Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg sparked outrage in Turkey after expressing support for the Kurdish population in the country. Turkish authorities also accused her of backing the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey.
This week, following her visit to the Diyarbakir region, Thunberg posted a lengthy critique of Turkey on her Instagram account. She highlighted environmental damage in areas heavily populated by Kurds, saying: "Destruction and exploitation of the nature – such as unlawful forest cutdowns, sacrificing zones for mining companies and fires – is one of the many tools used as part of the continuous attacks against the Kurds."
Thunberg further called on Turkey to change its treatment of Kurds. " Turkey must clarify its stance on the Kurds and other minority groups by enshrining their rights in the constitution. The government continues to use ‘terrorism’ as a pretext to silence its political opponents. Tens of thousands of politically active individuals remain imprisoned without fair trials.”
“International organizations such as the ECHR, UN, and Amnesty have condemned this and call for their release. For a sustainable peace and a just future, the Kurds’ right to freedom and autonomy must be respected and the violent attacks against Kurdistan must end,” she added.
Thunberg’s visit and her detailed post on social media were met with sharp criticism in Turkey according to local outlet Daily Sabah. Previously praised by the Turkish public for her support of Palestinians against "Israeli aggression," Thunberg described Diyarbakir, which she visited, as part of "Northern Kurdistan." The Turkish publication noted that this term is used by the PKK to refer to southeastern Turkey.
Thunberg’s remarks drew harsh criticism on social media. "Don’t come here again," one user wrote, while others shared reports of alleged crimes by the PKK, including the murder of civilians and children.
Protester calling out Thuberg in Amsterdam rally
(Photo: Reuters)
Turkish columnist Nedim Sener also criticized Thunberg in a column for Hurriyet, writing: "Perhaps Thunberg has forgotten or is ignoring the fact that the PKK was responsible for the assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986 — or maybe this is Stockholm Syndrome in its truest form."
While the PKK was initially considered a suspect in Palme’s murder, the theory was later discredited. The only person convicted, Christer Pettersson, an alcoholic and drug addict, was acquitted on appeal after police failed to provide any technical evidence against him.
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Pettersson died in 2004 and the case remains unsolved. Turkey has sought to link the PKK to the assassination, but the group vehemently denies these claims.