COLM O'BRIEN,
Madam, - It is hard to believe that this Government will support Turkey in its attempt to join the EU (November 22nd). At present, democratically elected people are in jail in Turkey for the crime of sedition, in the case of Leyla Zana MP, for the last eight years. Her crime: speaking her native Kurdish language and promoting cultural rights for Kurds. .
We should not forget that Turkey continues to oppress the Kurdish people. Its human rights abuses in the region are well-documented (see Amnesty reports).
Has the Irish Government received assurances that Leyla Zana will be released or that human right abuses carried out by the Turkish State will stop?
Who know what kind of "deal" our Government got for its support. Another market for our beef maybe? Well, hasn't Fianna Fáil come a long way from its republican roots all the same! - Yours, etc.,
COLM O'BRIEN,
Avonbeg Park,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24.