Coup d’état attempt: Turkey’s Reichstag fire?

July 17, 2016

On the evening of July 15, 2016, a friend called around 10:30pm and said that both bridges connecting the Asian and European sides of Istanbul were closed by military barricades. Moreover, military jets were flying over Ankara skies. As someone living on the European side of Istanbul and commuting to the Asian side to my university on a daily basis and spending many hours in traffic in order to do that, I immediately knew that the closure of both bridges was a sign of something very extraordinary taking place.

To confirm the news about the military jets over Ankara, I called my parents in Ankara. They answered the phone in a panic. I could hear military jets from the other end of the phone. Not surprisingly, my 86-year-old parents had experienced military coups in Turkey before. As I was talking breathlessly with my Dad, my Mum murmured from the other line calmly but firmly: “this seems like a coup d'état.”
From that point onwards, all hell broke loose especially in Ankara and Istanbul. The death toll in less than 24 hours after the coup attempt in Turkey is over 200. There are thousand of people who are wounded. Twitter and facebook became inaccessible during the early hours. The tv channels started broadcasting live from Ankara and Istanbul: yet, they were not sure what was going on at the outset.

Shortly after, the military released a statement saying that the “military has seized all power in Turkey” through the state tv channel TRT. That is when I could not stop my tears, for memories flocked back of the September 12, 1980 coup d'état when a similar announcement was made. I had experienced that coup as a student in one of the most politically active universities in the country, the Middle East Technical University. The memories, as for many people of my generation, were painful.

Last nail in the coffin of critical thought

Within two hours, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was live on FaceTime on Turkish CNN (CNN Türk). His face could be seen on tv screens as it appeared on the phone held in the hand of the CNN Türk anchor. He issued a statement in this manner and urged the people to go to the public squares and the airport and defend the nation. Soon afterwards, there were echoes of calls to prayer from multiple minarets although it was not prayer time. I read later that there were also calls for action by Imams against the military urging people to take to the streets.

Joining the echo of the calls to prayers were the loud noises of military jets flying over Istanbul skies. The combination of these sounds made me think that yes, these were the sounds of the funeral of free speech, critical thinking, and any other remnants of liberal democratic process in Turkey. I realized in fear and agony that whether the coup was successful or not, one thing was certain: there would no longer be room in Turkey for people who can listen, read, analyze, and think critically. With the siren-like echoes of calls to prayer and military jets, Turkey was becoming a land only for true believers.

This did not happen suddenly. With the crackdown on media, academic freedoms, random arrests, and the increasing violence in the southeast provinces, citizens in Turkey have been facing major limitations on their basic freedoms for the past few years. The attempted coup d'état of July 15 is like the last nail in the coffin. Lying dead in the coffin was the courage to use one’s own understanding (as in Sapere Aude) that relentlessly resisted the rising tide of categorical thinking typical of true believers.

Sight of a parliament in ruins

The damage that was inflicted on the parliament building in Ankara was huge. Many of its major halls and corridors are in ruins. The sight was reminiscent of the Reichstag fire in Germany that took place on February 27, 1933, about a month after Adolf Hitler became the Chancellor. The similarities are not limited to the visible damage of both parliament buildings. The Reichstag fire was also a last nail in the coffin of the possibility of basic freedoms as well as critical thinking in Germany. On the evening of the Reichstag fire, Chancellor Hitler was relaxing at a dinner party in Joseph Goebbels’ home. The fire was soon blamed on a demented Dutch Communist named Marinus van der Lubbe who had a record of crimes of arson. The reality behind the Reichstag fire was not even clarified during the Nuremberg trials. Still, there was a lot of evidence that pointed to the responsibility of the Nazis behind it. But what was important was not so much who set fire to the Reichstag but rather what came out of it.

On the day following the Reichstag fire, juridical order was suspended by the Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State (Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten zum Schutz von Volk und Staat). The decree involved the suspension of seven sections of the Constitution which guaranteed individual and civil liberties. The decree authorized the government to take complete control in the federal states and impose the death penalty for a number of crimes. In fact, Goering wanted to hang the arsonist on the spot right after his arrest. Today, I heard one journalist ask the Prime Minister on live television whether they were thinking of bringing back the death penalty in the aftermath of the attempt at a coup d'état. The Prime Minister responded by saying that they will consider every need for extra preventive measures. He also seemed to praise the violent mobs who took to the streets to oppose thecoup d'état.

The Decree following the Reichstag Fire led to emergency measures that created a state of exception. It suspended the personal liberties listed in the Weimar Constitution, including the rights of personal freedom, freedom of opinion, freedom of the press, freedom of organization and assembly, and privacy of communication. The Decree was followed by the Enabling Act (23 March 1933) which enabled the cabinet to enact laws without the participation of the Reichstag. In sum, it led to the consolidation of the Nazi regime (See: Ayşe Kadıoğlu “Necessity and State of Exception: Turkish State's Permanent War with its Kurdish Citizens” in Riva Kastoryano (ed), Turkey Between Nationalism and Globalization, Routledge, 2013). There are already signs of the suspension of the juridical order with dozens of members of the Council of State and Court of Cassation taken into custody in less that 24 hours after the coup état attempt.

I could not help but remember the days when the expression “consolidation” denoted the consolidation of democracy and the issues surrounding it in the literature on democratization in Turkey. After July 15, we now talk about the consolidation of a new type of authoritarianism in Turkey. Some call it competitive authoritarianism (See; Berk Esen and Sebnem Gumuscu, “RisingCompetitive Authoritarianism in Turkey,” Third World Quarterly, 19 February 2016).

Fascism: conservatism made popular and plebeian

There is no doubt that we are witnessing the consolidation of a new form of authoritarian regime with a populist streak. I cannot help but remember a quote by Barrington Moore (Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy, Beacon Press, Boston, 1966 [1993], p.447): “…fascism is inconceivable without democracy or what is sometimes more turgidly called the entrance of the masses onto the historical stage. Fascism was an attempt to make reaction and conservatism popular and plebeian, through which conservatism, of course, lost the substantial connection it did have with freedom…”.

Courtesy: Open Democracy

“कश्‍मीर हिंसा@Rs.500” वाली Aaj Tak की ‘एक्‍सक्‍लूसिव बाइट’ पर गंभीर सवाल! फोरेंसिक जांच से खुल सकता है फर्जीवाड़ा

July 17, 2016

कश्मीर जल रहा है। श्रीनगर की गलियों में लगता है जैसे कोई युद्ध छिड़ा है। अब तक करीब 40 लोग मारे जा चुके हैं। करीब 2000 नागरिक और 1500 के करीब सुरक्षा बलों के जवान घायल हैं। ऐसे माहौल में पत्रकारों के लिए तस्वीर के सभी पहलू सामने ला पाना वाक़ई एक चुनौती है। साहस, समझ और संवेदनशीलता के साथ सच्चाई को सामने रखना आसान नहीं होता, लेकिन इरादा अगर सिर्फ शोहरत और टीआरपी बटोरने का हो तो झूठ को पंख लगाकर उड़ने से भला कौन रोक सकता है!

अफ़सोस, कि सबसे तेज चैनल 'आज तक' ने यही किया। 14 जुलाई की शाम से देर रात तक 'आज तक' और टीवी टुडे ग्रुप के अंग्रेजी चैनल 'इंडिया टुडे' के पर्दे पर एक ‘एक्सक्लूसिव’ ख़बर धमाके से चलाई गई। दावा किया गया कि कश्मीर में पत्थरबाज़ी करने वाले 'कुछ लड़कों' को हुर्रियत नेता सैय्यद अली शाह गिलानी की ओर से 500 रुपये दिये जाते हैं। सबूत बतौर एक डरे-सहमे नाबालिग़ को पेश किया गया जो कह रहा था, ‘मैं जीना नहीं चाहता। मुझे गोली मार दो…।’

ज़ाहिर है लड़का बुरी तरह डरा नज़र आ रहा था। उस लड़के के पीछे सीआरपीएफ़ के कुछ जवान भी नज़र आ रहे थे जो बीच-बीच में उसकी पीठ ठोंक देते थे… लड़का कैमरे के सामने था और कैमरे के पीछे से नामालूम लोगों के सवाल गूँज रहे थे। इनमें एक स्त्री का स्वर भी था। 'इंडिया टुडे' की ख़बर में तो स्क्रीन पर लड़के की आँखों को छिपाती एक छोटी सी काली पट्टी लगा दी गई थी, लेकिन 'आज तक' की ख़बर में आंख की शर्म भी नदारद थी। इस लड़के ने कबूल किया कि उसका नौजवान लड़कों का एक गिरोह है जिसे गिलानी की ओर से सुरक्षाबलों पर पत्थरबाज़ी के लिए पैसे मिलते हैं।

AT2
यह रिपोर्ट चैनल के एंकर और संवाददाता गौरव सावंत ने भेजी थी। गौरव सेना को कवर करते रहे हैं और सामरिक मामलों के विशेषज्ञ बताये जाते हैं। चैनल के तमाम दिग्गज एंकरों ने इस ख़बर को विस्फ़ोटक बताते हुए चौपाल लगाई और और कश्मीरियों का पक्ष रखने की कोशिश करने वालों के ऊपर, चर्चा में शामिल राष्ट्रवादी प्रतिनिधियों के साथ टूट पड़े।

वाक़ई गौरव ने कमाल किया। जो काम श्रीनगर में तैनात तमाम रिपोर्टर नहीं कर पाये, वह गौरव ने कर दिया। तालियाँ… पिछले हफ़्ते ही ‘आज तक’ फिर से नंबर एक हुआ है… संपादक ख़ुश होंगे कि टीआरपी यक़ीनन मिलेगी। इसीलिए ख़बर को लगातार ताने रहा गया।

लेकिन ठहरिये!!! इस ख़बर में बहुत पेच है। इस पर यक़ीन करने के पहले कुछ सवालों से गुज़रना ज़रूरी है:

1. आख़िर वह नाबालिग़ कौन है? क्या नाम है उसका? यूँ तो नियम है कि नाबालिगों की पहचान छिपाई जाए। इस ख़बर में भी आगे कश्मीरी लड़कों की बाइट है जिनके चेहरे ढंके हैं। तो फिर इस लड़के का चेहरा क्यों नहीं ढंका गया? और जब ‘आज तक’ ने चेहरा दिखा ही दिया, तो फिर नाम बताने में क्या हर्ज़ है?

2. इतने बड़े खुलासे के बाद उस लड़के के खिलाफ़ मामला दर्ज हुआ होगा! यही नहीं, सैयद अली शाह गिलानी के ख़िलाफ़ भी मुक़दमा दर्ज हुआ होगा! लेकिन यह बात ख़बर से ग़ायब क्यों है?

3. लड़के की बाइट अगर गौरव सावंत ने ली तो फिर चैनल के लोगो वाला माइक क्यों नज़र नहीं आ रहा है? आमतौर पर रिपोर्टर अपनी एक्सक्लूसिव बाइट के साथ अपने चैनल का माइक जरूर दिखाते हैं ताकि कोई दूसरा चोरी न कर सके। स्क्रीन पर चैनल का लोगो लगा माइक लगातार दिखे, यह ब्रांडिंग का उसूल है।

4. लड़के के पीछे जो सीआरपीएफ़ के जवान नज़र आ रहे हैं, उनकी वर्दी ख़ाकी क्यों है जबकि अब आमतौर पर सेना की तरह सीआरपीएफ़ के जवान भी पत्तों-बूटों वाली छापेदार (disruptive pattern) जैतूनी रंग की हरी वर्दी पहनते हैं?

5. सीआरपीएफ़ जवान बीते दो सालों में ऐसे हेलमेट पहनते हैं जिन पर चेहरे के आगे जाली लगी होती है, जबकि 'आज तक' की ख़बर में नज़र आ रहे जवान पहले की तरह सादा हेलमेट लगाये हुए हैं। आख़िर ऐसे जवान गौरव सावंत को कहाँ मिले?

6. लड़के से सवाल पूछने वाले ढेर सारे लोग कौन हैं? अगर वे पत्रकार थे तो फिर उन्होंने ख़बर क्यों नहीं चलाई? महिला की आवाज़ में भी सवाल है, लेकिन फ़िलहाल श्रीनगर में कोई महिला पत्रकार फ़ील्ड रिपोर्टिंग करते तो नज़र नहीं आ रही है। क्या गौरव बताएँगे कि कौन है वह?

इन सवालों का जवाब क्या हो सकता है, इसका अंदाज़ा इन तथ्यों से लगाया जा सकता है:

1. मीडियाविजिल के सूत्र बताते हैं कि बुरहान वानी की मौत के बाद अब तक किसी भी पत्थरबाज़ को घाटी में गिरफ़्तार नहीं किया गया है। पुलिस और सुरक्षाबलों के हर पीआरओ ने ऐसी किसी गिरफ्तारी या हिरासत में लेने की कार्रवाई से इंकार किया है।

2. शुक्रवार को बुरहान वानी की मौत के बाद से ही गिलानी समेत तमाम हुर्रियत नेताओं को उनके घरों में नज़रबंद कर दिया गया। ऐसे में सुरक्षा घेरे को तोड़कर पत्थरबाज़ों को पैसे देने की व्यवस्था कैसे हो पाई होगी?

3. ‘आज तक’ जिसे इतनी बड़ी ख़बर बता रहा है, उस पर कार्रवाई भी होनी चाहिए थी। लेकिन इस बाबत गिलानी पर ऐसा कोई मुक़दमा अब तक दर्ज नहीं हुआ है। क्यों?

साफ़ है कि यह बाइट नई नहीं है। इसे किसी ने गौरव सावंत को मुहैया कराया है। यानी जब सरकार गिलानी समेत तमाम अलगाववादियों नेताओं से शांति बहाली में मदद माँग रही है तो यह ख़बर ‘प्लांट’ कराई गई है। ज़ाहिर है, ऐसा करने वाले शांति नहीं चाहते हैं… वे कौन हैं और उनका मक़सद क्या है, इसका अंदाज़ा आसानी से लगाया जा सकता है।

मीडियाविजिल के विश्‍वस्‍त सूत्रों के मुताबिक यह बाइट 2010 की हो सकती है जब घाटी में तीन नागरिकों की सैन्य कार्रवाई में मौत के बाद माहौल बिगड़ गया था। तीन महीने तक हालात बेकाबू बने रहे थे। तमाम नौजवान पत्थरबाज़ी करते हुए सैनिकों पर हमला कर रहे थे। जिस तरह की वर्दी और बिना जाली के हेलमेट पहने जवान गुनाह कबूल करते लड़के के पीछे दिख रहे हैं, वह भी इस बात की तस्दीक करता है कि यह बाइट कई साल पुरानी है। बहरहाल, नई तो नहीं है, यह दावे से कहा जा सकता है।

वैसे गौरव सावंत के लिए ऐसा करना कोई नई बात नहीं है। पिछले दिनों जब जेएनयू प्रकरण गर्म हो रहा था तो अचानक गौरव ने ट्वीट किया था कि हाफिज़ सईद ने जेएनयू के छात्रों का समर्थन करने वाला ट्वीट किया है। तबकारवाँ पत्रिका के राजनीतिक संपादक हरतोश सिंह बल ने पूछा था कि उसे वह ट्वीट हासिल कहाँ से हुआ(बाद में पता चला कि हाफिज़ ने ऐसा कोई ट्वीट नहीं किया था।) मीडियाविजिल ने इस पर एक स्टोरी प्रकाशित की थी जिसे आप यहाँ पढ़ सकते हैं।

वैसे, जब तमाम लोगों की जान जा रही हो, तब यह साबित करने का क्या मतलब कि कश्मीर के नौजवान पैसे की लालच में पत्थर फेंकते हैं। यानी हुर्रियत या पाकिस्तान से मिलने वाले पैसे के वे इतने लालची हैं कि जान की परवाह भी नहीं करते। मीडियाविजिल ने जब इस मामले में पड़ताल करते हुए कश्मीर के कुछ पत्रकारों से बात की, तो उन्होने सवाल किया कि क्या 'आज तक' को यह भी लगता है कि बुरहान वानी के जनाज़े में जो लाखों लोग उमड़े, वे भी पैसे लेकर गये थे।

ज़रूरी नोट: 'इंडिया टुडे' टीवी और 'आज तक' ने इस बाइट की सत्‍यता और विशिष्‍टता का दावा किया है। मीडियाविजिल इस पर केवल परिस्थितिजन्‍य साक्ष्‍यों और अपने सूत्रों के आधार पर सवाल उठा रहा है, इसके फर्जी होने का कोई दावा नहीं कर रहा। इस पर अंतिम फैसला टीवी के सुधी दर्शक ही ले सकेंगे। इसलिए मीडियाविजिल के पाठक और पत्रकारिता से सरोकार रखने वाले व्‍यक्ति यदि पत्‍थरबाज़ लड़के की दिखाई गई इस बाइट पर उठाए हमारे छह सवालों से सहमत हों और उन्‍हें ऐसा लगता हो कि दर्शकों द्वारा सही सूचना प्राप्‍त करने के उनके अधिकार के साथ कुछ खिलवाड़ हो रहा है, तो वे अपनी शिकायत न्‍यूज़़ ब्रॉडकास्‍ट स्‍टैंडर्ड अथॉरिटी (एनबीएसए) और ब्रॉडकास्‍ट एडिटर्स एसोसिएशन (बीईए) को भेजकर बाइट की फोरेंसिक जांच की मांग कर सकते हैं ताकि जनहित में यह पता लग सके कि टीवी टुडे ग्रुप जिसे सत्‍य और एक्‍सक्‍लूसिव बता रहा है, वह वाकई ऐसा है या नहीं।

Courtesy: mediavigil.com

Gaza – a city no one wants

July 17, 2016

Palestine and its Arabic neighbours
The Gazans have been abandoned and left in the hands of Hamas to do with them as they please. This policy is transforming Gaza slowly but steadily into a hotbed of radicals. By Abdalhadi Alijla

As Palestinians commemorate the 68th anniversary of the Nakba, "catastrophe" in Arabic, when the indigenous people of Palestine were driven into exile and the Israeli state was established, a new Nakba is taking place. This new Nakba is the political division between Hamas and Fatah.

The day-to-day life of the people of Gaza is best represented by the running joke: “Police have arrested a Gazan who has hope”. No hope. No future.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt recently opened for two days after a three-month closure. Registered travellers numbered at more than 30,000, but Egyptian border security only allowed 747 into Egypt.

A journey, which under usual circumstances should only take five minutes by bus or one hour, including bureaucratic procedures, now takes over 24 hours and sometimes even 48 hours, leaving hundreds of Palestinians in prison-like areas inside the Egyptian side of the Rafah border, a violation of basic human rights.

Enemies in Egypt
Egypt ruled Gaza from 1948 until 1967. Since then, Gazans have attended Egypt′s universities, creating a strong bond with Egypt over time. Nowadays, Egypt′s narrative has changed and Gazans are treated as enemies.

The Egyptian border near Rafah (photo: Reuters/I.A. Mustafa)

Personae non gratae: the only remaining road out of the besieged Gaza Strip that is not under Israeli control has been mostly closed since the ousting of Morsi in Egypt. During the whole of 2015, Rafah only opened on 21 days to allow a limited number of travellers on urgent business to pass through

Last year I was banned by Israeli security from going to Palestine, yet I received much better treatment than my fellow Palestinians in Egyptian airports and borders. What makes this especially difficult to bear is the fact that Palestinians have never had any conflict with the Egyptian army, compared to Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

The question therefore needs to be asked: why is Egypt treating Palestinians from Gaza so badly? Why does Egypt treat Palestinians as sub-human? Even if it is the norm in Egypt for the government to deal with its own people in such a manner, why is this treatment extended to Palestinians when all they ask is to cross the border to travel onto somewhere else?

It seems that Egypt is intent on sending this strong message to all parties: ′We are not interested in Gaza, Gazans or their troubles; let them suffer away from us′.

Gaza′s burden is not limited to its southern border, it also extends to Jordan. When the Israeli military started to allow Gazans to travel through Jordan, after receiving military permission to cross from the West Bank, Jordan tightened its security measures. Not only did they deny visas for Gazans living in Gaza, but also for Gazans who live in the West Bank. The decision came immediately after Israel′s decision to condition Gazans′ exit to a one-year no-return, which is a violation of their human rights. Due to Israel′s decision, Jordan may have felt that a decision was made to hand Gaza to Jordan.

One rule for them, another for the rest
However, this does not explain the need for Gazans to obtain visas while their counterparts in Jordan can travel whenever they want. Gaza has traditionally been aligned with Egypt and the West Bank with Jordan, so perhaps Palestinians of the West Bank are trusted more than Gazans? This reinforces the premise that Gaza is being treated as a security issue and, by extension, Gazans are seen as a threat to Jordan.

Tunnel connecting the Gaza Strip and Rafah (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Policy of isolation: at the end of 2014, fearful of Islamists penetrating the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt began creating a buffer zone along its border with the Gaza Strip. It had already previously destroyed several hundred smugglers′ tunnels leading out of the Palestine enclave, which has been under the control of the radial Islamic Hamas since 2007. Last summer, the Egyptian army began flooding the area where tunnels were still believed to exist with seawater

Israel too plays a crucial role for Gaza. It has been besieging the Gaza Strip for ten years now; its army murdering more than 5000 Palestinians between 2008 and 2014 over the course of three assaults. Israel would ultimately like to annex the West Bank, leaving Gaza as the state for the Palestinians. In 1987 Martin Gouterman suggested Gaza become the Singapore of the Middle East.

In 2004, to avoid negotiations, prevent discussions on refugees, Jerusalem and borders, Sharon′s plan was to stop the creation of a Palestinian state and allow a state in Gaza. The Israeli government is ready to do everything possible to rid itself of Gaza or keep borders closed indefinitely. The issue is not only Hamas, but also the history of the relationship between Gazans and the Occupation.

The same goes for the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah′s leadership in Ramallah. They are not interested in taking Gaza back from Hamas. Despite the fact that they are willing to negotiate with Hamas over reconciliation and Hamas′ manipulation of national and regional efforts, the PA′s leadership cannot guarantee positions, diplomatic employees and governmental advantages neither for Hamas, nor for Gazans.

In Ramallah and among the Palestinian leadership, Gaza is treated like a contagious disease. This perception is reflected by the appointment of high-level employees only in Ramallah. Non-Gazan high-ranking employees are the only ones appointed and funded. This reveals a hostility not only toward Hamas but also toward Gaza in general, as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are systematically regarded not as one entity, one people and one future-state.

Masked members of Hamas in Gaza (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Saber)

Grist to the radicals′ mill: "the division between Hamas and Fatah, the siege on Gaza and the stubborn leadership of Hamas have all led to catastrophic consequences in the Gaza Strip: high unemployment, increased rates of suicide, shortages in power, water and medical supplies, hardships in general wellbeing, higher rates of poverty, a crushing siege of the Gaza Strip, increased taxes on necessary goods (imposed by Hamas), corruption, distrust, higher political repression and arbitrary arrests among Gazan activists," writes Abdalhadi Alijla

At the mercy of Hamas
It seems that the Gazans have been effectively abandoned and left in the hands of Hamas to do with them as they please. This policy is transforming Gaza, slowly but steadily, into a hotbed of radicals that is bound to explode.

The division between Hamas and Fatah, the siege on Gaza and the stubborn leadership of Hamas have all led to catastrophic consequences in the Gaza Strip: high unemployment, increased rates of suicide, shortages in power, water and medical supplies, hardships in general wellbeing, higher rates of poverty, a crushing siege of the Gaza Strip, increased taxes on necessary goods (imposed by Hamas), corruption, distrust, higher political repression and arbitrary arrests among Gazan activists.

To avoid such an outcome, action must be taken and now. The world should not regard Gaza as a humanitarian crisis, but rather a political crisis. The PA must deal with Gaza as an entity that belongs to them and represent the interests and needs of its people.

The PA works for a limited group of people who are becoming the new elite of Gaza, while the great majority continue to suffer every day. Egypt and Jordan should also rethink how they deal with the population of Gaza. Not all are a security threat; in fact, none of them need pose such a threat if they are granted access to basic human rights.

Writer and activist from Rafah, Mahmoud Jouda, wrote the following on his Facebook page:

"Do not listen to anyone who says there is hope in Gaza. Even if we achieve political reconciliation, it will not work because it is based on a quota-based political division which will fail. Gaza′s problem is bigger than its geographical borders. Gaza is a sinking vessel. The only solution is individual salvation. Jump from the sinking vessel before you die."
This is the painful reality of Gaza and the story of a city that no one wants.

Abdalhadi Alijla
Abdalhadi(Hadi) Alijla is a research fellow at the University of Milan and the executive director of the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies Canada (IMESC). He serves as the regional manager for Gulf countries at Varieties of Democracy Institute, Gothenburg University, Sweden.

Courtesy: qantara.de

Activist Arrested, beaten in Custody, NGOs demand release

July 16, 2016

On 8^th July 2016, Piyush Sethia and two other members of Salem Citizen's Forum(SCF) were arrested in Salem, Tamil Nadu. The activists were protesting against the railway authorities for starting the construction work of Mulvadi gate over-bridge in Salem without giving prior notice to the people in the area and without laying an alternate road. The police subsequently arrested Piyush Sethia and the other two activists, Easan Karthik and Muthu. Piyush Sethia was booked under IPC sections 341, 188, 353 and 506(2). However, reports emerge that Sethia after being arrested, was denied bail and beaten inside Salem Central Prison.

On 14^th July 2016, the Salem Magistrate's court dismissed Piyush's bail application while granting conditional bail to the other two activists. Sethia has been kept in solitary confinement since his arrest. Moreover, his wife and lawyer assert that Sethia is being subjected to physical and mental harassment and isn't allowed to receive reading material or speak to his wife and other visitors freely.

Furthermore, reports emerge that supporters of Sethia are being intimidated via phone calls to isolate him. Sethia's lawyer says, “he was beaten for a good half an hour before they sent him to solitary confinement”. Sethia then revealed to his lawyer that he was, “abused by a group of unknown persons numbering nearly 30 inside the prison several times”.

The custodial assault of Piyush Sethia and the brutality of Prison authorities has sparked an outcry amongst Civil Society groups. Several groups including the National Alliance of People's Movements and the Coalition for Environmental Justice have demanded the immediate release of Piyush Sethia and have pointed out the work which he has done in the past. This includes creating a cooperative forest in Dharmpuri, leading Salem Citizen's forum to revive water bodies in the area and protecting the natural resources in Salem and the surrounding areas. The Coalition for Environmental Justice have also written a letter to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, demanding the immediate release and dropping of charges against Piyush Sethia and co-activists. The letter can be found here.

NAPM's Press Release can also be found below:

National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) condemns this complete arbitrary arrest of environmental activist Piyush Sethia, who has been a crusader for several national level issues including Bhopal Gas Survivors, rights of adivasis and founder of Salem Citizen's Forum. He has worked hard to change the face of the city Salem by organising citizens led efforts to revive lakes, forests, wet lands and so on and is know for his work of promoting alternative handicrafts and creating environmental awareness.

His arrest on completely false charges can only be termed as political vendetta and an action by disgruntled officials who have been irked by several initiates Salem Ciizen's Forum has taken over years now.

It's condemnable that he is being tortured in the prison and his bail plea too has been rejected on not tenable grounds, while other two arrested along with him as has been granted bail.
NAPM is writing to Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu demanding immediate release of Piyush and demands action against the officials who are guilty for not following the law and also for inflicting torture on Piyush.

We stand in solidarity with Salem Citizen Forum, Piyush and his family in their struggle for the rights of the people and against environmental destruction.

In solidarity,Medha Patkar – Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM); Prafulla Samantara – Lok Shakti Abhiyan & Lingraj Azad – Samajwadi Jan Parishad – Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti, NAPM, Odisha; Dr. Sunilam, Aradhna Bhargava – Kisan Sangharsh Samiti & Meera – Narmada Bachao Andolan, NAPM, MP; Suniti SR, Suhas Kolhekar, Prasad Bagwe – NAPM, Maharashtra; Gabriele Dietrich, Geetha Ramakrishnan – Unorganised Sector Workers Federation, NAPM, TN; C R Neelkandan – NAPM Kerala; P Chennaiah & Ramakrishnam Raju – NAPM Andhra Pradesh, Arundhati Dhuru, Richa Singh, Nandlal Master – NAPM, UP; Sister Celia – Domestic Workers Union & Rukmini V P, Garment Labour Union, NAPM, Karnataka; Vimal Bhai – Matu Jan sangathan & Jabar Singh, NAPM, Uttarakhand; Anand Mazgaonkar, Krishnakant – Paryavaran Suraksh Samiti, NAPM Gujarat; Kamayani Swami, Ashish Ranjan – Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan & Mahendra Yadav – Kosi Navnirman Manch, NAPM Bihar; Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar, J S Walia, NAPM Haryana; Kailash Meena, NAPM Rajasthan; Amitava Mitra & Avik Saha, NAPM West Bengal; Bhupender Singh Rawat – Jan Sangharsh Vahini & Rajendra Ravi, Madhuresh Kumar and Shabnam Shaikh – NAPM, Delhi

Unwanted by Co-religionists, Muslim Refugees in Europe opting out of Islam

July 16, 2016

Pope Francis washing and kissing the feet of migrants. Photo credit: Reuters
Zakir Naik’s Saudi-supported ‘Peace TV’ is preaching Islam to the world. Meanwhile, Muslim refugees from war-torn countries who are unwanted by the heartless Saudi monarchy but have found shelter in Europe are opting out of Islam, hundreds at a time

Whatever else he may or may not be, as a preacher of the supremacist, intolerant Wahhabi brand of Islam, the Saudi Arabia-backed controversial televangelist Zakir Naik is in the business of converting non-Muslims to Islam. Going by anecdotal accounts and stray facts, Naik’s converts may be counted on finger tips. In an interview to The Times of India published on July 15, former police commissioner of Pune (and later Mumbai), now a BJP MP, Satyapal Singh, has claimed: “In October 2008, I was apprised of a ceremony of Zakir Naik [in Pune] where 12 young Hindu and Jain kids were converted to Islam. He apparently recited the kalima to those kids of tender age”. An organisation under FCRA is not supposed to indulge in religious conversions in India”.

Whether an FCRA registered organisation is permitted to engage in religious conversions is one question. The other question that needs to be asked is this: What kind of Islam – Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia’s state religion – is Naik promoting which is so heartless as to shut its frontiers to refugees from war-torn Muslim countries? What kind of ‘business model’ is this in the ‘soul harvesting’ business?

What is one to make of Naik and his benefactors gloating over the conversion of stray Hindus, Jains, Buddhists or Christians – after an ‘investment’ of lakhs per convert –, while unwanted Muslim refugees now in Europe are opting out of Islam, hundreds at a time?

That the outgoing far outnumber Naik’s reported incomers is obvious from several news reports published by the media in Europe in the last few months.

A June 5 news published by The Guardian, UK reports: ‘European churches say growing flock of Muslim refugees are converting: Anecdotal evidence suggests rising pattern of Muslims becoming Christians, with some churches conducting mass baptisms. The multiple reasons for Muslim refugees marching out of Islam include “heartfelt faith in a new religion, gratitude to Christian groups offering support during perilous and frightening journeys, and an expectation that conversion may aid asylum applications”.

According to the Guardian:

At Trinity church in the Berlin suburb of Steglitz, the congregation has grown from 150 two years ago to almost 700, swollen by Muslim converts, according to Pastor Gottfried Martens. Earlier this year, churches in Berlin and Hamburg reportedly held mass conversions for asylum seekers at municipal swimming pools.

The Austrian Catholic church logged 300 applications for adult baptism in the first three months of 2016, with the Austrian pastoral institute estimating 70% of those converting are refugees.

At Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral in the UK, a weekly Persian service attracts between 100 and 140 people. Nearly all are migrants from Iran, Afghanistan and elsewhere in central Asia.

In another report the neo-converts spell out the reasons for their embracing a new faith:

"I've been looking all my life for peace and happiness, but in Islam, I have not found it," Shima, an Iranian refugee, told Stern magazine. "To be a Christian means happiness to me," she added.

"In Islam, we always lived in fear. Fear God, fear of sin, fear of punishment. However, Christ is a God of love," another Iranian refugee, Solmaz, told the German daily.

A Google search on ‘Muslim refugees converting to Christianity’ takes you to many more reports on how and why they are ‘flocking to Jesus’.

Some church leaders are doubtful about the bonafide of the new stream of conversions, which they feel may be undertaken under subtle — or not so subtle — pressure.

Pastor Gerhard Scholte of the Reformed Keizersgracht Church, who also heads up the refugee task force of combined Amsterdam churches, says, “conversion to Christianity is not promoted in our church, so we see very little of it.” From his point of view, “Everyone is a child of God,” whether baptized or not. “Faith should not be conditional,” he says.

Indeed, Scholte suggests that conversion on a large scale may verge on abuse. “It is taking advantage of people in weak positions and it’s all about the figures,” Scholte says, “That is abhorrent to me.”

Pastor Scholte’s qualms about mass conversion are laudable. Not so laudable are the motives of those who splurge petro-dollars aplenty on ‘Peace TV’ and other such ethically-challenged enterprises in search of souls to harvest but who are unmoved by the plight of fellow-Muslims forced to flee their home and country.

“We are brothers, we are children of the same God,” said Pope Francis as he washed and kissed the feet of 12 Muslim, Orthodox, Hindu and Catholic refugees during the Easter Mass Week in end-March.

Between a Pope such as this one and the current we-couldn’t-care-less Saudi monarchs – the self-proclaimed ‘Khâdim ül Haramain ish Sharifain’ (Servant of the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina) – for the Muslim refugees in Europe it could be a difficult choice to make.

J&K Police Raid Newspaper Bureaus, Detain Employees, Seize Copies

July 16, 2016

SRINAGAR: Two of Kashmir’s leading newspapers said that Jammu and Kashmir police raided their office on Saturday night, seized their printed copies and arrested their employees – a clear act of choking and gagging media in crisis-hit Kashmir valley.

According to Kashmir Times, over 20 policemen raided its office at Rangreth area in Srinagar outskirts at midnight and arrested its printing press foreman, Fayaz Ahmed and ten other employees.

“The policemen seized the metallic printing plates of Kashmir Times and more than 70,000 printed copies of Kashmir Times and closed down the KT Press Pvt Ltd printing press,” the newspaper said.

“Cops misbehaved with the employees present there and snatched their cell phones. The employees who tried to resist were beaten up by the policemen,” the newspaper said.

Another leading newspaper also said that police raided its printing press at 2 am, seized its printed copies at midnight and detained persons.

Police also seized copies of another leader English daily Rising Kashmir early this morning and raided its press at Sheikhpora (Budgam).

“A police party from Budgam police raided the press to seize the copies of Rising Kashmir and other publications,” the newspaper claimed. “As the staff had left after printing the copies, police took into custody all the employees including its foreman, Mohammad Yousuf and asked him to identify the distribution site.”

They later reached Press Enclave and seized the vehicle along with the driver. “They caught hold of me in Press Enclave and asked me to follow them to police station” said Irshad Khan, the driver.

The staff was later taken to police post Humhama where they seized all the copies of the newspaper. “The staff of the press was let off later on but only after being harassed and intimidated,” the newspaper said.
The employees were to go on their own to their offices and press on foot when no transport was plying operating on the road and security personnel were not allowing people to move in view of severe curfew restrictions.
The government has already suspended mobile internet and telephony services across Kashmir valley.

At least 41 persons have died in Kashmir valley since July 9 when widespread protests and clashes which erupted after the killing of top militant commander Burhan Wani.

It is pertinent to point that in 2010 and 2013, valley based newspapers were not allowed to be published by placing severe restrictions on their movement and movement of their vehicles. The newspapers were seized and not allowed to be circulated and media persons were not issued curfew passes.

Similar methods of intimidating and gagging the press have been employed by the government and its security agencies in the last two and a half decades.

In 2010, the central government arbitrarily stopped the release of DAVP advertisements of Kashmir Times and six other publications, following a letter circulated by the Union home ministry to the department. Till date, Kashmir Times is the only newspaper which continues to be denied advertisements, the main source of revenue for newspapers.

(Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal is Executive Editor Kashmir Times and a peace activoist abd this information is being made available on behalf of the Kashmir Press Association)

Adivasis in Odisha Killed Cold Bloodedly by Police: Fact-Finding Report

July 16, 2016

Investigate Gumudumaha (Kandhamal) Massacre by Supreme Court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT):
File Case of Murder(Sec-302 IPC) against the Murderer Police

Luka-Father of deceased child Gehes at MKCG Medical

Bhubaneswar, date-12/07/2016: The State BJD Government in connivance with the BJP Government at Centre have been devising its suppressive strategy to sabotage the increasing people’s democratic struggle against displacement and anti-people development policies of the State through Operation Green Hunt and under the cover of Maoist. To seek promotion and looting public money the government its cannibal officials staged competitive trailer drama and played Holi in the blood of five innocent lives and brutally killed them”, a state level representatives of Joint Fact Finding Team observed. in a press release they said that from Chidambaram to Rajanath and Raman Singh to Navin Patnaik, no one is lagging behind such race. In this race, to appease the industrialists and corporate interests in Kashipur, Kalinganagar, Narayanpatna, Jagatsinghpur (POSCO) and Niyamgiri, the state has been continuously suppressing and killing of those innocent tribals, dalits, and marginalized raising their voice and fight against the state agenda of “destruction in the name of development”. The murder of five innocent lives in Kandhamal has become another testing ground. The fight for justice in the incidents of the fake encounter killing of 5 tribals and dalits in Bhalliaguda forests on 14th November 2012 and killing of a couple in the Hill of Pangalpadar village, Kotagarh during combing operation while they were making phone call to their son last year in July 26, 2015 is ongoing till today, when the heinous and inhuman killing of five adivasis and dalits, especially women and an innocent child has added another shameless and black chapters in the history of present Government. The victims were resident of Gumudumaha village of Parampanga G.P., Balliguda Block, Kandhamal and were working under Mahatama Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) as labourer. These men and women were on their way back to home after collecting their wage money from Balliguda Bank. The sudden indiscriminate firing took the life of 2 years old son Gehesh Digal, from the cradle of her mother, along with 50 years Kukal Digal, Timiri Mallick, Bringuli Mallick, and Midiali Mallick (all women between 40 years age) while the father of deceased child Luka Digal and mother Sunita, Banamali Mallick, Tembu Mallick(woman), Gidisi Digal(woman), Sahalu Mallick, Kajanti Mallick(woman) among others have been seriously injured.

The explanation given by the Government and Police is that these people were died during exchange of firing between police and Maoists is 100 percent lies and cruel joke, said eyewitness local people which are strongly evident from surrounding spot. Without any reason the inhuman and shameless firing of police, not sending the seriously injured those were fight for life immediately to hospital for treatment, threatening people for looting huge money in the name of Maoist suppression are some of the filthy competition by security forces to get service promotion, the visiting team opined. While in one side the State Government is claiming that Maoist problem have been successfully tackled but on the other side to loot the money of Central Government the State has been terrorizing all the tribal areas in gun point for the so-called development, alleged by the joint fact finding team.

Mr. Narendra Mohanty, State Convener, Campaign Against Fabricated Cases (CAFC) and Indian Social Action Forum(INSAF), State Spokesperson of CPI (ML)- New Democracy-Bhalachandra Sarangi, Member of All India Peoples Forum (AIPF) -Mahendra Parida and Tapan Mishra, Former President of Ravenshaw College were part of this Joint Fact-Find and Representatives Team. The team has severely condemn such criminal acts of State Government and Kandhamal Police and demanded

(1.)To constitute a Special Investigation Team and conduct judicial enquiry to the incidents under the supervision of Supreme Court,
(2.) Immediate suspension of Superintendent of Police, Kandhamal and all police officials involved in fake encounter cases and file cases against them for murder in section 302,
(3.) Provide 50 lakh rupees compensation to each deceased family and
(4) Withdrawal of all paramilitary and security forces who are terrorizing and doing repression of common people in the name of Maoist.
Nerendra Mohanty Bhalachandra Sarangi Mahendra Parida Tapan Mishra

Mob: 9437426647/9437166391/9437106174/8658114444

Bapu Surat Singh removes his feeding tube, fast to enter 550 days on 18 July

July 16, 2016

On 18 July, 2016 Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’s hunger strike to free Sikh political prisoners in India will reach 550 days. Bapu Surat Singh served his longest detention since 10 December, 2016 at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) before being released on 29 May, 2016, 172 days later.

Soon after his release on Day 500 of his struggle on 29 May, 2016, Punjab Government and police began to gather in Hassanpur, Punjab and forcefully entered Bapu Surat Singh’s residence on 10 June, 2016. The outside gate lock was destroyed and Bapu Surat Singh’s bedroom door was smashed in to gain entry while family members and supporters were kept detained in another room. He was forcefully taken to DMCH again.

Two weeks later, Bapu Surat Singh’s condition worsened and he was taken into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at DMCH. He suffered respiratory complications and required constant monitoring by hospital personnel.

At present, Bapu Surat Singh’s condition has improved and on 13 July, 2016 he removed his feeding tube forcefully inserted by DMCH staff. He remains resolute and adamant in his demand for the permanent release of the political prisoners.

Supporters worldwide continue to show their admiration and raise awareness through community events and social media. A rally was organized by supporters at DMCH on 12 July, 2016 where Bapu Surat Singh continues to be forcefully detained and force-fed.

In England, supporters are currently organizing an art exhibition inspired by Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’s struggle. The exhibition will take place at the Menier Gallery in London 1 August – 6 August, 2016. It will showcase artwork from artists and supporters worldwide. For more information, please contact:freesikhpoliticalprisoners@gmail.com

A Twitter event has also been organized to mark 550 days of struggle on Sunday 17 July, 2016, 8pm (UK time), hashtag #550DaysofHunger.

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Coup d’état attempt: Turkey’s Reichstag fire?

We are witnessing the consolidation of a new form of authoritarianism with a populist streak.

“कश्‍मीर हिंसा@Rs.500” वाली Aaj Tak की ‘एक्‍सक्‍लूसिव बाइट’ पर गंभीर सवाल! फोरेंसिक जांच से खुल सकता है फर्जीवाड़ा

Gaza – a city no one wants

Activist Arrested, beaten in Custody, NGOs demand release

NAPM's Press Release can also be found below:

Unwanted by Co-religionists, Muslim Refugees in Europe opting out of Islam

J&K Police Raid Newspaper Bureaus, Detain Employees, Seize Copies

Adivasis in Odisha Killed Cold Bloodedly by Police: Fact-Finding Report

Investigate Gumudumaha (Kandhamal) Massacre by Supreme Court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT):
File Case of Murder(Sec-302 IPC) against the Murderer Police

Bapu Surat Singh removes his feeding tube, fast to enter 550 days on 18 July

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We are witnessing the consolidation of a new form of authoritarianism with a populist streak.

NAPM's Press Release can also be found below:

Investigate Gumudumaha (Kandhamal) Massacre by Supreme Court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT): File Case of Murder(Sec-302 IPC) against the Murderer Police

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Important Links

Other Links

CONNECT

Investigate Gumudumaha (Kandhamal) Massacre by Supreme Court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT):
File Case of Murder(Sec-302 IPC) against the Murderer Police