Remzi Kartal on Paris attack: 'This is an organized attack, the Kurdish woman is targeted'

Click to read the article in Turkish

Kongra Gel Co-Chairperson Remzi Kartal talked to bianet about the attack on Ahmet Kaya Culture Center in Paris, the capital of France on Friday (December 23) where three people were killed.

Kartal told bianet that the Kurdish institutions in Paris did not know the aggressor and did not have any contact with him before. He said, "this attack is not a simple racist attack but it is an organized one."

Kartal noted that the aggressor got out of prison only 11 days before and that it is not possible that he should be able to plan such an attack as soon as he gets out of prison."

"Aggressor has similar characteristics with Ömer Güney"

Kartal recalled the attack in 2013 by Ömer Güney killing Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan, and Leyla Şaylemez. He said, "the aggressors had similar characteristics."

"He gets out of prison 11 days before, it will not be realistic at all to say that he planned this attack in such a short time, in 10 days only. It is clear that this attack has been planned while he is in prison and it seems that there is a center behind this attack.

"The profile of the aggressor is similar to the gunman used killing three Kurdish women 10 years ago. Ömer Güney was also selected as a sick, problematic profile. Here again, a person with similar characteristics is selected."

"There is a center making this selection, planning this. The Kurdish woman is being targeted, as was the case 10 years ago. There were only several days left to the 10th year of this earlier massacre and preparations were underway for commemoration ceremonies. Our friend Evin was busy with these preparations. This is absolutely a planned attack and an organized one. We also have some different information and we will be announcing them in the following days."

"Paris became a dark center of attacks"

Kartal said that Paris had become a center of attacks toward the Kurds.

He added, "The Turkish state was behind these attacks toward the Kurdish institutions, a state that prefers lack of solution in the Kurdish problem. A racist state turning a blind eye to the presence of the Kurdish people, trying to solve each of its demands with security-based policies. And a state that gets support for its policies from the European Union and from NATO.

"There is a certain address, it is meaningless to write different scenarios. Today the actor is the AKP-MHP government. This government is facing many crises in Türkiye and abroad at the moment. It is easy to understand that they are trying to set new agendas. However, the real responsibility lies with the government of France in these attacks.

"Never an attack directly on Kurdish institutions"

Kartal recalled, speaking to bianet about the murder of three women in Paris. He said, "This is the second time. Paris has become a dark center, and such attacks are regarded as ordinary. Therefore it is the task of the French judiciary to investigate what is behind this darkness.

"There is a serious reaction among the Kurdish people; they are very angry. The French government should seriously try to solve these events. Again there have been racist, fascist attacks on the Kurds but there has never been an open attack toward the Kurdish institutions like this one. We are aware that there are circles that try to show this as an ordinary racist attack.

"We have to see the event realistically. There are centers behind the events using gunmen with similar characteristics. There is information that these centers have relations with and are controlled by the Turkish state."

"Güney's links with MİT were revealed"

Kartal also told bianet, "These were revealed about Ömer Güney. That his telephone was linked to MİT [Turkish Intelligence Institution], the addresses of the institutions, the meeting, these were all revealed. However, the French government said, "no information is given to us, no answers are given to us, there is nothing we can do," and did not try to solve the issue. The Turkish side may not have responded but the French government could have disclosed the information in their hands, and at least ease the conscience of the public.

"We do not want to see a similar process as in the Ömer Güney case repeat. This time we want that the attack is really investigated and its background to be clarified. The aggressor comes there with a car. There are others in the car. It is possible to find out who those people are, and who is behind the attack and this is what we want.

"It can be seen that there is security gap in France"

"If there is another attack at the same place with the same target after 10 years, this will put that country in a difficult situation. It is a clear sign that you have a security gap. France is responsible for the security of everyone living in the country including the Kurds.

"If the Kurds are becoming a target there, this is a very important weakness for the justice and security system in France. If the attacks are not brought to light and if they are repeated then this is intentional. Therefore there is great anger among the Kurds at the moment. They want the attack to be brought to light as soon as possible." (RT/PE)