Turkey condemns attack against Morsi supporters, call it 'massacre'

Ankara has strongly condemned the recent deadly attack by Egyptian security forces against the supporters of President Mohammed Morsi, who was ousted by a military coup in early July, calling the incident a "massacre." At least 200 anti-coup protesters were killed and over 1,000 were wounded after security forces fired on a crowd late Friday in Cairo's Rab'a al-Adaweya Square. Speaking on Saturday at an iftar (fast breaking dinner) organized by the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TUMSIAD), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey wouldn't remain silent against the attack despite the silence of the international community over the bloody actions of the military. Erdogan, who has constantly condemned the violence against Egyptians since the military coup in Egypt on July 3, reacted harshly to the attack that targeted Egyptians, saying: "Those who remain silent when Egyptians' national will was massacred now remain silent again as the Egyptian people are being slaughtered. I'm asking, Where is Europe, and what happened to European values, where are those who go around giving lessons in democracy everywhere?" He added that Turkey would help the voice of Egyptians to be heard globally. Erdogan directed his criticism to the military that toppled Egypt's first democratically elected president and stated that the Egyptian army is not strong enough to stand against their enemies, but it is only strong enough to kill its own people. Erdogan also called on the Islamic world to take action against the attack on civilians who rightfully protest the army intervention and stand up for democracy in the streets of Egypt and said: "Your brothers have been killing; justice and rights have been slaughtered in Egypt. When will you see these, when will you hear and realize the blood that has been shed is your brothers' blood being shed?" The recent attack on the pro-Morsi protesters also drew a harsh reaction from other Turkish leaders. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag directed criticism at the UN and said, "The UN doesn't take any steps on Syria and Egypt; it only counts the number of deaths." Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc showed his support for the Egyptian people and stressed the silence of the US and Europe and the Islamic leaders that support the coup. The Turkish Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack and expressed its condolences in a statement issued on July 27. The statement added that Turkey is following the latest developments with concern. Main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu also reiterated his call for democracy and elections, expressing deep concerns over the incidents in Egypt. A group staged a rally in front of the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul on Saturday to protest the security forces firing on demonstrating groups. The group also organized funeral prayers in absentia for the people who lost their lives in the attack.