Pylany Qualifies Turkish Military Operation as Attempted Genocide

Karo Pylany, an Armenian MP elected from Diyarbakır by Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), addressed the parliamentary plenary session concerning Turkey's military operation "Operation Peace Spring" in northeastern Syria. Pylany stated that what Turkey is doing in Syria constitutes displacement and an attempted genocide according to UN definitions.

"Manipulating demographics is a crime. Israel also occupies Palestinian territories under similar arguments," Pylany remarked.

This speech sparked intense discussions among members of the ruling party and its coalition partner, the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), as well as among the opposition nationalist Good Party (İyi), according to Ermenihaber.

Özlem Zengin, the leader of the parliamentary group of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), strongly condemned Pylany's remarks for comparing Turkey's military operation with Israel's occupation of Palestine. She stated that the "Kurdistan Workers' Party" is responsible for the region's current state.

Regarding Pylany referring to Turkey's military operation as an attempted genocide, Zengin said, "Genocide is the heaviest word that can be used against this country's population. It is called division. Do not commit injustice against this nation."

The most severe criticism of Pylany's statements came from Erkan Akçay, the leader of the MHP parliamentary group: "Curse those words. Turkey is fighting for peace in the region and the well-being and security of the people living in northern Syria," Akçay said.

The leader of the nationalist Good Party group criticized Pylany’s use of such expressions from the parliamentary podium. In response to the criticisms of his speech, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Engin Altay, reacted: "I do not accept some of Pylany's words, but there are truths in what he said. However, if this is a parliament and a place for expression, then everyone must freely express their thoughts."