If only you would name the “shackle” on Turkey’s foot!...

MIT President İbrahim Kalın, who appears to be the lead actor in the second opening process following the first, stated in a lecture he gave at the Ibn Haldun Academy recently that the “Terror-Free Turkey” process is a move for Turkey to rid itself of yet another major shackle.

AKP Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala also stated at a holiday celebration in Bursa the other day that they are walking toward the goal of a “Terror-Free Turkey” with firm steps and as they had envisioned, saying, “Turkey will achieve this goal and get rid of the shackles on its feet.” He then went on to speak about a new constitution.

Do you know how many times we have heard this phrase, “the shackle on Turkey’s foot,” during the AKP era?

Let us remind you.

WHAT WAS DONE FOR THE EU

When they sought refuge from “the evil of Ankara in the intercession of Brussels,” they presented fulfilling every imposition placed before us by the EU as “getting rid of shackles or fetters.”

This was the fairy tale told when forcing the Annan Plan—another version of Enosis—upon the TRNC and the Turkish Nation, and when making concessions on policies regarding the Aegean, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea-Montreux, Kirkuk, and the Patriarchate–Halki Seminary.

WHAT WAS DONE FOR THE PKK

They used the word “shackle” most frequently between 2009 and 2013. Because the PKK opening, the new constitution, and democratization packages were on the agenda again.

Here are a few examples from the “opening”:

Then-Prime Minister Erdoğan: “With this opening, we hope to reach two fundamental goals that will rid Turkey of its shackles. These goals are the final termination of terrorism and the elevation of our country’s democratic standards to the highest level.”

Then-Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç: “Who would not desire a Turkey where we get rid of the shackles on our feet, where democratization is as enriched as possible, freedoms are as expanded as possible, and everyone accepts each other as friends and companions, not condemning one another for their differences and where there is no discrimination?”

Then-Interior Minister Beşir Atalay: “I do not think anyone will block this for the sake of petty politics... This is a great shackle. If we get rid of this, no one can stop Turkey... A Turkey that solves its terror problem by democratizing and expanding the space for freedom will be an example to the world. A Turkey that has freed itself from the shackle of terror will be a more important actor in its region and the world.”

Erdoğan also defended the famous 2010 Constitutional referendum with these words:

“On September 12, 2010, Turkey will hopefully wake up to a new morning, a bright morning. On September 12, 2010, Turkey will rid itself of its shackles, chains, and fetters. It will carry its horizon, its vision, and along with them its economy and democracy to higher standards...”

“With the 'Yes' vote, our performance in leaping Turkey forward will increase to an incomparable degree. In other words, we will get rid of our shackles. Currently, we have shackles on our feet. And we are working with these shackles. Can you imagine?.. There is a shackle like the Council of State, it is blocking us. I mean, you cannot even appoint a governor... So this 'yes' will free the executive branch from these shackles.”

When we reached 2013, the “democratization package” containing EU-PKK demands was on the agenda. While announcing the package, which included opening private schools that would provide education in the mother tongue, the removal of the Student Oath, allowing political propaganda in different languages, and restoring the old names of villages and cities, Erdoğan said:

“We will add new ones to the reforms we have made for eleven years, and we will rid Turkey of its burdens, shackles, and chains. This is not the first, and it will not be the last. As conditions and opportunities develop, as Turkey grows, we will continue to make our reforms and take steps worthy of a growing Turkey.”

He also responded to the reactions as follows:

“They should not mind, we have closed the democracy deficit in this country and we are closing it. We have fought and are fighting with courage against lawlessness, gangs, and juntas in this country. Now, hopefully, we are drying up the swamp of terror, we are removing and throwing away this shackle on Turkey’s foot.”

IT DID NOT WORK, WE NEED A PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

Despite all this, when the “shackles” on Turkey’s feet did not end, the transition to a Presidential system was brought to the agenda in 2015.

Erdoğan first said, “Turkey needs a presidential system to get rid of its shackles.” Then, he declared that he “wanted Turkey to be managed like a joint-stock company,” and said, “Otherwise, they tie shackles to your wrists, walk if you can. This country cannot leap forward this way... The New Turkey will come to life with a new constitution. With the new constitution, the presidential system must also be established in the country. For this, the target is 400 deputies. When you give 400 deputies...”

The propaganda material for the referendum held on April 16, 2017, for this purpose was the economy. Erdoğan explained that if a “yes” came out of the ballot boxes, there would be a very serious leap in the economy because “the shackles on Turkey’s wrists would be broken and thrown away.”

He also noted the following:

“All public officials, from civil servants to department heads, from district governors to governors, from general managers to undersecretaries, will carry out their work in line with the vision put forward by those elected.”

“This system, you know this system, this was a shackle on our wrists. Are we ready to remove and throw away these shackles on our wrists on April 16?”

“It is of course very important that our members of the judiciary fulfill their responsibilities without remaining under any influence or pressure, and without entering the service of any opinion, ideology, or power center.”

But an AKP deputy named the presidential system referendum and blurted out, “We will get rid of the 100-year shackle!”

Did Turkey get rid of its “shackles” when it switched to the presidential system?

No. This time, one of the writers supporting the government declared “secularism” a shackle, another declared “Lausanne” a shackle, and another declared “Kemalism” a shackle.

THE FINAL SHACKLE: THE CONSTITUTION

Supposedly, with a “yes” vote in the September 12, 2010, Constitutional referendum, Turkey was going to be rid of its “shackles, chains, and fetters,” right?

It clearly wasn't, as Erdoğan began saying again in recent months, 15 years later, “We will continue to explain that the constitution, which leaves Turkey behind in a changing world and acts as a shackle on its foot, must be renewed. A conciliatory, unifying, libertarian, civil constitution that embraces all segments of society is one of our fundamental goals.”

And that is how we arrived at the second PKK opening, branded as a “Terror-Free Turkey,” which MIT President İbrahim Kalın and AKP Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala describe as “a move for Turkey to rid itself of yet another major shackle!”

You would think Turkey is someone’s test subject...

Could the “shackle” that has been circled from the right and left, front and back, door and chimney for decades, but whose name can never be put, be “getting rid of the Turkish Nation, Atatürk, and Lausanne”?

If so, you will be waiting a long time!!

Müyesser YILDIZ

June 8, 2025