Prof. Pappé: I wish the press in Turkey would enjoy more freedom
Tayyip Erdogan was popular for good reasons. Very few heads of state in the international community supported openly the Palestinian people and dared to condemn the Israeli oppression. His continued support I am sure will be valued. This does not immune him, or his government, from criticism and rebuke when they violate human or citizen rights in their own countries. I can not defend oppression wherever I see while continuing to seek the world’s support, of governments and people alike, to end the oppression in Palestine.
Mainstream media did and still does everything not to cover the issue. TV channels and newspapers are competing with each other to prove their loyalty to the government. With that being the case, how important is the international support to make the voice of the people heard and what are your suggestions especially for the Turkish community who live all around the world?
I wish the press in Turkey would enjoy more freedom and particularly concerned about the situation of Kurdish journalists who have political prisoners for very long time (and have participated in the Amnesty International campaign to release them). In any struggle for justice and freedom, the worst thing that can happened is when the international community is silent. I am not in a position to advise the Turkish communities around the world how best to act in order to change the realities in Turkey. I am devoting all my time, energy and life for ending the oppression of Palestine, now more than 100 years old and getting worse by the day, and will always show solidarity and support for anyone who suffers similarly from their own, or foreign, government.
