USA Kurds launch ‘No Drones to Turkey’ campaign

Kurdish-American communities and friends urge Congress to oppose the sale of armed aerial drones to Turkey 

American and Kurdish-American organizations and individuals in the United States have started a campaign to encourage Congressional opposition to the sale of armed aerial drones to the Turkish military.

Each campaign supporter has started by mailing a letter to the congresswomen/congressmen in their districts. They also will be visiting the congresswomen/congressmen at their offices to urge them to oppose the sale of armed aerial drones to the Turkish military on the grounds that the proposed deal could put civilians in Turkey at great risk and generate new security problems in the region.

After Turkish military’s operation using U.S.-supplied F-16 jets that resulted in the killing of 34 civilian Kurdish boys and young men in December 2011, now Turkey is insisting on purchasing armed aerial drones.

During the NATO meeting in May, Abdullah Gul, the Turkish President, announced his proposal to Obama for the sale of armed aerial drones.  In addition, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted and underlined his demand for the purchase these drones during the G20 Summit in Mexico. Obama explained that the proposed sale of arms has to pass as a bill and he also said that he would try to convince the Congress to pass this bill.

Kurdish organizations have established a new campaign website: http://www.nodronestoturkey.com/