History Reheats Itself
Issue #223
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In this week’s recap:
What Malazgirt means for Erdoğan
Turkish airstrike kills journalists in Iraq
Domestic and diplomatic wraps
August downpours flood, ravage cities
This weekend marked the anniversary of the Battle of Malazgirt (also known as Manzikert), an 11th century conflict in which Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantine army.
In Turkish schools, children learn the battle opened the doors of Anatolia to the Turks, and the government celebrates it as the start of Turkic and Muslim presence in Anatolia.
With Seljuk costumes, marching bands and yurts, the annual event has also showcased the bromance between Pres. Erdoğan and MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli over the years.
In the latest rendition, Erdoğan gifted 76 roses to Bahçeli, but things got awkward when Bahçeli appeared to lean towards Erdoğan’s hand – like he would kiss it – before quickly aborting the maneuver.
There were also plenty of other photo-ops, but this picture of the HÜDA-PAR chairman with the Air Force and Naval commanders drew the most reactions.
Still, the symbolism and references to Malazgirt “serve to evoke nationalist consciousness”, said Lisel Hintz, assist. prof. of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University.
“Erdoğan instrumentalizes Ottoman and proto-Ottoman histories to establish legitimacy for his own populist authoritarian rule as leader of the ‘pure people’ – conservative Anatolian ‘Black Turks’ – and defender of the nation against the ever-present specter of corrupt, West-obsessed ‘White Turk’ elites,” Hintz told Turkey recap.
Though, in his speech Monday, Erdoğan noted Malazgirt was not only a victory for the Turks.
“The Victory of Manzikert was also a strategic turning point that paved the way for the conquest of Jerusalem,” he said. “It should be particularly stressed that Manzikert is a victory for all Muslims, including the Turks.”
Hintz added Malazgirt is not the only battle that serves this point. The conquest of Constantinople in 1453 is another:
“[Both] figure prominently in these instrumentalizations by serving simultaneously as evidence of the greatness of those whose legacies Erdoğan claims, and of past, present, and future threats to those legacies,” she said.
Turkey’s Directorate of Communications translates these narratives into videos, suggesting a continuous history from Malazgirt to Victory Day (Aug. 30, when Turkey commemorates the end of the Greco-Turkish War) and today.
“Regime-produced videos … link past victories to their contemporary custodian: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as rightful and necessary leader and defender,” Hintz concluded.
– Ingrid Woudwijk
Elsewhere in domestic news:
AKP-related rumors are churning in Ankara after two reports by journalist Nuray Babacan. In the first, she claimed there’s a rift between AKP HQ and the party’s provincial organizations.
“One MP said: ‘I called the provincial administrators, saying: ‘I will be in town this weekend, what program should we make?’ I got the response: ‘There is no program, no one is here.’ I asked: ‘Is there no wedding or funeral?’ There is complete chaos,’” Babacan wrote.
The second article claimed pro-gov think tank SETA prepared a report suggesting citizens held Erdoğan accountable for election losses, rather than solely blaming the party. SETA denied the existence of the rumored report, yet speculations continue.
The fate of a missing 8-year-old remains uncertain as search efforts dominate national news. Last week, Narin Güran went missing in Diyarbakır and, yesterday, it was reported her brother was arrested. Narin’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Repressive measures continue against Kurdish music-listeners and journalists as three men were arrested in Balıkesir on propaganda charges for allegedly listening to Kurdish music. Meanwhile, Turkey requested blocks on the X accounts of Kurdish politicians, journalists (including Al-Monitor’s chief correspondent Amberin Zaman) and publishers.
Cast the first drone: Turkish airstrike kills journalists in Iraq
In northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, journalists Hero Bahaden and Gülistan Tara were killed and Rebin Baker was injured in what local sources said was a Turkish drone strike Friday. All three worked for the Kurdish media company, CHATR.
Turkey’s intelligence agency confirmed Wednesday it “neutralized” Tara, alleging she was a PKK member. Tara was a Turkish citizen who also used the surname ‘Tekik’.
The event has renewed scrutiny of Turkey’s ongoing airstrikes and military activities in the region. It also came days after a ‘historic’ Ankara-Baghdad security pact outlined future military and counterterrorism cooperation between the two nations.
“What has been unprecedented is the depth of Turkish incursions, both through ground military operations as well as drone strikes,” Shivan Fazil, a senior researcher at the Institute of Regional and International Studies at the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani, told Turkey recap regarding the airstrike.
The strike occurred in the Sulaymaniyah province city of Said Sadiq, about 300 km from the nearest Turkey-Iraq border.
While expanding its footprint in Iraq, Fazil said Ankara has “exploited weaknesses and long-standing disputes” between the governments in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Baghdad.
Additionally, he noted Turkey has created leverage for its objectives by reducing river water flows to Iraq, pausing Kurdistan Regional Government oil exports and closing Turkish airspace to flights using Sulaymaniyah airport, among other policies.
Asked if he expects a long-term Turkish military presence in Iraq, Fazil responded:
“If we take Rojava or Cyprus as examples, it can indicate they are [going] to stay, but the presence of foreign troops in Iraq has been very controversial,” he said, underlining various parliamentary motions have sought to expel US troops, and that Turkish troops were not viewed to be “less controversial”.
Up next: Turkey today hosts officials from Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE to discuss the Development Road project, a transportation network aiming to link Turkey to the Persian Gulf.
Elsewhere in diplomatic news:
Syria-Turkey normalization efforts have yet to yield results. Syrian Pres. Assad cast doubts on potential progress in a speech Sunday, underlining Turkish troop withdrawal was not a precondition to future talks (as it had been previously). A day earlier, Turkey-Russia joint military patrols resumed in northern Syria after a one-year pause.
US sanctions on Russia include seven people and entities in Turkey. The US Treasury penalized more than 400 new companies and suppliers for supporting the Russian war effort in Ukraine. Listed Turkey-based merchants – of Turkish and Russian origin – were linked to weapons, ammunition and dual-use technology procurements for “Russian end-use”. Details here.
ECHR found no violation for jailed Gülen movement convict. In one of three Chamber judgements Tuesday involving Turkey, the ECHR ruled the detention conditions of Şaban Yasak did not constitute inhuman or degrading treatment. Yasak’s sentencing was also judged to be “reasonably foreseeable”, prompting discussions about whether similar judgements might be applied to other Gülen-linked cases.
Fidan attends EU’s informal Gymnich meeting today. For the first time in five years, a Turkish FM will join the talks after punitive measures barred Ankara for its 2019 energy exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey’s EU candidacy, rule of law, customs union modernization and refugee management are on the agenda.
Rain of power: August downpours flood, ravage cities
And the dry season is over in now-tropical İstanbul, where afternoon downpours flooded the city this week and made a canal out of İstiklal Caddesi.
Call it a lack of drainage. Call it the Seine River like this parody İmamoğlu account. Whatever it is, the fix is this Samsun football field, which apparently soaks up rain like a sponge. Elsewhere:
Pro tip: Don’t park under Cappadocia fairy chimneys when it rains.
But also don’t plastic-wrap your car like check-in luggage.
Kocaeli police jokingly requested a hotel fee from a man who fell asleep on a bus.
A CHP MP is under investigation for calling Erdoğan a ‘snob’.
Finally, those looking for ex-footballer Mesut Özil can check Üsküdar’s Şemsi Paşa Mosque.
Speed reads
Turkey’s expanding leverage in Africa (FT)
Turkey’s aid agency supports Taliban media with equipment (Bianet)
Families protest acquittal in trial for fatal collapse during Feb. 6 quakes (Duvar)
Deutsche Welle journalist's appeal against sentence denied in Turkey (DPA)
Trustee admin at Boğaziçi University transfers new hire from foundation involved with child abuse scandal (Duvar)
Palestinian student faces deportation from Turkey after protesting trade with Israel (Bianet)
Turkey plans İstanbul taxi surge to tackle passenger complaints (Bloomberg)
Ambassador Flake opens up before leaving his job in Turkey (Politico)
Erdogan facing growing scrutiny over Israel embargo (VOA)
Diyarbakır cafes faced with Islamist attacks over alcohol sale, women's clothing (Bianet)
Weekend reads
Turkey Is Not an Actor in the Gaza Conflict
In this detailed review of Turkey-Israel relations, analyst Salim Çevik notes Turkey’s pro-gov media “has chosen to remain silent” about Erdoğan’s remarks about intervening in the war, writing only one columnist has argued the comments “did not imply military action, but should be understood as a reflection of [Erdoğan’s] anger at Israel’s.” (Arab Center)
Locked In, Locked Out: How Data Breaches Shatter Refugees’ Safety
Researcher Noura Aljizawi argues the data leak affecting 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey leaves them in both physical and digital risk, writing: “Despite the serious risk of the breach, the Turkish government’s response has been inadequate, characterized by a lack of transparency and failure to take substantive actions.” (Tahrir Institute)
Village of the Dammed
Journalist Sofia Cherici reconstructs the story of the The Greater Melen water supply project, which sought to address İstanbul’s chronic water shortage, writing: “Nearly a decade later, the dam that displaced thousands of people stands unfinished, plagued by faults and cracks along its austere concrete wall.” (The Black Sea)
Week ahead
Aug 30 Victory Day in Turkey commemorates the end of the Greco-Turkish War
Sep 1 US Amb. to Turkey Jeff Flake ends his term
Sep 4 Egyptian Pres. Sisi to visit Turkey (more info)
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Turkey recap is produced by the Kolektif Medya Derneği, an İstanbul-based non-profit association founded by our editorial team to support and elevate news media and journalists in Turkey. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com
Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chief @diegocupolo
Gonca Tokyol, Editor-at-large @goncatokyol
Ingrid Woudwijk, KMD president @deingrid
Verda Uyar, Digital growth manager @verdauyar
Emily Johnson, Deputy editor @emilyjohnson
Damla Uğantaş, Tr Türkçe editor @damlaugantas