Turkish Citizens Are Not Fools! Author Criticizes 'Personal State' System for Contradictions

The author sharply criticizes Turkey's current presidential system, which they term the "Personal State," accusing it of profound contradictions and a disregard for its own constitutional principles.

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The Turkish Republic, by stating in its Constitution 'Everyone is equal before the law, regardless of language, race, color, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion, sect, and the like,' has equalized all its citizens.

A central point of contention is the government's alleged alliance with the PKK, a group it previously labeled a terrorist organization. The author contrasts this with the imprisonment of opposition leaders, including mayors and activists, who are reportedly jailed for advocating peace and democracy. This perceived hypocrisy forms the basis of the author's argument that the government expects citizens to believe narratives that defy its own actions.

The article further elaborates on the continued imprisonment of prominent figures like Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala, despite European Court of Human Rights rulings. Simultaneously, the author claims the government is facilitating the release of PKK-affiliated prisoners under the guise of "sentence deferral" through "framework laws," all while promoting a message of peace and democracy.

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This 'System,' which I call the 'Personal State,' the 'Presidential government system,' forms an alliance with the 40-year-old PKK terrorist organization just ONE YEAR after the elections, contrary to all its promises, and asks the voters who have given it votes for twenty years to support this alliance, which is the complete opposite.

Similar criticisms are leveled against the handling of the Gezi Park protests and subsequent trials. The author decries the imprisonment of individuals like Tayfun Kahraman, a technocrat with MS, alongside other Gezi defendants. This is juxtaposed with the alleged preferential treatment for PKK convicts. The article also condemns the jailing of journalists like Merdan Yanardağ and the seizure of their media outlets, labeling such actions as contrary to democratic principles.

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This 'System' divides the main opposition party, imprisons the presidential candidate, the mayors who won the election, and municipal employees, and expects the voters to believe that all of this is done in the name of 'Peace' and that it 'strengthens democracy.'

Finally, the author points to the ongoing detention of lawyer Can Atalay, a parliament member elected despite legal challenges, and the imprisonment of activists, artists, and former military personnel. These cases, the author argues, are presented under the banner of "peace" and "democracy," forcing citizens to question the government's definition and application of these terms.

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It keeps Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala in prison for years despite ECHR decisions, but reconciles with the terrorist organization PKK and expects the voters to approve of this.