Erdogan's True Colors

Erdogan is increasingly concerned about his brand, how people see him, and how he is expressed in the media, which has lead to his desire to control any representation and interpretation of himself anywhere. He is suppressing constitutional rights, especially in Turkey, which is supposed to be a democracy. People are far from having the right to express themselves, and their cultures if they are not Turkish because of his growing dictator-like responses. He is “targeting [The H.D.P. or People’s Democratic Party] precisely because [they] stand in the way of the authoritarian order he is trying to establish." 

The Kurdish, Turkish peace talks have all but worked out, and have resulted in Erdogan’s growing thirst for control over the Kurdish peoples. Now, for example, they must be wary of speaking their own language, and practicing anything to do with their own culture, or they may face imprisonment, torture, and possible death. Meanwhile, the US is attempting to maintain a good relationship with Turkey, while Turkey funds ISIS, and dubs the PKK, or the Kurdish Workers Party a terrorist organization when in actuality the Kurds are the ones being terrorized by the Turkish government. 

Ultimately, because of our relationship with Turkey as allies, we have been indirectly aiding ISIS in fighting the Kurds, who are the only ones in the Middle East who have been successful in fighting ISIS. Erdogan has clouded our judgement. and our ability to see the whole, actual picture by using his power to lessen democratic freedom in Turkey, increase his control, and “take care” of any word getting out concerning the inhumane curfews, killings, and bombings  of Kurdish cities etc. 

By acting as he is, oppressing the Kurds, suppressing people’s expression of free speech and such, Erdogan is killing the democracy that Turkey has had, making it more and more unstable, and vulnerable in a particularly insecure time for the Middle East, and the world.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/opinion/free-speech-isnt-the-onlycasualty-of-erdogans-repression.html?_r=2

-Livia Gazzolo