Jewish Community in Brooklyn held a press conference following the hate crime against Turkish couple in Mill Basin, Turkishny.com reported.
According to authorities, during an encounter near their neighboring homes in Mill Basin, Simchon Schwartz poured a beer over the head of Mustafa Turan's wife. When Turan intervened, Schwartz allegedly punched him in the face and made anti-Arab statements, including calling the couple "Arab terrorists."
As the reactions grow among Turkish community over the incident, American Jewish Society held a press conference condeming the hate crime. Bob Kaplan from We Are All Brooklyn, Mohammad Ravzi from Council of Peoples Organization, Leonard Petlakh from Kings Bay, Zafer Akin and Mehmet Kilic from Turkish Cultural Center, Chairman Advisor of Turkish Cultural Alliance İbrahim Kurtuluş, Michael Miller from Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz and members of Jewish-American community were present at the press conference.
“Such Incidents Will Not Drag Us Into Darkness”
Stressing that United States is a country where people from different nations live together, Cymbrowitz said, “This community was always together, and we will always be together. We will work and progress together. Such incidents may take place all the time but we, as leaders, are responsible for these incidents not to grow.”
Stating that their aim to hold the press conference is not just about addressing the incident in Brooklyn, but about whole humanity, Assemblyman said, “We do not want these incidents to drag us into darkness. Our aim is just to walk through our bright future. We want to build such a legal system that can work for our nation and so people can go forward. What media should understand here is that everybody will be able to continue his/her life in the best way in Brooklyn. New York is a center for many ethnic communities. Not just Jews and Turks but many other nations live here together.”
Cymborwitz also added that Jewish people have a long common history with Turkish people and Turks opened the doors of their country for them showing an example of friendship.
At the press conference, Marc Arje from Hebrew Educational Society (HES), thanked the audiance and stressed that the cooperation between the people in New York is what matters and such incidents can never be welcomed by their society.
Naziha Nori from The Arab-American Family Support Center stated that they are terribly upset about the incident that took place in Brooklyn. “It is not acceptable,” she added.
President of Turkish Cultural Center, Zafer Akin stressed that the incident Turkish family has experienced is sorrowful and said, “I wish it has never happened. Because it will create worries. Tomorrow, such an incident may be experienced by a Jewish or Afro-American man too.”
Stressing that associating terror with Islam and even using these two words are very wrong, Akin said, “Such incidents would be prevented if usage of term “Islamic terror” could be prevented. We welcome the reaction of Jewish community against this hate crime. This way, they showed their opinion about Turks and Turkey.”
Mohammad Ravzi from Council of Peoples Organization thanked the audiance and stressed that such incidents can never seperate communities.
“We Appreciate the Quick Response of NYPD”
Chairman Advisor of Turkish Cultural Alliance İbrahim Kurtuluş stated that he is disappointed that Turkish couple experienced such an attack by Jews. Reminding the common history of Turks and Jews begining five hundred years ago during Ottoman era, which continued during the rule of Republic of Turkey, Kurtuluş said, “We showed to the whole world Turkish-Jewish friendship. Despite all these, hate crimes carry deep meanings. If people are being picked as targets just because of their belief and race, that would create unrest in the community.”
Appreciating the quick response of New York Police Department, Kurtuluş said, “The timing and intervention of the New York police is worthy of commendation.”
President of Turkish American Cultural Alliance Hamit Demirkan stressed that they are deeply sad about the incident that took place in Mill Basin. Calling Turkish American community leaders to react the hate crime against Turks, Demirkan said New York and Brooklyn is not a place where hatred can be used as a tool.
ADL New York Regional Director Ron Meier also condemned the violent attack. “We condemn this violent assault against a Turkish man in Brooklyn in the strongest terms. Attacks such as these are a sad reminder that people in our community continue be singled out because of their appearances or religious beliefs.
We commend the New York City Police Department and its Hate Crimes Task Force for their quick response in apprehending the perpetrator of this possible hate crime. Brooklyn is a community of great diversity and we must not stand for such senseless, ethnically-motivated violence,” Meier told.
İbrahim H. Aydoğan - Turkishny.com
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