Turkey is a land where one man, one vote, and one law prevails, and that one man is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan .... increasingly looking like a despot in any language.
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| Talking Turkey .... Its All The Rage |
I say this following the news that twelve academics in Turkey have been
arrested for denouncing military operations against Kurdish rebels in
the south-east, with police still processing paperwork against nine
other academics who also face arrest. The academics are being charged
with violating the controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, Hurriyet newspaper reported, by which it is illegal to insult the institutions of the Turkish nation.
They had signed a declaration, which had been signed by more than 1,000 academics in Turkey and abroad, which called on the government to halt "massacres" in the south-east. In it the signatories stated that they refused to be "a party to the crime" and called for the resumption of peace efforts with the rebels.
However in this new Turkey the only law is that which one man decides and that man, President Erdogan accused those who signed the document - including renowned international linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky - of engaging in "terrorist propaganda'' on behalf of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK and making "terrorist propaganda". The president also accused the academics of being biased against the state, and denounced them for failing to condemn rebel violence.
He urged the judiciary to take action against their "treachery". Reminds one a bit of the "Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?" uttered by Henry II, King of England ... but in this case its the new Ottoman Emperor. Like Henry's knights, Turkish law officials duly noted their leaders inclination on the matter, and drew up arrest papers .... The hashtag #1128katil (1,128 killers), was trending in Turkey shortly afterwards, particularly amongst pro-government and nationalist supporters, apparently in reference to the academics.
It should be noted that the only other country targeting human rights activist in this manner are .... China .... Turkey is trying to get admitted to the European Union. We need to get out quick.
However in this new Turkey the only law is that which one man decides and that man, President Erdogan accused those who signed the document - including renowned international linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky - of engaging in "terrorist propaganda'' on behalf of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK and making "terrorist propaganda". The president also accused the academics of being biased against the state, and denounced them for failing to condemn rebel violence.
He urged the judiciary to take action against their "treachery". Reminds one a bit of the "Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?" uttered by Henry II, King of England ... but in this case its the new Ottoman Emperor. Like Henry's knights, Turkish law officials duly noted their leaders inclination on the matter, and drew up arrest papers .... The hashtag #1128katil (1,128 killers), was trending in Turkey shortly afterwards, particularly amongst pro-government and nationalist supporters, apparently in reference to the academics.
It should be noted that the only other country targeting human rights activist in this manner are .... China .... Turkey is trying to get admitted to the European Union. We need to get out quick.
The Germans have offered 64 million Turks visa free travel in Europe. Guess where they will be heading? We need to get out now.
ReplyDeleteThats a subject for nearer the vote. Thanks for the comment though.
DeleteStrangely the Turkish government also argues that journalism in Turkey is among the most free in the world while doing this
ReplyDelete