February 2nd, 2016.
The Plight of Refik Tekin and the Turkey’s Descent into Tyranny.
The footage of civilians coming under fire in Cizre, Turkey was photographed by a man named Refik Tekin, a cameraman and photographer for the national Turkish television network IMC news. Refik Tekin survived the gunshot wound to the leg he received in the incident that left at least two dead and ten wounded and is recovering in Mardin State Hospital.
Police stand guard awaiting Refik Tekin’s recovery as whilst he lay in hospital Refik Tekin has been designated by a Turkish Court as a “separatist terrorist organisation member”
Refik Tekin: Turkish Cameraman shot in the leg by security forces faces terror charges
Police Judge, Rule on Journalist Refik Tekin
“the order submitted by Şırnak Provincial Security Directorate has instructed to keep Tekin under surveillance during his stay at the hospital and to take him into custody and have his testimony after being released from the hospital.”
“Both the documents prepared by Chief Prosecutor M. Sait Köseoğlu and Şırnak Provincial Security Department use the expression “separatist terrorist organization member” concerning journalist Refik Tekin.”
So having shot and wounded him after opening fire on a non-violent group of people the Turkish authorities are seeking to claim that they were attacking the PKK and therefore Refik Tekin must be a member. It is transparent nonsense but sadly typical of Turkey under late era Erdogan who shows clear signs of delusion.
Rafik Tehin had previously earned the ire of the Turkish ruling party having photographed ISIL/Daesh fighters openly crossing the Turkey/Syria border unimpeded by Turkish officials.
Photos and videos by Refik Tekin (@RefikTekin) | Twitter
AKP Conducting Widespread Assault on Civil Society.
Journalists, Academics and Lawyers targeted by Erdogan regime.
The decision to portray Refik Tekin as a member of the PKK is mirrored by the widespread attempt to intimidate any who would criticise the futile South Eastern operation against the PKK, or mention issues of political corruption. Saying anything that contradicts the official fiction of the Turkish state is enough to warrant dismissal or arrest.
At the most moderate level journalists are sacked for speaking on the subject of Government corruption, a mention of the term shoebox is sufficient to qualify, and any criticism of the Government, even delivered second hand, are grounds for immediate dismissal.
State-run TRT fires radio show host for reading critical tweet
Turkish newspaper columnist fired over tweet critical of Erdoğan
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists fourteen Turkish journalists are currently incarcerated and ridiculous charges such as “spreading terrorist propaganda” (applied against completely bland anti war messages) to the ludicrous criminal charge of “targeting members of the Government” (for criticism) and espionage charges for those who have uncovered Turkish support for ISIL/Daesh.
Turkish Journalists Arrested For Espionage After Exposing Corruption | Observer
They are attempting to make criticism of members of the Government a criminal act. It is an absolute joke that such a state would even be considered a candidate for the EU but the admission of Bulgaria indicates that a gangster government is no disqualification.
Four journalists face trial for ‘insulting’ Erdoğan
Turkish journalist faces eight years in jail for ‘insulting Erdoğan’
List of arrested journalists in Turkey – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
27 Turkish academics detained for signing critical declaration on Southeast
One memorable recent example of the increasingly brazen tyranny of the AKP was the case of the academics detained and charged for signing an anti-war petition. Academics who signed the petition were also targeted by public death threats from the ultranationalist organised crime boss and Erdogan supporter Sedat Peker.
After Erdoğan, crime boss threatens academics who call for peace
Notorious criminal threatens academics calling for peace in Turkey’s southeast
Prominent Kurdish human rights lawyer Tahir Elci was shot to death in the street as he gave a press conference calling for peace. Turkish police have unsurprisingly made zero progress in that murder investigation.
Top Kurdish lawyer shot dead in southeast Turkey | Reuters
Press TV journalist Serena Shim‘s death in late 2014 was not an accident and the identity of the perpetrators is no mystery, the key protector and facilitator for ISIl tasks in the border region have been filled by the MIT intelligence organisation.
White House, Media Silent One Year After Murder of US Reporter Who Exposed Western Links to ISIS
Authoritarian Rule?
‘Turkey suffering from mass fascism since Gezi protests’
Has Turkey Become a Fascist State? | New Eastern Outlook
Jailed Turkish editor slams EU deal with Erdoğan’s ‘fascist government’ The Guardian
Brutish authoritarianism is being exercised against opponents of the policies of the Turkish Government and corruption whistleblowers. Sibel Edmonds has pointed out that these policies in Turkey are not unique to the current Government and also that Western Intelligence has several hand picked replacements waiting in the wings.
These details do not change the fact that the conduct of the AKP Government has severely damaged Turkey domestically and internationally and the level of tyranny is completely unacceptable in any era.
Ergogan is a demagogue waving the flag of Islam for convenience. Erdogan is an organised crime figure first and foremost and no more a Muslim than the Skull and Bones member with (alleged) large interests in the international drug trade George H.W Bush was a Christian.
Where will it end?
The Civil War has been cynically restarted in Turkey due to anxieties about Kurdish gains in Iraq and Syria, the relationship with Russia has been completely trashed for the same broad reason, out of frustration at the failures of the Syria regime change effort, one almost forgotten fact at this point is that Turkey and Russia were close enough that Turkey agreed to allow Russia to build and operate Turkey’s first nuclear reactor.
Russia halts work in Turkey’s first nuclear power plant after spat – officials | Reuters
Turkey May Owe Russia ‘Hefty Compensation’ if Nuclear Plant Not Constructed
The economic relationship is huge for both states and the path for Erdogan’s departure has been paved by his massive errors on the international stage.
Yesterday Turkey complained that a Russian SU34 fighter jet had entered Turkish airspace. Today video has emerged that is claimed to depict the Turkish military firing artillery from Turkey against Syrian Russian troops in Latakia, where the Turkish backed insurgents are facing complete defeat. It seems absurd that the Turkish military would fight a war with Russia in order to somehow save the failing Syrian regime change operation, but stranger things have happened.
‘Irrefutable proof’: Turkey shells Syrian territory – Russian military
Do yourself a favor.