Press freedom must not be party to terrorist propaganda
The Turkey-EU Summit was held on Monday. The developing relations between Turkey and the EU are pleasant to see and raise hopes for the future. This cooperation is crucial not only for the refugee issue, but for the fight against terrorism, the most critical question of our time. Such steps are significant when Turkey's and the EU's future is considered.
Both in Turkey and the EU, people hope that the problems concerning security and property in the face of terrorism, and long-term stability will be resolved.
The authorities of Turkey and the EU countries are also well aware of the great responsibility they are shouldering. So, why does the European parliament still seem unwilling or unable to realize this fact? Frankly speaking, the parliament can be condoned as most citizens of Turkey do by saying "let them play in their sandpit." However, I am still determined to have some hopes regarding the European Parliament, as a former member with considerable responsibilities in various aspects between 1998 and 2004.
As a politician who is aware of the fact that the European Parliament does not only consist of racist, Turkey-dissident or outlawed PKK proponent members, I am addressing the members whom I believe know their responsibility and form the majority of the parliament. I would like to appeal to the consciences of those now supporting the wrong side because of a lack of serious interest or contentment with unreliable sources when Turkey is in question. Lately, the notion of "press freedom" has been abused in the corridors of the European Parliament at Turkey's expense.
First of all, I want to point out that I have much more experience regarding Turkish democracy than any member who claims to be a specialist on Turkey at the European Parliament. My life is the clearest evidence of that. In 1980, when parliamentary democracy was upended by the military coup, I had to leave my country at the age of 20. I bore witness to how a fascistic junta took my country into the darkness. I was subjected to many accusations regarding incidents I was never involved in. I could not return to my country for 20 years. When I was acquitted of the unfair charges against me, I was a European Parliament member. But before that, I was subjected to various kinds of oppression in the old Turkey. In a nutshell, I bore witness to how the notions of democracy, freedom of expression and press freedom were abused by the military regime.
Therefore, I observed some of the latest discussions at the European parliament and the unfair accusations against Turkey with dismay. Without President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is not favored by many European Parliament members, Turkey would still be dominated by a covert military regime in the guise of a civilian one. Turkey has been democratized thanks to Erdoğan's courageous steps. Since 2002, the electorate really determines who governs the country.
In Turkey, there is no restriction regarding press freedom although "press freedom in Turkey" is a hot topic at the European Parliament. Consider the printed and visual media of the Doğan Media Group, which praised the military coup during the 1980s and has been advocating all kinds of anti-democratic steps since. When we consider the fact that some newspapers such as Hürriyet targeted artists including Ahmet Kaya only because of their Kurdish ethnicity, one would be surprised by their comments about the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and President Erdoğan. Their writings certainly contradict the press ethics of the EU. One may be even more surprised by some other newspapers such as Cumhuriyet and Sözcü. As the captions of Cunhuriyet are viewed, one may justifiably wonder if the newspaper is secretly run by the Syrian dictator Bashar Assad or Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Many articles, captions and news stories in today's Turkish press may have caused various discussions of "press ethics" in many EU countries. European Parliament members have been recently talking about a journalist that determines the inclinations of one of the newspapers I mentioned above. I think they are being misinformed. What distinguishes this case is that the person in question is not being investigated due to issues of press freedom. He has been tried due to his efforts to undermine the country and its people in terms of national interest and security. This terrorist proponent, who attaches his illegal activities to his journalistic identity, has been tried for supporting acts hindering the aid to Syrian Turkmens, who resist Assad and fight DAESH. Due to such activities such as the ones this journalist performs, Assad and DAESH still have influence in Syria. Turkmens can fight against DAESH only insofar as Turkey backs up them.
Some circles work for such press organs by masquerading as journalists, hindering Turkey's fight against DAESH, the PKK and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and causing Turkey to encounter various hardships before the international public by claiming that Turkey abets DAESH. However, Turkey was one of the first countries to officially recognize DAESH as a terrorist organization, long before the EU.
However, as can be seen, we are still busy with such discussions at the European Parliament. For those who doubt what I say, I suggest they research the issue. Would you support a journalist who harms the national interests of your country to such a degree and undermines the country under the guise of defending "press freedom?"
Likewise, the press freedom notion has also been lately abused at the European Parliament with regard to another newspaper. Those who assume that they get accurate information on Turkey only by reading the English version of the newspaper are wrong. This newspaper is acting as a spokesperson for an illegal group that exploits religion. What is more, the newspaper has a dismal record with respect to press ethics, as the state has had to take legal measures due to charges such as corruption and fraud, which are quite separate from their fictitious captions and provocative articles and editorial policies that endeavor to undermine the anti-terror fight and form part of their not-so-secret plans of ultimately taking over control of the state.
What would you do if an illegal group in your country exploiting religious sensitivities attempted to overthrow the government by infiltrating the police department and educational institutions? Would you still insist on "press freedom" for the media organs established and used by this group to reach anti-democratic goals? Turkey is defending itself against proponents of terrorism and opponents of democracy that undermine the country by hiding behind "press freedom." Any EU country would do exactly the same in such a case.
Instead of only listening to the words of misleading friends when Turkey is in question, I recommend listening to Turkish-originated citizens of the EU countries who are also among the electorate. Just think about why the Turkish-originated citizens who vote for you also vote for President Erdoğan and the AK Party in Turkey.
Also, ask the Turkish-originated EU citizens about press freedom in Turkey. They can explain what kind of treason Turkey has to deal with in the context of the anti-terror fight instead of press freedom. If you believe in the sincerity of your electorate and if you are really friends of Turkey as you claim, you should question what is said and done at the European Parliament. You will see that we are right.
Both in Turkey and the EU, people hope that the problems concerning security and property in the face of terrorism, and long-term stability will be resolved.
The authorities of Turkey and the EU countries are also well aware of the great responsibility they are shouldering. So, why does the European parliament still seem unwilling or unable to realize this fact? Frankly speaking, the parliament can be condoned as most citizens of Turkey do by saying "let them play in their sandpit." However, I am still determined to have some hopes regarding the European Parliament, as a former member with considerable responsibilities in various aspects between 1998 and 2004.
As a politician who is aware of the fact that the European Parliament does not only consist of racist, Turkey-dissident or outlawed PKK proponent members, I am addressing the members whom I believe know their responsibility and form the majority of the parliament. I would like to appeal to the consciences of those now supporting the wrong side because of a lack of serious interest or contentment with unreliable sources when Turkey is in question. Lately, the notion of "press freedom" has been abused in the corridors of the European Parliament at Turkey's expense.
First of all, I want to point out that I have much more experience regarding Turkish democracy than any member who claims to be a specialist on Turkey at the European Parliament. My life is the clearest evidence of that. In 1980, when parliamentary democracy was upended by the military coup, I had to leave my country at the age of 20. I bore witness to how a fascistic junta took my country into the darkness. I was subjected to many accusations regarding incidents I was never involved in. I could not return to my country for 20 years. When I was acquitted of the unfair charges against me, I was a European Parliament member. But before that, I was subjected to various kinds of oppression in the old Turkey. In a nutshell, I bore witness to how the notions of democracy, freedom of expression and press freedom were abused by the military regime.
Therefore, I observed some of the latest discussions at the European parliament and the unfair accusations against Turkey with dismay. Without President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is not favored by many European Parliament members, Turkey would still be dominated by a covert military regime in the guise of a civilian one. Turkey has been democratized thanks to Erdoğan's courageous steps. Since 2002, the electorate really determines who governs the country.
In Turkey, there is no restriction regarding press freedom although "press freedom in Turkey" is a hot topic at the European Parliament. Consider the printed and visual media of the Doğan Media Group, which praised the military coup during the 1980s and has been advocating all kinds of anti-democratic steps since. When we consider the fact that some newspapers such as Hürriyet targeted artists including Ahmet Kaya only because of their Kurdish ethnicity, one would be surprised by their comments about the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and President Erdoğan. Their writings certainly contradict the press ethics of the EU. One may be even more surprised by some other newspapers such as Cumhuriyet and Sözcü. As the captions of Cunhuriyet are viewed, one may justifiably wonder if the newspaper is secretly run by the Syrian dictator Bashar Assad or Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Many articles, captions and news stories in today's Turkish press may have caused various discussions of "press ethics" in many EU countries. European Parliament members have been recently talking about a journalist that determines the inclinations of one of the newspapers I mentioned above. I think they are being misinformed. What distinguishes this case is that the person in question is not being investigated due to issues of press freedom. He has been tried due to his efforts to undermine the country and its people in terms of national interest and security. This terrorist proponent, who attaches his illegal activities to his journalistic identity, has been tried for supporting acts hindering the aid to Syrian Turkmens, who resist Assad and fight DAESH. Due to such activities such as the ones this journalist performs, Assad and DAESH still have influence in Syria. Turkmens can fight against DAESH only insofar as Turkey backs up them.
Some circles work for such press organs by masquerading as journalists, hindering Turkey's fight against DAESH, the PKK and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and causing Turkey to encounter various hardships before the international public by claiming that Turkey abets DAESH. However, Turkey was one of the first countries to officially recognize DAESH as a terrorist organization, long before the EU.
However, as can be seen, we are still busy with such discussions at the European Parliament. For those who doubt what I say, I suggest they research the issue. Would you support a journalist who harms the national interests of your country to such a degree and undermines the country under the guise of defending "press freedom?"
Likewise, the press freedom notion has also been lately abused at the European Parliament with regard to another newspaper. Those who assume that they get accurate information on Turkey only by reading the English version of the newspaper are wrong. This newspaper is acting as a spokesperson for an illegal group that exploits religion. What is more, the newspaper has a dismal record with respect to press ethics, as the state has had to take legal measures due to charges such as corruption and fraud, which are quite separate from their fictitious captions and provocative articles and editorial policies that endeavor to undermine the anti-terror fight and form part of their not-so-secret plans of ultimately taking over control of the state.
What would you do if an illegal group in your country exploiting religious sensitivities attempted to overthrow the government by infiltrating the police department and educational institutions? Would you still insist on "press freedom" for the media organs established and used by this group to reach anti-democratic goals? Turkey is defending itself against proponents of terrorism and opponents of democracy that undermine the country by hiding behind "press freedom." Any EU country would do exactly the same in such a case.
Instead of only listening to the words of misleading friends when Turkey is in question, I recommend listening to Turkish-originated citizens of the EU countries who are also among the electorate. Just think about why the Turkish-originated citizens who vote for you also vote for President Erdoğan and the AK Party in Turkey.
Also, ask the Turkish-originated EU citizens about press freedom in Turkey. They can explain what kind of treason Turkey has to deal with in the context of the anti-terror fight instead of press freedom. If you believe in the sincerity of your electorate and if you are really friends of Turkey as you claim, you should question what is said and done at the European Parliament. You will see that we are right.
Last Update: March 07, 2016 22:23