Turkey: ‘Terrorism has no religion or ethnicity’

In today’s world, it is hard to build peace but easy to create animosity, writes Baris Atayman from the Australian-Turkish Advocacy Alliance. We mustn’t let hostility divide us.

As the Australian-Turkish community, we condemn the existence of extremist groups and ideologies thriving on animosity and division among us.

They will miss no opportunity or platform to spread their ignorance, hatred and racism. They will not hesitate to push their political agendas despite the danger of putting lives at risk.

Even before the Christchurch victims had been buried, they took to the airwaves to further their ill-intended points following remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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While we were all mourning for the victims of the Christchurch attack and still in shock, the statements made by the President Erdogan targeting the terrorists and extremists had been misinterpreted and used by groups that feed ideologies akin to those of the Christchurch terrorists.

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In today’s world, it is hard to build peace but easy to create animosity.

Therefore, we commend governments and state bureaucrats for quickly de-escalating the situation through respectful dialogue.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comments made at a campaign rally were ‘taken out of context’ according to a spokesman. Picture: AFP Photo/Turkish Presidential Press Office

May we all remember, during this tragedy and the subsequent diplomatic crisis, the words of the founder of the modern Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives … You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace.

“There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side-by-side here in this country of ours …

“You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”

Ataturk has been hailed as the builder of peace in Anatolia, even by his adversaries.

The Greek leader, Eleftherios Venizelos who fought against Turkey in the Greco-Turkish War for independence, nominated him for the Nobel Peace Price in 1934.

From Churchill to Gandhi, and Bill Clinton to Fidel Castro, all prominent leaders of the world in the 21st century acknowledged Ataturk’s vision for and ability to building peace.

We, the Australian-Turkish community, continue to uphold his principles.

Turkish people in Ankara hold placards during a demonstration to condemn the mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. Picture: Adem Altan/AFP

This Anzac Day we will once again commemorate the fallen in Gallipoli side-by-side with our friends and family, here in Australia, in New Zealand and in Gallipoli.

The Australian-Turkish community hold Anzac Day and the Anzac spirit sacred for both Turks and Australians alike and respect the memory of those who gave their lives in war.

This strong bond of friendship, built over a tragic chapter of history between the old foes, has long been the envy of the world. Extremists with harmful intent have targeted this bond many times before.

Terrorism has no religion or ethnicity.

As the former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull once rightfully expressed, without defeating the extreme ideologies that breed terrorists, we cannot succeed in defeating terrorism.

We know so well the loss and pain caused by senseless and barbaric acts of those deranged people motivated by extreme ideologies and political agendas.

Turkish people in Australia were murdered by terrorists before — in 1980, terror group Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide were responsible for the assassination of Turkish consul-general Sarik Ariyak and his bodyguard in Sydney.

We will continue our fight against ideologies that fuel such acts, within our community and in Australia.

We, the Australian-Turkish community, continue to teach our kids and their friends the true leadership and peacemaking ability of Ataturk’s words, which are enshrined across parks and memorials here in Australia and New Zealand,

It is our duty to create a better future for all of us, first in Australia and then around the world.

We pray for the victims and give our heartfelt condolences to everyone touched by the tragedy in Christchurch. It is still and should be our main story, not a political spat.

We will do our best to help our New Zealander brothers and sisters, with whom we commemorate the fallen at the Gallipoli together, heal from this tragedy.

We call upon politicians, community leaders and members of the media to reflect on their own views concerning such issues, both contemporary, such as migration and Islamophobia, and historic, and talk about them with sensitivity.

The tragic events in Christchurch are a timely reminder to us as Australians, that regardless of our ethnic backgrounds, we need to stand strong together in the face of all forms of violence, hate and extremism.

The Australian-Turkish community will continue to work closely with the authorities, leaders and communities to eradicate these toxic ideologies from these lands to create a better world for all.

Baris Atayman is the Australian-Turkish Advocacy Alliance executive secretary.