Why is it illegal to say anything against Ataturk in Turkey?

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Mo Fayed

Because all the parties which support the modern democratic state of Turkey think of him as the founder of it. If you say anything against him, you are seen as attacking the idea of that democratic modern country, and they will assume that you side with some very nasty people indeed.

DejaVu- RETURNS

That is not true, its not illegal or anything..

and also he is not our prime minister but he is the founder of modern Turkey and he is our national hero..
if someone talks badly about him then I wouldn't feel sorry for them while cracking their heads that's not because the law say so, that us as a nation..He was our leader and he is nobody elses bussiness..

Alana Awareness

I think it is a way to preserve
his memory. It is apparent he
is a beloved icon of the Turkish
people. It is also quite admirable
in a way when a nation creates
laws to ensure a great leader's
honor.

ev pandası

It's not like there are police officers everywhere looking for somebody to cuff just because he/she said "negative things" about Atatürk. But if you want to argue about him, I guess Turkey is not the best place to do that. Turkish people are highly sensitive about him.

Buket D

I LOOOOVEEEE ATATURK!
He was the best leader on the planet!! =)

genç türk

You can say anything you like, after all it is a democracy and a land of tolerance and peace. But in order to avoid losing credibility and being ridiculed, I advise you to overcome islamic stereotypes about Atatürk like he was a crypto jew who banned islam for no good reason etc. etc. and learn about his works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataturk

amy.

ah yes, Ataturk.
he is highly respected in Turkey.
and rightly so, i don't see why anyone should want to say anything negative about him..
In England we constantly speak badly about our prime ministers and leaders, but can i explain to everyone that this is only because they are doing a bad job and led us into another war.

denyocan

the law states that you can`t insult Ataturk. Insulting and making negative comments are two different things. If making negative comments about Ataturk was banned in Turkey, thousands of people including the current administration members would land in jail.

annabel m

he is held in deep respect, so it is against the constitution to be disrespectful towards him and his memory

turkey is not alone in this - it is a serious offence to say anything derogatory about the king of thailand, for example

actually countries that freely slag off their leaders (UK, US etc) are in the minority

edd

No, you are wrong; you can say anything against him on the grounds your words are of scientific and critical importance. There are numerous published anti Ataturk books in Turkey today, most of which are full of deliberately falsified information. Such kind of books are strongly financed or published by Islamists -who own large amounts of money- for Ataturk overthrew the Islamist regime and set up a secular state.

Dr. Beemer

Well, every country is different, thats why they all have different names. People of Turkey have decided that talking badly about the founder of Turkey is a crime, then it is. Its a common sense to respect a man like that. There is no need for a "law" that makes it a crime. Its like keeping the people in a cage, with no freedom of expression.

But again, it was the people that voted for the law, unless it is different system there.

fidget

And why is "you tube" off again in Turkey? Is this a mature way to deal with childish criticism?

mandy

hi there, you will find when you go to turkiye that the people there have the greatest respect for this man. if you go on a trip your tour guide may talk of him and you will see the reason why. an amazing man who changed the life for millions.enjoy your hols when you go, xxx

Saffron

Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in WWI, Ataturk rebuilt the nation and transformed it from the Islamic Ottoman Empire to the secular Republic of Turkey.

During his rule (1923 to his death in 1938), and especially since his passing, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk became the paradigm of Turkey and Turkishness. So, insulting Ataturk is equivalent to insulting Turkish national identity.

This was one of the first (crucial) country facts my base stressed to me before my first deployment to the country.

Марияна от България

I think that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk bring liberty to Turkish people to choice how living, how dressing, etc.

mouse m

Possibly the same as complaining about France Telecom here in france,

mete

he is the founder of the Rebuplic of Turkey
It's illegal to get on YouTube because of a dumb video

: It is illegal
"The order was issued on the 17th of January and it was based on another decision, dating a while ago, that has declared insults to the founding father of the country as being illegal"
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Mustafa-Kemal-Ataturk-Has-YouTube-Banned-Again-76746.shtml

Yes it is a restriction of freedom of speech.

While I find it right to make it illegal insulting anyone (a form of spreading hate against a person{dead/alive}[it doesnt always have to be a race or a group IMO]), I dont find it right that negative criticism should be outlawed, like saying "Ataturk wasn't perfect he did a mistake here..."(I dont know the laws on this though)

as Mememto Mori stated there is a difference between insult and negative criticism
(btw wtf happened to his answer?)

anlarm

There are some very good explanations below, both from Turks and foreigners. You can criticise but you cannot insult. Do not be mistaken and think of Ataturk as just another president (or prime minister). You should check what Churchill (and some other foreign leaders) said about him.
He was no ordinary man.
1- He was a great soldier and strategist. He respected his enemies too.
2- He was the founder of modern Turkey.
3- He was the only leader to create a new alphabet for the Turkish language.
4- He has made a legal reform.
5- He has made an educational reform (he even wrote a geometry book, being a maths wizard himself)
6- He used to dress so elegantly, being a role-model for this people.
7- He was highly educated and well read.
8- He was a patron of fine arts.
9- He had great love and trust in youth.
10- He said: 'War is murder, unless one has to defend his country'
11- He said: 'Peace at home, peace in the world.'
12- He said to Gen. MacArthur: 'Watch out for this Hitler, he is going to put the whole world into another great war'

Would you insult such a man if he was your nation's hero?
The only ones that get a sexual (!) satisfaction in insulting him are Islamic fundamentalists and Kurdish terrorists. Otherwise the whole world respects him.

edit: go ahead give me thumbsdowns, you can even report me. that only shows your immaturity and disrespect.

ErAs

If you are intended to insult him that means you are against the democracy and the freedom what he brought to Turkiye.

If you want to criticize him, then, probably, you are the one of those people who are intended to insult him and against this republic.

If you really are not one of those people who have concealed thoughts against Turkish government system and who want to bring a theocratic system to the government, then, why do you need to criticize him?

because after the Great World War I, Turkiye which was one of the beaten countries, was the only nation that got its independence with a war not to let occupiers be made concessions and take control of Turkiye thanks to him?

because he founded a modern republic with many reforms the language included?

because he was a very peaceful and great leader who said these words for the Gallipoli Battles in 1934 in which more than a million of people died;

"THOSE HEROES THAT SHED THEIR BLOOD AND LOST THEIR LIVES...
YOU ARE NOW LYING IN THE SOIL OF A FRIENDLY COUNTRY. THEREFORE REST IN PEACE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JOHNNIES AND THE MEHMETS TO US WHERE THEY LIE SIDE BY SIDE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY OF OURS...
YOU, THE MOTHERS, WHO SENT THEIR SONS FROM FAR AWAY COUNTRIES, WIPE AWAY YOUR TEARS; YOUR SONS ARE NOW LYING IN OUR BOSOM AND ARE IN THE PEACE. AFTER HAVING LOST THEIR LIVES ON THIS LAND, THEY HAVE BECOME OUR SONS AS WELL."
KEMAL ATATÜRK

You guys should hear how we talk of our prime minister and politicians, TOO!

But, we all love Atatürk except those some reactionist people having a terrorism inside of them! That is why it is a crime!

AlMassiva, KOMM!

bcuz we still got honor, why should we insult the man who fought for our land . who created our wonderfull land
salam
:>

banjet15

Keine ahnung es tut mir leid.

MNM

because hes our father of nation its dis respect its no illegal its like calling a black guy ****** is it illegal no is it disrespect yes

Suddenly Skopje

Did you know that he had natural blonde hair and gorgeous blue eyes? He was so handsome.

♥Lil'☆(Sina's sister)

its nt illegal . pleease don't give us example how u speak in UK. we r not from UK

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