A dozen years ago, europeans looked to turkey and thought they saw a country becoming more like them, embracing Western Values and on a long term track to eu membership. But today, well, europe sees authoritarianism, conservatism, and repression embodied in the all powerful figure of president erdogan. My guest is elif shafak, the turkish novelist and writer who lives much of her life in london. Does the west get anywhere close to understanding turkeys complex culture and politics . Elif shafak, welcome to hardtalk. Thank you. When you write of turkey today, i wonder what emotions draw you . Would it be anger or sadness or incomprehension . I think there is a lot of sadness. I feel sad. I feel worried. So much is changing in turkey and so fast. I think speed is important with many things that are happening, with a bewildering speed which almost prevents time to stop and analyse because Something Else happens next week and so it goes on and on. I am very sad when i look at the direction
Im stephen sackur. A dozen years ago, europeans looked to turkey and thought they saw a country becoming more like them, embracing Western Values and on a long term track to eu membership. But today, well, europe sees authoritarianism, conservatism, and repressionm embodied in the all powerful figure of president erdogan. My guest is elif shafak, the turkish novelist and writer who lives much of her life in london. Does the west get anywhere close to understanding turkeys complex culture and politics . Elif shafak, welcome to hardtalk. Thank you. When you write of turkey today, i wonder what emotions draw you . Would it be anger or sadness or incomprehension . I think there is a lot of sadness. I feel sad. I feel worried. So much is changing in turkey and so fast. I think speed is important with many things that are happening, with a bewildering speed which almost prevents time to stop and analyse because Something Else happens next week and so it goes on and on. I am very sad when i l
And the latest World Surf League event. Lets return to the referendum in turkey. This result means president erdogan could be in power until 2029. Earlier in his career, mr erdogan said, democracy is like a bus. When you come to your stop, you get off. Evidently, his stop is some way down the road. And even before this result, he was a giant of turkish politics. In 2001, he founded thejustice and Development Party of the akp, and Development Party, or the akp, as we often call it. He became Prime Minister in 2003 and then president in 2014. That was a year after nationwide protests at the alleged authoritarianism of his style of government. There was International Condemnation over the governments response to the protests. Then lastjuly, there was the attempted coup, and a widespread crackdown has followed. While all of this has been playing out, turkey has taken in hundreds of thousands of syrian refugees. Its also experienced an increase in terrorist activity, primarily conducted by
And the latest World Surf League event. Lets return to the referendum in turkey. This result means president erdogan could be in power until 2029. Earlier in his career, mr erdogan said, democracy is like a bus. When you come to your stop, you get off. Evidently, his stop is some way down the road. And even before this result, he was a giant of turkish politics. In 2001, he founded thejustice and Development Party of the akp, and Development Party, or the akp, as we often call it. He became Prime Minister in 2003 and then president in 2014. That was a year after nationwide protests at the alleged authoritarianism of his style of government. There was International Condemnation over the governments response to the protests. Then lastjuly, there was the attempted coup, and a widespread crackdown has followed. While all of this has been playing out, turkey has taken in hundreds of thousands of syrian refugees. Its also experienced an increase in terrorist activity, primarily conducted by
In respects. This is t w news live from berlin millions of voters in istanbul return to the polls today theyre casting their ballots in a rerun of the citys narrow election. Results were no. Its one year on from the remarkable thailands king for us today as the rescued boys take part in a charity run the country remembers the film and to do it near tragedy turned to triumph. And australia is eliminated in german atic fashion at the Womens World Cup while germany marches on to confirm its standing as one of the tournament
favorites with another commanding performs. On exposure thanks for joining us. Millions of voters in istanbul returned to the polls today to cast their ballots again in a rerun of the citys Mayoral Election president wretched everyones governing party is fighting for control of turkeys largest city the fresh election is taking place after turkeys top Electoral Authority and know the results of the 1st vote following appeals by the president s party. Its a may oral cont