Turkish President Comes To The US, Pretends That It Can Silence And Attack The Press Like It Does At Home

from the freedom-of-the-press? dept

Fri, Apr 1st 2016 3:22am — Mike Masnick

We've written a whole bunch about the incredibly thin-skinned and litigious President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan took his show on the road to the US this week, and apparently that included pretending that he can treat press in the US as bad as he does at home. Erdogan spoke at the Brookings Institution yesterday, and there were protestors outside. That's not that surprising, but rather than doing what basically anyone else does in that situation and ignore the protestors, Erdogan's security clashed with the protestors and then took it up a notch going after reporters:

A planned speech by the controversial Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan descended into violence and chaos Thursday, with one journalist physically removed from the event site by Turkish security personnel, another kicked by a guard, and a third — a woman — thrown to the sidewalk in front of a Washington think tank where he was to speak.

And then there was this:

Later, a shoving match between what appeared to be a Brookings Institute worker and Turkish security broke out. “I am in charge of this building,” the apparent Brookings employee shouted as the two tangled. A Foreign Policy reporter and others holding cameras outside the event were also scolded by Turkish security. One cameraman was chased across the street by Turkish guards.

Apparently local Washington DC police had to keep explaining to Erdogan's security that they're not in charge and they're not allowed to do what they were doing:

Local Washington D.C. police officers were forced time and again to get between Erdogan’s security forces and journalists and protesters. At one point, an officer placed himself between one of Erdogan’s security guards and a cameraman he was moving to confront, while another angrily confronted several Turkish security guards in the middle of the street, telling them, “you’re part of the problem, you guys need to control yourselves and let these people protest.”

Meanwhile, inside, Erdogan played ignorant claiming that he has no problem at all with "criticism" but rather is just deeply offended by "insults."

Erodgan says has no problem with critcism, but does not allow insult, if insulted, my lawyers will file lawsuit #incredible
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) March 31, 2016

How one distinguishes between "criticism" and "insults" is -- of course -- left unclear.

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Filed Under: free speech, freedom of the press, recep tayyip erdogan, turkey

46 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 3:29am

A bit like the "dictator" comming to the UN..
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pixelation, 1 Apr 2016 @ 3:40am

Erodgen
Is that pronounced like "Trojan"? Too bad his dad didn't use one...
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AJ, 1 Apr 2016 @ 3:47am

"A planned speech by the controversial Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan descended into violence and chaos Thursday, with one journalist physically removed from the event site by Turkish security personnel, another kicked by a guard, and a third — a woman — thrown to the sidewalk in front of a Washington think tank where he was to speak."

Any one of us would have done that, we would have been in jail. Probably after a very rough arrest. As soon as this idiot assaulted one of our countrymen, he should have had his credentials revoked, and tossed ass first out of the country like the clown he is.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 3:49am

"it"?
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 4:01am

Re:
Yep, review the title Mike.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 4:09am

Re:
Any one of us would have done that, we would have been in jail. Probably after a very rough arrest.

Laws are for the little people.
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PaulT (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 4:46am

"How one distinguishes between "criticism" and "insults" is -- of course -- left unclear."

The great thing about freedom of speech is that it doesn't matter in the slightest. Call him an asshole or call him out for acting like an asshole, it's all the same until people remove your right to do both.
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That One Guy (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 4:51am

'It's not a matter of who's right or who's wrong, it's only about who has the money to fight.'
Ah, but that's where our ever so lovely legal system comes into play, because while you may have the right to say it, it doesn't stop him from suing you into the ground if he feels like exporting his trademark bullying tactics against those in the US who get under his micron-thin skin with their nasty, mean words.

Doesn't matter in the slightest if you know you would ultimately win in court if you cannot afford to defend yourself in court long enough for it to reach that point.
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Groaker (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 4:51am

Re: Re:
Laws are not just for little people. There are really 6 sets of laws all told. The second is for the middle class -- those who go into hock to hire an attorney. The wealthy, who can buy "justice." The police, who can do anything except embarrass their superiors. The powerful, who rarely go so far to enter a court room. And of course the government, which almost always gets away with doing as it pleases.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 5:07am

Besides despotism and nepotism, one might also criticize Erdogan for not having any sense of humor...
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Larry, 1 Apr 2016 @ 5:33am

MIstaken identity
How does he think he is, Donald Trump?
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 5:35am

What a turkey!
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 5:41am

Cold Turkey
Has got me one the run.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 5:48am

Sounds like Trump and his response to any criticism. I imagine they get on famously.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 5:50am

useful idiot
Although this has been an explosive story in the Iranian, Russian, Armenian, and Kurdish news agencies, it seems the US mainstream media has all but ignored this headline-grabber. (Just imagine if Trump's security detail -or Putin's- had done this)

But this is to be expected. The American corporate press tends to keep silent about the human rights abuses of 3rd-world dictators who are loyal allies of Washington, but apparently saving it all up for the time when any particular "useful idiot" decides to no longer be a US puppet.
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That One Guy (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 5:52am

Re:
Given the size of their respective egos I imagine you'd have to rent out a football stadium to fit the two inside the same 'room' at the same time, and even then it would likely feel crowded.
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Capt ICE Enforcer, 1 Apr 2016 @ 6:00am

Sounds like our President
Wow, this sounds like our President. With declaring the U.S. as a war zone allowing indefinite detention without due process. President Obama has the ability to make people he doesn't like disappear also. Think whistle blowers.
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Anomynuos Crowad, 1 Apr 2016 @ 6:16am

Yeah, seems rather odd I haven't seen this headline from any mainstream US media sources. You'd think they might be constrained to only speaking the "truth" from power.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 6:51am

You can't fool all of the people all of the time, or maybe it is just penis envy? Live free or die asshole.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 6:51am

we invited the creep here to study him. he's our hero.
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psiuuuuu (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 6:57am

what. the. hell.
THIS IS REAL?

I wrote up a comment assuming this was a well done April Fool's swipe at Trump, but then figured I should actually look at links and do a search on my own.

Original snarky post follows:

(Subject: does anyone hear that sound overhead?")

It's the sound of Missile Command, 4/1 Battalion, General M. Asnick commanding, launching a salvo of their new Drumpf Simile rockets on unsuspecting victims.

/golf clap
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AJ, 1 Apr 2016 @ 7:18am

Re: 'It's not a matter of who's right or who's wrong, it's only about who has the money to fight.'
I don't think it would be too hard to find pro-bono representation in a 1st amendment case were you were defending yourself against the Turkish President. Just saying....
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Anshar (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 7:19am

A Different Angle
As face-palm-inducing as the Turkish President's behaviour might be, this story actually made me smile. It's nice to read a story where the police are doing a good job and playing the good-guys for a change. Gives me hope that all the bad behaviour we keep reading about is about is due to a few bad apples getting all the attention.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 7:23am

Re:
And he would probably only be offended by the latter. Erdogan has a vision of uniting the middle eastern power-structure and the european after he has been humiliated repeatedly by Europe in terms of potential membership of EU. He has gone from that secular and liberal position and has been inspired by autocrats:
- Use history as a prism for today: Unite people in nationalism and use history selectively to defend laws.
- It is good to have common enemies to better be able to push for concentration of powers
- Making an election a question of for or against "the leader" is so much easier to win since fear of change is a powerful force
- The easiest way to influence people is to control the information they are getting
etc.

Erdogan has basically pushed in the same direction as Muscowy. Only difference is the timeline.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 7:24am

Re:
No, but you can fool most of the people most of the time which is more than enough for ass fucks like Erdogan, Obama, and Bush to get into power!
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Avatar28 (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 7:28am

Re: A Different Angle
This is true. Although if the police anywhere know how to handle a protest properly it's got to be DC.
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oninoshiko (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 7:44am

President of Turkey or GOP frontrunner?
I think I have a new game!
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 7:53am

Re:
And rightfully so. There's a time and a place for mob justice, and I would have been comfortable with it here.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 8:08am

Citizens need to start to feel that they can take the law into their own hands sometimes. This is one of them. If the use of their voices, paper, and local police dont take care of the problem, maybe a few jumping on top of his security force will.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 8:13am

Re: Re:
A Riot is an ugly thing.
Und I think that it is just about time that we had one.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 8:50am

Re:
Our news media has fundamentally transformed itself and now speaks power to truth.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 9:15am

Re: useful idiot
Guess we know which foreign "ally" will be discovered supporting terrorism next eh.

Much like Saddam the Turkey's days might be numbered, depending on what valuable resources they might have.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 9:19am

Erdogan, the original Trump.
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JoeCool (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 9:36am

Re: Re:
Looks fine to me. ;)
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crade (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 9:47am

What do you mean "pretends"?
I feel obliged to mention the headline is missing the " and gets away with it" part
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 10:05am

Erdogan at this point is just a parody of a president.

A total 100% loser that resembles gollum but without the dignity or respect and with worse personal hygiene issues.

(not april fools joke - he rarely showers or bathes, refuses to clean his teeth and despite having stolen BILLIONS from the Turkish people wears the same underwear for weeks at a time).

If I didn't know better I'd say he was suffering from dementia and other people were using this to make him a scapegoat whilst they basically rape Turkey of its laws and resources.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 10:49am

Re: A Different Angle
True, except shouldn't the security men have been arrested? They don't have the same diplomatic immunity as heads of state, do they?
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JEDIDIAH, 1 Apr 2016 @ 11:07am

Someone had to say it...
...yes, I bet there are plenty of young Turks just dying to get in on that sort of thing.
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JEDIDIAH, 1 Apr 2016 @ 11:10am

Re: Re: useful idiot
He's already been accused of supporting ISIS.

His most inconvenient ethnic minority seems to be the best at fighting them.
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dogwitch (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 11:27am

funny
well this was a interesting story
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2016 @ 11:35am

Re: Re: A Different Angle
...shouldn't the security men have been arrested? They don't have the same diplomatic immunity as heads of state, do they?...

Depends. Some consulate employees do enjoy diplomatic immunity, not just the ambassador. Entourages for visiting diplomats usually get immunity as well. Look at what happened with the Secret Service agents' transgressions in other countries: ordinary citizens would be arrested but after the host country complained the agents were relieved of duty and ordered back to the states. And IIRC years ago a consular (lower position than ambassador) performed an "honor killing" in the US, the US protested and that country recalled the consular.
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AJ, 1 Apr 2016 @ 4:43pm

Re: Someone had to say it...
You do realize this happened in the United States?
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G Thompson (profile), 1 Apr 2016 @ 11:12pm

Re: Re: Re: A Different Angle
Diplomatic immunity does not mean they cannot be arrested, processed and then released under the Diplomatic Immunity protocols, though they then must immediately leave the jurisdiction. Diplomatic immunity allows any charges not to apply for court matters!

Also for certain offenses Diplomatic immunity does NOT apply, and the protection of citizens and property is paramount.
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Apr 2016 @ 1:22am

Re: Re: Someone had to say it...
Whoooosh
(with link to explanation.)
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The Wanderer (profile), 4 Apr 2016 @ 5:12am

Re: Erdogan
It's apparently pronounced something like "Urr-doe-wan", believe it or not. I have no idea how the "g" gets into the spelling, but I've consistently heard it pronounced with the "w"-like sound in the news.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Apr 2016 @ 7:55am

watch this guy! he has expectations of grandeur which seem to imitate those someone else had in the 1930's-1945'!
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