Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the president of Turkey. Turkey is a member of NATO. Therein lies the conflict. Erdogan believes in sharia law.

In 2013 Taksim Square in Istanbul was the center of protests against Erdogan and his restrictions to freedom for the great people of Turkey.

It began when the citizens of Istanbul discovered that the last ‘green’ spot in Istanbul was to be razed to make space for additional business; Gezi Park. Early protestors surrounded the area, and as their numbers grew, police attacked the crowd with tear gas. The protestors grew from a few hundred to thousands. People of all races and religions stood in rebellion. Water cannons and rubber bullets were used by police in addition to the gas; several citizens were killed and hundreds arrested

The underlying causes were new laws instituted by Erdogan. He forbade the consumption of alcohol, and any form of public affection, among others. He was making an attempt to force the citizens of Turkey to submit to harsh Muslim laws, known as ‘sharia.’

Questions remain regarding Erdogan’s connection with the terrorist group ISIS. There are confirmed reports that Turkey is purchasing oil from this group of murderous thugs. For the Turkish people, this is confirmation that allegations of corruption by Erdogan are indeed fact. He has been accused of involvement in ISIS’ illegal oil trade for his own profit. He has promised the people of Turkey that if any wrong doing on his part is confirmed, he will resign.

ISIS’ funding comes from two sources; private donations, and the sale of oil. To this date they have profited from the sale of oil for a total of $500 million; $40 million each month.

Erdogan and ISIS share a common enemy; the Kurdish militia. It was reported that: “Erdogan was enraged when Kurdish forces in Syria liberated the town of Tel Abyad from ISIS, and the Turkish military drew up a plan to invade Syria, not to fight ISIS but to set up a 30-kilometer-deep buffer zone to prevent the Syrian Kurds from controlling their own home country.” Erdogan threatened that he “would never allow the establishment of a [Kurdish] state on its southern border in the north of Syria.”

It has been a well-known fact that Erdogan considers the Kurds a far greater threat than ISIS.

The alliance needs Turkish air bases to stage attacks against ISIS; but can the president be trusted? Is Erdogan friend or foe? The answer appears obvious, but the tenuous situation is not being discussed in the media.

The people of Turkey continue to protest. Erdogan won his most recent election among accusations of illegality. Istanbul remains the center of the revolt. On the first anniversary of the Taksim Square revolt, huge crowds once again gathered. More than 25,000 police surrounded the area, firing tear gas at the angry protestors.

The people of Turkey are friendly to the United States and its allies; Erdogan is not. His history of corruption and forcing the people of his nation to conform to his personal beliefs are proof that he must be removed from power. Erdogan is a danger to eventual peace in the region.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of AMISOM Public Information

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