I received a number of emails yesterday about how “political” my views were regarding the proposed internet ban in Turkey. While I feel my last post was not political and more my feelings vented I will endeavour to keep this blog a little more lighthearted although before I return to my normal, more humorous take on Turkey I just want to say congratulations to all the women who stood up for their God given rights in Istanbul last night.
What began as a peaceful demonstration campaigning for equality and women’s rights in Turkey quickly escalated into a scuffle with riot police. *sigh*
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was a strong advocate for women’s rights in Turkey. He once said:
To the women: Win for us the battle of education and you will do yet more for your country than we have been able to do. It is to you that I appeal.
To the men: If henceforward the women do not share in the social life of the nation, we shall never attain to our full development. We shall remain irremediably backward, incapable of treating on equal terms with the civilizations of the West
I will leave it at that.
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janeyinmersin 
Well said Jane…. I guess people who thought your last post was ‘political’ are not Turkish (unless pro-AKP), after all, our country is at a pivotal point in history, the next 24 months could be explosive. 95% of the world have no inkling as to what happens here, so as for your post being political, I hardly think so, just a woman airing concerns about her right to free speech.
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Thank you Spikey. Being half Italian I can be quite feisty when I want to.
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Italian, Australian, Turkish
That’s some mix 🙂
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Wow, I didn’t find your last post “political” at all! You were expressing a very real aspect of your everyday life. (And even if it was political — it’s your damn blog! Post away!)
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Thank you Cindi. I was surprised by some of the hothead comments I received.
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It saddens me to see Turkey trying to go backwards. Isn’t it about time that so many scared little men in the world stopped acting like apes with too much brain power?
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Elections are looming, perhaps a new government can bring Turkey back to the secular society that Ataturk envisaged.
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I hope so, for your daughter’s sake. I still remember how quickly rights for women disappeared in Iran once the Shah was overthrown.
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Yes very true.
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Be the voice you are…I wouldn’t change what you write because a few people don’t like it…perhaps if they live in a country where people get involved in the politics of living then they might have an opinion too!
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