The prominent activist accused Turkey of ‘systematic oppression and repression’ [Getty]
Swedish climate justice activist Greta Thunberg has been criticised following her recent visit to Kurdish-majority areas in south-eastern Turkey.
The Nobel Peace Prize-nominated campaigner, who has earned praise for her outspoken support of Palestinian rights, visited Diyabakir this week, a predominantly Kurdish part of Turkey, known by some – including members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – as “northern Kurdistan”.
In a detailed post on X, Thunberg accused the Turkish authorities of “systematic oppression” of the Kurdish population and described her visit to the region as an eye-opening experience, meeting with locals who shared stories of state “repression”.
She also claimed incidents of “erasure of culture and identity, state violence, political prisoners, forced displacement, ecocides, and disappearances” as emblematic of the discrimination faced by the Kurdish people in Turkey.
“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,” she added.
“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.”
Her comments also condemned Turkey’s environmental policies, particularly in Kurdish-majority regions, including the alleged destruction of forests, illegal mining, and widespread displacement of communities.
“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. No one is free until everyone is free,” she added.
She ended her message with the slogan “Bijî Kurdistan!” (“Long live Kurdistan”), a rallying cry that has been used by PKK supporters.
Many have accused the young activist of peddling “propaganda” of the PKK, which is proscribed as a terrorist group in the EU, US, and UK.
One user said: “Don’t come to Turkey again, we don’t like you. You can’t disrespect the territorial integrity of other countries like that.”
Others claimed that her remarks could undermine her credibility as a climate activist for linking environmental issues to broader political struggles.
Greta’s visit and subsequent comments come at a time of heightened tensions between Turkey and Kurdish political groups, with Ankara accusing the PKK of separatism and terrorism, although the group now works toward greater autonomy rather than independence.
