some rights some wrongs of Dr. Pipes

Submitted by servet cevik (Turkey), Sep 24, 2014 at 04:43

1. erdogan is really not antisemitic. he has good relations with many jewish businessman and gave many very large public tenders to many different jewish businessmen. Israeli trade with Turkey is on track to reach record in 2014 exceeding record of 2013.

http://www.haaretz.com/business/.premium-1.603035

2. i can name you many of his speeches protecting the jewish community in turkey and his solidarity with them. And he even owns a jewish medal given to him.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=erdogan-honored-with-medal-of-courage-by-ajc-2004-01-28

3. yes he has problems with the israeli government because of Mavi Marmara. This incident has put him in a very difficult situation against people who voted for him. After this his attitude against Israel has changed naturally. This really was a big mistake of Israel. Some pepper gas and plastic bullets would suffice to stop those radical muslims, but Israel killed 9 protesters. Apology and compensation came very late.

4. as for the ottoman times, what he says is actually not very wrong. not so much inter communal violonce existed than, rather there were nationalist independence revolts against the ottoman authority. now everyone is killing every other.

5. erdogan is BAD FOR US secular Turks living here in Turkey because just this week, they have allowed headscarfs for girls in schools as young as 12 years old under the disguise of human rights and religious liberties which actually will turn into social pressure very soon for those girls who do not wear a headscarf especially in rural areas.

6. erdogan is BAD FOR US because he hates leftists, socialists, atheists, gay-lesbian individuals, liberals, kemalists, etc anyone who has a world view not parallel to that of himself. and he ignores the demands of other sects of the society other than his own supporters.

7. erdogan is BAD FOR US because he allocates all public tenders to his own circle. As a businessman i do not even try to bid for any government public tender because i am openly an atheist and i am very sure that i will never be awarded any public tender as long as he is in office.

8. erdogan is BAD FOR US because like any popular politician he is trying to sum all the powers to himself and is opressing those who do not side with him let it be in the media, universities, army, labor unions, business, judicial system etc.

9. erdogan is BAD FOR US because with his religion and belief centered politcs he has divided Turkish society in to two sects who hate each other.

10. erdogan is BAD FOR US because with his sunni islam centered foreign policy, he is putting the country in great risk in international relations.

so please let US complain about this guy who was once extremely favored and put forward as a "role model for moderate islam" by the usa and europe. he is good for anyone but the turks.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".