It was only a few months ago when all evidence indicated that Erdogan’s henchmen killed an American female journalist who was about to expose his alignment and support for ISIS. Now another woman is targeted by Turkish authorities....
(Via Breitbart) Turkish authorities have arrested former Miss Turkey, Merve Buyuksarac, 26, because she quoted a poem on social media that insults President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The arrest is the latest in a crackdown on free speech in Turkey that has worsened since two radical Islamists slaughtered twelve people at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, France.
Buyuksarac, an industrial designer and writer, quoted the poem “The Master’s Poem” from weekly humor magazine Uykusuz on her Facebook page. The poem criticizes “the president through verses adapted from Turkey’s national anthem.” She deleted the post after a friend warned her about the government’s intrusion on freedom of speech.
“I shared it because I found it funny,” she claimed. “I had no intention to insult (Erdogan).”
The model, who won the 2006 Miss Turkey pageant, has been released until her trial.
Almost 100% of Turkey’s population identifies as Muslim. Erdogan regularly makes public statements against Israel while shaking hands with Palestinian leaders and bashing the West, even though Turkey is a member of NATO.
Erdogan has reacted to the Charlie Hebdo attack by pursuing those who express public solidarity with the magazine. Cumhuriyet, a newspaper that distributed a special Turkish edition of Charlie Hebdo, was raided the night of publication to ensure no cartoon depictions of Muhammad appeared on its cover. Erdogan blamed the West for the massacre at the newspaper. (read more)
Istanbul (AFP) – They have been mocked for looking like extras from a low-budget historical drama and criticised for having only the most tenuous connection with reality.
But the 16 costumed warriors included by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the honour guard for visiting dignitaries and representing various Turkic empires going back over two millennia serve a serious purpose.
Commentators say Erdogan wants to impress on his own public, and outsiders, that Turkey is a great power with a heritage that goes well beyond the modern republic founded in 1923 to the Ottoman and earlier great empires.
“The president has been mobilising these elements of the past,” said Ilter Turan, professor of political science at Istanbul Bilgi University, pointing to a plan by Erdogan to make Ottoman Turkish language lessons compulsory in schools. (read more)
♦ A popular Turkish professor came under fire, and resigned, for making a joke about Erdogan’s historical army he chooses to walk around with.
♦ He supports ISIS.
♦ Every Western radical islamist joining ISIS goes through Turkey.
♦ He built himself a massive $500,000,000.00 palace.
♦ He is forcing schools to teach ‘Arabic Ottoman’ lessons in grade school.
♦ He is becoming increasingly sketchy / unstable.
♦ Europe is fearful of him and blocked his bid for a U.N. Security Council Seat
♦ He defends the Muslim Brotherhood.