Turkey Must Focus on Stopping ISIL Threat And Promote Regional Stability To Combat Terrorism, Says Ros-Lehtinen

Statement

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement regarding reports that over 20 people have been killed in clashes between Turkish police and Turkey's Kurdish population. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

"The response by the Turkish government against its own citizens has been more forceful than its response against the real threat to the region, ISIL. This violent crackdown by Turkish authorities against the Kurdish community is reminiscent to the extreme and excessive use of force used last year in the Taksim Gezi Park protests which left at least 10 dead and thousands injured. Such violent repression and disregard for human rights are no way for any government to act against its own citizens, let alone a supposed U.S. ally and NATO member.

"Instead of turning against its own citizens, Turkey should address the ISIL threat directly on its borders -- a threat that was not mitigated due to the fact that ISIL reinforcements come through the Turkish border unabated. Turkey needs to get more engaged and work with the coalition against ISIL to destroy the terrorist threat; it cannot continue to take a passive role. ISIL's advance on Kobane further demonstrates ISIL's murderous capabilities, the magnitude of this threat and the need to supplement U.S. and coalition airstrikes with regional forces on the ground that can wipe out ISIL."

Source