İZMİR - Human rights defenders stated that the election process is not fair and that democracy is overshadowed by hate and marginalizing rhetoric, and that they will not give up the struggle for rights.

 

The Presidential and General Elections, which are historically important and have repercussions, were marked by hate speech in the election campaigns conducted on racism. The hate language, racist and polarizing rhetoric towards refugees of the AKP, which ran election campaigns on May 14 and May 28, with all the means of the state behind it, continues after the election.

 

Although the Chairperson of the Supreme Election Board (YSK), Ahmet Yener, made a statement that "There was no negative situation" after the election, many rights violations took place on the election day due to the AKP's election propaganda based on hate language.

 

Human rights defenders evaluated the campaigns carried out during the election process, the violations of rights and the new era.

 

'ELECTION WAS NOT A FAIR PROCESS'

 

Saying that there is no need to be dissident to say that the elections that took place were not fair, Human Rights Association (İHD) İzmir Branch President Zafer İncin stated that the unfairness of the elections both in İzmir and in Turkey is a situation that the government will accept. Incin said: “There has been an institutionalized government for more than 20 years. There is a power rooted in the legislature, executive and judiciary. The reliability of the YSK and Anadolu Agency became the subject of discussion in this process because there was a single-handed propaganda process. During the election process, a propaganda process was carried out by using all the means and possibilities of the state. Opposition parties, on the other hand, were able to continue this process only by their own means. We can easily say that democracy has been shadowed in this election."

 

'POLARIZATION WAS DEEPENED'

 

Emphasizing that Turkey has been in both an economic and a social crisis for the last 10 years, İncin said: "The consolidation of the masses with the marginalizing and racist rhetoric carried out during the election process caused the polarization to deepen. The election results created a partial division in the society. The Presidential Government System and the absence of legislative, executive and judiciary in one hand and the absence of a supervisory mechanism deepened the crisis in the country. The crisis may deepen if Turkey does not solve the problems experienced within itself. Turkey does not have a day to lose in terms of democratization, adopting and applying universal principles. The economic fluctuation experienced right after the election shows the dimensions of the vital crisis. As İHD, we announced our suggestions both during the election process and after the election. We will continue to work against violations of rights in the future.”

 

SIMILAR TO 1930 GERMANY

 

Referring to the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) launching an investigation against the opposition media right after the election, Yılmaz said: "The next period will be a difficult process in terms of freedom of expression, economic and social. The pressures may increase. The aggravation of the economic crisis will create even more negative situations because the intensity of the economic crisis in Germany in the 1920s-1930s is similar to the situation in Turkey. Back then, people were shopping with bags of Marks. The economic crisis and rising inflation there increased Nazism and racism. I'm worried about similar situations happening here. It is a little harder for all of us, but we will continue to fight." 

 

MA / Delal Akyüz