One Bey Or Another

Issue #242

Our deepest condolences go out to the families and communities that are grieving after the devastating Bolu fire, which claimed so many lives.

As the anniversary of the Feb. 6 earthquakes approaches, we are once again faced with a tragedy made worse by negligence.

In this week’s recap:

• New arrests, investigations hit opposition

• 79 killed in ski resort tragedy

• DEM delegation makes second İmralı visit

• Fighting, negotiations ongoing in Syria

• Domestic and diplomatic wraps

• Çorum’s social media team gets it

Also from us this week:

• Sibel Hürtaş reports on how tax hikes spurred bootleg alcohol use in Turkey, concluding a recent spike in deaths is unlikely to curb demand.

Ümit Özdağ pictured at Anıtkabir in December. © Zafer Party

Turkey’s opposition is facing a full court press. Over the last week, arrests and investigations have multiplied, reaching beyond the CHP and into nationalist territory.

Far-right Zafer Party chair Ümit Özdağ was detained Monday for allegedly insulting the president. An İstanbul court Tuesday ruled Özdağ be held in custody pending trial on the expanded charge of inciting public hatred, drawing widespread criticism. Zafer appointed a deputy to lead the party during the judicial process.

In a statement Wednesday, the Union of Bar Associations said the Özdağ ruling poses a “serious threat” to democratic principles. İzmir’s Bar Association went a step further, stating recent actions against the opposition, taken together, demonstrate the government is “dragging our country towards totalitarianism.”

Here’s a list of those recent actions, in addition to Özdağ’s arrest:

1. CHP Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat was arrested Friday on corruption charges.

2. CHP Youth Branch chair Cem Aydın was detained for criticizing Akpolat’s charges.

3. CHP İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu got a new investigation for criticizing Aydın’s charges.

4. A CHP municipal council member in Manisa, Mertcan Üreten, was put under house arrest as part of İmamoğlu’s investigation.

5. Ousted CHP Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer got a second arrest warrant.

6. Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) co-chair Hatice Deniz Aktaş was detained with 40 other leftist party members.

7. And the state-appointed trustee that replaced elected DEM Party officials in Akdeniz, Mersin, sent 40 municipal employees on “mandatory leave”.

It doesn’t end there, apparently. Pres. Erdoğan said there’s “more to come”, referencing judicial actions against opposition officials in a speech Friday.

Up next: Rumors suggest İmamoğlu may soon testify in court for the new investigation. A new Beşiktaş ​​mayor will be elected today. Meanwhile, CHP chair Özgür Özel postponed the unveiling of a coordinated party response due to the Bolu fire (more below).

Reflecting on Özdağ’s arrest, Gönül Tol, director of the Turkey program at the Middle East Institute, said his investigation might be related to the ongoing peace process. Özdağ has an active online base, and his criticism of Bahçeli’s outreach on the Kurdish issue may have drawn attention.

“Ümit Özdağ is someone who's been launching a very effective opposition,” Tol told Turkey recap. “He knows how to talk and he can mobilize people. So, my gut feeling is that, for Erdoğan, this is not a great time for Ümit Özdağ to be around and talking to people.”

More broadly, Tol added many opposition politicians were demoralized following events in Syria, which favored the AKP and Erdoğan’s leadership. She said Erdoğan’s current strategy appears to be keeping pressure on CHP officials, while targeting anti-Erdoğan nationalists, like Özdağ.

“I think [Erdoğan] can tackle the CHP. That's not that hard for him,” Tol continued. “But he's now dividing the nationalists.”

Asked what the growing number of judicial proceedings might mean for the future of Turkey’s democracy, Tol responded:

“I don't know if Erdoğan will manage to square it all. There are so many moving parts. But down the line, it may look like Russia, where only the opponents who are approved by the regime will be running in elections. Down the line, we're looking at that.”

– Diego Cupolo

Erdoğan joined a funeral Wednesday for victims of the Bolu fire. © TCCB

Bolu fire: 79 killed in ski resort tragedy