London chants “Terrorist Erdoğan”

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Millions say “Tamam" (Enough) to Turkey’s Erdoğan

After Turkish President Erdoğan said “If the nation says "tamam" ("enough") we will go”, millions of tweets were posted with the word “tamam”, which received great attention from global media.

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In a speech yesterday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “If one day our nation says tamam (enough), only then will we step aside,” and posts with the word “tamam” started popping up on Twitter.

There were over 1.8 million posts that included the word “tamam”, while different versions/spellings of the word were also popular. The hashtag “devam” (“continue”) started by pro-Erdoğan groups immediately after lagged behind at 300.000 posts.

GREAT INTEREST FROM GLOBAL MEDIA

This spontaneous reaction that developed on social media after Erdoğan’s near-prophetic words garnered great interest from global media.
The Guardian wrote: “Rivals respond to president’s offer to stand aside if country says ‘enough’ in June election.” The article stated that half a million people yesterday afternoon alone shared the hashtag “tamam”.

EUROPE1: TURKISH INTERNET USERS SAY “ENOUGH” TO ERDOĞAN

The French Europe1 radio said, “Turkish internet users say ‘enough’ to Erdoğan” and that Erdoğan’s comments set the stage for these posts.

LIBERATION SHARED A CARICATURE

Liberation newspaper ran the same headline and shared a caricature by Iad Tawil that depicts a ghost with the word “tamam” on it chasing Erdoğan.

The New York Times (NYT) article said after Erdoğan’s comments large groups of people shared the hashtag, including opposition candidates. The article also stated that the June 24 elections are very important as changes to the system will be implemented afterwards.

The multilingual Euronews network ran the story with the title, “I'll step aside when Turkey says 'enough', says Erdogan. Twitter responds” and said Erdoğan’s supporters started the hashtag “devam” (“continue”) as a response.

DW: “TWITTER WARS”

German media also stressed that the posts started immediately after Erdoğan’s comments. Deutsche Welle radio pointed out the twitter war between anti- and pro-Erdoğan groups.

Austria’s Der Standard newspaper ran an article that used the “TAMAM İnşallah” (“ENOUGH God willing” as a spot title.

The Times of Israel ran the title, “Turkish internet users say ‘Enough’ to Erdoğan”.

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Erdogan faces protests in London

British PM Theresa May will meet Turkish President on Tuesday

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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in London this week where he will meet Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday.

The Kurdish community, British trade unions together with many organisations and groups are organising a protest against the Turkish President.

The protest is called by the British unions together with the Democratic Power Union, which brings together some 30 mass organisations working in London.

Likewise, a statement sent to Prime Minister May has been read by People’s Solidarity Campaign with Turkey (SPOT) and other associations.

Rosa Gilbert, on behalf of the Kurdish Solidarity Campaign, called on people to join the protest and said: “It is a shame for Prime Minister May to meet Erdogan who is supporting jihadist groups, as it is well known”.

The visit by the Turkish president is not only causing uneasiness to Kurdish and Turkish communities but also to British associations, unions and groups. Social media are calling to people to support the demonstration and protest while the trade unions have written an open letter to Prime Minister May which has been published in newspapers.

The main protest will be on Tuesday, when Prime Minister May will meet with President Erdogan. The demonstration will be held in front of the PM residence, at 10 Downing Street.

Today, the Kurdish Community in Reading protests Turkish President Erdogan. Reports suggest that police have intervened the demonstration.

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London chants “Terrorist Erdoğan”

Turkish President Erdoğan was received with slogans of “Terrorist Erdoğan” in his visit to London, while AKP’s fascist gangs threatened protesters there as well.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan went to British capital London to meet with the royal family and goverment officials to overcome the economic bind, and was protested by Kurds and democratic groups.

PROTESTS FROM THE OPPOSITION

Erdoğan’s 3-day official visit was harshly criticized by several political parties in the UK. Liberal Democrats leader Sir Vince Cable condemned Erdoğan’s visit in harsh words. Sir Cable stressed that Erdoğan is an enemy of liberal and democratic values, and criticized the government for receiving him.

PEOPLE CARRY PHOTOS THAT SAY “TERRORIST”

Protesters gathered in front of the building where the economic forum Erdoğan participated in during the day was held, and frequently chanted “Terrorist Erdoğan”. There were protesters who wrote “Afrin” across their faces, and others carried photographs of Erdoğan in red to symbolize blood that had the word “Terrorist” written on them.

Police intervened harshly at several points.

ERDOĞAN’S GANGS THREATEN PEOPLE

Meanwhile, the London gangs of Erdoğan, who ordered an attack against Kurdish protesters in Washington D.C. last year, threatened the protesters.

A man in the group that came to support Erdoğan was seen shaking a hand at the protesters and threatening them.

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Why did Erdoğan go to Britain?

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, ended his three-days state visit to the UK. Was it profitable? Why did he go to London in the first place?

The visit certainly took place at a very critical time for Erdoğan: the economic and political crisis in Turkey is deepening and the snap election he called in panic is only around the corner.

On her part, British Prime Minister, Theresa May, was checking out options of a post-Brexit free trade deal with Turkey and went a long deal to justify Erdoğan’s remarks and scuffles.

It was a bit like seeing the bully and the little girl. Although the little girl knew only too well whom she was opening the door too. May attempts to get some kind of “sellable” material to justify her possible future deal with Erdoğan to the British public (not particularly keen on the Turkish President) were soon crashed.

She tried to use the stick and the carrots, but to no avail. She said that while it was right to bring to justice those who try to overthrown a democratically elected government, “it is also important that in the defence of democracy… Turkey does not lose sight of the values it is seeking to defend”. She than added: “That is why today I have underlined to President Erdoğan that we want to see democratic values and international human rights obligations upheld.”

Her remarks were totally ignored by Erdoğan who told her that ““You have to make a distinction between terrorists and journalists. We are talking about ... those who have been caught red-handed bearing weapons, those who have been killing people”.

Referring directly to the over 160 journalists in jail, Erdoğan said: “Are we supposed to call them journalists just because they bear the credentials and identity cards? Currently, the Turkish judiciary is prosecuting and sentencing individuals who have been associated with terrorism and involved in terrorist actions”.

And with that the issue on human rights, freedom of expression was closed, for Turkey’s president, who wanted to go down to business.

The two countries want to increase trade from $15bn a year to $20bn (£11.1bn to £14.8bn). At the heart of the agreement is a defence partnership. Rolls Royce is currently bidding to co-build the engine for Turkey’s new TFX fighter jet.

Erdoğan also met the Queen, who received him with all honours.

But it was when talking to Bloomberg Tv about economy that Erdoğan made a false step.

He told Bloomberg he wants to retain closer control of interest rates after he was elected president with executive powers. But his remarks actually plunged the Turkish lira to a new record low against the dollar as investors were apparently spooked by the president’s unconventional view that high inflation is best tackled by low interest rates.

Outside 10 Downing Street, scores of Kurds and friends of Kurds were protesting against the visit, asking Theresa May to remember the democratically elected politicians in prison, the dead, the cities under siege, the invasion of Afrin.

Clearly Erdoğan’s visit to the UK had the purpose to keep a foot in Europe, given Turkey’s current tense relation with the European Union. Erdoğan is seeking to extend his mandate for another 5 years, but this will prove quite difficult as the economic crisis he has led the country to is taking its tolls on people. The opposition, led by the CHP doesn’t provide a credible alternative as it is much of the same. Which is why the move by the HDP is seen as a bit of fresh air, and this time the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s candidate, Selahattin Demirtas has actually the chance to make the difference.