Oktay Eksi: Will the real Erdogan please stand up?
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Kasım 16, 2005 13:16
Let's admit that sometimes all we want to say is "oh no!" when we hear Prime Minister Erdogan speak. At times, the leader we see before us seems to be one who has truly embraced democracy, who has really assimilated the idea of democracy. He is a leader who has learned "constitutional order," and accepted "the basic principles of the Republic."
But then, at other times, we see this same person talking as though he is the president of the Graduates of Imam Hatip (religious high school) Foundation. When it doesn't suit him, he seems to forget all of the first traits I had listed.
Let's take a look at the most recent incidents in Denmark:
Certain countries reacted to the caricature of the Prophet Mohammed which was carried in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. These countries, which were all majority Islamic countries, sent a joint letter to the Danish government in Copenhagen. Our Ambassador to Denmark, Fugen Ok, signed the letter too, at the "orders" of our Foreign Ministry. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen responded sharply this letter, saying "A secular and democractic country which is trying to become an EU member should not have signed such a letter." He then promised to bring the subject up in a NATO meeting.
Clearly, Rasmussen's point of view is this: "If you want to protest the caricaturist, bring the matter to court. This is a democratically run country. The government cannot get involved in matters of caricatures, and with which authority can it interfere with newspapers? How can there be support for an EU bid by a country who expects things like this from us?"
And yesterday in Copenhagen, PM Erdogan did not attempt to hide his insistence on this topic from Rasmussen. In a talk with Rasmussen, his point rested on these words: "As much respect as I show for their religious values, they must show the same for mine."
In terms of a personal request, the Prime Minister's expectations are not out of place. Of course no one appreciates having their personal values mocked or belittled. But then that reaction should be brought up as personal one, and not as a political one. Perhaps some civil socity foundations could make their displeasure with the caricature known by protesting the newspaper in question. They could then let the Danish government know of their protests. But for a secular government official to hold another government responsible for contents of one of its country's newspapers, then the other government will of course say "ahem, you seem not to know the rules of this game, my friend."
We understand the Prime Minister. He speaks his thoughts honestly. The concepts of belief and justice are not grounded firmly in his idea of a secular democracy. The schools he was educated in and the people who surround him have made him more comfortable with an Ottoman style society. A society where belief and justice have an ambigious relationship. So for as long as these concepts do not clash, there are no problems for him.
A friend of mine refers to Erdogan's state of mind as a "mujahadeen mentality."
Well, it may not be that extreme of a situation, but when we look back on last year's controversy that followed Erdogan's declaration that "adultery should be made a crime," it is hard to find fault with that friend of mine.
Let's take a look at the most recent incidents in Denmark:
Certain countries reacted to the caricature of the Prophet Mohammed which was carried in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. These countries, which were all majority Islamic countries, sent a joint letter to the Danish government in Copenhagen. Our Ambassador to Denmark, Fugen Ok, signed the letter too, at the "orders" of our Foreign Ministry. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen responded sharply this letter, saying "A secular and democractic country which is trying to become an EU member should not have signed such a letter." He then promised to bring the subject up in a NATO meeting.
Clearly, Rasmussen's point of view is this: "If you want to protest the caricaturist, bring the matter to court. This is a democratically run country. The government cannot get involved in matters of caricatures, and with which authority can it interfere with newspapers? How can there be support for an EU bid by a country who expects things like this from us?"
And yesterday in Copenhagen, PM Erdogan did not attempt to hide his insistence on this topic from Rasmussen. In a talk with Rasmussen, his point rested on these words: "As much respect as I show for their religious values, they must show the same for mine."
In terms of a personal request, the Prime Minister's expectations are not out of place. Of course no one appreciates having their personal values mocked or belittled. But then that reaction should be brought up as personal one, and not as a political one. Perhaps some civil socity foundations could make their displeasure with the caricature known by protesting the newspaper in question. They could then let the Danish government know of their protests. But for a secular government official to hold another government responsible for contents of one of its country's newspapers, then the other government will of course say "ahem, you seem not to know the rules of this game, my friend."
We understand the Prime Minister. He speaks his thoughts honestly. The concepts of belief and justice are not grounded firmly in his idea of a secular democracy. The schools he was educated in and the people who surround him have made him more comfortable with an Ottoman style society. A society where belief and justice have an ambigious relationship. So for as long as these concepts do not clash, there are no problems for him.
A friend of mine refers to Erdogan's state of mind as a "mujahadeen mentality."
Well, it may not be that extreme of a situation, but when we look back on last year's controversy that followed Erdogan's declaration that "adultery should be made a crime," it is hard to find fault with that friend of mine.