15 September 2004

1. "Bombing destroys part of train in eastern Turkey", five carriages of a train were destroyed by a bomb explosion in eastern Turkey, the semi-official Anatolia News Agency reported Tuesday.

2. "State Should Stop Being a Guard of Virtue", women from Diyarbakir, Batman, Van, Mardin, Gaziantep and Mersin, argue that making adultery a crime would legitimize honor crimes. They draw attention to how widespread polygamy is, and say: "Everybody will become a guard of virtue of each other."

3. "Turkey gives way over adultery law", Turkey's ruling party backed away yesterday from a proposal to criminalise adultery, bowing to pressure from civil rights groups and opposition MPs and growing opposition to the plan in the European Union.

4. "E.U. Commission Jurists To Visit Turkey To Examine Torture Allegations", Hans-Gert Pottering, the chairman of the Christian Democrat Group at the European Parliament, said on Tuesday that European Commission's jurists would pay a visit to Turkey in the coming days to examine torture allegations.

5. "No Turkish delight for Europeans who fear mostly Muslim nation will join EU", 'Europe would implode' if Turkey is allowed to join, warned Frits Bolkestein, the EU's outgoing taxation commissioner.

6. "Turkey reacts with fury to massive US assault on northern Iraqi city", the US military assault on Tal Afar, an ethnically Turkmen city in northern Iraq, has provoked a furious reaction from the Turkish government which is demanding the US call off the attack.

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1. - Xinhuanet - "Bombing destroys part of train in eastern Turkey":

ANAKARA / 14 September 2004

Five carriages of a train were destroyed by a bomb explosion in eastern Turkey, the semi-official Anatolia News Agency reported Tuesday.

Sources were quoted as saying that the bomb, planted under the railway between Kurt and Kale stations near the city of Mus, blew up a passing freight and passenger train.

It was not clear yet who planted the bomb and investigations were underway, said the sources.

The Turkish government often blames the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) for most bombings in the country.

PKK, which is also called KADEK or Kongra-Gel, launched an armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey in 1984, sparking decades of strife that has claimed more than 30,000 lives, mainly Kurds.

Fighting fell off sharply when PKK commander Abdullah Ocalan was captured in 1999.

However, violence between guerrillas and Turkish security forces has been on the rise since the rebels called off a unilateral truce in June.

2. - Bianet - "State Should Stop Being a Guard of Virtue":

Women from Diyarbakir, Batman, Van, Mardin, Gaziantep and Mersin, argue that making adultery a crime would legitimize honor crimes. They draw attention to how widespread polygamy is, and say: "Everybody will become a guard of virtue of each other."

ISTANBUL / 14 September 2004 / by Burcin Belge

Women are angry at intentions to made "adultery" a crime under the New Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

Although the Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmakers argue that "Anatolian women want adultery to become a crime," the representatives of women's groups in the provinces of Diyarbakir, Batman, Van, Mardin, Gaziantep and Mersin, say such a move would hurt women.

The women argue that the "state has to respect people's private lives." They draw attention to how widespread religious marriages and polygamy are in Turkey, and the pressure of honor crimes and traditions on women...

"It would legitimize honor crimes"

Nebahat Akkoc from the Diyarbakir Women's Center (KAMER), Saadet Becerikli from the Provincial Women's Platform, Sultan Bayram from the Van Women's Cooperative, Aycan Basboga from Mardin Kiziltepe KAD-MER, feminist Nihal Tutunculer from Gaziantep, and Necla Abide Olcer from Mersin Independent Women's Association all argue that such a regulation would not comply with the fundamentals of Turkey.

"Women do not relate adultery with themselves because the punishment of adultery for women is death in that region anyway," said Akkoc. After stating that two women in Batman had been killed by their husbands in the last two weeks, Becerikli said: "Making adultery a crime would not prevent relations out of wedlock. But it would definitely legitimize honor crimes."

Bayram drew attention to how widespread religious marriages are in Van. "Making polygamy a crime would totally ruin the regions' family structure," said Bayram adding that it would be very difficult to implement the article on adultery.

Basboga agreed with Bayram. "The honor of the family is restored only if a woman, whose husband has died, gets married with her brother-in-law. The women do not have a chance to live by themselves," said Basboga.

"The intention shows AKP's attitude toward women," said Olcer. "It is also interesting to see AKP and CHP, who can never get along, agreed on this issue so easily."

"Who will the state, which has not been able to promote official weddings, and prevent polygamy, accuse of adultery?" asked Olcer.

Akkoc: Tradition punishes women even if there were 40 laws

* Even if there were 40 laws, a women would be punished in line with traditions if she is adulterous. And that punishment is always death.

* For women, adultery is a crime committed by men, and it should be punished. A woman can only complain about an adulterous husband, if she has a strong family to support her, and a mechanisms to protect her.

* Religious marriages and polygamy is widespread in and around Diyarbakir. What will happen to a man with three-four wives when adultery becomes a crime? What will their wives do? Will they be punished too?

Becerikli: Men will be considered right, women will be considered guilty

* Making adultery a crime would not prevent relations out of wedlock in the south east. It would legitimize honor crimes.

* I find it hard to believe that women asked for adultery to become a crime. No woman can dare to file a complaint about her husband. If a married man has an affair with a single woman, because of the traditions, the married man will be right, and the single woman will be viewed as guilty...

Bayram: The law would ruin Van's structure

* The state and the politicians are continuing to be the guards of virtue. They should respect private life and people's rights on their own bodies.

* Although it is argued that the law would benefit women by preventing polygamy, it would be very difficult to implement the article on adultery.

* Making adultery a crime would make it much easier to expose women and kill them.

Basboga: The state should set up women's shelters instead of guarding virtue

* Women would not be able to benefit from the law even if adultery becomes a crime. Women are scared to go out on the streets. They cannot get a divorce although they constantly go through domestic violence because they don't dare live alone. Imprisoning a man for adultery would not make his wife's life easier.

* Religious marriages are viewed as better than official marriages in the region. The family's honor is not restored unless the woman, whose husband has died, marries with her brother-in-law. Women don't have a chance to live alone anyway.

Tutunculer: The law would make women's lives more difficult

* Making adultery a crime is an attack against personal rights, and violates the confidentiality of private life.

* Even educated women with careers cannot file complaints about their husbands who bring another woman home because of the pressure of traditions.

Olcer: The number of guards of women's virtues will increase

* Who will the state, which has not been able to promote official marriages in Mersin and prevent polygamy, accuse of adultery? Will the women, who accept to be a second wife due to pressure from their brothers and fathers be accused as well? What will the wives of a man do if he is imprisoned? Who will be condemned in this situation? The woman, or the man?

* With this law, everybody will be the virtue guard of each other. Will I be considered a potential criminal if I invite a male friend over when my husband is not home? Will a neighbor who dislikes me be able to complain about me when I come home with a male friend?

* Will men or women in a neighborhood be followed and accused? Women of course. Because it is thought that virtue is between women's legs...

3. - Financial Timees - "Turkey gives way over adultery law":

ANKARA/BRUSSELS / 15 September 2004 /
by Vincent Boland and Daniel Dombey

Turkey's ruling party backed away yesterday from a proposal to criminalise adultery, bowing to pressure from civil rights groups and opposition MPs and growing opposition to the plan in the European Union.

Conservative elements in the Islamic-rooted Justice and Development party (AKP) of prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to include the proposal in a set of changes to the penal code that went before parliament yesterday. But the government agreed that only amendments to the code agreed with the opposition would be included.

Murat Mercan, vice-chairman of the AKP, said: "Practically, the chances of this coming forward again are nil. Theoretically it is still possible if enough AKP MPs wish to do so." The agreement between the government and the opposition was achieved after a late-night meeting at which AKP officials decided not to pursue the adultery measure.Mr Erdogan and other government officials had defended the adultery measure as a means to protect vulnerable women. But it had threatened to stoke opposition to Turkey's EU membership among EU member states that harbour doubts about the country's European credentials.

Civil rights groups demonstrated outside parliament as the debate got under way, complaining that other clauses in the penal code discriminated against women or intruded into personal lives. But analysts said the government appeared to have undercut criticism of the amendments by dropping the adultery measure.

The European Commission is due to report on the country's progress on October 6 and EU governments will decide in December on whether to set a date for membership talks.

Mr Erdogan has backed down before from pursuing controversial legislation unacceptable to sections of public opinion in Turkey.

Political analysts said the adultery measure may have been forced on him by arch-conservatives in the AKP and a small Islamic party that is influential with Muslim opinion but is not represented in parliament. They said it was too early to say what the consequences might be, although it was unlikely to end the debate about whether such legislation was necessary.

The decision to drop the measure was greeted with relief by Turkish and European officials. "This proposal was a momentary lapse of reason, which we hope has now passed," said a Turkish official.

The episode illustrates the EU's influence over countries that wish to join the Union. The controversy threatened to overshadow Turkey's entire entry process this week. Even the UK, Turkey's biggest supporter within the EU, said that, if the measure became law, it "would create difficulties" for the country's EU hopes.

4. - Anadolu Agency - "E.U. Commission Jurists To Visit Turkey To Examine Torture Allegations":

STRASBOURG / 14 September 2004

Hans-Gert Pottering, the chairman of the Christian Democrat Group at the European Parliament, said on Tuesday that European Commission's jurists would pay a visit to Turkey in the coming days to examine torture allegations.

Pottering, who held a press conference at the European Parliament, said that he met EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen on Monday, noting that Verheugen informed him on his last visit to Turkey.

Stating that Verheugen conveyed to him complaints of human rights associations in Turkey about systematic torture allegations, Pottering said that EU Commission would send a delegation comprised of jurists to Turkey in the coming days.

On the other hand, Pottering noted that he got impression that the progress report on Turkey that was scheduled to be made public on October 6th may possibly be delayed due to jurists' visit to Turkey.

5. - AP - "No Turkish delight for Europeans who fear mostly Muslim nation will join EU":

KAHLENBERGERDORF / 15 September 2004 / by William J. Kole

Nestled among picturesque vineyards that overlook Vienna, at the scene of an epic battle against the Ottoman Empire, a small placard bids good riddance to the Turks.

The sign describes how Turkish warriors stumbled across a cache of wine, got drunk and were routed in 1683, a dramatic turning point in Europe's wars with the eastern empire. It captures the contempt many have borne for centuries against the Turks.

Now, as the European Union considers opening talks on bringing in Turkey, there are fresh fears about absorbing a large, poor, mostly Muslim country with a questionable record on democracy and human rights.

"This would be a complete catastrophe," said Karl-Heinz Klement, 49, a Vienna restaurateur who thanks the Turks only for introducing kebab and coffee.

"They have nothing to do with Europe," he said, slapping his cappuccino machine for emphasis. "It will bring no security - only trouble."

Distrust of Turks can border on xenophobia in Austria, which on Sunday marked the 321st anniversary of the Battle for Vienna. But opposition to absorbing Turkey into the EU isn't unique to Austria, and the objections go far beyond religion.

Across much of Europe, a debate is raging, dividing countries already polarized by the war on Iraq and creating rifts between ordinary citizens and the institutions that govern them.

Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain are among EU powerhouses that - officially, at least - support Turkey's desire to join. They contend that bringing in Turkey could help bridge differences between Europe and the Islamic world and aid in the fight against terrorism.

Austria, France and Luxembourg - preoccupied by the challenges already facing the 25-nation EU after it expanded eastward in May to take in 10 mostly ex-communist newcomers - see a danger in extending the bloc's borders to Syria and Iraq.

Many opponents see no sense in bringing in a country that has just a tiny toehold in Europe. All but a sliver of Turkey lies east of the Bosporus, the waterway that forms the geographic divide between Europe and Asia.

Other Europeans worry that Turkey would inject an unwanted Islamic influence into a predominantly Christian EU. Still others fear that Turkey's poverty would drain the EU of cash, and that its population - nearly 70 million now, with the potential to dwarf Germany over the next decade - would give it more clout than smaller EU nations.

"Europe would implode" if Turkey is allowed to join, warned Frits Bolkestein, the EU's outgoing taxation commissioner.

The Dutchman, who fears that Turkey would change the very face of Europe, caused a stir by contending in a recent speech that its membership would mean "the deliverance of Vienna in 1683 will have been in vain."

The issue is particularly sensitive in Germany, whose roughly 2 million Turks make it home to the EU's largest Turkish population. There, ordinary citizens - worried that more Turkish immigrants would aggravate the nation's already crushing unemployment situation - have broken ranks with their government, which contends bringing in Turkey could help bridge differences between Europe and the Islamic world.

Fifty-five percent of respondents to a recent Stern magazine poll said they were opposed to letting Turkey join.

"It's a Muslim country and it's in Asia anyway," said Juergen Denzau, a German retiree. "They have another mentality."

The debate has taken on racist and xenophobic undertones in Austria, where local slang is peppered with disparaging expressions: If something's been "Turked," it's been faked or swindled, and "Turkish luggage" is a crumpled grocery sack.

Many Europeans worry about Turkey's spotty human rights record in dealing with its beleaguered Kurdish minority. Allegations of torture and other brutality persist despite sweeping reforms Turkey has enacted since 1999 to meet EU membership conditions, such as abolishing the death penalty and granting greater cultural rights to its 12 million Kurds.

"If Turks want to be part of Europe, they need to accept the basic values that European history and culture are based on," said Roberto Grossi, 62, a shop owner in Italy. "Human rights must be respected."

Although Turkey hopes to get a starting date for membership negotiations at an EU summit in December, actual accession is a distant prospect that could take until 2015 or longer.

"Europe and Turkey are walking down a road that will be long, difficult and demanding," cautioned Claudie Haignere, France's minister for European affairs.

French President Jacques Chirac has been a lonely voice among his nation's political elite in openly supporting Turkey's bid. But even he has called Turkish membership a potential "shock of civilizations."

Despite the reservations, Turkey's all-out drive to meet exacting EU membership criteria has won over Sweden and even Greece, where animosities run deep over its nearly 400-year occupation by Ottoman Turks and a dispute over the Greek-Turkish division of Cyprus.

Underscoring the shift from enmity to affinity, Greek Premier Costas Caramanlis served as a witness last month at the wedding of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's daughter.

Top EU officials, meanwhile, are giving Turkey mixed signals about whether its deep roots in Islam are compatible with the values espoused by the club of nations.

Guenter Verheugen, the EU's enlargement commissioner compiling a key report to be released next month on Turkey's preparations for membership, warned the country that legislation it is currently considering that would make adultery a crime could jeopardize its chances by creating the impression that it's edging closer to Islamic law.

But Chris Patten, the EU's external affairs chief, is among many officials trying to erase any perception that the bloc would consider saying no to Turkey "on the grounds that we are a Christian club." Europe, he said, cannot afford to behave "as though the Islamic contribution to Western civilization had never taken place."

Francesca Scapinelli is among the many skeptics. "Historically and culturally, they are still too far from Europe," said Scapinelli, 28, a student in Italy, where Pope John Paul II last year beatified a preacher he praised for defending "the unity of Christian Europe" by leading Catholics and Protestants in prayer on the eve of the 1683 battle for Vienna.

6. - The Independent - "Turkey reacts with fury to massive US assault on northern Iraqi city":

13 September 2004 / by Patrick Cockburn

The US military assault on Tal Afar, an ethnically Turkmen city in northern Iraq, has provoked a furious reaction from the Turkish government which is demanding the US call off the attack.

American and Iraqi government forces last week sealed off Tal Afar, a city west of Mosul belonging to Iraq’s embattled Turkmen minority. The US said it killed 67 insurgents while a Turkmen leader claims 60 civilians were killed and 100 wounded. The massive and indiscriminate use of US firepower in built-up areas, leading to heavy civilian casualties in cities like Tal Afar, Fallujah and Najaf, is coming under increasing criticism in Iraq. The US "came into Iraq like an elephant astride its war machine," said Ibrahim Jaafari, the influential Iraqi Vice President.

The Americans claim that Tal Afar is a hub for militants smuggling fighters and arms into Iraq from nearby Syria. Turkish officials make clear in private they believe that the Kurds, the main ally of the US in northern Iraq, have managed to get US troops involved on their side in the simmering ethnic conflict between Kurds and Turkmen.

"The Iraqi government forces with the Americans are mainly Kurdish," complained one Turkmen source. A Turkish official simply referred to the Iraqi military units involved in the attack on Tal Afar as "peshmerga", the name traditionally given to Kurdish fighters.

The US army account of its aims in besieging Tal Afar is largely at odds with that given by Turkmen and may indicate that its officers are at sea in the complex ethnic mosaic of Iraq. The US says that in recent weeks the city was taken over by anti-American militants who repeatedly attacked US and Iraqi government forces.

"Tal Afar is a tribal city and its people were not patient with the presence of American forces," said Farouq Abdullah Abdul Rahman, the president of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, in Baghdad yesterday. He agreed that there was friction with US forces but denied that anything justified the siege, with many Turkmen close to the front line fleeing into the countryside. "More than 60 people have been killed, including women and children, and 100 wounded."

There has been tension, sometimes boiling over into gun battles, between the Kurds and the Turkmens since last year. As Saddam Hussein’s regime fell apart Kurdish troops, aided by the US air force, advanced to take Kirkuk and Mosul. The Kurds felt they at last had a chance to reverse 40 years of ethnic cleansing which had seen their people massacred or driven from their homes.

Both Arabs and Turkmen fear ethnic cleansing in reverse. In Tal Afar, a poor city with high unemployment, there was friction from the beginning. Days after the fall of Saddam the Kurdistan Democratic Party appointed its own mayor called Abdul Haleq in the city. He ran up a yellow Kurdish flag outside his office. He was told by local people to take it down or die. He refused and was killed the following day. His office, along with the yellow flag, was burned by an angry crowd.

Mr Rahman said that an agreement was hammered out by tribal leaders and the Americans last week in Mosul whereby Iraqi police would take charge in Tal Afar but American troops would not enter the city or try to disarm people. This failed to stick when there was more shooting. A Turkmen eyewitness in Tal Afar at the time claimed that seven Kurdish gunmen had fired at the Americans to lure them into attacking the Turkmen.

The Turkmen of Tal Afar are Shia Muslims, unlike most of the rest of their community who are Sunni. A leading Shia cleric, Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, said that the Americans’ use of heavy force in the city caused "catastrophes" that could have been avoided if Iraqis were in charge of security. Responding to the US claim that there was a large terrorist organisation there, Mr al-Hakim said: "Since the day after Saddam Hussein’s regime collapsed Tal Afar had terrorist groups and this is not new. The new thing is that the [US] military operations are huge."

The US was probably more impressed by the furious Turkish government reaction to the siege. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said: "We have asked the US authorities to stop the offensive in Tal Afar as soon as possible and avoid indiscriminate use of force." The Turkish General Staff said it was also watching developments. On Friday medical supplies were allowed into the city.

The attack on Tal Afar shows how the US can capture any city in Iraq but it must also pay a high political price for using its great firepower in the middle of heavily populated areas.