‘Türkiyeli’-izing!

Approaches that suggest using the term ‘Türkiyeli’ (person from Turkey) or ‘Türkiyelilik’ (being from Turkey) as a superordinate identity have been voiced frequently in recent times. Described as a more ‘conciliatory,’ more ‘inclusive,’ and ‘peace’-serving concept that has found space due to the influence of ongoing processes, ‘Türkiyelilik’ will pave the way for the erosion of this geography’s foundation and the shaking of its main pillars. It leads to disaster!

There are even ‘intellectuals’ like the Bar Association President who, while attending an event in France, does not call a French lawyer a ‘lawyer from France’ but a ‘French lawyer,’ yet when it comes to a lawyer who is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, uses ‘lawyer from Turkey’ instead of ‘Turkish lawyer.’ At every opportunity they find, they also propose making ‘soft touches’ to the first four articles of our Constitution, which are not even open to the proposal of amendment.

Is it because they do not know what a Turk is that they use this rhetoric? Do they not know that to be a nation, one must establish a state, possess one’s own language, and give one’s name to the land one lives on? They know it very well!..
The real intent behind the ‘Türkiyelilik’ discourse is directed at ‘Turkishness’... For them, this is a stage. It is an effort to push the founder into the background and erode the national state. Whenever they find the opportunity, they use concepts like ‘Türkiyeli’ or ‘local.’ Avoiding the term ‘Turkish nation,’ they introduce phrases such as ‘society of Turkey’ or ‘people from Turkey,’ ‘local literature’ instead of ‘Turkish literature,’ ‘cinema of Turkey’ instead of ‘Turkish cinema,’ and ‘Turkish-language poetry’ instead of ‘Turkish poetry.’ Mr. Kaboğlu’s term ‘lawyers from Turkey’ is a new addition to this trend. Is he expecting thanks for his contribution(!) to the literature?

IS IT JUST THE NAME OF A RACE?

‘Turk’ is not just the name of a race. It is the name of a common identity, a national identity, and a citizen identity. Our professor, Prof. Dr. Barış Doster, frequently addresses this topic in his lectures, the programs he attends, conferences, books, and articles.
In our country, ‘Turk’ is not the name of just one of many ethnic identities. Sentences that begin with “Turk, ... we are all together, we are equal citizens, etc.” are dangerous. Regardless of their ethnic origin, Kurdish, Circassian, Laz, Georgian, Pomak, and Bosnian citizens see and define themselves as Turks. There are many historical, social, cultural, political, and economic points here.

Those who see no problem in using the concept of ‘nation’ when it comes to the West or European countries suddenly enter a completely different state of mind when it comes to the Republic of Turkey or the Turk.
Let us recall once again the definition of nation by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey and a beacon of hope for oppressed nations against imperialism. According to Atatürk, a nation is not based on race or origin, but on land and culture. It is based on a consciousness of homeland, nation, and history.
Turks are a people who became a nation while establishing a state through the National Struggle, and became a state while becoming a nation.

WHAT MATTERS IS CITIZEN IDENTITY!

The concept of ‘Türkiyeli,’ which has been frequently voiced again in recent days, is not well-intentioned. If those who do not call a Frenchman ‘a person from France’ or a German ‘a person from Germany’ call a Turk ‘a person from Turkey,’ one must think carefully!

It is obvious that in a geography where ethnic and sectarian-based wars are increasing and countries are being divided, the nation and the unitary state provide unity, integrity, and inclusivity, and enable living together. What matters is citizen identity! Identity politics plays into the hands of imperialism. Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Libya are the most prominent examples of this.

Terms such as ‘equal citizenship,’ ‘autonomy for local administrations,’ and ‘education in the mother tongue’ found in various texts are also a form of veiled identity politics. Citizens are being fragmented by distinctions of ethnic origin, belief, language, sect, background, region, etc. Those who use the term ‘equal citizen’ are leading not to integration but to segregation, and are damaging integrity. Respect for different beliefs is accepted by us all. The Constitution prioritizes the citizen. The party to the contract is the citizen…

DECLARATION OF INTENT…

The greatest concern of the architects of the Greater Middle East Project (BOP), the theorists of imperialism, and their local collaborators is the nation-state. Former CIA Middle East Desk Chief Graham Fuller, who said, “The time for Kemalism has passed; it is time for a New Turkey similar to the Ottoman Empire, where market-oriented, globalist Islam is the main determinant,” former CIA Turkey Station Chief Paul Henze, who said, “With the New World Order, Atatürkism is dead. The era of nation-states is over. Turkey should adopt a multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-racial structure like the Ottoman Empire,” and US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, who said, “The best system for Turkey is the Ottoman millet system” and “Strong nation-states are a threat to Israel,” clearly declare their intent.

Full independence, a secular democratic Republic, and the national state are the greatest obstacles to imperialist plans!

With the hope of not straying from the light of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who said, “The people of Turkey who founded the Republic of Turkey are called the Turkish nation”…