Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a strong message on the 77th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, marking December 10 as Human Rights Day with a call for global justice, peace, and respect for human dignity.

In his statement, Erdoğan congratulated the Turkish nation and people around the world, describing the declaration as a cornerstone of humanity’s shared values and a global commitment to fundamental rights. He warned, however, that the principles enshrined in the document are increasingly being violated in many parts of the world, with peace and justice steadily losing ground.

Erdoğan sharply condemned the ongoing situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, describing the events as atrocities and referencing what he called a genocide that has claimed more than 70,000 lives. He stated that the destruction in Gaza represents a clear erosion of the values promised under international human rights frameworks and called for the urgent reconstruction of the territory.

The Turkish president said that the only viable path to a just and lasting peace is the strengthening of the ceasefire — which he said Türkiye contributed to — and the urgent implementation of a two-state solution. He criticized Israel for what he described as repeated violations of the ceasefire and said that at least 370 Palestinians had been killed since October 11 due to renewed attacks. He urged the international community to increase pressure to prevent further escalation.

Beyond Gaza, Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s diplomatic initiatives in Sudan, saying Ankara continues to promote dialogue and peace to halt bloodshed and restore stability in the country.

He also stressed the need to combat what he described as rising cultural racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia around the world, warning that tolerating hate speech and hate crimes under the banner of freedom of expression is unacceptable.

Reaffirming Türkiye’s global stance, Erdoğan said the country will continue to defend human rights and human dignity regardless of language, race, or origin, especially within what he described as Türkiye’s historic and cultural sphere.

Domestically, he reiterated the government’s determination to eliminate terrorism, pledging to achieve the goal of a “Terror-Free Türkiye” and contribute to the vision of a broader “Terror-Free Region” focused on development, solidarity, and peace.

Erdoğan concluded his message by expressing hope that Human Rights Day would bring peace, stability, and justice to the world, particularly in Gaza, Palestine, and Sudan. (ILKHA)