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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.
adil_al_baghdadi@hotmail.com
14 April 2005
Brussels
Articles published here do not necessarily reflect
views of Kurdistan Regional Government.
www.krg.org
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