Statement by World Medical Association for Turkish Medical Association
Click to read the article in Turkish
World Medical Association (WMA) has condemned the operation launched against Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Central Council members.
Detention warrants were issued for 11 TTB Central Council members due to their statement entitled “War is a Matter of Public Health”. Police searched the council building and homes and clinics of the doctors.
“We support our colleagues’ statement”
The WMA’s statement is as follows:
“The WMA fully supports our Turkish colleagues in their public statements that war is a public health problem. The WMA has clear policy that physicians and national medical associations should alert governments to the human consequence of warfare and armed conflicts.
“The Turkish Medical Association has a duty to support human rights and peace and we are alarmed about the latest arrests and the criminal complaint. We strongly denounce these attacks on freedom of expression, which is enshrined in article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that Turkey ratified in 2003.
“We call on the Turkish authorities to immediately release the physician leaders and to end the campaign of intimidation. We urge national medical associations around the world to advocate for the full respect of Turkey's humanitarian and human rights obligations, including the right to health, freedom of association and expression.
What happened?
On January 26, 2018, President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called TTB “terrorist lovers” at the Extended Provincial Chairs Meeting at the AKP Headquarters. The title of the declaration which Erdoğan denounced was “terrorist lovers”.
Erdoğan targeted the TTB in Çorum and Amasya as well yesterday (January 28). On his return from his inspection at the Repatriation Center in Antep, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu told journalists that he would file a criminal complaint against the TTB.
Prof. Erez had spoken to bianet
Speaking to bianet, Chair of İstanbul Chamber of Medicine Prof. Dr. Selçuk Erez had said:
“We the doctors always prefer peace over war.
““Our sensitivity naturally increases when it comes to a war that will end the life our soldiers, in other words our children. However, our sensitivity applies to our neighbours as well. This cannot be interpreted as terrorist loving”.
Investigation was launched
On January 28, the Ministry of Interior declared that it will file a criminal complaint to Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against the TTB Central Council members.
An investigations was launched upon the criminal complaint yesterday (January 29).
Declaration of the TTB
"We the doctors warn:
"War is a human-made matter of public health causing harm in nature and human and threatening public life.
"Every conflict, every war brings a huge humanitarian tragedy with it by causing irreparable physical, psychological, social and environmental damages.
"As member of a profession that vows to make people live, we keep in mind that advocating life and looking out for the peace climate is our primary duty.
"The only way to deal with war is to perpetuate a fair, democratic, equalitarian, independent and peaceful life.
"No to war, peace right now!"
(AS/TK)