On 7 January, academics, journalists, writers, trade unionists, representatives of NGOs, lawyers, engineers, doctors, politicians and others announced at a press briefing that they had formed the Gaziantep Peace Parliament in order to work towards social peace.

Prof. Dr. Arif Nacaroglu held the opening speech at the gathering, saying that "it is everyone's duty to work towards lasting peace in the region and in Turkey."

Then, Assistant Prof. Dr. Osman Elbek read a statement.The statement said that "Peace, one of the most exalted values of humanity, is still missed by everyone."

Fear of escalating violence 

The peace parliament also expressed "worry about the fact that poverty, cultural exclusion, political pressure and a lynching atmosphere are threatening social peace, that violence is being shown as the only solution in the current political culture, that violence has escalated again over the Kurdish issue, and that the spread of violence may pull the country into ethnic conflict."

"It is meaningful to start such an initiative in an ancient city like Gaziantep, where different languages, religions, confessions and cultures have lived together for centuries, have shared pain and pleasure, sadness and happiness, and where tolerance and brotherhood reign."

Empathy rather than violence 

"We Gaziantep citizens have come together with this responsibility and these worries, and have prepared a common statement; we consider it obligatory that all calls to and acts of violence which prevent the free discussion of our problems in public must end, and that empathy, tolerance and dialogue become the basis for a peaceful environment in which we can talk about our problems."

The Peace Parliament also called on the media to take on responsibility and use a "language of peace." (MG/NZ/AG)