ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to stand by the oppressed, value equality and non-discrimination in his country, while continuing to fight extremists "under law and democracy." "Respect for human rights based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination of individuals before the law is the irreplaceable nature of the Republic of Turkey," said Erdogan, according to state-run Anadolu Agency, on the occasion of global Human Rights Day on Sunday. Erdogan specifically referenced Turkey's commitment to "all oppressed people and victims from Palestine to Syria and Asia to Africa." "The latest example of this is what happened in Jerusalem," said Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, referring to "pressure applied on the Palestinians" after US President Donald Trump announced his country's intention to recognize the city as a the capital of Israel on Wednesday. Erdogan did not waste the opportunity to point out that it considers ISIS, Gulenists, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the People's Protection Units in Syria (YPG) and others as the "biggest enemies of mankind." "Turkey, without making any distinction, will carry out its fight against terror in a decisive manner under law and democracy," Erdogan added. Turkey has been cited by several international organizations for human rights violations, namely in its justice system, freedom of speech and Internet communications, treatment of minorities, and political censorship. Most recently the European Union announced it will cut up to 175 million euros of pre-accession aid in 2018 due to violations of human rights. Sunday, marks the 69th International Human Rights Day along with the kick-off of a year-long campaign to honor the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The launch of the campaign by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, along with the mayor of Paris, will take place at Palais Chailot on Sunday, where the declaration was originally adopted on October 10, 1948.
