Chomsky replies to HDP's invitation to Kurdistan

American philosopher Professor Noam Chomsky has replied to the invitation of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Şırnak MP Faysal Sarıyıldız to Kurdistan to see the situation at scene.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Şırnak MP Faysal Sarıyıldız has invited American philosopher Professor Noam Chomsky who rejected Erdoğan's invitation to Turkey, saying; “If I decide to go to Turkey, it will not be on his invitation, but as frequently before at the invitation of the many courageous dissidents, including Kurds who have been under severe attack for many years.”

Chomsky was responding to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over his comments on academics who signed a “We will not be a party to this crime" declaration against ongoing war of the Turkish government against the civilian population in Turkey's Kurdish region. Turkish President called the academics "traitors" and “so-called intellectuals”, and accused them of misinforming the international community, also inviting renowned names who supported the declaration to come to Turkey to see the situation with their own eyes.

An HDP MP for Şırnak, Faysal Sarıyıldız, who is in Cizre since the beginning of the curfew and aggression, wrote a letter to Chomsky detailing the situation in the Kurdish region under a heavy onslaught by Turkish forces.

Sarıyıldız invited Chomsky to Kurdistan to see the situation at scene, and asked Turkish President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu to accompany Chomsky during his visit to the Kurdish region "to see the situation with their own eyes".

The response by American philosopher says; "Many thanks for the very kind invitation to visit Southeastern Turkey.  As perhaps you know, I have been there several times on missions to investigate the harsh and sometimes very brutal repression there.  I appreciate the invitation to do so again, but I am afraid that circumstances make it impossible for me now, though I am following the situation very closely and doing what I can from here.

I very much hope that the current very dangerous trajectory can be reversed, and quickly, before even more damage is done."