TURKEY: Military Academy Graduates & more – 19th Nov 2024

Merhaba from Keswick Village! This is the Rorshok Turkey Update from the 19th of November twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what's going down in Turkey.

An investigation began after Turkish Military Academy graduates, led by top student Ebru Eroğlu, drew swords during their oath-taking ceremony on Wednesday, the 13th. Known as a sword-girding ceremony, it symbolizes a pledge to defend Turkey’s unity. However, the graduates added a chant, calling themselves soldiers of Atatürk, in homage to the country’s founder, accompanied by drawing their swords to the sky. President Erdoğan, who views Atatürk as a historical rival figure, condemned the action as disobedience, questioning whom they were challenging by drawing their swords. His reaction sparked a witch hunt within the Academy, with the High Disciplinary Board reviewing recommendations to expel five officers, including Eroğlu.

The investigation ignited a public backlash, with citizens and politicians rallying in support of the graduates. The hashtag #DontTouchOurLieutenants trended on social media, as the investigation could have been an excessive move. The Ministry of Defense said that the issue was the unsanctioned sword-drawing, not the oath itself.

Next up…Tragedy struck this week as five siblings died in a house fire. Their single mother, whose husband is in jail, had locked the door from the outside to keep them safe while she went out to collect scrap for income. The electric heater got caught on fire and the children were trapped in the house.

This heartbreaking event highlighted a broader issue: according to the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, nearly four in ten children in Turkey live in poverty, far above the European average. In the wake of the tragedy, similar stories have surfaced, bringing much-needed attention to the plight of vulnerable children in the country.

In other news, The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, has withdrawn its agents of influence bill, which aimed to strengthen actions against alleged espionage activities. The Deputy Chair of the main opposition, the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, announced the news, attributing the withdrawal to strong public and parliamentary opposition. Opposition politicians credited the united opposition and public pressure, saying it forced the government to backtrack, something that rarely happens in Turkey. However, AKP officials indicated plans to revise and reintroduce the bill.

The bill proposed prison terms for actions that served foreign interests against Turkey’s security. However, it raised concerns for journalists, civil society groups, and NGOs, as it could label simple opposition to government policies as foreign influence, potentially putting them at risk.

At a recent AKP congress in Batman, Yusuf Tekin, the National Education Minister, criticized Turkey’s version of secularism, saying it restricts religious freedoms and differs from universal secularism. Tekin argued that secularism, as practiced in Turkey, opposes the values of citizens in conservative areas like Batman. He contrasted his view—which he defines as state-guaranteed religious freedom—with past secular policies banning religious symbols and religious education, and referenced controversial persuasion rooms for headscarved students as an example of imposed restrictions.

In response, the CHP filed a criminal complaint, accusing Tekin of inciting division and misusing his position. The CHP said that Tekin’s statements distort history, undermine the Republic’s secular principles, and violate his official oath to preserve secularism.

On an unrelated note, tensions erupted at the Democratic Party’s 15th Ordinary Congress to elect the new party leader. The turmoil began when Gültekin Uysal, the party leader, unexpectedly called for the congress and rushed it through. The Party rejected İlay Aksoy’s leadership bid, saying that the signatures she gathered for candidacy were invalid. Over this, Aksoy accused the leadership of staging a coup and likened the party to the ruling AKP, calling it corrupt.

Uysal was re-elected as party leader. Following this, Cemal Enginyurt and Salih Uzun, two of the party’s three MPs, resigned, criticizing how the leadership race was handled.

In some international news… The Trade Minister announced that the BRICS alliance has offered Turkey the partner country status. In previous shows, we mentioned that Turkey wanted to become a full member of the group but the organization stated they weren’t taking in new members at the time. Even though the partner country status doesn’t grant the country full membership, it still allows Turkey to engage in various economic initiatives with BRICS members.

The Minister hasn’t announced whether the country accepted the offer or not, but officials clarified that accepting partner status won’t impact NATO commitments. Turkey aims to balance ties with both East and West, but political differences complicate this approach. Government sources see this status as a pathway to stronger economic collaboration without straining Western alliances.

On Wednesday the 13th, Yaşar Güler, the Turkish Defense Minister, discussed Syria’s future, suggesting that the Free Syrian Army—a group formed by defected Syrian soldiers and civilians aiming to oust the Syrian government—could eventually transform into a national Syrian army if the country normalizes.

Güler emphasized that Syrians opposed to the Democratic Union Party, and Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK, which Turkey considers terrorist groups, would shape the country’s future. Güler acknowledged that while these groups wouldn’t willingly disarm, they can be pressured, emphasizing that no peace deal exists with the PKK.

Güler also commented on peace and stability in the region, referencing President Erdoğan’s recent invitation for the Syrian President to engage in dialogue, which he called a potential step toward peace. However, he stressed that Turkey wouldn’t withdraw its forces from Syria unless conditions were stable. He also mentioned that the U.S. may pull troops under the Trump administration.

Speaking of the PKK, on Tuesday the 12th, Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the government-aligned Nationalist Movement Party, rebuked Hilal Köylü, a journalist, for questioning whether he and President Erdoğan might differ on peace process plans with the PKK. In response Bahçeli accused the press of provoking division, spreading falsehoods, and telling reporters to quit if they couldn’t avoid stirring conflict.

His words drew criticism, with the Journalists’ Union of Turkey supporting Köylü’s right to ask questions in the public interest. Köylü stated afterward that she was simply fulfilling her duty.

Tensions have risen due to rumors that Bahçeli independently suggested Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed PKK leader, could seek release if he called for the PKK’s disbandment—a highly controversial idea, especially from an ultranationalist like Bahçeli.

On Monday the 18th, the United States warned Turkey against housing Hamas leadership, stating that leaders of a terrorist organization shouldn’t be allowed to live comfortably. Matthew Miller, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, pointed out some reports saying that some Hamas leaders had moved to Turkey, though they aren’t confirmed. He stressed that Washington would push Turkey to reconsider its relations with Hamas, noting some Hamas leaders are under U.S. indictment.

In response, a Turkish diplomat denied the reports, saying Hamas members only visited occasionally. Hamas dismissed the statements as rumors spread by Israel.

The Constitutional Court ruled in favor of former inmate Hakan Buzhane, awarding him 100,000 liras, which is around 3,000 dollars, for moral damages due to inhumane conditions at Istanbul’s Silivri Prison. This landmark decision followed Buzhane’s account of severe overcrowding from twenty fifteen to twenty nineteen, where he shared a cell built for twenty-one with forty-seven others, leading to poor hygiene, long waits for bathroom access, limited hot water, and restricted healthcare.

Even though a lower court dismissed his complaint for lack of jurisdiction, the Constitutional Court found that these conditions violated his rights to an effective remedy and protection from ill-treatment, setting a precedent for prisoner rights in Turkey.

And to close this edition, Turkey may unify its fiber optic network to improve internet access and speed by creating a dedicated body to manage infrastructure investments. Still in early discussions, this plan could boost smaller providers while challenging Turk Telekom, which controls seventy-eight percent of the country’s fiber network. Turk Telekom’s concession expires in twenty twenty-six, raising questions about future management. Some providers suggest separating network infrastructure from telecom services.

With Turkey’s broadband usage below the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development average, a unified network could help bridge the gap and drive faster digital growth.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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