Are these our neighbours and friends?

[usedbustickets]

Very interesting article in today's Al Monitor on the return of a lynching culture in Turkey http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/09/turkey-revival-of-lynching-culture-against-kurds.html?utm_source=Al-Monitor+Newsletter+%5BEnglish%5D&utm_campaign=891335b2d9-September_23_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-891335b2d9-102368677.  I have drawn out one section of the article which is very pertinent to us in this area.

On Sept. 8, nationalists in the Mediterranean town of Fethiye launched a manhunt for Ibrahim Cay, a Kurd who had shared a picture of himself clad in traditional Kurdish attire on Facebook. Cay received a call from the local paramilitary police commander, who told him to stay at home and that he was coming to pick him up. Soon, not the commander but two cars and four motorcycles arrived outside his home. Cay saw what was coming and ran away. A mob of about 70 people soon got hold of Cay, beat him up in the town square and forced him to kiss the Ataturk statue there. It was only then that the paramilitary police arrived to rescue the battered man. In the hospital, doctors refused to treat him, while a mob of some 300 frenzied people gathered outside, waiting to lynch him. The security forces, who did nothing to the assailants, took Cay to the police station for questioning. The paramilitary commander then attempted to send Cay out on his own, though the mob was now waiting outside the police station. Cay managed to safely leave the station and then the town thanks to relatives who came to pick him up. The five assailants he had named in his testimony walked free after questioning, while the prosecution launched a criminal investigation against Cay on charges of “praising crime and criminals” by posting a picture of himself in “peshmerga attire.”

Very sad and very worrying, especially the point that doctors refused to treat the injured man.  Yes this is just one example of the campaign of war, death, violence and hatred stirred up by Reg to deliver his political ambition or indeed to ensure his political survival. However, the people who carried out this particular attack, and others in this area, are our neighbours and perhaps friends too.  And this sort of thing cannot do the tourism trade any good either.

So it is no surprise then that a number of people are considering leaving Fethiye/Turkey, or even leaving or planning to leave this winter.  When you speak them the political uncertainty is a high consideration spoken of by all.  Even if their main reason for going is something different like family, trying another country or the 'time has come' to go home.  Might be worth starting a new CBF section to follow 'Moving to Turkey' to be called 'Moving Out Of Turkey'

[sadler]

Very worrying indeed UBT. Thank you for sharing.

[JohnF]

Very sad and very worrying, especially the point that doctors refused to treat the injured man.  Yes this is just one example of the campaign of war, death, violence and hatred stirred up by Reg to deliver his political ambition or indeed to ensure his political survival. However, the people who carried out this particular attack, and others in this area, are our neighbours and perhaps friends too.  And this sort of thing cannot do the tourism trade any good either.

This type of incident has been happening for some time now along the south coast, Antalya, Alanya, Side etc.  Shops and businesses owned by Kurds have been targeted by hate filled mobs, who a few hours previously happily bought bread, SIM cards, çay and other day to day items from these businesses.  Nationalist and anti Kurd propaganda & speeches turn, as you said, your "neighbours and friends" into a bunch of thugs, willing to ignore the principles of law and order, to wreak vengeance on the nasty Kurds.

I said some time ago that recent events in Turkey are becoming increasingly like those in pre war Germany, and it pains me to be proved correct.  In addition to Margaret Thatchers biography* being little Reginalds preferred bedtime reading, I think someone also gave him a copy of Mein Kampf.

*Disclaimer: other dictators and despots biographies are also available (lets hope PolPots isnt phucking next!).

JF

[Menthol]

Not long after I moved here, I was asked by someone who has lived here for 20+ years, why I chose Fethiye.

After I waxed lyrical for a good 10 minutes with all the usual stuff, she told me I was in the wrong place.

And I certainly understand her point. There's a distinct lack of culture here and an often thinly disguised air of tolerating yabangee and some out and out racism towards Kurds.

I've witnessed some distinctly unsavoury behaviour from the Jandarma when my house was burgled and it has made me wary of them.

Fethiyans don't even speak Turkish properly! I had an albeit short conversation with a family from Istanbul today in the baker's shop and we all understood each other perfectly. I then turned to the shop assistant and asked for my usual bread to be met with a blank look. This happens regularly. So I ask in English and am served.

However, I love it here.

[Jacqui Harvey]

If there are 20 million Kurds in Turkey and there was a movement such as the IRA or ETA formed by the Kurds who felt they were being badly treated it would be a disaster for the Turkey and it's economic.

[JohnF]

a movement such as the IRA or ETA

Well actually there is - it's called the PKK and has been around since 1984.

JF

[Colwyn]

We should remember that in the 1980s and 1990s 40,000 people died in what some people called a "civil war" between the Turkish Government and its military and police forces on one side and Kurdish nationalists and the PKK on the other - with plenty of citizens killed in the course of this conflict.

[Steve A]

I get the sentiment but the report is exaggerated as we were sitting with Kurdish friends at the time who received a text and photo of this as they are friends of the man in question.There was nowhere near the numbers involved .

[Jacqui Harvey]

a movement such as the IRA or ETA

Well actually there is - it's called the PKK and has been around since 1984.

JF

Yes, but not like the IRA who operated all over the U.K.  with bombs etc., I have not heard of the PPK bombing the local tourists resorts.  I assumed they were mainly around the Turkish Border.  I must read more about this subject. 

[JohnF]

It maybe exagerated in Fethiye, but not in places like Alanya.

a movement such as the IRA or ETA

Well actually there is - it's called the PKK and has been around since 1984.

JF

Yes, but not like the IRA who operated all over the U.K.  with bombs etc., I have not heard of the PPK bombing the local tourists resorts.  I assumed they were mainly around the Turkish Border. I must read more about this subject. 

I think you should.  There were PKK attacks in Marmaris and Antalya not that many years ago, and numerous in Istanbul and Ankara - all in addition to activity in the east and south east of the country.  To be frank, they make the IRA look like amateurs.

JF