Turkish community leader in Hampshire condemns Russian ambassador’s assassination


Date posted: December 20, 2016

PAUL FEELY

MANCHESTER — An official with the Turkish Cultural Center New Hampshire is condemning the shooting death of the Russian ambassador to Turkey, who was shot in the back and killed as he gave a speech at an Ankara art gallery on Monday by an off-duty police officer.

Reuters reported Monday that the Russian Foreign Ministry had confirmed the death of envoy Andrei Karlov, calling it a “terrorist act”. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have been strained, with both supporting opposing sides in the war in Syria.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the tragic assassination of Russia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, who was speaking at an art gallery in Ankara,” said Eyup Sener, chairman of the Turkish Cultural Center New Hampshire (TCCNH). “We condemn in the strongest terms this heinous act of terror. No terrorist act can be justified, regardless of its perpetrators and their stated purposes. We send our deepest condolences to Ambassador Karlov’s family and to the Russian people for this tragic loss.”

The U.S. State Department, involved recently in diplomatic efforts with Russia in an attempt to resolve the refugee crisis around the Syrian city of Aleppo, condemned the attack.

Tensions have risen recently, as Russian-backed Syrian forces battled for control of the eastern part of Aleppo, sparking a flow of refugees from the city.

A video showed the attacker shouting, “Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria!” and “Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest)” as screams can be heard around him.

“We regard this as a terrorist act,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova in a statement to Reuters. “Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively.”

Sener said he and others at the Center were “shocked” when they learned of the shooting.

“Especially after watching the moment Ambassador Karlov was shot, I can not describe our feelings,” said Sener. “We are fed up with having these kind of acts in our country. Unfortunately, Turkey is getting worse in terms of basic human rights, freedoms. The country (is) polarized and people can’t tolerate each other while the hatred all spread(s) from officials’ mouth.”

Sener said this is only the most recent in a series of terrorist acts.

“Just these past weeks there had been two bombings,” said Sener. “While the government can’t protect her citizens against terrorism, today we also witnessed another tragedy under Turkish government’s responsibility. It is the expectation of the Turkish people and the world that the government investigate the circumstances of this incident, identify those who aided the perpetrator and take the necessary precautions so that such an attack cannot be staged in the future.”

Sener said members of the Turkish community in New Hampshire are not worried about potential acts of retaliation following the ambassador’s shooting death.

“We don’t have that fear since we live in a peaceful community here in the U.S., but nobody knows about abroad,” said Sener.

Source: New Hampshire Union Leader , December 19, 2016


Related News

CHP deputy calls Erdoğan’s order to bring down Hizmet ‘crime’

The CHP deputy pointed out it does not say the president can threaten or can give instructions to the MGK to bring down an organization.
According to this Monday’s Taraf daily, the ruling AK Party (Justice and Development Party) is planning to put forward a proposal to MGK to consider the Hizmet movement as illegal. Erdoğan hinted that the MGK would take action against “parallel structures.

Turkey’s war on the press

Erdogan’s reckless behavior is hurting not only his legacy but also Turkey and its allies. Turkey’s image as a stable investment hub has been damaged. A politics of character assassination, polarization and suppression inevitably creates dangerous social stresses. An internally chaotic Turkey cannot be considered a reliable partner for the international community.

Anti-police operation is gov’t attempt to take revenge for graft probe

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has recently been engaged in a bitter fight with the Hizmet movement. This conflict intensified after Dec. 17, 2013, when a major graft operation targeting government ministers and connected businessmen became public. The prime minister claims the operation was orchestrated by the Hizmet movement in an effort to overthrow his government. However, he has not provided any evidence to prove this claim, and the movement denies the accusation.

GYV expresses concern over claims of government profiling of its citizens

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), whose honorary chairman is Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, released a statement on its website on Thursday in which it said it is worried about the profiling of citizens, civic groups and public employees.

Erdogan’s hunt for Gülenists, at home and abroad, includes abductions, torture and disappearances

Turkey’s crackdown has targeted ordinary citizens, suspected of links with Gülen’s Islamic movement. The country’s secret services have seized people in broad daylight, at home and abroad. Violence is used to extort confessions and denunciations. A victim speaks out.

Down Syndrome child accompanies mother in prison as parents jailed over Gülen links

A 22-month-old child who suffers from Down Syndrome is living in jail along with his mother after both his mother and father were imprisoned in Konya over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, a report said on Saturday.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Netherlands fires a lawyer from gov’t job due to her role in witch hunt against Gulen followers

World Human Rights Day: Concerns On Hizmet Movement In 38 Countries Raised

Kimse Yok Mu presenting a role model for Brazilian disaster management

Turkey’s president orders closure of 1,000 private schools linked to Gülen

Largest dentistry school of Iraqi Kurdistan opened

Critics locked up at home as President Erdogan arrives in India

Ergenekon’s coup-lovers owe an apology to the Hizmet movement

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News