Turkey referendum

[Isis]

Definitely, no disagreement from me. The man is a complete maniac along with every other asshole serving in his government. It is sad to see authoritarianism creeping up on everyone around the world, even here in Europe, under the guise of being for our own safety as is popular with authoritarian regimes.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Well, so long Turkey. You now have a president that can legally execute his own people be it through legislation or direct intervention in the judiciary.

Despots do what despots do. Such a shame, I feel desperately sorry for my secular friends there.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Well, major news networks are saying that Erdogan has more or less won already. I doubt it was a fair referendum.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...ial-powers

Well considering he's locked up opposition members . Locked up journalist . and gone after media critical of his party . All before calling this "referendum"(establishment of a dictatorship)

If he wins his next move will likely be

1. Disband or weaken parliament till it's just a puppet . This will ensure that no future political rivals will rise from that quarter

2. Purge the media using dog whistle terms "security" or" concerns about"

Number 1 is a certainty, number 2 has been a reality in Turkey for years under Erdogan. Fun fact, Turkey is the number one state in the world for imprisoning journalists.

https://cpj.org/europe/turkey/

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campai...key-media/

[Isis]

Such a shame, I feel desperately sorry for my secular friends there.

Hopefully Europe can help them out with asylum if they need it...

[Thumpalumpacus]

Twelve years is too long to go without another appeal to the voting public. Seems to be a power grab, to me.

It most definitely is.

Turkey has been edging closer to authoritarianism ever since the attempted coup. I don't mean to sound sensationalist but with the recent talk of bringing back the death penalty and with the government clamping down dissidents, we could eventually see political opponents and activists executed. It may also contribute to the further rise of the far-right in Europe, as Erdogan has said he will consider reviewing the refugee deal after the referendum.

Either way, if the nationalists win this, you can kiss democracy and Turkey's hopes of joining the EU goodbye. I am wondering how the Trump administration will respond as well.

Yeah, everything I've read supports what you're saying, and lends credibility to your worry.

[Amarok]

Such a shame, I feel desperately sorry for my secular friends there.

Hopefully Europe can help them out with asylum if they need it...

I honestly think the whole western world should

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Hopefully Europe can help them out with asylum if they need it...

I honestly think the whole western world should

Secular Turks have a lot to bring to the table. Far from Turkey being a potential 'Islamic menace' with EU membership in the past, I predicted it would have emboldened the secular elite to finally turf out the military and begin a more coherent dialogue with the Kurds to which there has been ongoing strife for a century. Stability breeds stability.

All academic now, I suppose.

[Crunchy]

This is just another example of muslims voluntarily voting in an authoritarian.  The failure of Arab spring was quite predictable but it is especially troubling that it has occurred in Turkey where Ataturk had taken extraordinary steps to try and keep Turkey secular. Erdogan is more than likely just in it to keep himself in power by using the islamic mindset to grant himself complete authority, but he won't live forever. The system he is putting in place will morph into full blown Islamism IMO and Ataturk's vision for Turkey is dead.

It appears to me that the mindset that Islam creates is one where there is a strong desire for an authoritarian to tell everyone exactly how to live and what to do. This is the pattern that Mohamed established and this, among other undying memes in islam makes it the most dangerous of all the religions.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Good article:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/04/16/rip...ign=buffer

[Minimalist]

It appears to me that the mindset that Islam creates is one where there is a strong desire for an authoritarian to tell everyone exactly how to live and what to do.

I get the same vibe from republicunts.