VESKON says officials' hate speech could draw society into violence

The International Vefa Health Confederation (VESKON), the umbrella organization of health associations in Turkey, has warned of the potential for “social insanity” in the country, defined as a pathological form of mass behavior that stems from the deterioration of value and standards-based systems that regulate social behavior, stating that government officials are responsible for the possible development of this phenomenon due to the frequent public use of hate speech that is already prompting violence across Turkey.

“Unfortunately, a psychology of ‘the opposite side' has been established and society is polarized. We expect state officials to embrace all parts of society without prejudice, rather than creating a separate, simulated society by dividing the people,” VESKON spokesperson Dr. Osman Abalı said, adding that he has been following recent developments with deep concern.

Abalı's remarks came during a VESKON event attended by representatives from several health federations and 105 health professional associations held in İstanbul on Saturday. Nearly 1,500 health professionals including doctors, dentists, pharmacists and physical therapists participated in a discussion of how the recent tension between Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Hizmet movement inspired by US based Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen is engulfing society.

Commenting on Turkey's abrupt ban on Twitter, Abalı said that Turkish society is becoming overwhelmed. “Everyone on the street is asking where Turkish is headed,” he noted.

“No one can understand the recent incident of the Twitter ban and why it is blocked. The Twitter ban is a new and different indication of the extent to which the situation in Turkey is just terrible,” Abalı said in his speech, adding, “Individual freedoms cannot be restricted in any manner.”

The Erdoğan government dealt a new blow to freedoms and rights blocking public access to the social media platform Twitter late on Thursday. It was the latest in a growing list of prohibitions that limit rights and freedoms that Turks are witnessing in the lead up to local elections on March 30.

The Twitter ban, which has drawn a huge reaction in Turkey and around the world, came hours after the prime minister threatened to “root out” the social media network where numerous wiretapped recordings have been leaked that allegedly reveal Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government officials' participation in corruption and other forms of wrongdoing.

Noting that extreme language being used is negatively affecting citizens, Abalı said that millions in Turkey think that Prime Minister Erdoğan hates them and he asked, “If they think that, is there any chance for peace in this country?”

“Whenever hate speech employed by government officials permeates society it turns into social violence. We are getting news about fights in a mosque, at schools, bazaars and cafes. The tension is turning this country into a place where living is becoming as difficult as it was before 1980. The price will be social insanity. As a health organization, we are extremely concerned about this situation,” Abalı said, adding that the language many high-ranking officials have been using cannot be a product of what he called “a normal psychology.”

“It is the panicked behavior that comes out of a psychology of guilt,” Abalı said.

Following the corruption scandal that erupted on Dec. 17, 2013, that has implicated the AK Party government, Erdoğan's insulting and vengeful rhetoric has dramatically increased, targeting the Hizmet movement and other parts of society, including ethnic and religious minorities.

Published on Today's Zaman, 24 March 2014, Monday