ISTANBUL (DIHA) – Black Sea intellectuals gathered today to condemn treating the Kurdish people as the enemy. Previously, certain nationalists in the Black Sea region had attempted to place an embargo on Kurdish workers to prevent them from working.

However, intellectuals raised concerns about the growing practice of angry mobs attempting to lynch Kurds: “Kurdish workers are welcomed to our region to work as they come from thousands of kilometers away to make a decent living. Our hearts are open to them as well as our hazelnut garden.”

The meeting was supported by workers’ confederations, vocational chambers, actors, actresses, writers, producers, singers and various NGOs.

Movie director Ozcan Alper stated: “I was told that the embargo has been placed following a summit organized by the Chief of Police in Giresun. It means that the Kurdish people are being criminalized. This is an inhumane act against Kurds or anyone who is branded like this.

We are not accepting this decision. Our hearts and hazelnut gardens are wide open for our Kurdish brothers and sisters. You are very welcome to our homeland. We are a part of a mosaic containing Laz, Cherkes, Greek, Kurdish, Armenian etc. and we consider this mosaic to be a treasure.”

(gü/bk)