Turkey should support the Kurds against ISIL
Turkey should support the Kurds against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) because we should look at this war from only one axis, from one norm, from one angle and lens: Democracy.
Our only norm should be the awareness of democratic society and peace. I can only see two populations that have internalized democracy in the Middle East so far: Turks and Kurds.
We should ask the question beyond sects and races: Who has adopted democracy?
Recently in Turkey, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) constitute an example for all with their proposals for the new Constitution and demands for a more democratic Turkey. With all of its pros and cons, the Republic of Turkey’s history of democracy is the most essential and oldest example in this geography.
The Turkmens in Iraq are also a good example. Despite all the oppression and cruelty, the Turkmens have set an example for democratic civilization, as have the Kurds in Iraq.
If we look at the geography beyond that, we can see only sheikhdoms, emirates, kingdoms and dictatorships. We see the Baath regime. We see the flip-flop diplomacy of emirates and kingdoms, such as Saudi Arabia, which still beheads people in this day and age. Now, the Saudis are part of the front against ISIL, but this is just flip-flopping because there is no democracy in Saudi Arabia.
The orders there come from oil companies. There is no Parliament, no opposition. The "orders" come from arms companies, and the Saudi emir buys billions of dollars-worth of weapons every year. For this reason, the current front they have formed against terror can only be temporary.
The most correct front
The most correct front against terror is the democratic front. After so much bloodshed, if the Kurds in Turkey and northern Iraq are able to cling on to the seed of democracy…
In Turkey, Selahattin Demirtaş's campaign to become president carried a message of democracy for all Kurds in this geography. It represented the hope of cohabitation, rather than of separation. It was very important from that point of view.
Thus, Turkey should be on the side of the Peshmerga, the People’s Protection Units (PYD) and all Kurdish forces fighting against ISIL. In other words, it should be on the side of all those who want to adopt democracy.
I know there will be some people who will be angry at my words. But, those who prefer democracy against medieval atrocities should consider this perspective and this proposal first.
Here comes another holiday
If that young Kurdish woman and that young Kurdish man are flocking to Kobane from Suruç, Bismil and Cizre, in order to go and resist ISIL, then this should not only be regarded from the ethnic identity or ideological point of view.
Why? Because this issue is much more of an emotional one. Imagine if in normal times these borders had been opened and that young boy from Suruç was able to salute and kiss his uncle from Kobane...
Remember, weren’t the borders opened during holidays in the past? Weren’t there visa-free crossings between Suruç and Kobane and reciprocal visits during these openings?
Weren’t there fraternity banquets organized, mass meals eaten? We, the media, didn’t we make headlines out of these meals, those long tablecloths stretched out on the ground?
That boy is trying to cross the border to save the uncle who he hugged during Bayram last year. If they shot your uncle, if they beheaded him, would you just stand still?
Let’s think over it: Those who celebrate holidays together, those who mourn together, are relatives.
Seeing this as a rebellion results in firing tear gas at them. This actually amounts to spaying tear gas on kinship, emotions and sympathy. Please, view this issue free of tear gas, free of nerves and borders…
