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Turkish journalist, blogger and media expert. Writes regular columns for The Arab Weekly and contributes to Süddeutsche Zeitung, El Pais and the Guardian. An European Press Prize Laureate for 'excellence in journalism' in 2014, Baydar was awarded the prestigious 'Journalistenpreis' in Germany by Südosteuropa Foundation in February 2018.
As Erdoğan Pushes For Criminalisation Of The Opposition, Bells Toll For More Violence
With every oppressive measure launched by the Turkish president, not only the true nature of the regime he envisages is exposed, but also the realisation that this one is a crisis about the nation's identity which, if the downfall continues, does not bode well.
Currently, something unusual in Turkish history is happening: the leader of the secular main opposition party, CHP, is marching on the main highway from Ankara to Istanbul, with followers whose numbers increase by day.
The reason was an "enough is enough" moment for the leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. On June 14, a Turkish court hurriedly sentenced a deputy of the CHP, Enis Berberoğlu - a former, senior journalist - to 25 years of prison for spying. He is accused of providing the raw data to daily newspaper Cumhuriyet about the murky weapons transfer to jihadist groups which involved the Turkish secret service, MIT.
"The unfolding Berberoglu drama is about freedom of the press, the arrogance of power, and justice, but it is also emblematic of the intra-Turkish struggle between the AKP faithful, followers of Gulen, secular elites, Kurds, and liberals. As Erdoğan has consolidated his personal political power, destroyed any semblance of an independent media, brought the military to heel, and purged the bureaucracy—all in an effort to complete the transformation of Turkey he began 15 years ago—the struggle over what it means to be Turkish has kicked into high gear. Given the Turkish Republic’s history, this should surprise no one, but that does not make it any less worrisome, because fights over identity tend to be destabilizing and protracted.
The case of Berberoğlu means is that the real "culture war" in Turkey has now surfaced in full: oppression has now engulfed the main opposition. Erdoğan's way has already pushed the polarisation to a peak.
"How long will it be before the current situation deteriorates into more widespread violence?" asks Steven Cook in this very interesting deep read.
