Turkey condemns terrorist photo exhibit at EU parliament

ANKARA

A photo exhibit at the European Parliament in Brussels that features PYD and PKK terrorists was condemned by Turkey late Tuesday.

"We condemn the photographic exhibition at the European Parliament that displays terrorist organization PKK's ringleader and PYD terrorists, the Syrian affiliate of the PKK," according to a statement from the foreign ministry in reference to Abdullah Ocalan.

It said the European Parliament has acted as "an instrument" of propaganda for a terrorist organization.

"Both Daesh and PKK are terrorist organizations. Choosing one terrorist organization over the other is disrespect to the memory of all the victims of terrorism," it added.

The approximately 30 photographs on display show PKK, PYD and YPG terrorists in northern Syria.

In one image, crowds carry a photograph of Ocalan, who was convicted of terrorism and treason in a Turkish court in 1999 and is serving a life sentence.

The photographs were taken by Austrian anthropologist Thomas Schmidinger and the Brussels exhibit is being hosted by Josef Weidenholzer, vice-president of the parliament’s Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.

The pictures, which purport to represent “important figures and historical events in the development of Rojava” -- a name given to regions in northern Syria -- will be shown until July 15, according to Weidenholzer’s website.

Turkey has repeatedly criticized such displays as serving to promote terrorism.

In March, prior to a terror attack in Brussels that killed 32 victims, the Belgian government allowed PKK supporters to pitch tents near the EU Council building on the eve of a Turkey-EU summit.