The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has issued a stern
warning to Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asking him to stop
prosecuting opposition leader back home in Turkey.
MURIC berated the president ahead of his arrival in Nigeria
today, Monday, on a state visit.
The Muslim rights group, in a statement signed by its
director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, accused Erdogan of arbitrary arrest, torture,
political killings, long imprisonment of opposition figures and critics,
particularly members of the Hizmet Movement.
The President is expected to sign some business deals with
the Nigerian government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
And MURIC claimed that Erdogan’s visit leaves a sour taste
in the mouth because of his alleged undemocratic and tyrannical practices back
home in Turkey.
“He cooked up a phantom coup on 15th July, 2016 to justify
sweeping changes to the constitution and he arrogated extensive powers to
himself as president,” MURIC said.
“What followed was arbitrary arrest, torture, political
killings, long imprisonment of opposition figures and critics, particularly
members of the Hizmet Movement.
“Travelling documents of key members of Hizmet were seized,
and their properties were confiscated. They were thrown in jail in their
thousands without fair trial. Members of the group who were outside Turkey were
disallowed from returning.
“Though Hizmet is not a political movement that could
threaten his position, yet like all dictators and tyrants, Erdogan was envious
of the group because the latter had become extremely popular.
“Erdogan uses its diplomats in Nigeria to haunt Turkish
citizens and members of the Hizmet Movement who are rendering humanitarian
services in the country. They were declared persona non grata in Turkey and
disallowed to enter their country of origin. Their travelling documents were
seized, thereby denying them right of return.
“Erdogan also uses his diplomats in Nigeria to label members
of the Hizmet as terrorists. This is a very wicked attempt to push Nigerian
security agencies to arrest, intimidate and unduely punish innocent refugees
and asylum seekers.
“Members of their families whom they left behind in Turkey
are also not allowed to travel out to unite with their loved ones in Nigeria.
Thus we find Recep the tyrant masquerading as a liberal, Tayyip the dictator
disguising as a democrat and Erdogan the bully pretending to be a hero. Afraid
of his own shadow, Erdogan has forcefully separated husbands from their wives
and children from their parents.
“MURIC affirms clearly, unequivocally and categorically that
members of Hizmet are peace-loving people who are committed to the service of
Nigerians and other people of the world. This they do by establishing primary
and secondary schools of international standard as well as universities and
hospitals. They also assist in building boreholes in Nigeria’s public schools
and villages.
“Hizmet is, therefore, a mere network of humanitarian
workers committed to the upliftment of mankind from ignorance to knowledge and
from the abyss of poverty to the pinnacle of economic emancipation. This is
service to humanity per excellence. How can anyone in his right senses accuse
such a movement of being a terrorist group?
“MURIC rejects the double standard and hypocritical pretence
of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. We charge him to leave members of Hizmet who
are resident in Nigeria alone. We call on Erdogan to fling open the doors of
Turkish prisons and torture chambers if he wants to be embraced by the
international community.
“The whole world is now fully aware that Erdogan is an enemy
of democracy. Allah-given fundamental human rights, including freedom of
speech, freedom of movement, freedom of association and the rule of law are
alien to Erdogan’s political philosophy. The whole of Turkey has become a huge
prison camp in the grips of a vicious ruler.
“We appeal to the world community to intervene in the case
of prisoners of conscience in Turkey. Thousands are languishing in jail without
trial. Too many people are being tortured by Erdogan’s agents. Hundreds of Turkey
citizens who have loved ones outside the country should be allowed to travel
out. We call on Amnesty International and all other civil society groups around
the world to speak out against Erdogan’s inhumanity to his perceived enemies.
“We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of the antics
of the Turkish president as they both engage in business deals for their two
countries. Erdogan is the modern fox of the Balkans, the Otto Von Bismarck of
the Mediterranean and the Jekyll and Hyde of the Black Sea. Erdogan is not to
be trusted. There is no scintilla of humanity in him.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com