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Eleven doctors from the TTB Central Committee were sentenced to prison for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "provoking people into animosity and hatred" because of publishing a declaration on Turkey's 2018 "Operation Olive Branch" in Syria's Afrin.
The İstanbul Chamber of Physicians (İTO) held a press conference in support of the TTB doctors today (May 7).
Along with numerous civil society organizations, former İTO and TTB Chair Prof. Özdemir Aktan, İTO Chair Dr. Pınar Saip, TTB Vice Chair Dr. Ali Çerkezoğlu, former TTB chairs Prof. Raşit Tükel and Prof. Gençay Gürsoy attended the conference.
"No court verdict can change the facts"
İTO Chair Dr. Saip, reading the press statement, said that they were tried many times before but never given a sentence, even at the time of the military courts after the coup on September 12, 1980.
Asserting that the sentences given to the TTB members "show the point where the judiciary of Turkey came," Saip said, "No court verdict can change the fact that war causes deaths, injuries, diseases and impairment."
"No court verdict can change the fact that leads to epidemic diseases by causing difficulties reaching safe water and food and health services, along with death and heavy impairment.
"No court verdict can change the fact that war causes great destruction for human communities, especially for children and women.
"No court verdict can change the fact that war is a public health problem and no court verdict can change the fact that our friends' innocence, legitimacy and rightfulness.
"Defending peace is not a crime. All and every single one of our friends who were sentenced because of defending peace is our honor. This case does not end here."
Dr. Saip was applauded after reading the statement.
"War is a public health problem"
TTB Vice Chair Çerkezoğlu spoke after Dr. Saip, calling for solidarity.
"Every physician know that saying, 'War is a public health problem' is not a crime. Because war is a public health crime. A student who doesn't know this can't pass exams, can't be a doctor.
"If the one who listened to us was a judge, he would understand that a statement with this theme wouldn't be an offense. But we know that we are not being tried for words that were said. We call every individual to question the judicial system in Turkey.
"There is malice here. For this reason, we don't have an expectation. Our expectation is, with those who are striving for democracy, to make our voice heard by millions."
Prof. Gençay Gürsoy spoke after Çerkezoğlu. He said that he is being tried as the founder of the TTB: "We are being tried in a judicial mechanism that is this uninformed about Turkey.
What did the TTB doctors say?War is a public health problem! As doctors we warn: War is a human-made public health problem with effects of destroying nature and humankind, threat to social life. Each armed conflict, each war brings along human tragedy by causing irremediable problems in terms of physical, mental, social and environmental health. As members of a profession who have taken oath to save lives we constantly keep in mind our first and foremost duty to defend life and commit to maintain the environment of peace. The way to cope up with the problem of war is to have a just, democratic, equalitarian, free and peaceful life and maintain it. No to war; peace now and everywhere! |
(HA/VK)
