Reactions to the Turkish state and their allied gangs invading Afrin continue to pour in. Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland (PBD) National Parliament MP Guhl Bernhard submitted an inquiry to the Switzerland Federal Council and demanded Switzerland ban the sales of military equipment to the Turkish state at once.

MP Bernhar prepared the inquiry and a total of 22 MPs from right and left wing parties signed it, after which the inquiry was submitted to the Federal Council. The inquiry points out that the Turkish state is massacring civilians in Afrin and openly defying international law.

“CIVILIANS KILLED IN AFRIN”

The inquiry stressed that the Switzerland Federal Council continues to sell military equipment to Turkey despite all warnings and said, “As the Turkish state deepens the war in Syria and kills civilians in Afrin, continuing to sell military equipment to this country is unacceptable.”

The inquiry also pointed out that the sale of military equipment to Turkey goes against the Switzerland Federal Constitution: “Although the Federal Council claims that they are ‘not selling weapons but spare parts’, when it comes to the Turkish state, those sales are also in violation of the Federal Act on the Sales of Weapons of War.” MPs demand an immediate end to the sale of any type of equipment to the Turkish state.

“TURKISH STATE VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW”

The inquiry stated that the Turkish state violates international law and that hundreds of civilians have lost their lives in the war against Afrin: “The Turkish state has entered the territory of another country without approval from the UN, openly violating international law. The Turkish state also refused to comply with the 30 day ceasefire resolution by the UN Security Council and targeted civilians in the war they waged.”

NOT CONFINED TO THE WAR

The inquiry also mentioned that Turkey’s human rights violations are not confined to just the war they wage in Syria: “Human rights defenders, journalists, intellectuals, i.e. any and all groups opposed to the government are being directly targeted. People are arrested under false pretenses, claiming “terrorism”. So much so that even people who speak out against this war are arrested.”

SALES OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT GOES AGAINST FEDERAL CONSTITUTION

“These practices by the Turkish stae are open violations of several articles in the Switzerland Federal Act on the Sales of Weapons of War,” said the inquiry and pointed out: “For a country that openly defies UN Security Council resolutions and invades another country’s territory, there should be no sales of military equipment whatsoever. The Turkish state has taken over Afrin today with the help of their Islamist allies. Switzerland could take on a morally clear stance and prevent the death of even more civilians in the region.

The Switzerland National Parliament MPs who signed the petition now submitted to the Switzerland Federal Council are:

Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland: Duri Campell,

Liberal Greens: Beat Flach, Thomas Weibel

Socialist Party: Cladui Friedl, Chantal Gallade, Beat Jans, Jacques-Andre Maire, Nadine Masshardt, Eric Nussbaumer, Ursula Schmeider, Priska Graf Seiller, Carlo Sommaruga, Manuel Tornare, Cedric Wermuth

Greens: Bastien Girod, Balthasar Glattli,

Radical Liberal Party: Christa Markwalder, Philippe Nantermod,

Christian Democratic Party of Switzerland: Stefan Müller, Kathy Riklin, Barbara Schmid Federer,
Evangelist Party of Switzerland: Marienne Feller