Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: Difference between revisions

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Nationwide protests against the perceived [[authoritarianism]] of Erdoğan's government began in May 2013, with the internationally criticized police crackdown resulting in 22 deaths and the stalling of EU membership negotiations. Following a split with long-time ally Fethullah Gülen, Erdoğan brought about large-scale judicial reforms that were criticized for threatening judicial independence, but which Erdoğan insisted were necessary to purge sympathizers of the preacher Fethullah Gülen. A US$100 billion government corruption scandal in 2013 led to the arrests of Erdoğan's close allies, with Erdoğan himself incriminated after a recording was released on social media. Erdoğan's government has since come under fire for alleged human rights violations and crackdown on press and social media, having blocked access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube on numerous occasions. Erdoğan's government lifted the bans upon court orders. Opposition journalists and politicians have criticized authoritarian tendencies. Analysts suggest that Turkey is a majoritarian democracy. Erdoğan's proponents suggest that since the attempted coup, press restrictions are changing, Erdoğan's government dropped charges against the secular Doğan Group, including Hurriyet paper after it was alleged that the $4.5 billion tax fraud charge was initially perpetrated by Gülenist officers. In the aftermath of the coup attempt, Erdoğan issued a Presidential pardon against those who 'insulted' him. Erdoğan aims to bring the executive Presidency to a referendum in 2017, with a bill likely to pass parliament due to agreement between Erdoğan's conservative AKP and the nationalist [[Nationalist Movement Party|MHP]].

Erdoğan has also perpetrated [[war crimes]] as his government has allegedly provided financial support and weapons to [[The Islamic State]] as well as militant groups in Syria ~~(though he has~~ declared opposition to [[Bashar al-Assad]] and has called for him to be removed from power.) Erdoğan has also supported Saudi Arabia's intervention in the conflict in Yemen. In January 2018, Turkey invaded northern Syria to remove Kurdish influence.

Erdoğan has also perpetrated [[war crimes]] as his government has allegedly provided financial support and weapons to [[The Islamic State]] as well as militant groups in Syria. He declared opposition to [[Bashar al-Assad]] as well as Iran under [[Ayatollah Khaminei]] and Russia under [[Vladimir Putin]] backing him and has called for him to be removed from power, fighting against them. Erdoğan has also supported Saudi Arabia's intervention in the conflict in Yemen, further raising tensions against Iran. In January 2018, Turkey invaded northern Syria to remove Kurdish influence.

In 2020, he deployed the Turkish Navy as well as UAVs to Libya in support of the Government of National Accord to fight against General [[Khalifa Haftar]] during the Second Libyan Civil War.

Erdoğan has shown mixed opinions on Israel and Jews in general. He has made multiple [[Anti-Semitism|anti-semitic]] remarks and frequently condemns Israel, showing himself as an ally of Palestine and declaring himself in favor of the establishment of a Palestinian state. He has accused Israel of manipulating the media and has denounced Jews as "insidious", "treacherous", and "evil". There have also been rumors of Erdoğan providing aid to [[Hamas]], but this has never been proven. However, Erdoğan has also condemned anti-semitism and has repeatedly described [[The Holocaust|the Holocaust]] as a "[[crime against humanity]]" and the [[Nazi Party]]'s regime as "horrific". He also received the Profile of Courage Award from the American Jewish Congress in 2004 for promoting peace between cultures.

Erdoğan has shown a history of anti-Armenian remarks. In regards to his own heritage, when it was claimed he has distant Armenian and Georgian heritage, he has responded "They called me a Georgian. Pardon me for saying this but they said even uglier things: They called me an Armenian". He has refused to recognize the Armenian genocide and has claimed it was used to "blackmail Turkey".

Erdoğan has provided support to Azerbaijan against Armenia during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. He was accused of arming and deploying Syrian mercenaries to the region to fight against Armenia.

Erdoğan has also allied himself with other authoritarian leaders such as [[Xi Jinping]], [[Vladimir Putin]], and [[Viktor Orbán]].

==Trivia==

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 Nationwide protests against the perceived [[authoritarianism]] of Erdoğan's government began in May 2013, with the internationally criticized police crackdown resulting in 22 deaths and the stalling of EU membership negotiations. Following a split with long-time ally Fethullah Gülen, Erdoğan brought about large-scale judicial reforms that were criticized for threatening judicial independence, but which Erdoğan insisted were necessary to purge sympathizers of the preacher Fethullah Gülen. A US$100 billion government corruption scandal in 2013 led to the arrests of Erdoğan's close allies, with Erdoğan himself incriminated after a recording was released on social media. Erdoğan's government has since come under fire for alleged human rights violations and crackdown on press and social media, having blocked access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube on numerous occasions. Erdoğan's government lifted the bans upon court orders. Opposition journalists and politicians have criticized authoritarian tendencies. Analysts suggest that Turkey is a majoritarian democracy. Erdoğan's proponents suggest that since the attempted coup, press restrictions are changing, Erdoğan's government dropped charges against the secular Doğan Group, including Hurriyet paper after it was alleged that the $4.5 billion tax fraud charge was initially perpetrated by Gülenist officers. In the aftermath of the coup attempt, Erdoğan issued a Presidential pardon against those who 'insulted' him. Erdoğan aims to bring the executive Presidency to a referendum in 2017, with a bill likely to pass parliament due to agreement between Erdoğan's conservative AKP and the nationalist [[Nationalist Movement Party|MHP]].
-Erdoğan has also perpetrated [[war crimes]] as his government has allegedly provided financial support and weapons to [[The Islamic State]] as well as militant groups in Syria (though he has declared opposition to [[Bashar al-Assad]] and has called for him to be removed from power.) Erdoğan has also supported Saudi Arabia's intervention in the conflict in Yemen. In January 2018, Turkey invaded northern Syria to remove Kurdish influence.
+Erdoğan has also perpetrated [[war crimes]] as his government has allegedly provided financial support and weapons to [[The Islamic State]] as well as militant groups in Syria. He declared opposition to [[Bashar al-Assad]] as well as Iran under [[Ayatollah Khaminei]] and Russia under [[Vladimir Putin]] backing him and has called for him to be removed from power, fighting against them. Erdoğan has also supported Saudi Arabia's intervention in the conflict in Yemen, further raising tensions against Iran. In January 2018, Turkey invaded northern Syria to remove Kurdish influence.
+In 2020, he deployed the Turkish Navy as well as UAVs to Libya in support of the Government of National Accord to fight against General [[Khalifa Haftar]] during the Second Libyan Civil War.
 Erdoğan has shown mixed opinions on Israel and Jews in general. He has made multiple [[Anti-Semitism|anti-semitic]] remarks and frequently condemns Israel, showing himself as an ally of Palestine and declaring himself in favor of the establishment of a Palestinian state. He has accused Israel of manipulating the media and has denounced Jews as "insidious", "treacherous", and "evil". There have also been rumors of Erdoğan providing aid to [[Hamas]], but this has never been proven. However, Erdoğan has also condemned anti-semitism and has repeatedly described [[The Holocaust|the Holocaust]] as a "[[crime against humanity]]" and the [[Nazi Party]]'s regime as "horrific". He also received the Profile of Courage Award from the American Jewish Congress in 2004 for promoting peace between cultures.
+Erdoğan has shown a history of anti-Armenian remarks. In regards to his own heritage, when it was claimed he has distant Armenian and Georgian heritage, he has responded "They called me a Georgian. Pardon me for saying this but they said even uglier things: They called me an Armenian". He has refused to recognize the Armenian genocide and has claimed it was used to "blackmail Turkey".
+Erdoğan has provided support to Azerbaijan against Armenia during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. He was accused of arming and deploying Syrian mercenaries to the region to fight against Armenia.
 Erdoğan has also allied himself with other authoritarian leaders such as [[Xi Jinping]], [[Vladimir Putin]], and [[Viktor Orbán]].
 ==Trivia==