Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Antisemitism in the Turkish Media: Part 1

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Antisemitism in the Turkish Media: Part 1

    Antisemitism in the Turkish Media: Part 1

    The Middle East Media Research Institute
    April 28, 2005
    No. 900

    The rising antisemitism in the Turkish media is a complex phenomenon
    that manifests itself in several forms:

    1. Animosity towards Jews, Judaism and 'Jewish lobbies.' Jews are
    targeted as individuals, a community, people and "race," and as a
    sinister political entity seeking Jewish dominance on world affairs,
    businesses and media. Jews are demonized in many conspiracy theories
    including causing earthquakes, globalization, and the creation of
    Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia.

    2. A hostile approach towards the Jewish citizens of Turkey, questioning
    their loyalty; blaming them of treason and for the fall of the Ottoman
    Empire; characterizing them with derogatory adjectives; inciting the
    public by citing Koran verses hostile to them; and creating an
    atmosphere conducive to violence. [1] This type of antisemitism also
    targets Masonic lodges and freemasons for their alleged connections with
    Judaism.

    3. Antisemitism that in recent years has turned into a harsh campaign,
    which some Turkish intellectuals have called "a witch hunt" against the
    'Dönme' [2] who are regarded as 'hidden Jews' posing as Muslims. They
    are blamed for helping to found the modern Republic of Turkey as a
    'spare' Jewish state, for holding all key positions' in Turkey and for
    ruling the country.

    4. Antisemitism directed at Israel and Zionism. The word 'Zionists'
    often replaces the word 'Jews' in the press.

    This is the first part in a series of reports which will be released in
    the coming weeks. The following are excerpts from articles in the
    Turkish press dealing with antisemitism (the format of the text appears
    as in the original):

    "The Disgusting Form of Racism Called Antisemitism, is Fast Growing and
    Causing the Increased Interest in 'Mein Kampf'"

    In an article titled 'Mein Kampf and the Protocols of Zion', Ayse Hur
    wrote in the left of center, liberal daily Radikal: [3]

    "Recently there are two interesting books in the 'bestseller' lists:
    Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf and the Protocols of Zion. Mein Kampf which is
    the 'handbook' for the ultra- nationalists of Turkey was translated
    [into Turkish] and published about 45 times between the years of 1940
    and 2005. [â~@¦] the Protocols of Zion, which inspired Mein Kampf, was
    published in full or in summarized form over 100 times during 1943-2004.
    Mein Kampf which is thought to sell about 1,000 copies a year, is now
    being marketed by 11 publishers.

    "[â~@¦] Sami Celik, the owner of Emre Publications, who recently printed
    31,000 copies told Aksam newspaper on February 27, 2005: 'Following our
    research and observations, we thought that Mein Kampf would be a book
    that would be sought after and read by the public. [â~@¦] Mein Kampf was
    [indeed] affected by [recent] developments and its sale figures peaked.'
    [4] As a matter of fact it has become a sort of handbook for the
    [electorate] base of MHP [the ultra-nationalist 'National Movement
    Party'] and 'Genc Parti' [the Youth Party]. Some claim that it is very
    popular among the students at police academies.

    "In the same newspaper [Aksam] we read sociologist Prof. Mustafa Erkal
    who said: 'Reading Hitler is a reaction. Israel's policies and goals
    cause a reaction. Naturally, people get curious about Hitler's
    antisemitism and want to learn more about what he did and wanted to do.'
    What our academician failed to say is the fact that in Turkey, as in the
    rest of the world, animosity toward the Jews, that disgusting form of
    racism called antisemitism, is fast growing and causing the increased
    interest for Mein Kampf. We know that publishing this book in Europe is
    banned; and in Germany even its possession is a crime. [â~@¦]

    "Having 'Mein Kampf' and the 'Protocols' on our bestseller list today,
    must make us think twice before we claim 'there is no antisemitism here.'"

    "It is the Jews Who Should Read Mein Kampf"

    Columnist Arslan Tekin of the nationalist-Islamic daily YenicaÄ~_, wrote
    in an article titled 'Yes, Mein Kampf should be taught in schools:'
    "Everybody should read it, and should learn the reasons why Hitler came
    about." [5]

    11 days later, Tekin wrote in his column in YenicaÄ~_: [6] "Can a Hitler
    rise in America? It can happenâ~@¦ What was [true] for Germany before
    Hitler came to power is [now] exceedingly true for America. Big banks,
    big TV organs, big newspapers, all the tools that can trap the public
    opinion are in the hands of the Jewsâ~@¦ Politics is run by them too.

    "What is the proportion of the Jewish [population] in America of 200
    million [sic]. Must not even be two percent. They have an image beyond
    what their numbers merit. I am sorry for the Jewsâ~@¦ How come they do not
    think about the effect their disproportionate 'grandeur' would have on
    the majority of the [American] people! In Germany, Hitler did not rise
    just single-handedly. He only answered the questions asked by his people.

    "Hey Jews! The world cannot bear to have another Hitler [because of
    you]. Your disproportionate [presence]; your recklessness; your daring
    to burn the world for [even] one Jew, makes the American people and
    everyone in the world ask the question: 'what's happening here?' Do you
    know how the US is seen now? [It looks like] the biggest Jewish empire
    of the world. [â~@¦]

    "I, like everyone else, am seeing this situationâ~@¦ Hitler's Mein Kampf
    must be read especially by the Jews.

    "A madman like Hitler does not just come about [without a reason]â~@¦ The
    book which you define as 'nonsense' has set the world on fire. The Jews
    should think about the reasons [why]."

    "Hitler Was a Man of Foresight"

    Abdurrahim Karakoc, a columnist at the Islamic newspaper Vakit praised
    Hitler: [7]

    "[â~@¦] It is impossible not to admire the foresight of Adolph Hitler, who
    is presented to public opinion as 'racist, sadistic, and monstrous.' Way
    back then, Hitler foresaw what would happen these [present] days. He
    cleansed off these swindler Jews, who believe in racism for a religion
    and take pleasure in bathing the world in blood, because he knew that
    they would become [this] big a curse for the world.

    "[â~@¦] Hitler indeed was a man of foresight [â~@¦] So Hitler did the job, yet
    Israel is presented to the world public opinion as the innocent victim.

    "[â~@¦] The second man with foresight is evidently Osama bin Laden. If a
    stone hits a dog's leg somewhere in the world, Osama bin Laden gets
    blamed. [â~@¦] Bin Laden had foreseen what would happen in Iraq, in
    Palestine, and in the prisons of Guantanamo.

    "He [Osama] alone, or perhaps with a few friends, defies the superpowers
    of the world and sets fear inside the very shelters of the oppressors.
    [â~@¦] It was Hitler yesterday, and it is Osama bin Laden today [â~@¦]"

    "Couldn't You Find Other People to Send to Turkey, Than the 'Jew'
    Edelman and the 'Jew' Feith?"

    In reaction to a Wall Street Journal article by Robert Pollock [8] [on
    the rising anti-Americanism in Turkey] columnist Serdar Kuru wrote in
    the nationalist Turkish daily OrtadoÄ~_u: [9]

    "[Pollock's] article determines that Turkey is becoming a paranoid third
    world country. And the reason they think we are paranoid is the
    widespread belief among Turks that America is [nothing but a] toy in the
    hands of Jews who have designs of aggression against Turkey. The author
    of the article seems to be annoyed at the exposure of the Jewish
    identities of the American Ambassador Edelman and later of [Douglas]
    Feith during his visit [to Turkey].

    "[â~@¦] In reality it is clear who ordered this poor shooter [Robert
    Pollock, WSJ] to write this article [â~@¦] Our problem is with the Zionist
    Jews who have grabbed every corner in America and the Evangelist
    Christians that they [the Jews] feed, who plan [together] to set on fire
    the whole world and our country. The ones who are disturbed by people,
    who oppose their plans, are the same ones who prepare these plans.

    " The Wall Street Journal, where this article was published belongs to
    the Dow Jones Corporation. Peter R. Kahn, the head of Dow Jones is
    Jewish and is a member of CFR. This man's wife Karen House is the head
    of the Wall Street Journal. She too is Jewish and a member of CFR. Mrs.
    Karen is also the director of RAND, the think tank that prepared the
    world domination plans for the Bush team. Vice President of Dow Jones,
    Joseph Stern, is one of America's most famous Jewish lawyers. A Board of
    Directors member is Lewis Campbell who owns Textron the gun manufacturer
    and heads the security operations of the capitalist Round Table. One
    other Director of the Board is former president of American Express,
    Harvey Golubda and he is Jewish.

    "By now you must have understood why Wall Street Journal is disturbed by
    Turkey's anti-Zionist attitude. This Jewish Dow Jones Corporation also
    has an exchange fund called "Dow Jones Islamic Market Turkey." This
    strange exchange fund [claims] to do brokerage with no interest. Some
    stupid fools who think they can make money without paying interest must
    be entrusting their monies into the hands of Jews. As you can see my
    friends, the reactions to the Turkish attitude towards American and
    Zionist expansionisms are not objective [â~@¦] they are coming from the
    Zionists themselves.

    "Is it our fault that behind every immorality, incitement, conspiracy
    and filth there is a Zionist ? Couldn't you send to Turkey people other
    than the Jew Edelman and the Jew Feith? [â~@¦]"

    "Our Times are Similar to 1930's in Germany"

    In the leftist-liberal daily Radikal, Murat Necip Arman wrote: [10]

    "The discussions we are having now are almost identical to the ones they
    had in Germany during the 1930's. At those days the press articles were
    not openly targeting the non-Germanic races yet, but were often arguing
    that they [the Jews] dominated the economy and that they were conducting
    [secret] activities that would ruin the fiber of the German society.[â~@¦]

    "On New Year's Eve, in a TV channel which does not feel the need to hide
    its ties to a [Turkish] political party, it was recounted at great
    length that the Jews are a cursed people and that for this reason it was
    obligatory for the Muslims to eradicate them [the Jews]. [â~@¦] it should
    not be forgotten that to openly say such a sentence constitutes a crime.
    [â~@¦] While this neo-antisemitism is recklessly manifested in almost all
    media organs, in the eyes of the masses Israel's aggression towards
    Palestinians provides justification for such a dangerous kind of racism.

    "[â~@¦] This animosity towards the non-Muslims, the like of which we have
    not witnessed in many years, is hovering over Turkey and agitating
    masses of people who are not bothered by its [grave] consequences.

    "As I said, what we have here [in Turkey] presents similarities with
    Germany of the 1930's. I hope common sense prevails in Turkey and this
    dangerous trend does not lead to frightening results. [â~@¦]

    "At least the national press must keep in mind its social responsibility
    in presenting these matters with a cool head. Political parties can play
    dangerous games for political gains. [â~@¦] But the media's common sense is
    essential [â~@¦]"

    "Persecution by Hitler Much Exaggerated"

    Upon the German Government's decision to ban the publication of the
    Turkish Islamic daily Vakit in Germany, a columnist at Vakit, Huseyin
    Ã~zmez, wrote: [11]

    "[â~@¦] It is true that persecution [of Jews] by Hitler is much
    exaggerated. We are sick and tired of[listening to] stories of the
    inhuman persecution and torture he committed against the Jews. It is
    said that Hitler himself was a Jewâ~@¦ that he committed cruelty only to
    force the Jews to migrate from Europe to Palestine â~@¦ and that it was the
    Israeli Zionists who dictated these acts upon him, at the time they were
    founding Israel. Two great powers (money and media) are in Jewish hands.
    The 'treacherous local collaborators' and some international
    organizations are also in their command.

    "All humanity knows the fact that they [the Jews] are unequalled in
    [their] lobbying [skills]. With all this power and the tools, they can
    make or break anyone. [â~@¦] Who can oppose them? We saw the best example
    of this in what the German Interior Minister did to our newspaper Vakit.
    Against all the European human rights agreements, German police was
    putting pressure on our paper. We were in the midst of a judicial
    process. Our paper was illegally shut down [â~@¦] Then the German Interior
    Minister interfered. He banned our paper. [â~@¦] This was a [perfect]
    example of execution without a trial. [â~@¦] It is obvious that he [the
    interior minister] was directed [by someone high above] into making such
    a decision. [â~@¦] This is how powerful the Zionists are. And this is the
    supposedly 'civilized and modern' West.

    "[â~@¦] the German Interior Minister, who was so angry at us because we
    said 'Hitler had not killed six million Jews,' cannot be German. We are
    very curious to know whether he is a Jew?"

    "Jewish Paranoia"

    Columnist Yusuf Kaplan of the Islamic Yeni Å~^afak writes: [12]

    "Jewish paranoia ( = fanaticism) is a phenomenon found in Jews that is
    an integral part of their character, blood and soul. Since paranoia is
    the form of Jewish existence and self- expression, they have never
    refrained from exposing it at every occasion, in the past and the present.

    "[â~@¦] the Jewish paranoia can reach barbaric, cruel and inhuman
    dimensions [â~@¦]

    "Jewish paranoia has determined the color and the shape of our times.
    What keeps this paranoia alive is the power that the Jews possess [which
    enables them] to shape and direct the politics, economies and cultures
    of especially the western countries.

    "[â~@¦] Jews also rule the Western universities and world media. [â~@¦]

    "Jewish desire to dominate everything in the Western countries, and the
    way they easily and arrogantly exploit organizations and individuals to
    serve Jewish interests, may end up causing a short circuit within the
    democratic institutions of the West. Their nosy interference with
    everything, and their actions beyond the reach of their size, have
    already started to draw serious reactions in the Western countries.
    Because the Jewish paranoia is blown to extreme, forced and artificial
    dimensions, it can explode any day and take care of them [the Jews] and
    cost them dearly."

    "The Jews and Christian Zionism"

    In his article titled 'Globalization Projects and Nationalists' Israfil
    Kumbasar of the nationalist-Islamic daily YenicaÄ~_, summarizes a lecture
    by Mehmet Gul [13] at a recent [pan-Turkic] Turan Cultural Foundation's
    meeting: [14]

    "[â~@¦] The only 'secret' power behind the globalization project are the
    Jews and the masons!...

    "The 'Jewish Zionists whose goal is the 'total Jewish domination of the
    world' claim that a 'messiah' will come down from the sky and will build
    the 'World Kingdom'!...

    "The same expectation is widely shared by the 'Christian Zionists' who
    accept all that the 'Old Testament' says!... The Christian Zionists
    believe that all humanity will become Christian with the coming of
    Jesus, the 'son of God'!...

    "The Neo-Con representatives of Evangelism that amalgamates the
    'Christian Zionism' and the 'Jewish Zionism' are ruling America
    now!...[â~@¦] they are looking for 'sacred allies' in the Islamic world,
    who will serve their purposes!...

    "In recent years some communities with 'messianic views' are appearing
    within the Islamic world [â~@¦] !...

    "[â~@¦] We can understand the games played on the Muslim world if we learn
    that the 'Wahhabism' which originated in Saudi Arabia is plotted by the
    'masons' to 'leave the Muslims behind.' Bahaism, Kadianism [â~@¦] and other
    'messiah waiting' Muslim communities all help serve 'the new world
    order'!... [â~@¦] it seems that these 'Zionist Muslims' will soon say that
    'greater Israel' is the will of the great architect of the universe'!...
    The Muslim Turks who follow them will only see the realities when it is
    too late and our lands between the Euphrates and the Tigris will already
    be in Israeli hands.

    "[â~@¦] 'Messianic belief' is a 'Zionist trap' for all humanity! [â~@¦]"


    NOTES

    [1] On November 15, 2003, two major synagogues in Istanbul were bombed
    by Turkish Islamic terrorists, killing 26 and wounding hundreds, most of
    them Muslim Turks who were in the vicinity. On August 21, 2003, a Jewish
    dentist, Dr. Y.Yahya, had been murdered in his clinic. The perpetrator
    confessed upon his arrest that he had wanted to kill 'a Jew' [after what
    he read about the Jews in the press]. On March 9, 2004, a Masonic lodge
    in Istanbul was also attacked by two suicide bombers, killing one and
    wounding five, and the bombers were later found to have had ties with
    the synagogue bombers. A gun used in the attack against the Masonic
    lodge proved to be the same one used in the execution style murder of
    the Jewish dentist.

    [2] The 'Dönme' are descendants of the Jewish followers of a
    self-proclaimed messiah, Sabbetai Sevi (1626-1676) who was forced by the
    sultan to convert to Islam in 1666. They consider themselves Muslims and
    officially are recognized as such. Dönme is the Turkish word for
    'convert' but it carries overtones of 'turncoat' as well.

    [3] Radikal 2 (Turkey), March 13, 2005.

    [4] According to the most recent reports, 'Mein Kampf' has climbed to
    second place in Turkey's 'Bestsellers' list. The first place is occupied
    by a book titled 'Metal Storm,' a futuristic novel set in 2007 when
    Turkey is attacked by the U.S. military, after which a young Turkish
    hero explodes a nuclear bomb in America.

    [5] YenicaÄ~_ (Turkey), March 15, 2005. This Turkish daily newspaper is a
    synthesis of radical Islam and MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) nationalism.

    [6] YenicaÄ~_ (Turkey), March 26, 2005.

    [7] Vakit (Turkey), August 17, 2004. In February 2005 publication of
    this newspaper was banned in Germany, for antisemitic incitement and its
    denial of the Holocaust.

    [8] The Wall Street Journal, February 16, 2005.

    [9] OrtadoÄ~_u (Turkey), February 19, 2005. OrtadoÄ~_u is a nationalist
    Turkish daily close to MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) which was a
    coalition partner in the previous government.

    [10] Radikal (Turkey), January 23, 2005.

    [11] Vakit (Turkey), February 28, 2005.

    [12] Yeni Å~^afak (Turkey), February 21, 2005. This Islamic daily
    newspaper is known to be an unofficial mouthpiece of the AKP government.
    The newspaper's owner and PM ErdoÄ~_an have become in-laws, after the
    recent marriage of their children.

    [13] Mehmet Gul is a former member of Parliament from MHP (Nationalist
    Movement Party), and he was addressing a Turan [pan-Turkic]
    ultra-nationalist gathering.

    [14] YenicaÄ~_ (Turkey), March 4, 2005.

    http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD90005

    --Boundary_(ID_LbaQrETejV7swMK8isP9+w)--
Working...
X