Where are you going?
The words of the holy Quran -- Fe eyne tezhebun (where are you going)? -- are something every Muslim has to think about a thousand times. The Surah al-Takwir, which starts with the verse “When the sun is folded up,” initially depicts some scenes of the afterlife. We see a dreadful scene in which stars disperse and fall, mountains are removed and, depicted as if we were experiencing it for ourselves, we see the oceans filled with flames, “souls are reunited,” and “the girl-child that was buried alive is asked/ For what sin she was slain.” The verses in this chapter hold us by the hand and lead us to face judgment day. The verse also draws our attention to the Prophet Muhammad and to the slanders and defamations he suffered. Gabriel is mentioned, to draw attention to the fact that the Quran is a revelation by Allah and that Satan is deceitful. And finally, the verse asks the question I quoted above: “Where are you going?”
Everyone should hear the question “where are you going?” asked by their conscience. People become aware of their route in life by reflecting on this question in their soul. Daily tribulations and considerations may take us far from the correct path. This becomes a particular problem if a major, national controversy is involved.
Sadly, people who should act justly are often angry and vindictive. They are taken hostage by their fury and hatred and are so full of hate that they lose control of what they say. The language would not have been contaminated so much and the style would not have been so poisonous if the political actors had not been so self-centered.
Blatant lies have been said. Despite the untruth being proven, the liars do not even blush. A few days ago, a statement by a parliamentarian, who was a victim of illegal wiretapping, was publicized in a newspaper headline which directly accused the Hizmet movement of the same thing. Afterwards, the same deputy made another statement behind Parliament where he claimed that he had never referred to the movement or to a parallel state. Should the liars be ashamed? They are not. Just like their supporters, they keep on lying. Is this shamelessness, insolence or recklessness? Maybe all three.
A smear campaign is being carried out. People who call themselves conservative democrats tell lies and make slanderous remarks to advance politically. And their supporters in the media repeat these lies and slanders to try to cover up the truth. But their lies are stillborn. They can lie ten times a day, but the lies and slanderous remarks will be futile before the end of the day. I wish they would at least apologize. When they find it useful, they unhesitatingly use the Islamic identity and frame of reference; but they owe their advancement to non-Islamic methods.
Politics has never been so slanderous and degenerated. The media has never been so unreliable. They tell lies, make insulting and slanderous remarks. It prompts a question that it's embarrassing to ask of an old friend: Do you have any sacred values? You may well say that a person full of hatred would have no sacred values. But it should be remembered that life is not only about our mortal world and that the meaning of life is not subject to election results.
We are currently not in a position to make precise judgments about the corruption and bribery charges because the judiciary has been taken hostage. We are facing a grave situation at this moment: Some sinful acts and prohibitions are now considered legal and legitimate under Islam by false fatwas, twisted interpretations and ungrounded assertions. Denying that a sinful act is wrong is even graver than committing a sin. What is at stake is Islamic understanding based on the Quran and the hadith -- because some remarks and arguments raised to justify certain acts are against the Islamic faith and principles.
Lies that would normally be spaced over 50 years are now being told in 50 minutes. A huge number of slanderous remarks that a person could not normally make in one lifetime now take just one day. Lying is the mother of the all evils; a person who consistently and insistently tells lies can not remain a Muslim, but would turn into something else. And when this transformation has occurred, we should expect all kinds of evil from that person.
Just once, subject yourself to an examination of conscience. Stop engaging in wrongdoing; stop speaking malignantly abroad about people who serve the best interests of our country and insulting the people with whom you pray in the same mosque. The Quran asks you where you are going. As Muslims, ask yourself, where are you going?
The party state is dragging Turkey to the brink of an abyss
There is no need for too much discussion. The whole situation can be gauged very clearly if you take a look at the draft laws that the government has been proposing over the past few months. Turkey is, unfortunately, becoming more like those countries ruled by oppressive regimes. The course of events does not bode well. If this beautiful country continues to travel along this route, it will detach itself from the modern world and become hostage to a third class regime. The policies and actions in recent days are sufficient to prove the gravity of the situation.
Take the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) law. It is a complete disaster. The MİT would be empowered to set up wiretapping stations, to have access to personal data and information as well as bank account details and to request the deportation of foreigners -- with no restrictions. And the journalists who report on and publish documents from MİT would face serious punishments. Worse, the intelligence agency cannot be held accountable for any of its actions. Some bureaucrats, as in the case of TİB, would have an immunity that even parliamentarians do not enjoy. Is it still possible to call this regime a democracy? This is a secret police reminiscent of Baath regimes. For God's sake, will Turkish democracy be able to handle this grave situation?
Like the MİT law, the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) legislation is also based on anti-democratic and illegal grounds. If the proposals are implemented, the judiciary would lose its independence and the executive would take control of the judicial system. This would leave no trace of the separation of powers; the functions of the judiciary are surrendered to the justice ministry which could, at its own discretion, exert extensive pressure upon it.
The legislation imposing censorship and restrictions on the Internet is another case. It is obvious that this bill has no place in a contemporary democracy. Would Turkey be so different from North Korea, Iran and other repressive regimes if access to the Internet is severely restricted and websites can be shut down without a court warrant? This is what we call a party state. The ruling party would be able to assign a bureaucrat who would then control everything, however he or she wants.
It is also obvious that the media is under strong governmental pressure; even subtitles to news reports have been ordered to be amended. First, they created a communally owned media -- meaning the emergence of a media conglomerate belonging to a group of like-minded businessmen who have positioned themselves close to the government. Then, they attempt to influence people by lies and slander. Even the newspaper Pravda, mouthpiece of the ruling party of the Soviet Union, had more dignity than these dailies. Pravda at least had an ideology and priorities consistent with that ideology. Our domestic Pravdas have no ideology or value. They happily denounce what they once applauded. They have only one principle: Casting your vote for who they tell you to. It is shameful.
The reputation Turkey had acquired as a model country, considered a unique example of the compatibility of democracy and Islam, is swiftly declining. Democratic reforms were shelved a long time ago, to be replaced by a climate of repression. This country will never consent to repression by a party state. Those who ignore this should remember that, throughout history similar attempts have failed.
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