Ahmet Nesin, “They attacked to me because I wrote ‘What could be the felony of a 25 year old mother with her baby that gives way her to be detained?’. I don’t care about whom the injustice is committed, there is no distinction in the struggle for democracy. The days, when those who did these unlawfulnesses will be judged, are close.”
JOURNALIST AHMET NESİN SAYS IN TURKISH PRISONS THERE ARE
HUNDREDS OF BABIES TOGETHER WITH THE JOURNALISTS AND ADDS: ANY BABY CAN NOT BE ENEMY
Journalist-writer Ahmet Nesin, the son of famous writer Aziz Nesin, has focused his writings, television and Youtube programs especially on the AKP government and Turkish media. Nesin also explores the July 15 coup attempt to his capillaries through his programs with his witnesses. Nesin, who was forced to leave his country because of his opposition when he was only 13, took refuge in France in 2003 at last, while the AKP came to power. The reason of his asylum is intriguing; “ Turkey and the world have been in trouble and that no one is aware of it yet, but when they arrive, it will be
too late “ he said. We discussed Turkey and the Turkish media with journalist Ahmet Nesin.
Why and when did you leave Turkey?
I first left Turkey in September 1971. After the March 12 coup, there was serious harassment, especially at school and around me. When a teacher told me that my father had ruined the hometown and I had ruined my school in class, I went to England at the age of 13.5 as a result of a big argument followed by a fight.
Were you in peace in England or did you stand in peace?
In 1977, I was expelled from the UK for my speech as the school’s chief representative at the British student association’s Congress and stayed in Turkey until 2003. When the AKP came to power in 2003, you went abroad again and defected to France. Why? In 2003, I defected to France because of the AKP and Erdoğan’s power. I said in my application grounds that Turkey and the world have been in trouble and that no one is aware of it yet, but when they arrive, it will be too late. I have unlimited residence permit in France. So I didn’t run after the July 15 coup attempt, I have a residence permit here and I stay here.
How does it feel to make predictions and be right at the end of the road?
I have been trying for years to understand that so many Democrats, revolutionaries and socialists cannot see this, rather than my prediction. It’s not the first time, and we’re very experienced in our incompetence. What were those: Turgut Özal, the deputy prime minister of the September 12 coup, was fi rst touted as a Democrat to this country. There was no need for the centre-right or the Religious, the left and the Liberals
did it very well.
After that, we had Tansu Çiller, both feminists and Democrats made the same mistake at fi rst because she was a woman. However, this is politics, it should not have gone through gender. However, it was written and drawn that Devlet Bahceli was a Democrat and a chance according to Türkeş, because the
nationalists decried the murder for a period. And fi nally, Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu incident happened. So to say he’s supposed to be remorseful and he’s going to make some confessions. Hitler could have done it, and I will never accept the begging for forgiveness of all these murders. Now it is said that Demirel’s
right was defeated when Erdogan showed his true face. However, the era of his coalitions were one of the bloodiest periods. There is a strange understanding on the left of Turkey that they want to change the system without offending the state, this is impossible.
I want to bring the matter to today’s government. Especially after December 17, 53 newspapers, 34 TV channels, 37 Radio, 20 magazines, 6 News Agencies, 29 publishing houses were shut down in Turkey. Even though the 30th Article of the Constitution exists (Press tools and equipment cannot be confi scated…). About 300 thousand sites were blocked from access. What do you think makes the government so reckless or cowardly?
Every person or institution can do wrong. This is the case in the world, and there are serious mechanisms of self-criticism. Even countries apologize. But countries like Turkey and its inhabitants are always right, and there is no self-criticism on their agenda. Because self-criticism is equivalent to a little
education and reading, it stays away from countries like us and their people.
In 2002, when the AKP came to power, Turkey ranked 99th in the World Press Freedom Ranking. It is now 154 among 180 countries. in order. Adding reporters that the government does not count as journalists, we are at the end of the list. How do you consider that?
Falling from 99 to 154 does not mean that fascism has come to Turkey, we have a dictator. The whole problem in Turkey is 99, including the left. to accept that there is fascism in Turkey when it is in line is to fi ght according to it. There will come a time when Erdogan and his supporters will say that
there is fascism in Turkey. Because they will also face trial. Fascism is not the judgment of people, but the reasons for it. Then it’s more important why it was done than who it was done to. We never think about it. We don’t.
Why did government deviate from what you describe as ”fascism”?
The fear of being caught and tried increases, especially when the power feels that the time for its own trial is slowly approaching, and to prevent this, it becomes more fascist and dictatorial activities increase. Erdogan is the clearest example of this. And Nedim Şener as a journalist. Bridesmaid doesn’t
Ahmet Nesin says that as the fear of getting caught and prosecuted, the more the rulers will become more fascist and increase the number of dictatorial activities to prevent it. argue, he screams and insults out of fear. And when he scream, we are very afraid. I’m scared to death that I’ll encounter Nedim, because he can really do anything for the country and feel innocent. People like Nedim are very prone to murder.
So, will everyone be a “Nedim” if this process continues like this?
I don’t think everyone comes as far as Nedim, but I believe there is romance in our fi ghting system. It is diffi cult to explain, but a revolution is not made without hurting, or if the people do not want or support what is wanted to be done, it is not called a revolution. That’s why even Mustafa Kemal is misrepresented. The hat revolution, the letter revolution, women’s suffrage, which was the result of the Great Uprising of the base, is called the revolution. It is seen as a gentle struggle against the state when these are considered to be Revolution. Mustafa Kemal was pretty strong yet he could not make the
land reform that could be the main revolution. After that, İsmet İnönü couldn’t do it either. Who was blocking it? The landowner Adnan Menderes. Revolution means hurting someone, or rather, the oligarchy.
November 2 is also the International Day to fi ght impunity for crimes against journalists. ‘. In Turkey, there are journalists who have died of cancer in prison. For example, Mevlut Öztaş, Uşak correspondent of Cihan media. He came out of prison after 874 days later, where he was put alive, with cancer and died 57 days later. Ahmet Altan, 70, on the other hand, is still in prison for working as a journalist. And many more… What would you like to say about that?
Just looking at it from a journalist’s point of view is sickness I’ve been saying all along. There are hundreds of patients in there who are close to death, and for me, their profession does not matter. And so many babies. I don’t care about his family’s opinion, the baby can’t be my enemy. I posted a photo of a 1.5-month-old baby and wrote, ‘You don’t know what crime the 25-year-old mother could have had enough to go to jail with the baby ’ and those who consider themselves democrats attacked me. I don’t care who gets oppressed, there’s no distinction in the struggle for democracy. But for us, it is there.
Who will ask and write the account of the widespread corruption and lawlessness in Turkey? How will society be aware of what is happening in Turkey? What does society want?
If you look at the people that society has chosen to date, you will understand. This state give the “doctor” title to the one who says bring a fellow-wife instead of cheating. We are obliged to that doctor due to the profession. Then we should not fi nd odd the journalists and academics who call Erdogan a democrat. Erdogan said: ‘I will turn the train line between Mersin and Anamur into a high-speed train.’ He was applauded when he said it. Do you know? There was no train line between Mersin and Anamur. So there was no line to dial. These doctors, journalists or academics come out of these people.
In cases where leaders are sued, Erdogan has set a record. The fi gures are as follows; Evren 340, Özal 207, Demirel 158, Sezer 163, Gül 848 and Erdoğan 36 thousand 66. 12,298 were tried and 3,831 were sentenced. How do you ead these numbers?
I didn’t know if it would be a shame if I gave the only answer, but in the words of the young people, ‘I don’t give a hang’.