ANTEP (DİHA) - As the discussions on a new constitution continues, Antep branches of the Human Rights Association (İHD), the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (MAZLUMDER), the Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) and the Alevi Pir Sultan Abdal Association of Culture stated their opinions to DİHA.

MAZLUMDER Branch Chair Abdurrahim Çelik said the discriminating expressions such as the "Turkish state", "indivisibility of the state, country and nation" and "loyalty to Atatürk's nationalism" should be removed. Çelik noted that citizenship should not be based on ethnicity and should be defined with a specific law.

İHD Branch Cahir Aynur Ak emphasized the need for an egalitarian and pluralist constitution guaranteeing the rights of the minorities. Ak added that all crimes of thought should be removed from the law as soon as possible. Ak also said women should not be subjected to the patriarchal mentality in the new constitution.

KESK Branches Representative Ömer Faruk Koç stressed the new constitution’s role regarding the democratic and peaceful solution of the Kurdish issue. Koç said an equal, free and democratic Turkey should be aimed by the new constitution.

Pir Sultan Abdal Association of Culture Branch President Yusuf Turunç also criticized the government for not recognizing the Alevis who do not fit in the government's Alevi definition. Turunç underlined the importance of negotiations over the constitution in all parts of the society.

(bş/gü)