The Real Reason Behind the Turkish Protests

If you are fortunate enough to have many Turkish friends, you’ll know how fiercely proud they are of their country. And why not? Turkey is a spectacular place that has connected East and West throughout history.

But its people aren't jingoistic zealots living on the glories of an ancient culture. They are deeply connected to the founding principle of the modern Turkish state: secularism. When talking to young Turkish people, you realise how profoundly they love the father of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. They feel the current government is moving further and further away from secular democracy and closer towards divisive, religious politics. What started off as a peaceful protest has turned into nationwide outrage over a formerly liberal state becoming increasingly nationalist.

A demonstrator waves Turkey's national flag. Photo: Umit Bektas / Reuters

The sense you get talking to protesters is that this is no ‘Arab Spring’ or ‘London Riot.’ There is no revolutionary political party leading the uprising and TVs aren’t being pulled out of shop windows (yet).

Five days ago, 50 people camped at Gezi Park in the middle of Istanbul, angry that it would be demolished for yet another shopping mall. Police turned up unannounced—most people say at around 5 am—with tear gas and water cannons, and cleared out the peaceful protesters before setting fire to their tents. What followed was a local media blackout and a social media contagion that led to a popular backlash.

Many people who were previously indifferent, took to the streets across Turkey’s cities: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, Adana, Denizli, Isparta and Bursa. The apolitical were incensed by the police’s excessive force. Even  rival football fans put aside their differences; anyone who knows Turkish football fans knows this happens only when the national team plays!

There was already simmering—and widespread—anger against the policies of the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his AKP party, a party that many feel is more in ‘power’ than it is in ‘office’. The incident at the Park was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Draconian new laws—such as an alcohol ban between 10 pm and 6 am—have not gone down well with people used to freedom, not to speak of a great night life! Many moderate Muslims fear a growing conservative Islamic wave and direct their anger towards a leader whose style has grown more and more autocratic.

Women in particular feel their liberties are being impeached: the state-run Turkish Airlines was widely criticised for curtailing its air-hostesses' attire, going so far as to tone down the colour of their lipstick! Locals recount a marked increase in the number of head-scarves being worn by female bureaucrats. This is in a country famous for its belly-dancing!

Websites have been pulled down, protests have been suppressed, somewhat heavy-handedly, and tensions with ethnic Kurds (who make up 20% of the population) to the south have been reignited. What seems to have caused the greatest outrage is the country’s media taking little or no notice of the movement.

Turkey has seen impressive economic development since the AKP came to power in 2002. GDP growth averaged 6.8% over the past three years, inflation has been reeled in and FDI is booming but Erdogan is in danger of wiping out all the good work. The Turkish stock market, the Borsa Istanbul National 100, fell 10.5% yesterday. The threat of civil and/or sectarian violence is far greater than economic spooks. Two people have been killed and scores injured; now the common fear is that supporters of his party will be called to streets too.

Much like travellers and traders who have crossed the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul, the country itself is at an interesting crossroad. We will have to see if a political movement emerges from the social movement, but it will probably be difficult: AKP is only the second party to win three consecutive general elections. While their share of votes increased to 49.9% in 2011 (up from 34.28% in 2002; 46.58% in 2007), their seats in the parliament have fallen marginally but steadily: 363 in 2002, to 341 in 2007, and 326 in 2011.

The message emanating from the streets of Istanbul is loud and clear: End the archaic bans, engage in real democracy and genuine dialogue between citizens and state and, above all, follow secular principals. More than a change in government, the Turkish people seem to want a a change in governance.

The thoughts and opinions shared here are of the author.