Importance of empathy against terror

People living in the western part of Turkey see the terrorism problem as an annoying issue that does not affect them much or disrupt their daily routines, while the people in the east perceive it as an issue that directly affects their lives and daily routines, and so they have higher expectations in regards to a solution to this problem. But an individual living in the southeastern province of Şırnak should not get the wrong idea that the people in the west do not understand their problems or share their pain. A soldier or a police officer serving in the southeastern province of Hakkari should not doubt that people in İstanbul appreciate their sacrifices and the difficulties they are facing there because the feeling of “empathy” and solidarity is the best response to terrorist acts. After all, the aim of terrorism is to disrupt daily life and bring the current system to a halt, and the fight against terrorism can be done best with empathy and solidarity.