We should not surrender New Year's celebration squares to terrorists

The EU has welcomed the new year by naming the Netherlands the new term president. Hopefully, 2016 brings luck to the entire world, along with Europe.

Even in the first moments of 2016, Europeans again had to face terrorism threatening their daily lives and creating unrest in society.

In Munich, due to a tip the intelligence units received, people in Munich had to spend their New Year's Eve in fear. In Berlin, people with backpacks could not pass the Brandenburg gate after police banned the transition of people with rucksacks. Terror reached such a dangerous and threatening level that even backpacks are being banned. In Vienna, those wishing to celebrate the New Year at Stephan Square could not make it since the metros did not stop at the Stephan Square station. Police closed the metro station due to possible terrorist activity. In Brussels and many other EU capitals, firework shows, which are traditionally held every year, were cancelled due to the same fears. One can argue that celebrating the New Year in a less joyful way does not matter so much. But what matters here is not the New Year.

My main point is, people are currently uneasy. They are even afraid to leave their homes. They have to consistently reconsider going to crowded spots. The terror threat in Europe has reached such an extent that even football games in stadiums are cancelled. Large-scale concerts are being cancelled due to the fear of terror. Metro stations are often closed. Despite all that, some politicians with radical right-wing or racist tendencies, who are disturbed by the presence of Muslims and foreigners, come up with nonsensical ideas such as "we can hitch some monitoring devices to the feet of suspects." Such cases demonstrate the incapability of Europe in the face of terrorism. It is not nice to live with the fear of terrorism every single moment of one's life.

But it must be admitted that Europeans should be more self-critical in order to change the situation. If we do not want DAESH terror to make our lives even more unbearable, we have to support a total war against terrorism. Terrorist organizations do not pose a threat by themselves. The main problem is the states and intelligence agencies that back such organizations.

Also, Europeans should realize that there is no difference between DAESH and the outlawed PKK. It has been proven many times that both are backed by same sources. For instance, it is known by all the Western intelligence agencies that El Muhaberat, Syrian President Bashar Assad's intelligence agency, which engages in all kinds of cooperative efforts with terrorist organizations, uses both DAESH and the PKK as middlemen. Even if Europeans do not want to see the facts, we will keep on telling them. The horrendous Paris attacks took place no sooner than France announced that it would adopt a determined and strict stance against Assad. Isn't that interesting timing?

Did you know that only 12 percent of the air operations conducted so far by Russian war jets have targeted DAESH, while the rest targeted the groups who oppose Assad and the fight for democracy?

Everyone already knows that the PKK, which has caused thousands of casualties in Turkey so far, and its Syrian wing, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) are also supported by Russia. While Russia does not prioritize fighting DAESH or the PKK, it stirs up trouble with the terrorists it specially trained and equipped at El Muhaberat and directed at targets. Even the identities of DAESH members and PKK members vary from one attack to another.

So, Europe must wake up from its slumber on the subject. It is not possible to win the fight against terrorism by only closing metro stations, cancelling New Year's celebrations or limiting some other liberties in a country. Doing away with terrorism will only occur by struggling against all terrorist organizations and the states that support them. This is the current picture of DAESH, the PKK and Syria.

Hopefully, the EU can grasp that fact during 2016 and start to pull its own weight.