Analysis: Turkey’s Erdogan continues post-coup purge

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Over the last few days many more have been arrested in Turkey's post-coup purge on claims of a repeat of the failed attempt to oust the country's President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan.

In the most recent wave of arrests, Turkish prosecutors ordered the detention of 55 more air force pilots on Wednesday, amid an ongoing crackdown following a failed coup in July.

Local media reported that the latest purge is directed at alleged supporters of US based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Erdogan blames for orchestrating the putsch.

This comes days after the two joint leaders of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were detained along with at least 10 MPs because of their reluctance to give testimony for crimes linked to “terrorist propaganda”.

Police raided the Ankara home of co-leader Selahattin Demirtaș and the house of co-leader Figen Yüksekdağ in Diyarbakır, the largest city in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish south-east, last Friday.

Becoming the first Kurdish party to win 10 percent of the vote and enter parliament last year, The HDP warned that the detentions might ignite a civil war.

Kurdish PKK militants, through one of their top commanders, Murat Karayilan, warned of an intensification of its armed struggle against Turkey and called on Kurds - the country's largest minority - to react. Turkey's post-coup purge has led to the dismissal of over 3,600 judges, the closure of some 2,000 schools, and the arrest of 133 journalists. In general, more than 100,000 government officials have been detained, depleting the ranks of the army, judiciary, schools, universities and ministries.

Erdogan Looking for Scapegoats

Erdogan's protracted purge on alleged coup conspirators is meant to intimidate political opponents into toeing his line in the country's parliament.

The current events can also be linked to Turkey’s inability to maintain internal security and its unsuccessful military incursions into neighboring Syria and Iraq. The security situation in Turkey is so bad that the hitherto safe country witnesses almost daily bomb attacks which continue to kill and injure many people. In its regional military adventurisms, Turkey has failed to achieve its stated objectives.

By continuing with the post-coup surge, Erdogan is trying to look for scapegoats following his dismal failure in security, military and economic affairs and in this way divert public attention from his shortcomings.

The Iraqi government has stood firm in calling for the withdrawal of all Turkish troops in its territory and this has led to increased pressure on Ankara which had wanted a major role in the current military operation to oust ISIS terrorist group from Iraq’s key city of Mosul. The masses in Turkey and Iraq have realized that Erdogan is currently playing a negative role in regional politics.

Turkey, EU Row over Refugees

Turkey has an agreement with the European Union in which it is to receive billions of Euros to stem the flow of refugees and migrants into the bloc in return for visa-free travel for Turks to EU countries. However, the EU has apparently reneged on its part of the deal and therefore the current crackdown is meant to elicit reaction from the EU for more concessions. The EU insists Turkey must amend its anti-terror laws as a condition for the visa waiver but Turkey has refused.

The ongoing purge does not project a powerful government in Ankara but rather points to a weakened regime reeling from both internal and international failures. This crackdown is ploy by Erdogan to achieve his objectives in an environment dominated by fear.

Turkey is certainly a victim of US deceit in regional politics. Washington used its NATO ally, Ankara, as its proxy in igniting regional tensions especially in neighboring Syria. Quite clearly, Turkey, just like some reactionary Arab regimes, is a victim of US manipulation spreading conflicts which continue to afflict the West Asia region. In June this year, Syria accused Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar of being behind Takfiri terrorists in his country. Damascus sent two letters to the UN secretary-general and the Security Council to complain about the issue.

Erdogan’s purge has exceeded what many expected and the country is increasingly turning into an authoritarian police state with little room for dissent. As the security situation deteriorates, tourism, a major foreign exchange earner, is suffering the current political persecution will dampen business spirit. These and other factors will lead to a slow economic growth which will eventually lead to a rebellion even among Erdogan’s staunch followers.