, rape and commit murder.

Furthermore, Turkey is preventing humanitarian aid from reaching northern Syria and disrupting water and electricity supplies to the local population. It is also pushing for the exclusion of the Syrian Democratic Forces from international peace negotiations.

In Iraq, 41 Turkish military bases were established and 50 local villages were destroyed under the pretext of combating PKK. Turkish warplanes targeted UN-related Mexmûr Refugee Camp. F-16 warplanes and Turkish drones attacked Sinjar (Şengal) region, which is the historical home for Yazidis.

Biden should warn Erdogan against supporting proxies such as the Sunni Turkmen militias in Kirkuk Governorate and the Sunni Arab militia forces in Nineveh.

Turkey uses NATO membership to justify its hostile behavior.

NATO is more than just a security alliance. It is an alliance of countries with shared values, and Biden should make this clear when he meets Erdogan, who heads an Islamist government, supports terrorist groups, violates human rights and shows contempt for the West.

If Turkey had applied for NATO membership today, its application would not have been considered.

D.H