“The Great Leader Erdogan” now resembles the late Chairman Mao Zedong because he dictates from high. At least Mao had the excuse of ruling a one-party-state because of the enormous traumas that engulfed China. However, modern day Turkey is going in the wrong direction because “The Great Leader Erdogan” insists on dictating to all Turkish nationals.
Lee Jay Walker at Modern Tokyo Times says: “Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey, is not only intent on taking the Islamist path but he also wants to resemble the worse of Central Asian leaders that sprout ridiculous guidelines. Of course, it doesn’t appear to have dawned on Erdogan that Turkey is a democratic nation and extremely diverse. No, this doesn’t cross his mind – instead it is about the Ottoman dream, the Islamist ambition and ruling modern day Turkey like “The Great Leaders of Central Asia.”
“In other words, the positives that existed in Turkey and the prospect of this nation being a bridge and an honest broker between Europe, the Middle East, the Russian Federation and the nations of the Caucasus region; is now nothing more than a pipe dream. Instead Erdogan is taking Turkey in the direction of Central Asian rulers and where women and religious minorities will soon know their place. Therefore, Erdogan is now intent on crushing internet freedom, just like journalists feel his wrath.”
Erdogan is clearly an authoritarian leader who happens to rule a democratic nation. Progressive forces in Turkey have much to fear and religious minorities, including the Alevi and small Christian community, must be wondering what will be next. After all, Erdogan is supporting various sectarian terrorist forces in Syria while also speaking-up for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Not surprisingly, the new internet law in Turkey was rubber stamped by the parliament based on the power of Erdogan’s ruling party. After all, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) controls this institution based on having 319 seats out of 500 seats. “The Great Leader Erdogan” is now sitting happy because an open internet meant that his reputation was being tarnished. Therefore, the clampdown is another power mechanism being manipulated by Erdogan whereby power concentration is increased by the ruling AKP.
The outcome of the anti-internet law means that the authorities can block websites at will without going through the legal process. Yes, another nail in the coffin of democracy in Turkey whereby “the modern” is being crushed from within. Internet providers are also requested to store all information and to provide this based on requests by the state apparatus – in other words, “Big Brother Erdogan.”
The BBC media group reports: “Turkish Prime Minister Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been openly critical of the internet, calling Twitter a “scourge” and condemning social media as “the worst menace to society.”
Further down in the same article it says: “The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the new powers meant Turkey’s telecommunications agency would be able to “gather communications data about all internet users without any legal limits or restrictions.” And with users “never…able to know when and how this information is gathered.”
In fairness to Erdogan he is correct about “a scourge” and “menace to society.” However, he needs to look in the mirror because the real “scourge” and “menace” is Erdogan.
Source: moderntokyotimes.com
By: Nuray Lydia Oglu and Michiyo Tanabe
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