open Democracy News Analysis - the future of turkey - Comments

Robert Walker on "Ergenekon: Turkey’s “deep state” in the light"

Robert Walker — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:00:07 +0100

I want to know more.

Louiss on "Turkey and a new vision for Europe"

Louiss — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:46:42 +0100

We can't deny that Turkey and European Union still need to solve some issues in developing a good relationship but we can't also deny that Turkey is different, we should respect it's uniqueness. My last trip to Turkey was very impressive, this country has a solid identity.
Tatil

msimopoulos on "Europeanising Cyprus "

msimopoulos — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:14:08 +0100

There seem to be a number of flawed assumptions behind this article - namely that (a) Turkey's commitment to EU accession remains as resolute as when the process was set in motion, (b) the influence of Tassos Papadopoulos in the negotiation process remains intact, and (c) a resolution to the Cyprus problem will be one where the Republic of Cyprus - the authority which issues European passports - will be the moral and legal authority of a united Cyprus.

The previous Greek Cypriot administration based its rejection of the Annan Plan on the potential for a 'European' solution once the Republic entered the EU. These baseless hopes proved unfounded. It seems that the EU has had more to lose than gain by admitting a divided Cyprus, and has subsequently toiled unsuccesfully with ways to alleviate this anomaly. The current process where a solution will come 'from the Cypriots for Cypriots' could yet fail over diverging understandings of what a bizonal federal solution will look like.

If the EU, and the international community at large, fails to take a vocal stand over what the fundementals of a new federal Cyprus will be - sovereignty and citizenship being the key sticking points - then these new efforts at resolution could fail with mortal consequences for Cyprus, the EU, and provide further evidence of the inadequacy of international law enshrined by the United Nations.

Not logged in on "Turkey's judicial-political crisis "

Not logged in — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:12:09 +0100

'insulting the turkish nation' is not a new law it has always been in our constitution

dreppwn on "Turkey's judicial-political crisis "

dreppwn — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:01:39 +0100

This whole story of Turkey being persuaded by the EU to transform its pseudo-democratic military regime to a democracy is nothing but a joke. The turkish nation does not want to become a democracy, and no one can force them to. Turkey has never ceased to show its cultural and political distance with Europe. Turkey costantly defies UN resolutions and continues to occupy part of a EU member-state. Turkey bullies around its neighbours by maintaining an embargo with Armenia, sustaining a casus-belli against Greece, intervening in Bulgaria's internal affairs by manipulating the muslim minority, ethnically cleansing Kurds of Iraq, and so on. The only reason that the accession talks are still alive, is the US pressure in favour of its spoiled one. Turkey is nothing but a problem, indeed a major one.

Rudi Dierick on "Turkey's judicial-political crisis "

Rudi Dierick — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:21:26 +0100

Strange, pretending that the AKP offers "a model for a
new and effective combination of Islamic beliefs with democracy", while at the same time knowing very well that the AKP does NOT respect the democratic principles at all, e.g. because opnions can be severely prosecuted under the AKP's new laws for "insulting the
Turkish nation", an AKP-governement that maintains the military occupation of part of another EU member. Come on. This isn't serious.

Rudi Dierick on "Turkey’s clash of values: memo to Europe"

Rudi Dierick — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:11:10 +0100

Although posing as a 'green politician', the author reveals his own agenda
more then clearly!

The author pretends that the AKP is fine, a democratic party just as
any other, 'committed democrats'. This is rubbish, pure rubbish, and a closer look
explains why:

·
AKP maintains the alliance between the Kemalist
elite, and the religious nationalists: Turkish states persecutes other
religions, other then sunni islam, ‘allows’ killing of Christian clergy, and
strongly favors and subsidizes the de facto state religion 'sunni islam'.

·
This state continues sending Sunni imams to
Alevi villages, together with building entrepreneurs to build mosques in
villages with only Alevi.

·
Christian Turks are still forbidden to follow religious
training in Turkey,
and Christian historic churches are desecrated and turned in secular museums.

·
Erdogan, when mayor of Istanbul,
himself ordered to destroy an Alevi sanctuary (‘cem’) in Istanbul.

·
Turkish state maintains an fierce and total
economic war against half of its Christian neighbors, without any hostility from
these against Turkey.
For the nationalists from Ankara, it is
apparently unacceptable tha Armenia
beat the 'Turkish' Azerbaidjani, and that Greek Cypriots don't accept
privileges for the Turkish Cypriots.

·
Under the AKP, polygamous 'marriage' is still
widespread on the countryside. Imams practicing it receive a state salary.

·
Turkey
still persecutes any opinion critical of the Turkish nationalistic ideology.
Article 301 is, essentially, still there.

·
Turkey
still remains signatory to the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights, a declaration
that does not accept a wide variety of human rights guaranteed under the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

·
Turkey
claims allegiance to the EU’s ‘acquis communautaire’ but it refuses to recognize
the rights of one of the EU members, and it wants to get away with its severe
infringements on this.

·
The language rights for Kurds are still
restricted to a few hours of TV per week, and a few private schools offering
courses in Kurdish.

Clearly, AKP and Turkey
want to join the EU, and many in the EU just see numbers, and a dynamic
economy, and don’t want any scrutiny on the real democratic qualities.

The author pretends that ‘Europe’
wantsTurkeu to join. However, in Wikipedia, the analysis is not as simple: “Public opinion in EU countries generally
opposes Turkish membership, though with varying degrees of intensity …”.

And this authors calls himself a 'green politician'? Have a laugh!
He's just a Turkish nationalist as the AKP, taking his dreams for reality
(or at least selling them as such). He might appear so (based on his current
party membership), but his blatant lack of any critical attitude towards the
AKP policies and acts is worrying.

abuelita42pj on "Turkey: the constitutional frontline"

abuelita42pj — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:36:16 +0100

The secularists seem to really be in a tizzy re: no ban of headscarves. If the Ottoman Empire could rule and last for 600 years or so and 70% of the time Islam was the minority religion and all the others got along just fine even though the non-islamic peoples did have a tax to pay, the 21 Century should tell these that they can do just fine with various forms of religion in one society and everyone getting along just fine. The government would have to keep religion out of schools to avoid ":brainwashing" that could take place in many small villages and towns. It is mostly personal respect on all sides that is needed so those who wish to cover their heads or wear crosses for their personal pleasure can do so. At this distance of 10,000 miles I have a difficult time understanding why those with secular beliefs will not allow those with religious beliefs to do as they wish as long as it does not trample their freedoms--any one's.

mickhall on "Turkey’s risk, Europe’s role"

mickhall — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:52:08 +0100

You say that AK Party government should not carry out a surgical strike on the constitution; but bring in a replacement for the current constitution. Sounds fine and undoubtedly the AK should have attempted to do so, sadly they did not. However to get a new constitution through the Grand Assembly at this time would be difficult and there is just a little urgency you know. Better they act now and remove article 301 etc whilst they are still in office otherwise if the court decides against them they might not get another chance.

yzb on "Turkey’s risk, Europe’s role"

yzb — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:45:15 +0100

Unfortunately, the EU is not and has not been sincere with Turkey. It is widely accepted that this resignation is what has given AKP so much power in recent years. Generally, the citizens of Turkey no longer believe it is possible to enter the EU. Granted, Turkey has its problems. But, even if Turkey were to overcome them, there is a widespread belief that EU would not accept Turkey as a member for obvious historical/cultural reasons. Now, would it be unfair to blame the EU for AKP's rising power and the current political turmoil in Turkey?

philosophile on "Turkey divided: politics, faith and democracy"

philosophile — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:24:31 +0100

Philosophile

My apologies for being a year late for my comments.
As an expat Turkish living in the UK, the AKP fills me with hope and pride despite not having experienced their management of my motherland (as we Turks call it).

My experiences of living in Turkey prior to and until 1985 is one of horrible, continual terror of Turkish state and its utterly corrupt, almost neanderthally brutal police force and its unconquerable bureaucracy. My family and friends that I am in touch with are continually encouraging me to return after 22 years in the UK with assurances that the country has changed a lot under the AKP rule and human rights are more widely respected, but my fear of the Turkish state has such strong anchoring in the past that I would never contemplate a permanent return.
My experiences of life in Turkey is such that despite being a simple, uneducated peasant with absolutely no connections to any anti-state activity or affiliation with any organization engaged in such deeds or even the knowledge of the possibility of doing so I have been made to hate my state and its ruling elite to such an extent that if I were a committed terrorist with access to MADs I would have used it to destroy that state without hesitation.

My point is that; In the past run by the so called secular forces the Turkish state has been nothing but a barbaric and awfully lawless entity run for the benefit of the small and well connected minority of democratic!!! forces including the military establishment (praise to the Midnight Express for the enlightenment of the world)

Europeans must take in to account what the AKP has achieved when they address the issues related to Turkey and must asks themselves whether they prefer non-Islamist parties with pretenses of secularism but utterly corrupt and with absolute contempt for human rights to rule Turkey or an AKP with moderate islamism in its blood. I know which
one I would prefer.

I am 47 years old and have never felt that my state cared for its citizens. I used to ask myself 'how come a nation of empire builders and a glorious past who never knew the meaning of enslavement or was never ruled by others could not bring itself out of the darkness and establish a respectable nation-state with a consolidated democracy when it was so close in proximity to and intermingled with Europe which went through the enlightenment and ended up as a backward third world country until as recently as 1990s?

The answer lies in the self serving secularist elites who kept the masses out of democratic processes and established an iron rule that was not broken until AKP came to power.
If my country currently experiencing an economic and political change it is thanks to the AKP despite its patronage and partisan politics involving the state's resources.

I will make sure that my first ever citizen's vote goes to the AKP with grateful thanks attached to it.
Europe must take it into account that a consolidated democracy in Turkey can only be a good thing for the EU's security concerns and for the global threat that the West claims to exist.

rudisafari on "Turkey’s “Islamic reform”: roots and reality "

rudisafari — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:30:31 +0000

Quite a few scolars are astonished of the new attempt of the turkish official school to add new aspects, got from a new understanding of the the Holy Kuran. New is also giving e advises to the Holy Father in Rom what he should consider. The most surprising thing how ever is that in the quite a few centuries in which the Sultans of the Ottoman empire held also the position of the Khalifs, they did not find power to comment on the Koran. Even at times when quite a few mainly christians, known as the raya in the Ottoman Empire, were forcefully converted to Islam. The Yanitschars corps showed, beeing one of the most inhuman institution created ever by the Ottoman Opressors.
Well whatever ways and means are sought by distinguished scholars, the tremendous contribution of Mustafa Kemal Pascha, Ataturk, for the creation of a modern Turkish state, can not and will not be circumvented, since his deeds, and contribution for creating a secular Turkish state, will never be forgotten.
Buddy

Pathon on "Turkey and the Kurds: politics and military action "

Pathon — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:41:53 +0000

Here we have a country that encourages brutal punishment of those who dare to criticize its current constitution. Here we have a country that persecutes Kurds for wanting to preserve their own identity. Here we have a country that supports the partition of two European states (Cyprus and Serbia) irrespective of its own dreadful record of resolving "the Kurdish question". Here we have a country that denies genocide against Armenians. Here we have a country where many Christians live in fear. Here we have a country whose citizens across Europe kill their women for marrying non-Turkish men. Here we have a country that blindly supports the United States of America.

And here we have a country that wants be part of the European Union.

Pathetic!

rudisafari on "Turkey and the Kurds: politics and military action "

rudisafari — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:02:49 +0000

Contemporary History of Turkey is unfortunately the continuation of the opressive Ottoman policy of Assimilation and ethnic Cleansing. Since the Ottoman Turks have been defeated at Vienna and their Historic retreat from Europe begun, wich finaly culminated in the disappearance of the wrecked Ottoman empire from the world map in the early twenties of last century, mankind tought that the cruel assimilation policy purputuated by the Ottoman empire, will finally be brought to an end! After the huge ethnic cleansing which had taken place for more then 500 Years in Central and South Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, The Arab Peninsula, North Africa etc. today we are witnessing a new attempt to eradicate a whole ethnic identity of a nation, which happened to live also in certain parts of contemporary Turkey. The Kurds of Turkey have for Centuries been denied the inaleinable right to self determination and independence. Even More so, since the Lausanne Treaties in 1923, almost for hunderd years Kurds in Turkey had no rights whats so ever. Only with the new milenium and the new winds of change, some minor steps are underway, but what will be the final outcome is uncertain. It is said that Open democracy is carriying such onesided Propaganda Articles, aimed against the Fundamental achievements of enlighenment in the civilized World, and praising the outlived religous formula, which has been declared as outdated even by the very Founder of contemporary Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, Ataturk.
Stupid panturkish Propagand has no Place on Open Democracy, however constructive Discussion,steps to prevent Further escalation of an armed Conflict, the prevention of further loss of innocent lives as well the cessation all Turkish incoursions in Northern Iraq must be discussed and supported. The international community should rigorously stop the attempts of Turkey to present itself as a regional Gendarm, by insisting that Turkey should immediately withdraw from Northern Iraq and stop all its illegal incursions. Even more contemporary Turkey should also show its determinaion by obeying to international law and order by immediately and unconditionally withdrawing its occupational Forces from Northern Cyprus. That will create even more confidence and trust in the honesty of the last endeavours of the recent Turkish Government, and show indeed its readines not to interfere in the affairs of indepedent states and governments in the region, the determination not use force, as outlined in the Charter of the United Nations, as a means to solve arising disputes. Unfortunately,until today, saidly, Turkey is showing exactly the opposite.
And last but not Least,one thing should be clear to the Author of the Article: not only Turks have rights on the planet Earth!

Buddy

sophe37 on "Turkey and the Kurds: politics and military action "

sophe37 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:29:34 +0000

the article shouldn't have been allowed to be published. One wonders how much propaganda is allowed in the name of opinion or research. the writer is philistine and bias. Kurds voted for Islamist to change the landscape of government and reduce the power of fascist military. turkey and Turks are full of contradiction and hatred. they support kosovo, which i do too, and deny the right of Kurds who suffered 100 times more. The Kurdish question is not an economical it is a political. Kurds have economical problem because of the discrimination from the fascist Turkish state. The world know that. All the human right and EU reports are showing that. But the website is pro fascist because if a Kurd want to write such an article