Image: Ilyas AKENGIN AFP/File
Faizel Patel – 04/08/2021
Turkish security analyst Yusuf Alabarda says the Turkey’s government suspects that the fires raging across the country is an act of sabotage and terrorism.
Alabarda and Ceylan Ozgul, a Turkey and Middle East political analyst were speaking to Radio Islam about the more than 71 forest fires that blazed across at least 17 Turkish cities in three days between 28-30 July.
While firemen have brought fifty-seven fires under control, more than 1,100 locations are still burning.
Alabarda says many are wondering if the fires were caused by acts of terrorism and sabotage.
“In the previous years, we know that PKK terrorist organisations set fire in many places of Turkey the forest fires.”
Ozgul says that despite global warming which sparks fires across the globe, she also believes that the Turkey fires was a deliberate act of sabotage started by the PKK.
“A big part of the fires are also I think after the diaspora the PKK terrorist organisation. It’s not the first time that they are lighting our forest alight on fire which is not the first time they are doing it. They even have a group which they call the ‘children of fire’ which is only dedicated to starting fires in Turkey.”
Ozgul says the Turkish government was quick to react and has financially compensated those affected by the fires.
Alabarda says while Israel has offered to return the favour of assisting Turkey with the fires, it has not yet made an official proposal to the Turkish government.
Listen to the interview with Yusuf Alabarda and Ceylan Ozgul
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