Former Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief Jan Dudar, who was imprisoned in Turkey and was attacked by gunmen in Istanbul in 2016, is living in self-exile in Berlin. Today he is a regular contributor to the German newspaper The time, revealing unknown aspects of Turkish society. His latest article in the online edition of the newspaper is entitled “White Turks and their dogs”. The topical cause was the serious injury of a girl by a pit bull dog in the city of Gaziantep, but mainly the unusual political reaction that followed, with President Erdogan erupting: “Put a bridle on your dogs, white Turks.”
Jan Dudar explains: “In Turkey, there is no issue that does not provoke long discussions and sharp polarization, eventually leading to a clash of civilizations. Whether it is the consumption of alcohol in TV series, or the use of headscarves in schools and universities, the choice of song for ‘Eurovision’ or the festive decoration of the streets, all these issues lead a part of the country to the embrace of Europe and another in Asia, to occasionally ignite an intercontinental clash of civilizations. In recent weeks, the debate has revived over Christmas trees and Santa Clauses, who have appeared in malls and been attacked by outspoken conservatives who speak of Western Christian practices. “This year, however, the debate over cultures began with a pit bull.”
But why did Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan disappear? Journalist Jan Dudar recalls that “the term ‘white Turks’ has been used for the last 40 years to describe the elites, usually with a demeaning disposition” and concludes: “Erdogan came to power sometimes approaching and sometimes seeking conflict with the urban elites. But he never managed to hide his resentment towards the ‘white Turks’. In his eyes, the ‘white Turks’ had degenerated due to their coexistence with Europe, they had turned away from Islam, they had become alienated from their culture. At the same time, he promotes himself as a representative of the poor who have been discriminated against by the elites, the uneducated who have been despised, the pious who want to keep them out of power, the neglected province. “
Meral Aksener, one of the faces of 2022
On the occasion of the new year the newspaper The world hosts a tribute to twelve “faces that the whole world will notice in 2022”. Among them is a female politician from Turkey who aspires to dethrone Tayyip Erdogan. This is Meral Aksener, former Minister of Interior and leader of the IYI party. The Berlin newspaper notes: “In theory, elections will be held in 2023. But this will not be the first time a cramped government has been forced to resort to early elections. In any case, Meral Aksener is ready. The founder and leader of the nationalist IYI party is claiming the votes of the (ruling party) AKP and has everything it needs to succeed. They call her a ‘wolf’, because she is courageous and knows how to impose her positions. In addition, it is religious and conservative, something important for those who voted for Erdogan until today. Until 2016, he participated in the extremist nationalist party MHP, Erdogan’s government partner. “In a future government without the eternal ruler – a possibility that now seems realistic, for the first time in a long time – Aksener would at least take on the role of regulator.”
DW – Giannis Papadimitriou
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
.
