Turkey’s Consul General in LA, Can Oğuz (left) at the crime scene in Istanbul Café
(Credit: Ebru Awad/Anadolu Agency)
Elham Asaad Buaras
Turkey’s Ambassador to the US condemned an attack on a Turkish café in LA, California, and called on authorities to protect Turkish Americans.
Ambassador Serdar Kiliç’s remarks came a day after a group of extremist Armenians attacked the Istanbul Café, in Beverly Hills on November 5.
According to the Beverly Hills Police Department, which is investigating the incident as a “hate crime”, six to eight men entered the café, made pro-Armenia comments, destroyed the property, and physically attacked staff.
Kiliç called on federal and local authorities there to “protect the rights of Turkish Americans and punish the culprits.”
Kiliç called on the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti to condemn the “hate crime” by extremist Armenians, saying “members of the Turkish American Community in Los Angeles who are also your constituents expect you to stand by them now.”
“I strongly condemn this hate attack, which came on the heels of increasing statements and protests against Turkey and the Turkish community in Los Angeles,” said Can Oğuz, Turkey’s Consul General in LA.
He added, “That such a brazen attack could take place in the heart of Beverly Hills (and Los Angeles for that matter) is extremely concerning for the Turkish community of Los Angeles.”
Oğuz called for the police to investigate the incident with “extreme seriousness and diligence,” adding, “We sincerely hope [for] the perpetrators to be identified and brought to justice.”
The Mayor of Beverly Hills, Lester Friedman, called the assault an “unacceptable act of hate and violence, there is no place in our city for this behaviour, and we ask members of the public to please come forward with any information on the suspects in this case.”
The attack comes amid a conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Upper Karabakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Since the conflict began on September 27, Turkey has steadfastly supported Azerbaijan.