Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a heartfelt call to the parents of a 17-year-old student of Turkish origin who was attacked by pro-Kurdish demonstrators in Ghent. The president expressed his concern for the teenager’s condition and wished him a quick recovery. The incident occurred during a school outing in Brussels, where the two students, observing Ramadan and not eating during the day, were approached by demonstrators who asked if they were Turkish.
Upon confirming their Turkish identity, they were punched and injured. President Erdogan strongly condemned the attackers as “immoral and despicable villains” and assured that authorities and the Turkish Embassy are following the situation closely. The teenager’s father reported that his son is still in shock and has suffered injuries to his eyes and ears. He expressed gratitude for the president’s call and hopes for his son’s quick recovery.
The attack comes amidst heightened tensions between the Turkish and Kurdish communities in Belgium, with recent clashes and riots between supporters of the PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by the EU, and individuals of Turkish origin. The incident in Brussels followed clashes in Heusden-Zolder and highlighted the need for maintaining peace and dialogue between different communities. Erdogan’s call to the victim shows his commitment to addressing such incidents and promoting harmony among diverse groups in the country.
In addition to reaching out to the victim directly, Erdogan also issued a statement condemning any form of violence against individuals based on their ethnic or religious backgrounds. He urged all members of society to stand together against such acts of hatred and intolerance.
The incident has sparked outrage from human rights organizations around the world who are calling for greater efforts to combat hate crimes against minority groups in Europe. They have also called on governments to take action against those responsible for perpetrating such acts of violence.
Despite these challenges, it is important to remember that there are many people working tirelessly towards creating a more inclusive society where everyone can live peacefully without fear of persecution or discrimination based on their ethnicity or religion.
