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WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE INSULT ERDOGAN?
Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 9 2015
Why do so many people insult Recep Tayyip Erdoðan? Did any of the
previous presidents insult citizens, mocked opposition parties or
start polemics with them? Think about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ýsmet
Ýnonu, Adnan Menderes, Suleyman Demirel or Turgut Ozal.
None of these presidents used the slightest insult. All of them
were experienced statesmen who had internalized the principles of
statecraft. They didn't feel obliged to resort to such acts or they
refrained from indulging in those acts. This is because the presidency
constitutes a supra-party, conciliatory position that embraces all
segments of society. It is the state's uppermost position that seeks
to maintain social equilibrium. For this reason, Article 299 of the
Turkish Penal Code (TCK) defines insulting the president as a crime.
The person who insults the president is punishable by one to four
years in prison.
What happens when you insult the president?
For instance, if someone insults an incumbent president with words
such as "Hashashin," "leech" or "vampire," he would be sentenced to
prison. But when Erdoðan insults millions of people with the same
words, he is not penalized because he has immunity.
If a citizen refers to the president as a "member of a terrorist
organization" or a "terrorist" or if an impertinent person dares call
the president a "Mossad agent" or "CIA agent," he would be punished for
insulting the president. But when Erdoðan insults millions of people
with the same words, he is not penalized because he has immunity.
If a journalist or columnist calls the president a "traitor," he
would be punished for insult. But if Erdoðan refers to certain public
prosecutors, judges, columnists, celebrities and even Economy Minister
Ali Babacan, central bank Governor Erdem Baþcý, Turkish Industrialists
and Businessmen's Association (TUSÝAD) Chairman Muharrem Yýlmaz and
opposition leaders as "traitors," he is not penalized because he
has immunity.
If a protester calls the president a "thief" or "murderer," he would
be punished for insult. There are dozens of such protesters. Many
people, including Miss Turkey and a 13-year-old teen, are standing
trial for insulting Erdoðan. Sixty-one journalists were ordered to pay
compensation for insulting Erdoðan while 22 journalists are currently
in prison.
But when Erdoðan utters the abovementioned insults against millions
of people, he is immune.
Demirel, Ozal and the opposition
For instance, Republican People's Party (CHP) politicians didn't
like Demirel but when he visited the CHP's headquarters, he would be
greeted with respect. Likewise, Ozal would be greeted with flowers
at the headquarters of all parties. There was certainly competition
among party leaders and party politicians, but no hostility like the
kind we see today. This has already been confirmed by Bulent Arýnc:
"In the past, our opponents would respect us, but today 50 percent of
society hate us. There is polarization. Turkey may become a country
that can hardly be governed." But who is responsible for this?
If all the insults hurled at Ataturk, Ýnonu, Menderes, Demirel and
Ozal are uttered against Erdoðan in just one month, the source of the
problem can clearly be understood. Uttering all sorts of insults on
all social segments without restraint, polarizing society into Alevis
and Sunnis, denigrating Armenians and Jews by referring to someone as
being, "Excuse me, but Armenian" or "Jewish kid," making the rallying
crowds boo a mother who lost her child and reviling the dead can be
listed as the source of this hate.
By the way, we should be fair. There are also individuals and groups
that are not humiliated but are held in high esteem by Erdoðan: Doðu
Perincek; the Workers' Party (ÝP); the defendants of the lawsuits
against Ergenekon -- a clandestine organization nested within the state
trying to overthrow or manipulate the democratically elected government
-- and Sledgehammer (Balyoz) -- a clandestine organization nested
within the state trying to overthrow or manipulate the democratically
elected government; the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); the Kurdish
Communities Union (KCK); Abdullah Ocalan; and Kandil -- the PKK leaders
in the PKK camps located in the Kandil mountains in northern Iraq.
Price of insults against public
There is certainly a price that Erdoðan is currently paying
bitterly for insults. As you might notice, he can no longer
mingle with citizens. He cannot leave the palace without an army of
guards. Last year, he couldn't attend the presidential cup. He cannot
go to stadiums and indoor sports halls if they are not filled with
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) supporters. He cannot stop
by marketplaces. If he happens to stop by, another Soma scandal may
reoccur. Last month, funeral ceremonies for 10 martyrs were held,
but he couldn't attend any of them for fear of being protested against.
When he decides to make a public appearance, a North Korean security
protocol is implemented. Whatever is done for Kim Jong Un is done
for Erdoðan. He cannot eat food casually. His food is checked with
electronic equipment that is found only at a NASA base.
Erdoðan is isolated not only from Turkey, but also from the world. He
cannot fly to the US or European countries. He cannot make an official
visit to any country with real democracy. No one comes from those
countries for an official visit. We cannot talk to world leaders on
the phone. He just sends his message with "smoke" by shouting "O,
Obama," or "O, Merkel." He is aware of this situation, but tries to
brush over this scandal by saying, "I don't care about loneliness."
Can he make public appearance on TV? He cannot give an interview to any
regular journalist. The journalists who he talks to include fanatical
AK Party supporters who are disguised as journalists and cabin officers
like Akif Beki, who act like his tailgates. They either caress his
cheek and ask, "Sir, how do you maintain your energy? What do you
eat?" like Mehmet Barlas, or utter sentences that can be regarded as
the utmost example of sycophancy like, "I cannot image anything anymore
because even before I envision something, you already make it happen."
It follows that he reaps votes with hate speech. This makes it
impossible for him to make public appearances.
*Veysel Ayhan is managing editor of the Zaman daily.
http://www.todayszaman.com/op-ed_why-do-so-many-people-insult-erdogan_374735.html
Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 9 2015
Why do so many people insult Recep Tayyip Erdoðan? Did any of the
previous presidents insult citizens, mocked opposition parties or
start polemics with them? Think about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ýsmet
Ýnonu, Adnan Menderes, Suleyman Demirel or Turgut Ozal.
None of these presidents used the slightest insult. All of them
were experienced statesmen who had internalized the principles of
statecraft. They didn't feel obliged to resort to such acts or they
refrained from indulging in those acts. This is because the presidency
constitutes a supra-party, conciliatory position that embraces all
segments of society. It is the state's uppermost position that seeks
to maintain social equilibrium. For this reason, Article 299 of the
Turkish Penal Code (TCK) defines insulting the president as a crime.
The person who insults the president is punishable by one to four
years in prison.
What happens when you insult the president?
For instance, if someone insults an incumbent president with words
such as "Hashashin," "leech" or "vampire," he would be sentenced to
prison. But when Erdoðan insults millions of people with the same
words, he is not penalized because he has immunity.
If a citizen refers to the president as a "member of a terrorist
organization" or a "terrorist" or if an impertinent person dares call
the president a "Mossad agent" or "CIA agent," he would be punished for
insulting the president. But when Erdoðan insults millions of people
with the same words, he is not penalized because he has immunity.
If a journalist or columnist calls the president a "traitor," he
would be punished for insult. But if Erdoðan refers to certain public
prosecutors, judges, columnists, celebrities and even Economy Minister
Ali Babacan, central bank Governor Erdem Baþcý, Turkish Industrialists
and Businessmen's Association (TUSÝAD) Chairman Muharrem Yýlmaz and
opposition leaders as "traitors," he is not penalized because he
has immunity.
If a protester calls the president a "thief" or "murderer," he would
be punished for insult. There are dozens of such protesters. Many
people, including Miss Turkey and a 13-year-old teen, are standing
trial for insulting Erdoðan. Sixty-one journalists were ordered to pay
compensation for insulting Erdoðan while 22 journalists are currently
in prison.
But when Erdoðan utters the abovementioned insults against millions
of people, he is immune.
Demirel, Ozal and the opposition
For instance, Republican People's Party (CHP) politicians didn't
like Demirel but when he visited the CHP's headquarters, he would be
greeted with respect. Likewise, Ozal would be greeted with flowers
at the headquarters of all parties. There was certainly competition
among party leaders and party politicians, but no hostility like the
kind we see today. This has already been confirmed by Bulent Arýnc:
"In the past, our opponents would respect us, but today 50 percent of
society hate us. There is polarization. Turkey may become a country
that can hardly be governed." But who is responsible for this?
If all the insults hurled at Ataturk, Ýnonu, Menderes, Demirel and
Ozal are uttered against Erdoðan in just one month, the source of the
problem can clearly be understood. Uttering all sorts of insults on
all social segments without restraint, polarizing society into Alevis
and Sunnis, denigrating Armenians and Jews by referring to someone as
being, "Excuse me, but Armenian" or "Jewish kid," making the rallying
crowds boo a mother who lost her child and reviling the dead can be
listed as the source of this hate.
By the way, we should be fair. There are also individuals and groups
that are not humiliated but are held in high esteem by Erdoðan: Doðu
Perincek; the Workers' Party (ÝP); the defendants of the lawsuits
against Ergenekon -- a clandestine organization nested within the state
trying to overthrow or manipulate the democratically elected government
-- and Sledgehammer (Balyoz) -- a clandestine organization nested
within the state trying to overthrow or manipulate the democratically
elected government; the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); the Kurdish
Communities Union (KCK); Abdullah Ocalan; and Kandil -- the PKK leaders
in the PKK camps located in the Kandil mountains in northern Iraq.
Price of insults against public
There is certainly a price that Erdoðan is currently paying
bitterly for insults. As you might notice, he can no longer
mingle with citizens. He cannot leave the palace without an army of
guards. Last year, he couldn't attend the presidential cup. He cannot
go to stadiums and indoor sports halls if they are not filled with
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) supporters. He cannot stop
by marketplaces. If he happens to stop by, another Soma scandal may
reoccur. Last month, funeral ceremonies for 10 martyrs were held,
but he couldn't attend any of them for fear of being protested against.
When he decides to make a public appearance, a North Korean security
protocol is implemented. Whatever is done for Kim Jong Un is done
for Erdoðan. He cannot eat food casually. His food is checked with
electronic equipment that is found only at a NASA base.
Erdoðan is isolated not only from Turkey, but also from the world. He
cannot fly to the US or European countries. He cannot make an official
visit to any country with real democracy. No one comes from those
countries for an official visit. We cannot talk to world leaders on
the phone. He just sends his message with "smoke" by shouting "O,
Obama," or "O, Merkel." He is aware of this situation, but tries to
brush over this scandal by saying, "I don't care about loneliness."
Can he make public appearance on TV? He cannot give an interview to any
regular journalist. The journalists who he talks to include fanatical
AK Party supporters who are disguised as journalists and cabin officers
like Akif Beki, who act like his tailgates. They either caress his
cheek and ask, "Sir, how do you maintain your energy? What do you
eat?" like Mehmet Barlas, or utter sentences that can be regarded as
the utmost example of sycophancy like, "I cannot image anything anymore
because even before I envision something, you already make it happen."
It follows that he reaps votes with hate speech. This makes it
impossible for him to make public appearances.
*Veysel Ayhan is managing editor of the Zaman daily.
http://www.todayszaman.com/op-ed_why-do-so-many-people-insult-erdogan_374735.html