Treason is a loaded word, but new Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made it a habit over the years to accuse anyone critical of his policies with treason. He did the same Aug. 27 in his farewell speech to his Justice and Development Party (AKP) members and used the word “treason” 12 times, accusing the opposition, the Gulenists and the judiciary.
Making insinuations against former Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin, former Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay and AKP founding member Abdullatif Sener, Erdogan said: “We witnessed in our recent history those who betrayed their cause, their party, and engaged in treason against their nation. You should know too well that no one remembers them and no one will ever do so.” Erdogan also pointed at Hakan Sukur, a former AKP deputy and a follower of US-based Sunni cleric Fethullah Gulen: “You should also know well that no one will ever remember those who resigned from the party via one telephone call coming from overseas, or those who believed the messages brought by those in favor of a coup in the country.” Sukur resigned from the party after the December 2013 graft probe surfaced and Erdogan began an open battle against the Gulenist establishment in Turkey's security and judiciary bodies, accusing it of setting up a parallel state aiming to overthrow the government.
“Our judiciary cannot be left to a group of traitors. While it is clear who [Gulenists] are working for, and how they are engaging in treason against their own country, they cannot be permitted to give orders in our judiciary,” Erdogan said.
Ozgur Mumcu of the daily Cumhuriyet concluded that Erdogan is accusing half the population that did not vote for him with treason. “It is clear that [Erdogan] is not against the military, but the control mechanisms. He is against accountability. He is against judicial review. He can’t even tolerate a slightest criticism coming from his own party members. He makes no distinction between the military, judiciary, legislature or the opposition. Do they try to limit his power or not? That is all that matters,” he wrote.
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