We may become lost in the details if we examine one by one the MİT, Internet and Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) laws, which were included in omnibus laws and passed hastily in Parliament.
But if we look at the bigger picture, we can see that the government is preparing the infrastructure for a new legal process. This infrastructure is being constructed on a pot stand. If any of the four legs of this stand are missing, the system which they [the government] want to establish will not function. All this legislation suggests one thing: The government is establishing the legal basis for an operation against the community [Hizmet movement]. Even though the government has already removed from duty thousands of people, including police officers and members of the judiciary, it would have difficulties persuading “civil servants” to launch an operation against the community. The community is also aware of this. They [Hizmet members] said they believe ordinary civil servants would not take part in a legal process against the community. And as the government is also aware of this fact, it is now preparing the legal infrastructure to carry out a problem-free operation against the community.
All of Erdoğan’s recent acts reflect a serious deficit of democracy in the ruling government. These acts include making bogus claims of a parallel structure; targeting institutions linked to Fethullah Gülen’s Hizmet movement; embark on a massive reshuffle of thousands of officials without any reasonable grounds; changing the structure of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) to subjugate the judiciary; openly interfering in the media; strengthening the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and bringing it under the direct control of the prime minister; banning Twitter and YouTube; and speaking with a threatening, bullying and polarizing tone.
Angela Merkel, Meeting With Erdogan in Turkey, Emphasizes Free Speech
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany emphasized the importance of freedom of opinion in talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on Thursday, during a visit meant to help improve frayed ties between the two NATO allies.
KADİP’s 1st international photography contest held for peace
The Intercultural Dialogue Platform (KADİP) of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) announced the winners of its very first international photography contest, “Peace in the frame,” at a gala on Tuesday night at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in İstanbul.
Woman dismissed from job because she had surgery at hospital targeted by gov’t
Workers who were fired from their jobs at İzmir’s Ege University lost their jobs because they had a baby or received medical treatment at the now-closed, Gülen-linked Şifa Hospital in İzmir, according to a report in the Evrensel daily on Friday.
Turkish spies working for President Erdogan ‘infiltrate Germany’s migrant community’
Turks, who make up the majority of Germany’s immigrant community, claim their schools and mosques are being spied on by Erdogan’s undercover agents to root out supporters of Fethullah Gülen – the man the Turkish president claims is behind July’s bloody military coup.
OSCE: Excessive penalties threaten journalism in Turkey
Dunja Mijatovic, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) representative on freedom of the media, has said excessive penalties against journalists may threaten investigative journalism and freedom of speech in Turkey. Mijatovic spoke against an investigation targeting Taraf journalist Mehmet Baransu for reporting on a confidential National Security Council (MGK) document that mentioned a planned crackdown on faith-based groups in Turkey.
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