Kurdistan Observer

The recent events that have taken place following the dubious flag burning incident have yet again exposed Turkey to more criticism and scrutiny by the EU.

The one incident that clearly showed how twisted things are in Turkey is when a group of four members of a recognized NGO were distributing leaflets calling for an end to anti-human right measures in Turkish prisons were brutally beaten and were seconds away from being ripped apart by an angry lynch mob of about 200 people in Trabzon.

Turkish police stood by and watched the mob rule closing in and beating the right activists and only intervened once they saw that it might result in killing and mutilation.

After being beaten severely the four were whisked away with great difficulty, needless to say the police did not arrest any of those who took part in the lynching and only used a loudhailer to tell the angry crowd to disperse.

In any country within the EU an incident like this would have led to serious public debate, inquiry and would have been preceded by vigorous pursuit of justice and unwavering search for gang leaders among the mob who incited against the four human right campaigners.

Then again, any police force within EU member states would have made immediate arrests among those who took part in the lynching and those who incited, aided and abetted and caused serious physical harm.

Then they would have been brought before the courts to face criminal charges which might have included disturbing peace and denying freedom of expression and all other rights associated campaigning peacefully in public places, among other serious criminal acts.

In short, this incident would have been dealt with in a manner that completely contrasts with the way Turkish government, judiciary and police handled this serious crime, whose responsibility lies with every level of the country which allowed unspeakable human right abuses for long time.

However, the more outlandish aspect of this incident is those who were severely beaten and their human and democratic rights violated ended up answering for crimes committed by their perpetrators and were charged for instigating a mob rule.

However, the incident is not isolated and the apparent indifference of the government and judiciary is evident of how Turkey has been routinely turning a blind eye to gross violations of human rights for more than 80 years.

This comes against the backdrop of new freedoms and boldness by Kurds in Turkey to exercise their cultural and political rights.

The celebration of Kurdish New Year Nawroz has sounded the alarm bell within Turkey’s ultra-nationalistic institution, the powerful military establishment, whose influence has been eroded by the government and by numerous EU adaptation packages.

So in order to stifle the natural progression for Kurds to practise their newly acquired, albeit limited rights, dark forces within Turkey’s military and intelligence establishment plotted to mar Kurdish New Year celebrations with an incident that could easily galvanize all Turkey against Kurds.

Thus, in very suspicious circumstances two young boys in Mersin were seen across Turkey TV channels running a mock with a Turkish flag and then tried to set it light.

Upon their arrest the pair, who aged between 12 and 13 years, were questioned by the police and both said they were approached by a man who handed them the flag and told them to burn it.

This well planned attempt to stir Turkish public sentiments and fervour against Kurds was further played out to wider audience through the usual nationalistic diatribe spewed out by traditionally anti-Kurds media.

Although the incident was condemned by almost all Kurdish leaders in Turkey it was nevertheless amazingly manipulated by none more than the military establishment.

The most powerful institution in Turkey issued a statement and warning about tampering with national symbols in which it referred to Kurds as so-called citizens.

Thus, it implicitly paved they way and gave cart-blanche for any reprisal action on any individual or group who is perceived to be a Kurds or supporter of Kurdish rights or defender of any rights for that matter.

The people on that day in Trabzon who turned so viciously on the human right campaigners were told that the four belonged to the same group of those who desecrated the Turkish flag.

The guardian of the constitution and the custodian of the well being of state of Turkey, the Turkish military establishment has in effect issued a statement encouraging incitement against Kurds.

The environment of fear and hate created by ethnic strife should have been capitalized upon by the government in order to reign in on

ultra-nationalistic elements within Turkey who are hampering Turkey’s acceptance to EU.

The inter-ethnic relations have always been precarious in Turkey especially now as the government is forced to take well over due steps to recognize Kurdish rights in North Kurdistan and the genocide of the Armenians.

These incidents have exposed the fragility of Turkish state, which has been built on absolute dominance of one race over others, particularly the second largest population the Kurds.

The only way forward is to rebuild the country on strong foundation of equality between races and to recognize full rights of other nations within Turkey, and more importantly to embrace human rights as a cornerstone of the new society.

Perhaps Turkey can take lessons from its southern neighbour Iraq which although not a candidate for EU has nearly fulfilled all the criteria required to join the much-prized club membership, while Turkey is still trying to come to terms with EU’s adaptation and harmonization packages.

KurdistanObserver.com