The Republic is 86

Instead of self-congratulations here how we stand at our human rights record:

Turkey’s dirty stories on display – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Turkey

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
October 26, 2009

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion; however, constitutional provisions regarding the integrity and existence of the secular state restrict these rights.
The Government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the reporting period. The Government continued to impose limitations on Islamic and other religious groups and significant restrictions on Islamic religious expression in government offices and state-run institutions, including universities, for the stated reason of preserving the “secular state.” Authorities continued their broad ban on wearing Islamic religious headscarves in government offices as well as public schools. The Government also continued to oppose “Islamic extremism.” Religious minorities said they were effectively blocked from careers in state institutions because of their faith. Minority religious groups also faced difficulties in worshipping, registering with the Government, and training their followers. Although religious speech and persuasion is legal, some Muslims, Christians, and Baha’is faced some restrictions and occasional harassment for alleged proselytizing.

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Anti-Kurdish Initiative propaganda begins to gain ground…Political Cartoons at work…

I have begun to receive forwarded emails with highly ultranationalists propaganda against Kurdish initiative. DTP’s show of force triggered a Turkish nationalist reaction against the initiative. Here is a collection of cartoons that are found in mainstream press and forwarded as a bundle through emails…

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Some are not ready to digest

Kurdish rebels address thousands of jubilant supporters in Diyarbakir, ...

Kurdish rebels address thousands of jubilant supporters in Diyarbakir, Turkey, late Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. Supporters gathered to celebrate the arrival of rebels and refugees who crossed into Turkey from northern Iraq in response to a Turkish government initiative to try to end decades-long fighting between autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels and Turkish troops. The rebels saluted and addressed crowds throughout their journey from Turkey’s border crossing of Habur with Iraq to Diyarbakir, the largest city in Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated southeast. (AP Photo )

We have been discussing the event, arrival of a group of PKK and thinking how great and novel this is. In the history of Turkish Republic, I do not remember an explicit moment of peace like this. A rebel group might actually end using arms. Still early to imagine this may be but it is now an substantive possibility.

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Chatting about Kurdish initiative?

Obama and Erdogan chat at G20 meeting. This photo hit the first pages of many Turkish dailies today...
Obama and Erdogan chat at G20 meeting. This photo hit the first pages of many Turkish dailies today...

The rumor is that they talk about the Kurdish initiative…

Nimet Çubukçu (Minister of Education)
Nimet Çubukçu (Minister of Education)

Mrs. Çubukçu, the new minister, started new school year with a course on “discrimination”. A great symbolic move.

In the mean time,

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