Military Coup in Turkey??

[KKOB]

So what exactly does that mean for Brits Abroad?

I don't think anyone could give you a definitive answer on that Bernie. Only time will tell.

[LeeGlo]

Towards a hard core authoritarian Islamic state with RTE as Caliphate.

I'm not wishing to be pedantic, but just pointing out that a Caliph (Islamic ruler) is the ruler of a Caliphate (Islamic area).   

I bow to your greater knowledge KKOB, but you know exactly what I meant. He wants Turkey to follow strict Islam, to abandon any idea of western, democratic freedoms and to elevate himself to a position of dictator in charge of everything.

[Colwyn]

A Caliphate, as I understand it, is an Islamic grouping where nation states are irrelevant and is instead an entire region which is ruled by a single head. Something which Islamic State/Daesh would like to create and which the Ottoman Empire actually achieved. The problem for Erdogan is ... the populations of which other country are clamouring for him to be their leader? His closest soul mates, and fellow Sunnis, are Saudi Arabia but I don't see the Saud royal family embracing him as their boss. Do you? He may have to settle for just being a Sultan and not a Caliph.

[KKOB]

He wants Turkey to follow strict Islam, to abandon any idea of western, democratic freedoms and to elevate himself to a position of dictator in charge of everything.

Absolutely Lee.

Colwyn, if we want to be REALLY pedantic, yes, he wants to be a Sultan, as a Caliph must be able to trace his bloodline back to, and be a religious successor to the prophet, Muhammad (Muhammad ibn ʿAbdullāh).

There's a very interesting 3 part video on the Al Jazeera website about The Caliphs.

http://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2016/the-caliph-islamic-history/index.html

[Colwyn]

Colwyn, if we want to be REALLY pedantic, yes, he wants to be a Sultan, as a Caliph must be able to trace his bloodline back to, and be a religious successor to the prophet, Muhammad (Muhammad ibn ʿAbdullāh).

There's a very interesting 3 part video on the Al Jazeera website about The Caliphs.

http://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2016/the-caliph-islamic-history/index.html

I'm sure the little technicality of bloodlines can be fixed. After all a succession of Ottomans, whose ancestors lived in Central Asia when the Prophet was about, manged to get the job! I'll look forward to the video, it is not a topic frequently covered on UK TV - unlike Greek history.

[LeeGlo]

Oh heck what have I started !! I'll leave KKOB and Colwyn to thrash out the finer points and just say that life will not be so pleasant in Turkey in the future if RTE continues with his agenda and who is there left to stop him?

[KKOB]

Don't worry Lee. Colwyn and I gave up thrashing many moons ago.

Colwyn, it's a 3-parter. The 1st is available now and the other 2 will be in the next couple of weeks.

[nichola]

I suppose I am naive in thinking an explanation for removing the judges would be required.  Hard to imagine nobody would question and ask why.  I think I understand where this is heading but can't quite see the relevance/importance of the judges specifically in his quest for power?  I'm probably missing the obvious - sorry.

In any democracy there are three things that need to be independent of the other. It's called separation of powers.

There is the legislative body - parliament. The judiciary - courts and judges. And the executive - the police and in some cases the army. These three things together are the government.

If the parliamentary body exceeds its powers it can be challenged in a court of law. For example in the UK this government has been challenged several times recently in a coury of law and lost because it has been found to have broken the law. Currently 28 Conservative Members of Parliament are being investigated by the relevant Police Authorities because of allegedly overspending during the 2015 General Election. If there is evidence to support these allegations it will go to court. When (if) they are proved guilty the judges will decide the punishment in accordance with the law.

If there is no separation of powers because there is no independence from the other there is no democracy.

By removing the judges here it is possible to replace them with other judges that are not independent, or to put it bluntly support a certain view point in accordance with the the view of the legislative  body.

What this is all about is the plans to change the constitution as I mentioned already and the opportunity being taken to remove those that might seek to challenge or stop that from happening.

By the way Bernie I'm not back yet it's just that for the most part I've only got my phone with internet access and CBF is really hard to see and write on as the text is minute. Apologises in advance for any typos. If only there was a CBF app ☺

[Bluwise]

Thanks Nichola, I'm trying hard to understand in my way and just leads to more questions.   
So there isn't even a pretence of democracy happening now  - nobody will question or challenge the removal of the judges because there is no separation of  power?

[Colwyn]

Lots of people will question it but it won't do any good. And, if they are on the list, they'll probably end up in prison. Foreigners are safe - for now, and probably for quite a long time yet.