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Community Information Service
March 23, 2016 / No:925

ATAA Condemns Terrorist Attacks in Brussels

Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) strongly condemns yesterday's terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium that killed at least 30 people and wounded 230 others.

Terrorists have spread their horrific attacks from Ankara, to Paris, to Istanbul and now to Brussels killing so many innocent people let alone their terrible butchery  that have been going on in the Middle East for so long. Despite of all, there is no unified front against terror in the world.  In fact, some of the terror organizations have been receiving support from the countries which are also complaining about terror.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which is declared by NATO, EU, US and Turkey among others as a terrorist organization, has cost close to 45,000 lives in Turkey since early 1980s.  They are responsible for recent bombings in Ankara. On the other hand, the Belgian government allows PKK to open an "information booth" in Brussels. With this,  PKK is  protected in its very "booth" or tent disseminating terrorist information on the very soil that yesterday's carnage took place.   There are reports that Belgian police ordered the tent to be removed. This is a step in the right direction.

The United States National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC) website stated that PKK terrorist organization's affiliate in Syria is the Democratic Union Party (PYD). The PYD's militant wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), cooperates with the PKK in carrying out terror attacks against the people of Turkey. The recent deadly Ankara car bombing that left 28 people dead and more than 61 injured has been carried out by PYD.  In contradiction with NCTC's report, State Department Assistant Spokesperson Mark Toner has denied that YPG has any connection to the PKK.  

We have learned that ISIS has claimed responsibility for this dastardly act in Brussels.  There is a call from various quarters that the world must join together irrespective of nationality, religion or race to wipe this evil off the face of the earth.  A sentiment that should hold towards every kind of terrorism.  Those that do not subscribe to the same should also be condemned.
 
As the preeminent representative of the Turkish American community, ATAA, mourns the loss of innocent lives and extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and to the Belgian nation while wishing a speedy recovery of the injured.


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ATAA, representing over 60 local chapters and 500,000 Turkish Americans throughout the United States, serves locally and in Washington DC to empower the Turkish American community through civic engagement, and to support strong US-Turkish relations through education and advocacy.  Established in 1979, ATAA is the largest, democratically elected Turkish American membership organization in the United States.  As a non-faith based organization, ATAA is open to people of diverse backgrounds.  The ATAA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed under the laws of the District of Columbia. To learn more about ATAA, please visit www.ataa.org. 
© Entire contents copyright 2016 by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations. All rights reserved. 
 
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