Felicity Party Leader Calls Israel “A Pirate-like State”

Prof. Dr. Numan Kurtulmus, the leader of Felicity Party in Turkey, stands up firmly against Israel after IHH’s West Bank Representative Izzet Sahin’s arrest. Kurtulmus said “What Israel has done is an act of piracy. Israel, unless they want to cause an international diplomatic crisis, must release Izzet Sahin immediately”.

Bulent Yildirim, President of IHH, said “Israel has arrested Izzet Sahin who is a student of Hebrew University. This could lead to the arrest of Israeli students in Turkey for security reasons. This is what the situation leads to.” Kadriye Sahin said that she together with their three children have been waiting in vain for her husband to be set free.

Kurtulmus also wished well for Kadriye Sahin, Izzet Sahin’s wife and to all his family and friends and offered his support to IHH in its cause.He went on to say “This is an attempt to arrest the efforts of delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine. Israel, has not informed the international public about its action of taking Izzet Sahin into custody. What we expect of the Israeli courts is that they will drag the procedure as much as they could and lead to an international diplomatic crisis. This is typical political maneuvering by Israel. They have the intention of stopping the flotilla which will embark on its journey in May to break the embargo on Palestinian people. A state should never exploit lives of innocent people to carry out political maneuvers. This is not just about a person being taken into custody. Israel wants to threaten all Turkish people and world public. Israel does not recognize any of the international laws while carrying out its actions. It is acting as a tyrannical and pirate-like state.”

Reminding of the recent diplomatic crisis between Israel and Turkey, the affair, in which Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon deliberately seated the Turkish envoy in a low chair and removed the Turkish flag from a table, Kurtulmus said “Israel has been carrying out actions against the guidelines of diplomatic courtesy lately. Turkey should respond to those actions in a clear and precise manner. The most appropriate way to go for Izzet Sahin’s release is an intervention by the Prime Minister Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul. Turkey should vote against Israel joining the OECD. All the official authorities should take a stand against Israel. Otherwise Israel will never step back.”

Resemblance to the latest impolite behavior of Israel

Kurtulmus, following his visit to the head office of IHH in Fatih, Istanbul, held a press conference together with Bulent Yildirim, President of IHH. Erol Erdogan, Head of Felicity Party’s Istanbul Office and Kadriye Sahin, Izzet’s wife have also participated the press conference. Prof.Dr. Numan Kurtulmus, the leader of Felicity Party paid a courtesy visit to IHH (The Foundation For Human Rights And Freedoms And Humanitarian Relief) after the arrest of the Foundation’s West Bank representative.