European Luminaries Pen Letter to Merkel on Afrin Operation

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Artists, actors, directors and academics from Germany and other European countries have penned an open letter calling for opposition against Turkey’s Afrin offensive.

One of the signatories, Prof. Peter Ott from the University of Applied Art, Design and Media in Stuttgart, stated they were criticizing “the passivity of Germany’s politics against Turkey’s attack on Afrin,” reported Deutsche Welle Turkish.

“Make an effort for human rights”

The letter called for Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel to “defend European values in a convincing manner and make a concrete effort for democracy, international law, and human rights.” It was also stated that the European Union and Germany need to “use all available means for Turkey’s government to cease its attack on Syria immediately”.

The letter additionally specified the ongoing effort to “found a democratic society” in Afrin, located in northern Syria, asserting the need to support this effort. It was expressed that Gemany should not remain silent or turn a blind eye to “attempts by local regimes, especially by NATO ally and arms recipient Turkey, to thwart this promising development”.

“Fulfill your foreign policy responsibilities”

Photo caption: Among the signatories is "In Darkness" actress Maria Schrader.

The letter urged Chancellor Merkel and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel to use their influence and adopt an approach befitting their responsibilities in foreign politics.

Actor Peter Lohmeyer, director Ayşe Polat, actress Maria Schrader, artist Daniel Richter, and director Yüksel Yavuz are among the signatories of the letter. (PT/PU)