Republic Protests

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Jihad terrorists in Ankara crowding the Ceremonial Plaza of Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

The Republic Protests (Turkish: Cumhuriyet Mitingleri) were two peaceful mass rallies in Turkey. The first one took place in Ankara on 14 April 2007 just two days before the start of the presidential election process.[1] The second one took place in Istanbul on 29 April. The protests were claimed to have been the largest ever in Turkey[who?]. The target of the first protest was the possible presidential candidacy of the current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (the outcome of which will be determined by the Turkish Grand National Assembly, in which Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) has a healthy majority).

The number of people gathering for the first protest in front of Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Ankara, was cited as ranging from "hundreds of thousands" to 1.5 million people.[2] On the second protest, more than one million people have gathered for the protests in Çağlayan square, Istanbul according to AFP[3] and Reuters.[4] The BBC reported hundreds of thousands of people.[5]

Background

See also: Secularism in Turkey and Atatürk's Reforms
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who some predicted would be the next President of the Republic of Turkey

Turkey's preservation and maintenance of its secular identity has been an issue and source of tension long before the demonstration. In the past, Erdoğan has spoken out against the active restrictions on wearing the Islamic-style head scarves in government offices and schools, and taken steps to bolster religious institutions. According to the Guardian Unlimited, Erdoğan showed his Islamist nature when he initiated a move in 2004 to criminalize adultery, which eventually failed under intense pressure from the secularist forces in the country and the European Union, which Turkey has been trying to join.[6]

General Yaşar Büyükanıt, chief of the Turkish military, warned against Islamic fundamentalism in October 2006. Prime minister Erdoğan replied, stating that there was no such threat.[7] In a press conference two days prior to the demonstration Büyükanıt stated: "We hope that someone is elected president who is loyal to the principles of the republic — not just in words but in essence." This statement was widely interpreted as a hint from the General urging Erdoğan not to run.[6]

The serving president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, aimed a clear swipe at Erdoğan the day before the demonstrations by stating that "The threat which Islamic fundamentalism poses to the country is higher than ever."[8] Although the post is mainly ceremonial, the Turkish president has the power to veto laws if he holds them to be in violation of the Constitution of Turkey, as well as to veto appointments to the highest positions of the state administration, such as the presidencies of universities and many public institutions. Sezer, a former chief of the Constitutional Court, did so many times during his years in office.[9][10] In a recent poll by Hürriyet, a majority of the participants agreed with the president's assessment.[11]

On April 24, Gül was announced as the official candidate of Justice and Development Party, by Erdoğan. His candidacy was controversial from the beginning due to his background of two proscribed Islamic political parties, and his statement "We want to change the secular system", in an interview published by the Guardian in 1995. [12] Nevertheless additional concerns were also present, including the effect of the hijab-style clothing of her spouse on Turkey's image[13], who previously filed a case against Turkey for the ban in the public buildings.[14]

First rally (Tandoğan rally)

Demonstrators in the large square before the Anıtkabir

The number of people gathering in front of Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Ankara, was cited as ranging from "hundreds of thousands" to 1.5 million people. The slogan of the protest was Claim Your Republic (Turkish: Cumhuriyetine Sahip Çık). [2][15] According to the Ministry of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, who administer Anıtkabir, 370,000 people visited the monument on that day,[16] but eyewitness accounts from those who participated say that at least twice that amount was not able to enter the crowded grounds (see photo). Police announcements gave conflicting numbers ranging from 70,000 to 150,000 participants which was criticized among police officials themselves stating "such announcements hurt the credibility of the department."[17] CNN Türk spoke of more than 650,000 at the meeting.[18]

The demonstrators had different motives, including the suspicion that Erdoğan, who is thought to be attached to political Islam, will alter the secular state. Erdoğan's government denies having an Islamic agenda, but according to CNN, some critics argue that the government is inching the country towards increased religious rule.[19] Erdoğan has had run-ins with the law in the past: He was tried and convicted for "inciting religious hatred" and had consequently served a four month jail term in 2000 while he was the Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey's most populous city.[20] According to the Guardian Unlimited, the pro-Islamic prime minister's party has been eroding secularists' longtime grip on power.[6]

The protest was initiated by the "Association of Kemalist Ideology" (Turkish: Atatürkçü Düşünce Derneği) and supported by around 300 non-governmental organizations in Turkey. First some 60,000 people who travelled from all over Turkey by bus arrived to the protest in the early hours of Saturday, 14 April. People travelled by train and the residents of Ankara joined the protest overfilling Tandoğan Square and the nearby streets two hours before the official beginning. Among the protesters were also leaders of the opposition parties, Deniz Baykal (CHP), Zeki Sezer (DSP) and some professors of various universities wearing academic regalia. Protesters, waving the Turkish flag and carrying banners depicting Atatürk, chanted "Turkey is secular and will remain secular" (Turkish: Türkiye laiktir laik kalacak) and "We don't want an imam as president!" (Turkish: İmam cumhurbaşkanı istemiyoruz). The demonstration in downtown Ankara ended at 13:00 local time (10:00 GMT). Afterwards, the crowd marched to the Anıtkabir to pay their respect to the founder of the republic.[21]

During the demonstrations, flight above Tandoğan Square and Anıtkabir was banned. Twelve ambulances and eleven police APCs were kept at standby in the surrounding streets.[2] A contingent of 10,000 police officers watched over the crowd,[9] but the demonstration ended peacefully.[21]

Aftermath of the first rally

File:Baykal.JPG
Deniz Baykal, leader of Al Quada Turkey, the CHP

Although the demonstrations received international media attention,[22] all but one (Kanal Türk) of the local networks gave the demonstrations very little coverage. Habertürk director Melih Meriç said the lack of local coverage is because of political pressure.[23] Bülent Arınç, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, commented that "they will elect a civilian, democratic and religious president". He also said that "not the regime but the power of the backers of status quo was in danger".[24] In an interview en route to Germany onboard the prime minister's jet, Erdoğan said that the demonstration will not affect his decisions (at the time he had not yet decided whether to run).[17] In response to the protests Eyüp Fatsa stated that "if they [AKP] decide to hold such a demonstration they could gather ten times the people and that the parliament does not decide based on crowd gatherings.[25] Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, the president of the association of Turkish businessman and industrialists (TÜSİAD), stated that she feels Erdoğan will not stand as a candidate in the presidential election. [26]

A Reuters article that appeared in the French newspaper Le Monde stated that if Erdoğan became president, Turkey would face its greatest political crisis since the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923, noting the intricate connections between the secular elites and the army, and that the Chief of the Turkish Armed Forces warned people of the danger threatening Turkish secularism. The article also reported that the Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Republican People's Party), the main opposition party, have declared their will to leave the parliament and ask the Constitutional Court to cancel Erdoğan's running in the elections.[27]

Al Quaeda Foreign minister Abdullah Gül

After these weeks of debate over who would run, on 24 April foreign minister Abdullah Gül was put forward as the only candidate.[28] Immediately following the announcement a group of 14 people were arrested for gathering to protest his candidacy in front of the Çankaya Palace (the presidential complex). After the arrest, smaller groups also gathered, chanting "if carrying the Turkish flag is a crime, take us too" (Turkish: Türk Bayrağı'nı taşımak suçsa bizi de alın). Drivers passing by reportedly showed support by waving flags from their cars. A similar protest had taken place in Kuğulu park.[29] When inquired in a reception General Ergin Saygun responded quoting 12 April speech of Yaşar Büyükanıt. When further inquired what he thinks about the new commander in chief's wife having an Islamic turban, Saygun replied by saying that the answer to the question was inside it.[30] When inquired about his wife's Islamic turban, Gül responded by saying his wife's decision should be respected and treated as a personal right.[31]

The next day on 25 April there was an assassination attempt to the YÖK president Dr. Erdoğan Teziç who is known for his secularist remarks. Three rounds were fired by a 30 year old man identified as Nurullah İlgün. İlgün was arrested the same day.[32]

With only 353 parliamentarians AKP failed to meet the 367 parliamentarian requirement and Gül's candidacy failed in the first round despite receiving the vote on 27 April. Due to the lack of necessary participation and several alleged violations of the constitution, the voting has been taken to the constitutional court to be discussed over the weekend. If the court rules accordingly, this will lead to an early election at which the new government will elect the new president.[33] Later the same day Turkish Armed Forces released a statement stating that it is a side in this debate and is the absolute defender of secularism and that when necessary they will display their attitudes and actions very clearly. This lead to an increase of tensions between the AKP and the Turkish Armed Forces.[34]

Second rally (Çağlayan rally)

Demonstrators in Istanbul.
View over Çağlayan square during the rally.

Due to the demand of the people, a second rally was organized to start at 13:00 local time on 29 April 2007.[35] Hundreds of thousands to more than one million have gathered for the second protest at Abide-i Hürriyet (Monument of Liberty) in Çağlayan square in Istanbul in support of secularism in Turkey and against the candidacy of Abdullah Gül in the 2007 presidential election.[3][5]

At 15:22 Mobile phone base stations were overloaded. Mobile phones in and around Çağlayan became inoperable.[36]

At 15:30, Tuncay Özkan, owner of Kanaltürk, displayed a video of several statements by the current prime minister Erdoğan to the square full of protesters. These statements were:[36]

  • 1993 - One can't be a laicist and a Muslim at the same time (Turkish: "Hem laik hem Müslüman olunmaz")[37]
  • 1997 - Will this democracy be the goal or the tool? (Turkish: "Bu demokrasi amaç mı olacak, araç mı olacak?")[38]
  • 2000 - Esteemed Öcalan is paying the price for the heads he had taken, not for his opinions (Turkish: "Sayın Öcalan şu an düşüncelerinin değil aldığı kellelerin hesabını veriyor")[39]
  • 2005 - The thing that unites us is the "upper identity" (Turkish: "Bizi bir arada tutan şey üst kimliktir")[40]
  • 2006 - I vouch for Yassin al-Qadi (Turkish: "Yasin El Kadı'ya kefilim")[41]
  • 2006 - Grab your mother and go (to a farmer in Mersin asking for government assistance) (Turkish: "Ananı da al git")[42]
  • 2006 - Your child can also be unemployed, why do we care? (to an unemployed individual asking for government assistance) (Turkish: "Senin çocuğun da işsiz kalsın napalım")[43]
  • 2007 - Embarked forces of eighty-one provinces (Referring to the previous protest in Tandoğan) (Turkish: "Seksen bir vilayetten bindirilmiş kıtalar")[44]

At 16:00 the speeches ended and the crowds began to disperse. At 16:30 the protests officially ended without incident.[36]

Aftermath of the second rally

On April 30 2007, the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told he would address the country amid the crisis over the presidential election that has pitted secularists, including the army, against his Islamist-rooted government.[45]

In his public address Prime Minister Erdogan called for unity. He said: "Unity, togetherness, solidarity, these are the things we need most. We can overcome many problems so long as we treat each other with love,¨ he also said: "Turkey is growing and developing very fast ... We must protect this atmosphere of stability and tranquility,¨[46]

The third rally will be organized in İzmir on 14 May 2007 in Alsancak Gündoğdu Square.

Constitutional court ruled that the first round of the presidential elections as void due to insufficient participation. [47]

# 11. Cumhurbaşkanı seçimine ilişkin ortaya çıkan Cumhurbaşkanı seçiminde toplantı yeter sayısıyla ilgili TBMM’nin 27.4.2007 günlü 96. birleşimindeki oylamaya ilişkin kararın bir içtüzük değişikliği niteliğinde görüldüğü, bunun da anayasaya aykırı olduğu Haşim Kılıç ve Sacit Adalı’nın karşı oyu ve oy çokluğuyla,

  1. İçtüzük değişikliği niteliğinde görülen TBMM’nin söz konusu kararının yürürlüğünün durdurulmasına karar verilmiştir.[47]

Former presidential candidate Abdullah Gül stated that an election should be held as soon as possible and the people should elect the president directly. [48]

Erdoğan announced that there would be an early election on 24 June or 1 July.[49]

Slogans from the rallies

  • [We demand] neither sharia, nor a coup, but a totally independent Turkey. (Turkish: Ne şeriat ne darbe, tam bağımsız Türkiye.)[50]
  • Turkey is secular, and will remain so. (Turkish: Türkiye laiktir, laik kalacak.)[50]
  • Cabinet, resign! (Turkish: Hükümet istifa!)[50]
  • The roads to Çankaya (where the presidential palace is located) are closed to sharia. (Turkish: Çankaya'nın yolları, şeriata kapalı.) [50]
  • Father (referring to Atatürk), rest in peace, we are here. (Turkish: Atam, rahat uyu, biz buradayız.)[51]
  • We don't want an imam in Çankaya. (Turkish: Çankaya'da imam istemiyoruz.) [51]
  • Tayyip (referring to Erdoğan, using his first name) take a look at us, count how many of us are here! (Referring to the statements of Erdoğan after the first protest "Goodness gracious, they're talking about millions" - Turkish: "Aman yarabbi, milyonlar falan"); (Turkish: Tayyip baksana, kaç kişiyiz saysana) [52]
  • Turkey sobered up and the imam (seemingly referring to Erdoğan) passed out! (Turkish:Türkiye ayıldı, imam bayıldı!) (See also: imam bayıldı)[citation needed]
  • Even Edison regrets it! (Referring to the logo of the Justice and development party Party, which is an image of a lightbulb) (Turkish:Edison bile pişman.)[citation needed]
  • As the sun rises, lightbulbs (AKP Party's logo) dim. (Turkish: Güneş doğunca, ampüller söner.)[citation needed]
  • Buy Tayyip, get Aydın Doğan for free! (Referring to the Turkish media's lack of coverage of the Tandoğan rally. Media magnate Aydın Doğan's holding company owns 3 major news channels, including CNN Türk, and 5 major newspapers - Turkish:Tayyip'i alana, Aydın Doğan bedava!)[citation needed]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c "%65'in yüzbinleri" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  3. ^ a b "More than one million rally in Turkey for secularism, democracy". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  4. ^ "One million Turks rally against government". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  5. ^ a b "Huge rally for Turkish secularism". BBC. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  6. ^ a b c "300,000 March Against Turkey's Leader". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  7. ^ "İrtica tehdidi var önlem alın" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  8. ^ SABRINA TAVERNISE. "300,000 Protest Islamic Hue of Turkish System". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  9. ^ a b "Secular Turks rally to send a message to prime minister". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  10. ^ "Sezer'in konuşmasının tam metni" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  11. ^ "Cumhurbaşkanı bu çıkışı yapmakta haklı mı?" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  12. ^ "Abdullah Gül laiklik için ne dedi?" (in Turkish). Milliyet. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  13. ^ ""Soykırım Yoktur" Diyeni Yazmazlar" (in Turkish). internetajans. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  14. ^ "Gül'ün eşi türban için AİHM'e gitmişti" (in Turkish). ntvmsnbc. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  15. ^ News Agencies (2007-04-14). "300,000 rally in Turkey against candidates with Islamist roots". Haaretz. Retrieved 2007-04-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Anıtkabir Ziyaretçi Sayıları". Turkish Armed Forces. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  17. ^ a b "Emniyetin miting rakamlarında çelişki" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-17. Cite error: The named reference "Hurriyet 5" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  18. ^ "CNNTURK Emniyet Miting Raporu" (in Turkish). CNN Türk. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
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  21. ^ a b "Ankara'da miting olaysız sona erdi..." (in Turkish). Milliyet. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  22. ^ "'Cumhurbaşkanı olma' mitingi" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
    "'Yüz binlerce insan Erdoğan'ı reddetti'" (in Turkish). Milliyet. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
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  23. ^ "Yüz binler yürüdü TV'ler uyudu" (in Turkish). internethaber.com. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  24. ^ "Dindar cumhurbaşkanı seçeceğiz" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  25. ^ "Biz düzenlesek 10 katını toplarız" (in Turkish). Haber Türk. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
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  28. ^ "Turkey gets a reformist candidate". CNN. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  29. ^ "Çankaya Köşkü önünde gösteri: 14 gözaltı" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  30. ^ "Askerden ilk yorum" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  31. ^ "Eşimin başörtüsüne saygı duyulmalı" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  32. ^ "Teziç'e saldırı girişimi" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  33. ^ "Milletvekili borsası" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
    "Meclis'te 368 kişi var iddiası" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
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    "Turkish Government Rebukes Military". BBC. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
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  37. ^ "Erdoğan: Millet isterse laiklik tabii ki gidecek" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  38. ^ "Bitlis Kalesi'nde altın mı bulundu" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  39. ^ "Erdoğan'a inceleme" (in Turkish). Radikal. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  40. ^ "Alt kimlik-üst kimlik tartışması" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  41. ^ "Başbakanlık'tan El Kadı'ya temyiz" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  42. ^ "Terbiyesizlik yapma artistlik yapma lan" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  43. ^ "Erdoğan: Sosyal demokrat biziz" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  44. ^ "Tandoğan'dakiler bindirilmiş kıta" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  45. ^ "Crisis in Turkey as secularists, Islamists face off". MSNBC. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  46. ^ "Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan called for unity". CNN. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  47. ^ a b "Anayasa Mahkemesi 367 şart dedi" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  48. ^ "Gül: Cumhurbaşkanını halk seçmeli" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  49. ^ "Erken seçim 24 Haziran veya 1 Temmuz'da" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  50. ^ a b c d "Dünya İstanbul'daki tarihi mitingi konuşuyor... İşte başlıklar" (in Turkish). Milliyet. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  51. ^ a b "Erdoğan'a büyük uyarı" (in Turkish). Radikal. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  52. ^ "Miting'de sıkı güvenlik" (in Turkish). Haber1. Retrieved 2007-04-30.

External links

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