What's going on in Turkey?

[JTsyo]

Last week I saw something on riot due to a park being torn down. But now it seems the whole country is rioting. From what I can see it seems aimed at the current PM. Is this more of Arab Spring or is there a different issue in Turkey. Always thought they were fairly democratic.

 

[Agent11]

May have something to do with all the Syrian refugees.

 

[JTsyo]

Found a good CNN article, that explains the background. Seems it's the opposite of the other uprisings we've seen in the ME. The current PM is more religious and the government is pushing away from secular rule. The protests are over the move from secular rule to more Islamic laws.

 

[zephyrprime]

This is big news. Why aren't we talking about it? I know they are rebelling against their conservative government or something but I admit I know next to nothing about what is going on over there.

 

[mikeymikec]

Deputy PM has his eye on the throne?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22767622

 

[Kadarin]

Looks like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is setting himself up to not only be dictator, but push the country in an Islamic direction and undo everything Mustafa Kemal Atatürk did for the country. And it looks like a good number of people in Turkey are not really all that happy about this.

 

[unokitty]

Last week I saw something on riot due to a park being torn down. But now it seems the whole country is rioting. From what I can see it seems aimed at the current PM. Is this more of Arab Spring or is there a different issue in Turkey. Always thought they were fairly democratic.

All kinds of people are demonstrating against the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Monday night marked just the latest gathering in Turkey's biggest city, part of the wave of protests that has spread across the country after a handful of people in Istanbul came out to prevent the destruction of a small park in the city. It has become a revolt. --Der Speigel

Photo Essay Faces of Protest in Turkey.

Uno

 

[lagokc]

Looks like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is setting himself up to not only be dictator, but push the country in an Islamic direction and undo everything Mustafa Kemal Atatürk did for the country. And it looks like a good number of people in Turkey are not really all that happy about this.

Why all the riots? The Spanish figured out how to deal with fascist dictators decades ago.

Off topic: Oh wow lol we still have joke wikipedia editors...

Luis Carrero Blanco ... was a Spanish admiral, astronaut and long-time confidant of leader Francisco Franco. He was assassinated by members of the group ETA.

I can't find anything about him being involved in any space program. I think by "astronaut" the article is referring to how high the bomb blew his car.

 

[gevorg]

NATO to Erdogan on Syria and Arab Springs: Either do what we say, or we'll make you look like a dictator and take you down like Qaddafi/etc.

 

[Oric]

Nothing to do with NATO. Erdogan is a good leader but not a democrat, after 3 election victories he started acting like a semi-God and people reacted to not one issue but everything combined. The serious clashes involved tear gas and water but e government at last admitted the error and is apologising (not Erdogan but his deputies) the peaceful resistance will likely to continue for some time.

 

[PokerGuy]

Good to see at least one place where the population is not just rolling over and watching their country turn into some crappy islamo-craphole. It's never been a particularly great place by western standards, but at least there was a degree of secular rule. Now that's starting to get dismantled in favor of religious rule, as inevitably seems to happen in those places.

 

[Nintendesert]

Whatever is going on, I'm sure John McCain will pick the wrong side to pose for pictures with.

 

[JTsyo]

Nothing to do with NATO. Erdogan is a good leader but not a democrat, after 3 election victories he started acting like a semi-God and people reacted to not one issue but everything combined. The serious clashes involved tear gas and water but e government at last admitted the error and is apologising (not Erdogan but his deputies) the peaceful resistance will likely to continue for some time.

Isn't there a 3 term limit? How much longer can he stay in office?

 

[moonbogg]

Isn't there a 3 term limit? How much longer can he stay in office?

Mid east leaders simply change the laws while they are in power. If there is a pesky term limit, then they just change it! Nice and simple.

 

[Incorruptible]

The current PM is an Islamist and is slowly taking the country to Islamic and sharia law. He doesn't believe in separation of Church and state.

 

[zinfamous]

The current PM is an Islamist and is slowly taking the country to Islamic and sharia law. He doesn't believe in separation of Church and state.

Hell, neither do you, Captain Exposition.

 

[kage69]

Sad news for a great country.

 

[Incorruptible]

Hell, neither do you, Captain Exposition.

Do you support him or not?

 

[lagokc]

Good to see at least one place where the population is not just rolling over and watching their country turn into some crappy islamo-craphole. It's never been a particularly great place by western standards, but at least there was a degree of secular rule. Now that's starting to get dismantled in favor of religious rule, as inevitably seems to happen in those places.

While you're right the Sick man of Europe has never been particularly great by Western standards (at least not since Constantine XI was still ruling at Constantinople), it's not as simple as the overwhelming Arab influence of some place like Egypt. There is a lot of Greek culture watering down the Turkish (Ataturk himself was born in Thessaloniki) as well as a pretty strong desire by a lot of the urbanites from Western regions such as those in Istanbul to become more Westernized in order to profit from trade and tourism from the West. Turkey has even begun exporting wine again, and the climate for it couldn't be more perfect. Unfortunately the extremist Muslims breed a lot faster than the moderates so... things tend to swing...


Ok yeah short term things might work themselves out, long term Turkey is going to have issues.

 

[poohbear]

Why all the riots? The Spanish figured out how to deal with fascist dictators decades ago.

Off topic: Oh wow lol we still have joke wikipedia editors...



I can't find anything about him being involved in any space program. I think by "astronaut" the article is referring to how high the bomb blew his car.

The Spanish learned how to deal with Franco? How? They just waited for him to die. That's not what i'd call learning to "deal with it."

 

[poohbear]

While you're right the Sick man of Europe has never been particularly great by Western standards (at least not since Constantine XI was still ruling at Constantinople), it's not as simple as the overwhelming Arab influence of some place like Egypt. There is a lot of Greek culture watering down the Turkish (Ataturk himself was born in Thessaloniki) as well as a pretty strong desire by a lot of the urbanites from Western regions such as those in Istanbul to become more Westernized in order to profit from trade and tourism from the West. Turkey has even begun exporting wine again, and the climate for it couldn't be more perfect. Unfortunately the extremist Muslims breed a lot faster than the moderates so... things tend to swing...


Ok yeah short term things might work themselves out, long term Turkey is going to have issues.

Lol dude, Turkey's never been great??? Are u that biased that ull even ignore history? The ottoman empire was one of the most powerful in Europe & Europeans were terrified they'd take over Europe. How exactly did Greece "influence" Turkey?? Turkey conquered Greece and it was part of the ottoman empire for 350 years (it was called Tourkokratia) , so how exactly did Greece influence Turkey & not the other way around? Civilizations have their hayday, turkey is no exception.

I swear reading what some u guys say about the east u'd think civilization started in the west. Be a student of history, civilization happens in stages, western & northern Europe used to be shitholes for the majority of humanities existence, it would've remained that way if not for the Mediterranean world & the near east. Stop being so Eurocentric in ur outlook. Just because western Europe has been on the ascendant for the past 500 years you think we owe it everything? 500 years is a blink of an eye in the history of humanity.

 

[JTsyo]

Lol dude, Turkey's never been great??? Are u that biased that ull even ignore history? The ottoman empire was one of the most powerful in Europe & Europeans were terrified they'd take over Europe. How exactly did Greece "influence" Turkey?? Turkey conquered Greece and it was part of the ottoman empire for 350 years (it was called Tourkokratia) , so how exactly did Greece influence Turkey & not the other way around? Civilizations have their hayday, turkey is no exception.

I swear reading what some u guys say about the east u'd think civilization started in the west. Be a student of history, civilization happens in stages, western & northern Europe used to be shitholes for the majority of humanities existence, it would've remained that way if not for the Mediterranean world & the near east. Stop being so Eurocentric in ur outlook. Just because western Europe has been on the ascendant for the past 500 years you think we owe it everything? 500 years is a blink of an eye in the history of humanity.

You do realize that culture transfers are a two way street right? I don't know of the Turkey/Greece situation in particular but in general when you assimilate a group of people, you pick up some of their culture into your society.

 

[zinfamous]

Do you support him or not?

How about this, Captain Sockpuppet: I really don't give a shit about your opinions or wild unfounded designations of individuals, so I just laugh at your asinine questions.

 

[Oric]

Erdogan did not step back and continued his cocky stance against the demands. Things are not going well ...

 

[unokitty]

Erdogan did not step back and continued his cocky stance against the demands. Things are not going well ...

Sounds like a difficult and complex situation. Sorry to hear that things are not going well. Thanks for posting.

Today Der Speigel had this to say:

No politician divides Turkey as much as Erdogan, the ambitious man from a poor neighborhood who has confronted the old elites. He has curtailed the power of the military, pushed forward reforms and sparked economic growth. There are many who have much to thank him for. Small and medium-sized businesses are thriving, and both incomes and prosperity are rising.

The problem is that Erdogan has come to see any criticism as an attack, every attempt to have a say in decision-making as illegitimate interference and each protest as an act of sabotage. He has critical journalists and artists placed under suspicion of terrorism.

Many of those protesting on Taksim Square do not contest that Erdogan has accomplished good things. But they still want to be heard. "Many people voted for Erdogan because they initially viewed him as liberal," says Direnc E., 35, who is about to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy. But now they are disappointed, he adds, especially people with university degrees and the owners of small and medium-sized businesses.

Photo Essay.

Best of luck,
Stay Safe!
Uno