Newspaper Dismisses Writer Speaking on Roj TV

Journalist and writer Erdogan Aydin has been dismissed from the “Cumhuriyet” newspaper after taking part in a discussion programme on Roj TV recently.

Programme discussed religious education in school

The programme, which was broadcast on 23 October, discussed obligatory religious education at school and the appeal of an Alevi citizen to the European Court of Human Rights. The programme also discussed the current attempts by the government to create a new constitution.

The programme was also joined by Dutch MPs, including Senator Düzgün Yildirim, and the President of the Alevi Pir Sultan Abdal Association Kazim Genc.

Aydin expressed the opinion that although the draft for a new constitution seemed to be civilian, it was not really different from the constitution put in place by the military junta in 1982. He also said that the Kurdish question could not be solved with arms, that arms needed to be put down and that stability could only be achieved with  politics of peace.

Protest by Alevi Association

The Pir Sultan Abdal Association has started a campaign in support of Aydin and in order to react to the Cumhuriyet newspaper. The statement says,

“We call on all those individuals and organisations who consider themselves democrats, who support the freedom of expression, who consider themselves social democrats or socialists, and who support human rights and freedoms not to stay silent in the face of the injustice that Aydin has suffered.”

Distortion in Islamist press

Aydin told bianet, “I know that there is no problem with the content of my articles. I would have expected the Cumhuriyet newspaper to defend the right of people, particularly its own writers, to be different, to express their opinions.”

The fact that Aydin had joined a programme on Roj TV, the channel which is broadcast in Turkey from Denmark, and the closure of which the Turkish government has been pushing for, was widely reported and distorted in the Islamist press and websites.

Aydin not informed of dismissal 

Following this coverage, an article Aydin had written criticising French historian Francois Georges’ book on Sultan Abdulhamit was not published.

Aydin said, “Freedom is not something that can be increased by double standards. Indeed, this is Turkey’s greatest wound. […] And I am its latest victim. Unfortunately I don’t think I will be the last.”

Aydin holds the “nationalist streak” at the newspaper responsible for his dismissal, adding that he was not even informed himself.

He believes that he was dismissed because he openly expressed his support for peace.

His books not displayed at book fair 

At the TÜYAP book fair which took place in Istanbul last week, his eight books were not displayed, his panel and signature day were cancelled. “People asking for me were told “He has cut contact with us”.

Aydin, who has published his books with Cumhuriyet Publications for the last eight years and who wrote on historical themes for the Cumhuriyet Saturday supplement and book critiques on Thursdays, was forced to display his works by himself at the fair. (EÖ/AG)