Erdoğan claims victory while supporters celebrate near Taksim Square, Istanbul. Depo Photos/PA Images. All rights reserved.On April 16, 2017, Turkey went through one of its most problematic referendums in its history. Among many reports and testimonies of fraud, allegedly two and half millions votes, mostly from the Kurdish regions of Turkey, remain at the centre of debate. Despite the narrow window between the yes (51.4) and no votes (49.4), the new president of the new Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared his victory hours before the official results were announced and invited his supporters to celebrate it on the streets.
Just 6 weeks after the referendum, Erdogan has already become the supreme leader of his party, where he has initiated important changes in administrative rankings. He is now getting ready for a cabinet change and hence another battle, this time within the party. What lies ahead for Turkey’s citizens is further segregation, hatred, unemployment and economic collapse, silence and fear. While western interests are very much focused on the 3 million Syrian refugees, millions of Turkish people are also seeking ways of escaping Turkey and finding another life in dignity and peace, one where they might secure the basic protection of law, citizenship, health care or social support.
This week’s special theme offers a range of insights into Turkey’s referendum and its aftermath. In a country where there is no freedom of expression, critical thought and any decent institutional platform that could nourish a free debate on society and politics, critical minds have to find an alternative platform to continue sharing their opinions and analysis. Throughout the week, a number of critical voices from Turkey will contribute to this special week – academics in exile who are scholars on their country but who are also subjected to the current regime’s ire and stigmatization.
