Erdogan’s slide into dictatorship

Khurshid Ahmed Khan

Rajab 24, 1437 2016-05-01

Letters To The Editor

by Khurshid Ahmed Khan (Letters To The Editor, Crescent International Vol. 45, No. 3, Rajab, 1437)

Recept Tayip Erdogan is no democrat; he is a dictator. That is the only way to describe him.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had aroused great hopes not only among the people of Turkey but also many Muslims around the world. He seemed like a leader who cared for the plight of Muslims. This was strikingly captured in his walkout from a meeting with then Israeli President Shimon Peres at Davos in January 2009. He blasted the Israeli for committing crimes against the Palestinians. Erdogan returned home to a hero’s welcome.

Since that dramatic encounter, Erdogan’s conduct has been quite erratic. When his prime ministerial rule ended, he went for the presidency. Now he wants to change the constitution to grab vast new powers. He has built himself a grand new palace costing nearly $1 billion. Is he a king or an elected leader? He tore up the agreement that he had signed with the Kurds in order to arouse the nationalistic feelings of Turks. This was meant to secure his party, the AKP, a majority in parliament. He may have gotten his majority but he lost the respect of the people. And he has clamped down hard on the media.

Rulers that do not tolerate even legitimate criticism are called dictators. This is what Erdogan has become — even if the people elected him.

Khurshid Ahmed Khan
Los Angeles, CA, US