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  • Anti-Semitism in Turkey

    Anti-Semitism in Turkey
    By: Amed Demirhan

    KurdistanObserver.com
    May 2 2005

    Historically anti-Semitism all most always has been related to general
    intolerance, racism, and xenophobia. In modern Turkey this elements
    have the main ingredients of foundation of the Turkish Republic. In
    republican era there have been up and down with anti-Semitism and some
    times high-ranking government officials have been speaking positively
    about Jews and Israel and even claming to be protectors of the Jewish
    minority in Turkey. However, in recent years anti-Semitism and racism
    become very dangerous, and not just targeted to small minority of
    Jews in Turkey but to the "Donme" the Jews that were converted about
    300 years ago to Islam and "Turkism", and to Jews in general.

    In the past Jews were forced to relocation in 1924, forced to pay
    higher taxes or forced to bankruptcy by force of government, for
    example in 1942 infamous "Wealth Tax" that directed to non-Muslim
    minorities. In 1955 they were targeted in Istanbul together Greek
    and Armenians. In late 1980s and in 1990s Jewish or "Donme" business
    people were subject of "Ulkucu Mafia" a state sponsored extreme
    rights group was taking money from Jews by force and illegally. Some
    Jewish businessman had to move to the USA and Israel.

    However, recent anti-Semitism is more dangerous, in the past it was
    limited to small marginal leftist, Marxist, Islamist, and fascist
    groups, and all most of them were controlled by the state; now
    anti-Semitism is becoming a mass movement like 1930s Europe. Some
    people seemed surprised to see Hitler's book become best seller,
    in reality there are many more anti-Semitics books and articles
    recently have been published and they are more dangerous than
    Hitler's book. For example, the Dr. Yalicin Kucuk a former Marxist
    his book titled "Tekelistan" about Jews and specifically about
    donme, it has more conspiracy in it than Hitler's book. This book
    become so popular he had to write several other books and among many
    other Pan-Turkist/Pan-Islamists become Dr. Kucuk's main readers. In
    addition Yalcin Soner's book about "Done" was one of the best seller
    in Turkey for long time. Mr. Soner's book is comparable with Dr.
    Kucuk's book. All major newspapers are daily full with anti-Semitic
    remarks. These conspiracies includes Jews or "hidden Jews" been
    in charge of the Turkish state, been behind separatist movements,
    Islamist movements, been in charge of America, or Israel Zionist
    conspiracy to take over South Eastern part of Turkey. The type of
    conspiracy dependent to the ideology of the writers, for example
    if an Islamist write like Sevket Eygi he will claim Turkey's ethnic
    conflict is invention of the Jews, Kemalist-nationalist will claim
    Jews are in charge of America and they try to divide Turkey, and
    so on. Fighting against ant-Semitism is as important as fighting
    against Nazism, neo-Nazism or any totalitarian regime or ideology. One
    of the important ways fighting against anti-Semitism in Turkey is
    defending freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of assembly,
    and Western pluralistic democracy.



    May 3 2005

    Armenia Must Recognize Turkey's and Azerbaijan's National Borders to
    Normalize Relations

    Jan SOYKOK - (JTW) Diplomatic sources argue that Armenia must recognize
    neighboring Turkey's and Azerbaijan's national borders to normalize
    its relations with Turkey and other regional states. According to
    the Turkish sources Armenian forces should withdraw from Azerbaijan.

    Dr. Nilgun Gulcan said the US and the EU should make pressure on
    Yerevan to end the Armenian occupation:

    "The US makes pressures on Syria and Syrian troops have withdrawn
    from Lebanon. The US imposed embargo and military operations against
    Serbia. The occupier Iraq was punished. However Armenian forces
    occupied Azerbaijan and the occupation has lasted for more than a
    decade. The US and the EU did almost nothing. International community
    did not ask the Armenians to end occupation. The US and EU politicians
    question Turkey - Armenia relations but never question the Armenian
    occupation. The US impose embargo against Iran, Cuba and other states,
    but when Turkey-Armenia border is closed due to the Armenian aggressive
    policies, the US criticizes Turkey. Both the Americans and the EU
    have to see the Armenian responsibility in relations."

    Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan offered a joint commission
    to discuss the historical disputes, but the Armenian side rejected
    the offer.

    The irredentist groups in Armenia call Turkey's eastern provinces
    'Western Armenia' and the Armenian Constitution does not recognize
    Turkey's national borders.
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