Turkey’s Jewish minority has lived in fear since 1986 - community leader

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s Jewish minority has lived in fear ever since the first attack against a synagogue in Istanbul in 1986, community leader Sami Herman said in remarks given to a parliamentary sub-commission investigating terrorist attacks and violent incidents in recent years, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

“Terror creates a wave of fear that continues despite the passing years,” Herman said, emphasizing that Jews were still gripped by unease while visiting their places of worship.

A gunman killed 22 people in a synagogue in 1986, while suicide bombers detonated explosive-laden trucks at two synagogues in 2003, claiming 23 lives.

Herman said “words are not innocent” and urged the government to draw up legislation to punish hate crimes.

The community’s deputy leader, İshak İbrahimzadeh, told the panel that Jews had increased security so much that they were virtually injecting fear into the subconscious’ of children, by having them to go through two security doors while entering synagogues.

Commission member Mehmet Metiner of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) extended an apology to the Jewish community. “We weren’t able to protect you. I don’t know if we can look you in the eye. I know that we marginalized you. I apologize to you as a member of Turkey's parliament,” he said.

Turkey’s Jewish community was most recently disturbed by a shampoo TV advertisement that featured Adolf Hitler. The ad was eventually taken off air earlier this week after a public outcry.