The Trouble in Turkey
By: Tamara Myskiw
What
started as a small-scale environmental protest against plans to build a city
mall in one of Istanbul’s last standing parks has only fueled the anger of many
people in Turkey. These protests show a growing dissatisfaction for Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdoğan and challenge the authoritarianism for his regime ever
since he came to power. Mostly consisting of secular people from urban areas,
these individuals have become quite violent against the police’s heavy hand,
ultimately portraying the extremes of Erdoğan’s dictatorship.
The
reaction of the development of Gezi Park was only the igniter to their views of
their Prime Minister’s opposing government. This protest only contributes to
the overall view of Turkey’s identity where their social class, politics and
religion intersect. The change in the landscape of Istanbul shows the rivalry
between rural versus urban and symbolizes a firm basis of the clash between
Islam and secularism. The situation has now boiled over as the people have
become frustrated by Erdoğan’s attempts to influence his religious outlooks on
them by force.
Erdoğan
is trying to force old Islamic tradition onto a moderately Islam country and his
ruling has reshaped the culture of Turkey. Though he has boosted the country’s
international profile and economic growth, the people of Turkey believe that he
his meddling with their personal lives. In one instance, laws are being passed
to restrain the use and sale of alcohol. It is required that establishments are
not to sell alcohol between the hours of 10 PM to 6 AM and must be at least 100
meters away from any educational facilities or mosques. This also includes not
being allowed to advertise alcohol through film or television and advising how
these characters should behave. In another instance, he is putting the
country’s security at risk by standing up against the Syrian regime.
Moreover,
Erdoğan is trying to force old traditions onto women. Women in the past have
always faced with forced marriages and domestic violence due to the traditional
Islamic culture and they cannot be lead into this situation again. Women do not
wish to abolish their Islamic culture but wish to preserve their rights in a
modern day society. (http://tribune.com.pk/story/561331/young-urban-women-the-face-of-turkeys-protest-movement/)
Now that Erdoğan is also speaking out against the act of Caesarian births, it
only stirs up the current opposition against his power.
Secularism
is entrenched in today’s modern society. The slow development of old Islamic
tradition has made it way back into Turkey and are moralizing laws, often
restraining the freedom and rights of many. The tension between such secularism
and the conservative bourgeoisie will continue if the Prime Minister and the
Justice and Development party promote neo-Ottomanism, a Turkish ideology to advance
the Ottoman Empire.
As
for what’s next, there will be a presidential election to which Erdoğan could
run for. Though others assume that the Arab Spring will change the regime, the
chances of Erdoğan falling are unlikely due to a stable democracy and his
backing of the majority whom remain silent continues to be strong. The current
president, Abdullah Gul, is trying to promote peaceful protest as the people’s
democratic right. But protests could act as a turning point for the country and
the Islamic government. Erdoğan is considered to be very powerful and may take
on a new challenge as president.
Wafaa Allam - There's no such thing as Old Islam and new Islam! Islam gives women there full rights and doesn't force anyone to do anything.
ReplyDeletefor the force of marriage that's culture not Islam, Islam gives the woman the right to choose her husband and get divorce for no reason at all. Domestic violence is also culture, since Islam forbids all kind of violence.
Tamara Myskiw: The issue is that Turkey has a secular culture and they feel as if their Prime Minister is bringing back old Islamic culture that may affect their freedoms. Both domestic violence and forced marriage are considered as discrimination of women as part of their culture and there is fear for what Turkey may have to endure due to the fact that the PM is forcing his religious views upon them. What is going on in Turkey is something that may differ from an issue going on in Egypt because religious ideologies for their culture are different.
DeleteWafaa Allam - I understand your point, but there are no OLD Islamic culture and new one, they're both the same, and he's not trying to limit their freedom, he is trying to regain the old Turkey before Kamal Atatork! By spreading Islam, he's giving them all their rights and freedom.
DeleteRight and I am not saying that there is an old and new Islamic culture, but merely that people who ARE secular feel differently about him spreading Islam for they are people who are do not pertain to religion necessarily.
Delete^ The last comment was Tamara.
DeleteSecular people will not be effected.
DeleteCabot- It was good to get a simple summary of the situation in Turkey at the moment. Do you think that these protested will change Turkey politically? And where will Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan be in a few more months? Is he lossing control of the people or will this settle down?
ReplyDeleteThe PM still continues to have many supporters. Though they remain silent, there is still a majority over the protestors and what's next is that he may run for president. Protests may continue due to the fact that the PM is forcing his religious outlooks upon a secular environment or a more moderately Islamic culture.
DeleteParis - Mmmm Turkey. That's pretty interesting actually. Today Canada and the US have become such free places giving everyone tons of rights and then you look at countries like Turkey, Iraq, Iran etc. that still have arranged marriages, still have NO rights for women (which we established back what? Like a hundred years ago?) and the citizens are completely pissed off from being suppressed their entire lives. It's interesting because it seem that you can psychoanalyse countries just as you would a teenager. For instance, the more you suppress your kids, the more likely there are to rebel against their parents and in this Dictator....I mean democratic relationship between President and People it would seem the dad (President) is suppressing his kids (citizens) and if you really think about it....what's going to happen next? A rebellion. I'm not sure it'll be good for the country and hopefully not many people die but it seems that many middle eastern as well as African countries' people are starting to get tired of all this oppression and suppression.
ReplyDeleteTamara Myskiw: That's a very interesting way of considering it, Paris! I agree.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete