Erdogan’s Attempt to Suppress German Satire Has the Opposite Effect

I wonder how much more of this sort of thing has to go on before the media begins widespread use of the word "dictator" for Erdogan? Illegal criticism, seizing opposition media, violent oppression of minorities, potential election shenanigans - I can imagine next he'll appoint himself President for Life and rename the it the People's Republic of Turkey.

I feel the same thing applies to Putin, but we'll never see the term used due to the immense power he and his Russia wield internationally when compared to small fry Turkey

Re: Erdogan’s Attempt to Suppress German Satire Has the Opposite Effect

#5

Post by thirdsun » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 10:21 AM UTC

As a german I really have to wonder what's wrong with our government if we continue to cozy up to Erdogan's turkey.

I really don't think having turkey as a migration buffer is worth paying the price of making the european union look like a club you can buy your way into regardless of ethics. What's the use of values if we're starting to ignore them so easily?

Re: Erdogan’s Attempt to Suppress German Satire Has the Opposite Effect

#6

Post by tim333 » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 10:23 AM UTC

Go satire! I think Turkey briefly had the record for most journalists jailed around 2013 but has been overtaken. I'm glad the internet makes such things less effective.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/world/europe/turkey-jailin...

Re: Erdogan’s Attempt to Suppress German Satire Has the Opposite Effect

#7

Post by venomsnake » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 10:30 AM UTC

thirdsun wrote: post #5

As a german I really have to wonder what's wrong with our government if we continue to cozy up to Erdogan's turkey. I really don't think having turkey as a migration buffer is worth paying the price of making the european union look like a club you can buy your way into regardless of ethics. What's the use of values if we're starting to ignore them so easily?

Turkey cannot be really migration buffer.

But for Germans - i think that the internalized guilt that was whipped into the German society after WWII just prevents them from thinking - EU and his people/interests first, Germany first or criticizing foreigners.

We all will pay dearly for supporting "religious freedom" Erdogan against his army in the early 00s

Re: Erdogan’s Attempt to Suppress German Satire Has the Opposite Effect

#8

Post by meric » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 10:31 AM UTC

elthran wrote: post #4

I wonder how much more of this sort of thing has to go on before the media begins widespread use of the word "dictator" for Erdogan? Illegal criticism, seizing opposition media, violent oppression of minorities, potential election shenanigans - I can imagine next he'll appoint himself President for Life and rename the it the People's Republic of Turkey. I feel the same thing applies to Putin, but we'll never see the…

Putin is quite the authoritarian, yet I don't think you can compare Erdogan to Putin. They are not even on the same level.

Re: Erdogan’s Attempt to Suppress German Satire Has the Opposite Effect

#9

Post by chinathrow » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 10:32 AM UTC

elthran wrote: post #4

I wonder how much more of this sort of thing has to go on before the media begins widespread use of the word "dictator" for Erdogan? Illegal criticism, seizing opposition media, violent oppression of minorities, potential election shenanigans - I can imagine next he'll appoint himself President for Life and rename the it the People's Republic of Turkey. I feel the same thing applies to Putin, but we'll never see the…

This.

And they want to join the EU...!

Re: Erdogan’s Attempt to Suppress German Satire Has the Opposite Effect

#10

Post by tim333 » Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 10:33 AM UTC

thirdsun wrote: post #5

As a german I really have to wonder what's wrong with our government if we continue to cozy up to Erdogan's turkey. I really don't think having turkey as a migration buffer is worth paying the price of making the european union look like a club you can buy your way into regardless of ethics. What's the use of values if we're starting to ignore them so easily?

A lot of the cozying up is for military reasons I think. Turkey is part of NATO and has 612,900 active personnel against 180,676 from Germany and 205,851 from the UK and also a strategic position bordering Syria, Iraq and Iran so we're kind of forced to be a bit friendly in spite of Erdogan's failings.