Like most of the world, we have watched the rapid decline of civil liberties in Turkey after the election of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his coalition of Islamic parties. Just last month, we discussed the arrest of Mehmet Emin Altunses, 16, who allegedly committed the crime of “insulting” Erdoğan. calling people who use birth control “traitors” and saying Muslims discovered America, you are not allowed to be disrespectful or insulting in discussing Erdoğan. Then there was the prosecution of model and former Miss Turkey Merve Buyuksarac, 26, for criticizing Erdogan for quoting a few lines from a poem called the “Master’s Poem” from weekly Turkish satirical magazine Uykusuz. Erdogan’s totalitarian measures have earned him the nickname “Buyuk Usta” (the Big Master). The fact is that censorship and repressions is that it tends to become increasing absurd as leaders try to punish those who would insult them or question their leadership. This week is another case in point for Erdoğan. His government is investigating physician Dr. Bilgin Çiftçi for allegedly insulting Erdoğan after sharing a meme comparing Erdoğan’s facial expressions to the Gollum character in the “The Lord of the Rings” movies. Now here is the truly wonderful part: a court has reportedly demanded an expert examination by two experts to determine if a comparison to Gollum’s character would be an insult.
Once again, I was convinced that this was an Onion story until I found it on respected websites like the BBC. This clown-like behavior by Erdogan and his government has become something of a signature. The problem is that it is not funny. Çiftçi was expelled from the Public Health Institution of Turkey (THSK) after sharing the meme that compared images of Erdoğan to the fictional character known for his grotesque appearance, showing them both eating, expressing surprise and amazement. That lead to the Aydın 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance to call for an expert examination into the character of Gollum. The investigation will be held by a group composed of two academics, two behavioral scientists or psychologists and an expert on cinema and television productions.
The investigation was ordered after the defense attorney asked if the chief judge or prosecutor had even seen the movie. The chief judge admitted that he had only seen parts of the movie.
The funny thing is that it is the chief judge and prosecutor who seem most Gollum like. These are lines either out of the movies or the hearing, I cannot tell:
“We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false!”
“We swears to serve the master of the Precious. We will swear on… on… the Precious!”
Indeed, when it comes to free speech, Turkey has found a replacement: “Master looks after us now. We don’t need you anymore.”
Hahaha you and Darren Smith know next to nothing about Turkey….. Ya’ll love Erdorgan for some reason though.
There is a striking resemblance between the two–is this one of those separated at birth stories?
Hell, the Union could have just voted away slavery and provided for the economic loss due to slavewoners as was justly deserved under the Fifth amendment. But they were too cheap for that. Easier to hire Irishmen to carry cheap equipment into the teeth of the confederate guns, and more profitable too as you observed. Stupid rebs were screwed either way. Just like the foolish rednecks keep on signing up for Uncles wars today.
During WW2 and/or the Vietnam War, the FBI pressed charges and imprisoned a handful of the most innocent and non-threatening Americans who ever lived. IIRC, one was a Priest, one was a middle aged housewife, etc. etc. Their “sin” was speaking out publicly against war, nothing more, nothing less.
The evil scum of the earth Abraham Lincoln suspended the Constitution by imprisoning news reporters and at least one Governor without formal charges. He “destroyed the Constitution” in order to save it. Kind of like the Israel-firsters here: we have to incinerate the earth to keep Israel safe.
If the South was allowed to secede, the sum total difference would be about one million less dead (similar number maimed), less profits to bankers (war = debt = interest regardless the winner/loser), and the Confederacy today would be abortion-free and homosexual nuptial free. The industrial revolution soon after the Civil War would have eliminated slavery, just like robots fix minimum wage laws.
Rick,
“Think how envious Americans seeking to punish “hate” speech must be.”
You cannot possibly be American and be “…seeking to punish ‘hate’ speech..”
That is an actionable act of treason; just like affirmative action, “Fair Housing,” “Anti-Discrimination,” etc.
Understanding that speech has always existed, it is specifically “hate speech” that the Constitution allows
for.
The Founders thought they communicated that Americans were provided the freedom of ALL and EVERY
FORM OF speech, including hate speech.
In 1789, we could now insult the King. Just imagine.
Erdogan’s son Bilal Erdogan sells ISIS oil to Israel, and this has long been known by the West (see http://www.ZeroHedge.com). Turkey: another alleged Western “ally” constantly acting against the USA, drawing us ever close to nuclear winter.
Way to go, West! Go team! Spreading peace and democracy around the globe since President Wilson. And earth’s population is just lovin’ it!
I suppose Zionist World Order fan BarkingDog missed the memo (or maybe not) that China and Russia are nuclear armed to the hilt, and both said they would consider Western attack of Iran as a declaration of war.
Nuclear winter, much?
If this defendant loses his case in court for the government it will certainly be an example of winning the battle but losing the war.
The intent behind prosecutions such as this are to stifle criticism to save the crown where people are deterred from making such statements by the fear of punishment. The internet and especially social media are making this increasingly obsolete.
Going after someone for making such statements as the Gollum example only serves as gasoline to enflame the subject to a worldwide conflagration of ridicule toward President Erdoğan.
Unfortunately for the defendant, the worldwide nature of the controversy likely will bear down on him to manifest itself as a proportionately greater level of punishment.
Think how envious Americans seeking to punish “hate” speech must be.
Free Speech is under attack in every nation in almost coordinated fashion, at least in the western civilization. Take from it what you will.
The prize will go to the next world leader that supports an autonomous Kurdistan. Obama/Clinton or Putin are thinking that right now, perhaps France and Great Britian-since this whole thing is primarily their fault for screwing up the old map dividing thing. Putin could back the Kurds and help them carve out a nation on the southern border of Turkey with a corridor to the Med. Then Russia will have gained a million times more presence than with Syria or what is possible with bombs. This would sandwich ISIS and provide a release for one of the main problems in Turkey as well as Syria and Iraq. It would only take the military and political backing of one of the two big guys. If both the US and Russia got on board then that would also act as a platform from which to combat ISIS and the next crew of thugs.
Syria and Iraq should have been divided into three territories/countries representing the three main religious groups. The divide and conquer then govern from the militarily advantaged minority routine’s chickens are coming home to roost. The chaos created by Great Britain and France to destabilize the area and thus keep it from becoming a threat only served to delay that threat.
Now is the time for the West to help create religious and ethnic based countries that won’t be at each other’s throats, creating chaos, inviting in thugs like ISIS and the other dregs of Islam to ‘take over the world from the infidels.’
Kick Turkey out of NATO now. Put Erdogan on the itShay list. Putin is a better ally against ISIS. Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran! Play the song from Saturday Night Live from 30 years ago while you bomb them.
Is there a worldview that makes our foreign and domestic policy come into focus; because right now everything that is going on seems insane.
And this is a leader that we will protect with the blood of our soldiers and the $$ in our treasury? We are insane.
I would love to be in court when the two experts testify.