A call for responsibility

Last week, a heinous terror attack claimed the lives of 102 Turkish citizens. As the Media Association, we keep the victims in our prayers and offer our condolences to their families and loved ones.

Unfortunately, the Ankara suicide bombings were not the first terrorist attack in Turkey's recent history. The brutal attacks of October 2014 ushered in a period of violence as scores of Turkish citizens were killed in their sleep, in front of their children and in their homes.

• Terrorist attacks are a form of illegitimate oppression, and terrorists, no matter their ideological background, cannot be seen as legitimate and innocent. We refuse to honor such claims.

• Peace is not something that those who waged a war against the people and lost may mention in their time of need. Peace is our home, and we refuse to stand idly by as certain groups destroy it.

• Democracy is not a weapon that illegitimate powers may use to divide the people. Democracy is our lifestyle with which others may not interfere.

• Liberty is our character. We shall not allow terrorist organizations, totalitarian ideologies and intolerant groups to depict liberty as a crime.

• The media has a responsibility to unconditionally oppose terrorism, not speak on terrorists' behalf by serving as an instrument of propaganda.

• All news organizations, politicians and nongovernmental organizations that knowingly or not praise and support acts of terrorism have a heavy moral burden on their shoulders.

• By exploiting terrorism to score political points and divert the public's attention from the truth, certain groups ultimately serve terrorists' interests.

• As the Media Association, we call on the security forces to shed light on the Ankara bombing and bring the perpetrators to justice without further delay.

• We urge politicians and nongovernmental organizations to take a stand against terrorism and avoid promoting violence.

• We ask the people of Turkey to remain calm and keep in mind that this great nation will overcome the challenge of terrorism by reaching into its deeply rooted sense of solidarity and build a just and safe future together.

Turkey's democracy and our future are at stake. This is a time to unite as an entire country, uphold the truth and take a common stance against terrorism.