Probe of 300 Turkish citizens
The police department in Turkey is currently investigating 300 Turkish citizens for allegedly insulting President RecepTayip Erdogan and making propaganda of a terrorist organization in Turkey.
Turkish Penal Code Article 299 states that anyone convicted of insulting the president should serve a prison term of one to four years, in some cases with options of fine and in some extreme cases without any option of fine.
What constitutes insult to a commander in chief of any country practicing democracy at presidential or parliamentary status to the extent of trial and eventual jail sentence as considered by the provisions of the law of that country is surely an attempt to gag free flow of information and undermine the freedom of the people.
Recep Tayip Erdogan is a Turkish politician and 12th president of Turkey. He previously served as the Prime Minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014 and as the Mayor of stanbul from 1994 to 1998. He founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001 and led it to three general election victories in 2002, 2007 and 2011 before standing down as leader upon his election as President in 2014. Originating from an Islamist political background and as a self-described conservative democrat, his administration has overseen social conservative and liberal economic policies.
President Erdogan came into power at the general acceptability of the people of Turkey and has served the people well until lately when his administration began to manipulate the system to its advantage and resolved to descend on any one who is opposed to the maximum and oppressive new methods.
Among those who are being tried by the state is an Islamic scholar Fethulah Gullen known to be interested in developing education and teaching morals as well as condemning the abuse of power by the state.
Fethulah has been a close ally and ardent supporter of President Erdogan when Mr. President was clearly working for the interest of the citizens of Turkey, but things fell apart between the two loves birds when it became obvious that the rights of the people and their freedom is trampled upon.
Without bias, I am not a Turkish National, but have followed the events in Turkey very closely in recent times and came to the realization that Fethular Gullen is an advocate of good governance and strict adherent to the rule of law.
Presently Turkey is undergoing dark times in its national economy and its political space rattled by oppressive and one rule compelling the people to live in slavery in their own land, and that has continued to generate controversy among the citizens.
In spite of these obvious challenges an investigation was launched against 300 people by the Isparta Police Department on suspicion of “insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoan” and “making propaganda of a terrorist organization” on social media.
Fethulah is not the only Turkish national on self exile, others have fled from home for the fear of being attacked or killed by the present administration in Turkey, all in the name of perpetuating the incumbent leadership in office.
Without a doubt, the economy of Turkey before the current crises can be ranked among the World best economies, but severe diminishing returns have set in to destroy Turkish international and domestic trade.
Nationwide antigovernment protests broke out in 2013 against the growing authoritarianism of Erdoan’s government, with an internationally criticized crackdown on protestors by police and AKP youth members that led to 22 deaths resulting in Gülen withdrawing support from the AKP and EU accession talks stalled.
A US$100 billion government corruption scandal in 2013 led to the arrests of Erdoan’s close allies, with Erdoan himself incriminated after a recording was released on social media. Blaming the scandal on a coup attempt by a parallel structure formed by Gülen’s supporters in high judicial offices, Erdoan implemented large-scale reforms to the police and judicial systems that were criticized for placing the judiciary’s independence in doubt.
Erdoan’s government has since come under fire for a crackdown on press and social media, electoral fraud, demeaning the Constitution and alleged human rights violations, having blocked access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube on numerous occasions. He has come under fire for constructing Ak Saray, the world’s largest palace on Atatürk Forest Farm and Zoo for his own use as President and has advocated an executive presidency system of government that would boost his powers.
Organization lorry scandal led to accusations of high treason. Opposition journalists and politicians have thus branded him a “dictator”. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made around 300 foreign trips during the period of his premiership.
Ofem Uket uket304real@ gmail.com