It wasn’t so long ago that the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was considered to be the poster child for political Islam. At one time, there were a slew of articles in the mainstream press praising the Turkish system of governance as an example to be emulated by other regional predominantly Muslim states. Turkey was considered an economic miracle that was well on the path to democracy en route to joining the European Union.
Erdogan used to be greatly respected as a statesman who championed Arab and Muslim causes while maintaining good relations with almost all neighbouring countries, including Israel. But judging from his actions and statements over the past few years, one would be forgiven for believing he’s been exchanged for his terrible, and increasingly irrational, twin.
Erdogan Mark II emerged eighteen months ago during the Gezi Park protests when a peaceful crowd of environmental demonstrators were violently ousted by riot police. “This issue is not about the park,” he said. “It’s us versus them,” he announced.
Growing public unrest galvanised the then prime minister to launch an attack on social media, saying “social media is the biggest trouble for society” before he unsuccessfully attempted to block Twitter, Facebook and YouTube which he accused of furthering “all kinds of immorality, all kinds of espionage . . .”
He did manage to get a censorship bill passed through parliament and did his utmost to silence dissent by jailing journalists. This year, Reporters without Borders’ media freedom index ranked Turkey 154 out of 179.
Last Friday, the president fought back claiming there is no other country on the planet that has Turkey’s media freedoms, and in the same breath, he vowed that more journalists would see the inside of a prison cell.
Hidden funds
Erdogan’s image was further scarred by his reaction to a corruption scandal involving government ministers when, rather than investigate the accused, he cracked down on the accusers by firing, demoting or relocating prosecutors, judges and policemen involved with the allegations.
A leaked recording of a discussion he had with his son on where and how they dispose of hidden funds would have brought down most leaders, but, once again, he rode out the storm.
In May 2014, he travelled to the town of Soma where a mine explosion had taken place and warned grief stricken protesters there that if they continued to boo him, they would be slapped. True to his word, he was filmed slapping a man who got in his way.
Now that he’s subdued the judiciary, law enforcement and the media, the president has turned his attention to women, who in his eyes aren’t equal to men.
In November, he told delegates at a conference focusing on women and justice, that it’s contrary to nature to place women and men on an equal footing, adding Islam has defined a woman’s role in society—motherhood. “You cannot tell them to go out and dig the soil,” he was quoted as saying. “That is against their delicate nature.” Feminists were slammed as being against mothers.
Support base
Until now, Erdogan has succeeded in retaining a hefty support base, perhaps due to the fact he has throughout his long tenure built up personal credit and inspired loyalty within some sectors of the population, but this year his approval ratings have been erratic.
However, they may well be hit hard this year when the economy is expected to suffer from lower growth than that anticipated, exacerbating the country’s current 20 percent youth unemployment rate.
Under his watch, Turkey is becoming more and more politically isolated, primarily due to his inflammatory verbal attacks on regional leaders, his coddling of the Muslim Brotherhood and the fact that he has allowed his country to play host to fighters from Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).
Ankara has long enjoyed a close relationship with Washington based on mutual strategic interests, but lately US officials have warned that his “offensive” remarks are hurting Turkey’s international standing.
Despite the brickbats, Erdogan is defiant. He behaves as though he’s invincible to the point of being qualified to re-write history.
He recently confidently announced that Muslims discovered the Americas 300 years before Christopher Columbus. Those who aren’t still chuckling await his scientific evidence in support of that claim. It’s about time someone told him that pride comes before a fall.
Linda S. Heard is a British specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She welcomes feedback and can be contacted by email at heardonthegrapevines@yahoo.co.uk.
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Turkey’s wild card president
Posted on January 1, 2015 by Linda S. Heard
It wasn’t so long ago that the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was considered to be the poster child for political Islam. At one time, there were a slew of articles in the mainstream press praising the Turkish system of governance as an example to be emulated by other regional predominantly Muslim states. Turkey was considered an economic miracle that was well on the path to democracy en route to joining the European Union.
Erdogan used to be greatly respected as a statesman who championed Arab and Muslim causes while maintaining good relations with almost all neighbouring countries, including Israel. But judging from his actions and statements over the past few years, one would be forgiven for believing he’s been exchanged for his terrible, and increasingly irrational, twin.
Erdogan Mark II emerged eighteen months ago during the Gezi Park protests when a peaceful crowd of environmental demonstrators were violently ousted by riot police. “This issue is not about the park,” he said. “It’s us versus them,” he announced.
Growing public unrest galvanised the then prime minister to launch an attack on social media, saying “social media is the biggest trouble for society” before he unsuccessfully attempted to block Twitter, Facebook and YouTube which he accused of furthering “all kinds of immorality, all kinds of espionage . . .”
He did manage to get a censorship bill passed through parliament and did his utmost to silence dissent by jailing journalists. This year, Reporters without Borders’ media freedom index ranked Turkey 154 out of 179.
Last Friday, the president fought back claiming there is no other country on the planet that has Turkey’s media freedoms, and in the same breath, he vowed that more journalists would see the inside of a prison cell.
Hidden funds
Erdogan’s image was further scarred by his reaction to a corruption scandal involving government ministers when, rather than investigate the accused, he cracked down on the accusers by firing, demoting or relocating prosecutors, judges and policemen involved with the allegations.
A leaked recording of a discussion he had with his son on where and how they dispose of hidden funds would have brought down most leaders, but, once again, he rode out the storm.
In May 2014, he travelled to the town of Soma where a mine explosion had taken place and warned grief stricken protesters there that if they continued to boo him, they would be slapped. True to his word, he was filmed slapping a man who got in his way.
Now that he’s subdued the judiciary, law enforcement and the media, the president has turned his attention to women, who in his eyes aren’t equal to men.
In November, he told delegates at a conference focusing on women and justice, that it’s contrary to nature to place women and men on an equal footing, adding Islam has defined a woman’s role in society—motherhood. “You cannot tell them to go out and dig the soil,” he was quoted as saying. “That is against their delicate nature.” Feminists were slammed as being against mothers.
Support base
Until now, Erdogan has succeeded in retaining a hefty support base, perhaps due to the fact he has throughout his long tenure built up personal credit and inspired loyalty within some sectors of the population, but this year his approval ratings have been erratic.
However, they may well be hit hard this year when the economy is expected to suffer from lower growth than that anticipated, exacerbating the country’s current 20 percent youth unemployment rate.
Under his watch, Turkey is becoming more and more politically isolated, primarily due to his inflammatory verbal attacks on regional leaders, his coddling of the Muslim Brotherhood and the fact that he has allowed his country to play host to fighters from Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).
Ankara has long enjoyed a close relationship with Washington based on mutual strategic interests, but lately US officials have warned that his “offensive” remarks are hurting Turkey’s international standing.
Despite the brickbats, Erdogan is defiant. He behaves as though he’s invincible to the point of being qualified to re-write history.
He recently confidently announced that Muslims discovered the Americas 300 years before Christopher Columbus. Those who aren’t still chuckling await his scientific evidence in support of that claim. It’s about time someone told him that pride comes before a fall.
Linda S. Heard is a British specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She welcomes feedback and can be contacted by email at heardonthegrapevines@yahoo.co.uk.