10/06/2013 21:20
Turkologist: Erdogan’s policy on Islamization of Turkey led to protests
“The developments in Istanbul differ from the Arab Spring. The peaceful actions against destruction of the Gezi Park in Taksim of Istanbul have developed into mass anti-government protests,” Turkologist Andranik Ispirian told Aysor.am.
In his opinion, the recent protests in Turkey are related to the policy of Turkey’s Islamization carried out by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as to environmental problems in the country.
“The protests do not aim to achieve social justice as in Turkey – unlike in the countries where “Arab revolutions” took place – elections are held democratically. The problem here lies in the personal ambitions of Erdogan,” Ispirian stressed.
Speaking about the possibility of Syrian special services’ involvement in the events in Turkey, Ispirian expressed an opinion that Syria is not such a powerful state to organize protests in Istanbul, the heart of Turkey.
The participation of Alevis in the current rallies has to do with Erdogan and his decision to name a third bridge over Bosporus after Yavuz Sultan Selim whom Alevis remember as the sultan who massacred their ancestors, the expert said.