We share your sorrow

Letters

This letter was originally sent to Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region, and is reprinted with permission.

Editor: As honorary consul general of Turkey in Vancouver, I would like to express my deepest condolences to members of your community for the recent tragic events which resulted in losses of innocent Turkish citizens of Jewish, Turkish and other ethnic backgrounds.

These terrorist acts committed by ruthless, inhumane and vicious beings bring shame to them and leaves all of us to question the nature of these humans.

But these individuals are not human beings in the sense which we define humans. A true human being is first a human being and he does not differentiate between who is Christian, Jewish and Muslim. He does not differentiate between who is English, French, Greek, German, Turk, Israeli, etc. He does not differentiate between who is black or white. A true human being is one who stands with all other human beings and who cares for all.

I can assure you that these horrible monsters who committed these atrocities will be found, apprehended and punished. My government will do everything possible to ensure the safety and sense of security of all of its citizens. I am certain it will do whatever is necessary to compensate the victims and the loss of property.

As we mourn all these innocent lives that were lost, we know that we cannot bring them back. I am thinking of little Annette and all the others who lost their lives and know that we owe it to them to do everything possible to ensure that terror and terrorists should be stopped. Nothing, no cause justifies terror. These terrorists bring shame to all humanity.

Again, I should tell you that we share your sorrow and we know that you share our sorrow.

Mehmet Sezginalp
Honorary consul general of Turkey in Vancouver

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