Meltem Gürsoy
Naim from Diyarbakir sent me a message. He says: "The Kurds would listen to you if you said something to them, because you're coming from a leftist tradition. Evil powers like PKK and KCK can't stand the approval for Gulen Movement's service for Kurds."
I've written about in the column that I've eaten Turkish doner in a Kurdish restaurant in London and that I couldn't say 'no' to a Kurdish girl's invitation for a dinner at their place.
Kurds are a community attached to their traditions. They even hold on to it in London.Today KCK and PKK do not represent Kurds. These two organizations have made Kurds suffer and brought tears to them. They have forced Kurds to betray their Turk brothers.
January 28, 2012
January 27, 2012
Ergenekon’s mass graves, Kurdish skeletons
İhsan Yılmaz
It is not so easy to comprehend the intertwined and sophisticated socio-political phenomena in Turkey from an armchair or “pub table” by just talking to a few white Turks while enjoying a drink. In terms of their lifestyles, it is true that these white Turks are the most Westernized in Turkish society. Yet, if you scratch the surface and understand Western civilization as something that stems from the ideas of the Enlightenment, rationality, empathy, respect for human rights and multiculturalism, you are speaking to the wrong guys.
It is not so easy to comprehend the intertwined and sophisticated socio-political phenomena in Turkey from an armchair or “pub table” by just talking to a few white Turks while enjoying a drink. In terms of their lifestyles, it is true that these white Turks are the most Westernized in Turkish society. Yet, if you scratch the surface and understand Western civilization as something that stems from the ideas of the Enlightenment, rationality, empathy, respect for human rights and multiculturalism, you are speaking to the wrong guys.
January 26, 2012
Fethullah Gülen's latest book launch celebrated at İstanbul forum
Today's Zaman
Journalists, politicians and writers gathered together for a forum in İstanbul on Tuesday to mark the launch of renowned Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen's latest book, “Yaşatma İdeali,” (The Ideal to Let Others Live).
The event, organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), was held at the Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel. Among the participants of the event were GYV President Mustafa Yeşil, İstanbul Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, Assyrian Catholic Church leader Chorepiscopus Yusuf Sağ, Zaman Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı, Media Association President Salih Memecan, former Democrat Party (DP) leader Süleyman Soylu and Fatih University Rector Şerif Ali Tekalan, in addition to many high-profile journalists.
The event, organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), was held at the Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel. Among the participants of the event were GYV President Mustafa Yeşil, İstanbul Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, Assyrian Catholic Church leader Chorepiscopus Yusuf Sağ, Zaman Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı, Media Association President Salih Memecan, former Democrat Party (DP) leader Süleyman Soylu and Fatih University Rector Şerif Ali Tekalan, in addition to many high-profile journalists.
January 25, 2012
New book examines efforts to link Fethullah Gülen to every probe
Today's Zaman
A recently published book authored by journalist Nazlı Ilıcak tries to shed light on allegations that point to the faith-based Gülen movement as the driving force behind some ongoing trials in Turkey that aim to cleanse the country of anti-democratic formations. Ilıcak's book, “Her Taşın Altında 'The Cemaat' mi Var?” (Is “The Movement” behind everything?), which was published by Doğan Books, has just hit bookshelves.
In the book, the journalist tries to shed light on secret attempts to cover up and manipulate the trials concerning Ergenekon, a shadowy crime network that has alleged links within the state and is suspected of plotting to topple the government, OdaTV, the Hrant Dink murder, the Action Plan Against Reactionaryism and the process leading up to the release of the April 27 military memorandum in 2007.
In the book, the journalist tries to shed light on secret attempts to cover up and manipulate the trials concerning Ergenekon, a shadowy crime network that has alleged links within the state and is suspected of plotting to topple the government, OdaTV, the Hrant Dink murder, the Action Plan Against Reactionaryism and the process leading up to the release of the April 27 military memorandum in 2007.
January 24, 2012
Who is directing Turkey?
Mümtazer Türköne
Vice Adm. Kadir Sağdıç, who is a suspect in the Sledgehammer (Balyoz) case and is currently being held under arrest, answers the question, “Who is running Turkey?” with the response, “We are.” The Balyoz case is one that includes numerous different conspiracies and attempted murders. And Sağdıç is one of the most important suspects in this case.
Alright, so should we be taking his assertion, “We are directing Turkey,” seriously? If we interpret these words as meaning, “We are directing important developments and discussions,” then clearly there is a larger and important reality we are facing here.
Vice Adm. Kadir Sağdıç, who is a suspect in the Sledgehammer (Balyoz) case and is currently being held under arrest, answers the question, “Who is running Turkey?” with the response, “We are.” The Balyoz case is one that includes numerous different conspiracies and attempted murders. And Sağdıç is one of the most important suspects in this case.
Alright, so should we be taking his assertion, “We are directing Turkey,” seriously? If we interpret these words as meaning, “We are directing important developments and discussions,” then clearly there is a larger and important reality we are facing here.
January 23, 2012
Turkey in Uganda
Mutlu Tönbekici
I've been in Uganda for the last 4-5 days to see the schools of the Gulen Movement. As my colleagues missed the flight, I'm the only one here. But this turned out to be a good thing. As they welcomed me as the most precious guest and I could visit the houses of the Turkish people working here in the Turkish schools not like a journalist but a relative from Erzurum or Manisa.
I've been in Uganda for the last 4-5 days to see the schools of the Gulen Movement. As my colleagues missed the flight, I'm the only one here. But this turned out to be a good thing. As they welcomed me as the most precious guest and I could visit the houses of the Turkish people working here in the Turkish schools not like a journalist but a relative from Erzurum or Manisa.
January 22, 2012
‘US failed to criticize anti-democratic e-memo by Turkish military’
Köksal Akpınar
The US has always supported military coups d’état in Turkey. As of late, this has changed a bit, but still the US administration’s ambivalent stance when the Turkish military issued a threatening e-memorandum – that is, an anti-government declaration posted on its website – on April 27, 2007, was no attitude to be proud of, according to Yasemin Çongar, a prominent pro-democracy journalist in Turkey.
Referring to the US administration’s response to the April 27 memo, Çongar said: “They acted unethically. And I think this embarrassed them later.
They were embarrassed when the [Turkish] government stood up to the military, though they [the US] had failed to take a similar stance, and, more importantly, [they were embarrassed] by the reaction of people with democratic awareness in Turkey.”
She recently responded to questions from the Cihan Magazine, sharing her opinions on various aspects of Turkish politics and life.
The US has always supported military coups d’état in Turkey. As of late, this has changed a bit, but still the US administration’s ambivalent stance when the Turkish military issued a threatening e-memorandum – that is, an anti-government declaration posted on its website – on April 27, 2007, was no attitude to be proud of, according to Yasemin Çongar, a prominent pro-democracy journalist in Turkey.
Referring to the US administration’s response to the April 27 memo, Çongar said: “They acted unethically. And I think this embarrassed them later.
They were embarrassed when the [Turkish] government stood up to the military, though they [the US] had failed to take a similar stance, and, more importantly, [they were embarrassed] by the reaction of people with democratic awareness in Turkey.”
She recently responded to questions from the Cihan Magazine, sharing her opinions on various aspects of Turkish politics and life.
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