Erdogan braved protests in Semdinli
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan braved protests and took a walk through the streets of Semdinli on Monday surrounded by bodyguards in a plea for calm following the bombing of a bookstore in the town, which many believe was connected to Turkish security forces. The visit highlights the PM's concern over the mainly Kurdish and poor region. It is unusual for a Turkish leader to walk through such streets.
As human rights groups have been pressurizing the Turkish government to take a more active role in democratic development, the Turkish government has relaxed laws on Kurdish language and culture. Seeking to join the European Union, Ankara is easing this issue, although more remains to be done, say human rights groups.
Appealing for national unity Erdogan said while addressing a crowd in Semdinli: "While the legal process is continuing we will monitor it and do whatever is necessary on the administrative front,"addind that, "whatever ethnic, religious or regional group we are part of we must live together hand-in-hand and shoulder-to-shoulder."
The PM walked through the streets with police officers and local government officials. Critics of Ankara believe that the bookstore bombing was engineered to help bring about an atmosphere in which the government can clamp down of Kurdish groups.