A speech given by Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) Chairman Rıza Nur Meral brought a breath of fresh air to all of us.
I can say that with his remarks, Meral has articulated the feelings and thoughts of a large segment of society. I now know that Meral, besides being a successful businessman, is a good speaker. When he said: “Politics is a platform where you serve the people. It is not the place to make money or build a fortune,” thousands of businessmen listening to his speech stood up and enthusiastically applauded. Meral’s remarks dropped like a bombshell. His observations are a clear indication that the government has been engaging in unfair competition with the business world. Remember that the government keeps telling critics to “establish a political party if you want to raise any objection” to government policies. Meral made a similar call: “If you [members of government] want to earn money, quit politics and enter the business world so that we can compete under equal conditions.”
At this point, we need to state that the third term in office which the prime minister Erdogan refers to as the period of mastery appears to be a goal of converting society through a single cultural identity rather than a period of restoration that will strengthen social peace.
Barton: Erdoğan intoxicated by power, imperiling democracy in Turkey
Professor Greg Barton, acting director of the Centre for Islam and the Modern World at the Melbourne-based Monash University has expressed his concerns about the course of events in Turkey in terms of basic rights and democracy.
Report reveals repercussions of AK Party fight against Gülen movement in Africa
A report released by the prestigious London-based think tank Chatham House has praised the efforts of the faith-based Gülen movement in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), saying that it has been a major driving force of Turkey’s engagement in the region; however, it has warned that the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) ongoing battle against the movement may hamper further Turkish presence there.
Erdoğan now targets foreign countries for granting asylum to critics
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has blasted foreign countries who granted asylum to sympathizers of the Gülen movement after they fled Turkey fearing persecution amid post-coup witch hunt.
Amnesty: 500,000 Kurds displaced in Turkey’s Southeast due to curfews, crackdown
Tens of thousands of residents of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sur are among an estimated half million people forced from their homes as a result of a brutal crackdown by Turkish authorities over the past year which may amount to collective punishment, said Amnesty International in a new report.
Ministry allegedly profiled students of dershanes close to Hizmet
The petitions filed with the Ministry of Education and provincial educational branches in May 2012 by parents have revealed that the Education Ministry profiled students of dershanes — private institutes that offer examination prep classes — and schools close to the Hizmet movement.
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