Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)

April 14 2005

IRAQ: Twisted Turkey

Adil Al-Baghdadi

The recent events that have taken place following the dubious flag
burning incident have yet again exposed Turkey to more criticism and
scrutiny by the EU.

The one incident that clearly showed how twisted things are in Turkey
is when a group of four members of a recognized NGO were distributing
leaflets calling for an end to anti-human right measures in Turkish
prisons were brutally beaten and were seconds away from being ripped
apart by an angry lynch mob of about 200 people in Trabzon.

Turkish police stood by and watched the mob rule closing in and
beating the right activists and only intervened once they saw that it
might result in killing and mutilation.

After being beaten severely the four were whisked away with great
difficulty, needless to say the police did not arrest any of those
who took part in the lynching and only used a loudhailer to tell the
angry crowd to disperse.

In any country within the EU an incident like this would have led to
serious public debate, inquiry and would have been preceded by
vigorous pursuit of justice and unwavering search for gang leaders
among the mob who incited against the four human right campaigners.

Then again, any police force within EU member states would have made
immediate arrests among those who took part in the lynching and those
who incited, aided and abetted and caused serious physical harm.

Then they would have been brought before the courts to face criminal
charges which might have included disturbing peace and denying
freedom of expression and all other rights associated campaigning
peacefully in public places, among other serious criminal acts.

In short, this incident would have been dealt with in a manner that
completely contrasts with the way Turkish government, judiciary and
police handled this serious crime, whose responsibility lies with
every level of the country which allowed unspeakable human right
abuses for long time.

However, the more outlandish aspect of this incident is those who
were severely beaten and their human and democratic rights violated
ended up answering for crimes committed by their perpetrators and
were charged for instigating a mob rule.

However, the incident is not isolated and the apparent indifference
of the government and judiciary is evident of how Turkey has been
routinely turning a blind eye to gross violations of human rights for
more than 80 years.

This comes against the backdrop of new freedoms and boldness by Kurds
in Turkey to exercise their cultural and political rights.

The celebration of Kurdish New Year Nawroz has sounded the alarm bell
within Turkey’s ultra-nationalistic institution, the powerful
military establishment, whose influence has been eroded by the
government and by numerous EU adaptation packages.

So in order to stifle the natural progression for Kurds to practise
their newly acquired, albeit limited rights, dark forces within
Turkey’s military and intelligence establishment plotted to mar
Kurdish New Year celebrations with an incident that could easily
galvanize all Turkey against Kurds.

Thus, in very suspicious circumstances two young boys in Mersin were
seen across Turkey TV channels running a mock with a Turkish flag and
then tried to set it light.

Upon their arrest the pair, who aged between 12 and 13 years, were
questioned by the police and both said they were approached by a man
who handed them the flag and told them to burn it.

This well planned attempt to stir Turkish public sentiments and
fervour against Kurds was further played out to wider audience
through the usual nationalistic diatribe spewed out by traditionally
anti-Kurds media.

Although the incident was condemned by almost all Kurdish leaders in
Turkey it was nevertheless amazingly manipulated by none more than
the military establishment.

The most powerful institution in Turkey issued a statement and
warning about tampering with national symbols in which it referred to
Kurds as so-called citizens.
Thus, it implicitly paved they way and gave cart-blanche for any
reprisal action on any individual or group who is perceived to be a
Kurds or supporter of Kurdish rights or defender of any rights for
that matter.

The people on that day in Trabzon who turned so viciously on the
human right campaigners were told that the four belonged to the same
group of those who desecrated the Turkish flag.

The guardian of the constitution and the custodian of the well being
of state of Turkey, the Turkish military establishment has in effect
issued a statement encouraging incitement against Kurds.

The environment of fear and hate created by ethnic strife should have
been capitalized upon by the government in order to reign in on
ultra-nationalistic elements within Turkey who are hampering Turkey’s
acceptance to EU.

The inter-ethnic relations have always been precarious in Turkey
especially now as the government is forced to take well over due
steps to recognize Kurdish rights in North Kurdistan and the genocide
of the Armenians.

These incidents have exposed the fragility of Turkish state, which
has been built on absolute dominance of one race over others,
particularly the second largest population the Kurds.

The only way forward is to rebuild the country on strong foundation
of equality between races and to recognize full rights of other
nations within Turkey, and more importantly to embrace human rights
as a cornerstone of the new society.

Perhaps Turkey can take lessons from its southern neighbour Iraq
which although not a candidate for EU has nearly fulfilled all the
criteria required to join the much-prized club membership, while
Turkey is still trying to come to terms with EU’s adaptation and
harmonization packages.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress