Erdogan's Tap Dance (Justice & Development Party)

Istanbul (Kasımpaşa),
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (google maps)

You would think that this leader who was once jailed as a seditionist for stating that it was "impossible to be both Muslim and secular" would lead a state where freedom of expression is paramount.  Unfortunately as many of my style despot reports, Mr. Erdogan has decided that freedom of expression (when from the opposition) is a danger and act not to be tolerated.

 

PM Erdogan and his government's widening web of wiretapping and surveillance on private citizens, public figures, celebrities and former government and military leaders is looking more and more like the acts of a dictator rather than a democratically elected leader in this reporters opinion.  He divides Turkey into two camps, those who blindly follow the secularism pioneered by Atatürk and the Muslims who are united as followers of Islam and Sharia.

 

Interestingly he has consistently supported the European Union and European Courts even to the diminution of Turkey's sovereignty, this as he has found wiling support of his anti-secular policies. 

 

Now to personal style, PM Erdogan prefers Mercedes and loose fitting suits, his style is no where near as expressive as his wife, Emine Erdogan, who has drawn attention to herself with her individual style of dressing.  By wearing elegant headscarves, strong colours and intricately-cut long dresses, Emine shows that religiously-influenced clothes are not necessarily unattractive.

 

For her first big appearance abroad, when she accompanied her husband to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in late January, she and Hayrunnisa Gul, wife of former prime minister Abdullah Gul, posed for cameras wearing coats with fur collars and the combination of silk headscarves and fashion sunglasses that made headlines in Turkey.

 

Overall it seems that freedom of expression is a two way street under the current Turkish regime, it's their way or no way!

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