Attack on Istanbul airport an affront to the values of democracy
Education International strongly condemns the attack which robbed at least 42 people of their lives and left another 239 injured, some critical, as they made their way through Istanbul’s busy Ataturk airport Wednesday morning.
"All of us at Education International would like to express our sincere condolences to the families, friends and next of kin of those who were killed and we extend our sympathies to the injured," said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen. “Just as we experienced in Beirut, Paris, and Brussels, the attack in Istanbul strikes at the heart of what we as an organisation stand for.”
Latest reports reveal that 42 people were killed when attackers opened fire on bystanders and detonated explosives in both the departure and arrival halls on 29 June. Up to 239 more have been hospitalized.
"These horrendous and tragic events are an attack on the values of democracy, equality and freedom. The perpetrators will not succeed in undermining those values, but instead reinforce the commitment of civilized people everywhere to uphold them", van Leeuwen concluded.
Despite the attacks, Ataturk airport, a major transportation hub in the region, continues to operate as an investigation continues.
