TURKEY 2009

 

 

The Jewish community numbers approximately 20,000 out of a total population of 70 million. Some 18,000 live in Istanbul, 1,800 in Izmir and the rest are scattered throughout the country.

From the start of Israel’s Gaza operation, the virulently antisemitic atmosphere fomented by the fundamentalist press, such as the Islamist Vakit and Milli Gazete, and ultra-nationalist newspapers, such as Ortadoğu and Yeni Çağ, was exacerbated by emotional speeches of state officials. From mid-January some officials began condemning antisemitic manifestations (see ASW 2008/9).

In early February an antisemitic article was posted on the website of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The unnamed author of the article, titled "The Promised Land – Palestine" branded the Jews, among other things, "a swarm of grasshoppers." The article also denied the Holocaust and claimed that several of Hitler’s closest associates were Jews. It was removed a few days later. Party chairman, Halis Bilge told a journalist he did not know about the piece.

A number of other press articles also aroused concern among the Jewish community in 2009. For example, , on April 27, an ardently pro-Iranian regime piece, under the headline “Long live Ahmadinejad,” appeared in Yeni Şafak, the largest circulation pro-government newspaper. In addition, following the appearance of a report in the international media claiming that some rabbis had denounced all non-Jews as enemies of the Jewish people, a critical but latently antisemitic article “Why should I like such a Jew,” by “Zeki Ceyhan,” was published in Milli Gazete on July 30.

Further, on October 15, Turkish state TRT 1 began airing Ayrılık (Separation), a TV series on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which demonized Israeli soldiers. Purporting to tell the story of the Palestinian people through a love and war story, the Israelis were portrayed as considering themselves racially superior. In the first part, the soldiers were shown killing new-born Palestinian babies and presented Israeli agents as scheming to establish a "Greater Israel.” Israel reacted strongly with official protests.

A novel Efendi teröristler (Gentlemen terrorists), by “Yılmaz Dikbaş” was published in 2009. Tracing the establishment of the state of Israel and Zionism from its early founders to its present leaders, the author seeks to prove that, based on their origins, all Israeli leaders have been terrorists of various kinds and all the “massacres” committed by Israel can be explained in relation to them. Israel is thus a terrorist state.

Many Turkish websites continue to incite antisemitic hatred and racism. Examples include www.vahdet.com.tr; www.kudusyolu.org and www.kudüsyolu.com. The Muslim extremist Nurredin Sirin continued his virulent attacks on Jews and Israel. On February 27 he posted an article against the Turkish Jewish community on his website www.velfecr.com. Accusing the president of the community, Silvyo Ovadya, of collaborating with Israel and with secret societies of the Zionist community, he branded him a persona non grata.

Unlike in previous years, the annual Holocaust cinema week in Istanbul during the week of Israel’s Yom Hashoah, organized by the Independent Cinema Group, with the support of the Jewish community of Turkey, did not take place, not because of the anti-Israel atmosphere but because it was observed that mostly Jews were attending the films when the object was to inform non-Jews about the Holocaust. A private showing of some specially chosen films and a conference were held in the Jewish school for community members.

Milliyet, a prominent liberal newspaper, reported that “Abdürrahim Karakoç” was handed down a prison sentence of 1¼ years for an article he wrote in 2004 in the newspaper Anadoluda Vakit for praising Hitler. If confirmed by the Supreme Court, this will have been the first ever legal sanction imposed for such an article.

            Militants linked to al-Qa`ida who had allegedly planned to attack the synagogue in the city of Bursa were arrested by Turkish police on February 1.