Turkey takes their armed services very seriously. All men over the age of 18 must serve at least 15 months in the nation's military, and it remains illegal to criticize the practice.
That law didn't stop trans entertainer Bulent Ersoy when she spoke out recently against the required service. And, despite the fact that she's currently on trial for the remarks and faces two years in prison, Ersoy refuses to back down:
Singer Bulent Ersoy has acknowledged saying on television that if she had children she would not want them to join the army to battle Kurdish rebels who are fighting for self-rule."I spoke in the name of humanity. Even if I were to face execution, I would say the same thing," the state-run Anatolia news agency quoted Ersoy as telling the court in Istanbul.
The Turkish government can't be too worried about Ersoy's comment – her trial doesn't resume until the end of October.
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It's amazing that Turkey thinks it will somehow be allowed in the EU with draconian laws like these.
They're not going to be let into the EU, draconian laws or not.
Turkey will never make it in because the EU is a bloated, racist bureaucracy; plain and simple.
Plenty of EU states have retarded prohibitive laws. Look at Germany, for f&ck's sake.
Good for her; that's an absurd policy.
Darth Paul, would you care to illustrate with some examples to support your argument that "Turkey will never make it in because the EU is a bloated, racist bureaucracy; plain and simple.
Plenty of EU states have retarded prohibitive laws. Look at Germany, for f&ck's sake."
After all, we wouldn't want everyone reading these comments to think you're a pompous stupid arse who talks out of his backside, now would we?
I think that Turkey will be in the EU one day, but not before laws like this are changed. Maybe in 15 or 25 years. A lot of Turkish people these days agree with Ms. Ersoy and are sick of the problems holding Turkey back. Turkey's not a backward, draconian place but rather a highly nationalistic place. That nationalism has caused most of Turkey's current problems but it's also what has helped Turkey survive and exist in the modern world without falling under Islamist or Communist or dictatorial rule. I think Turkey just needs some time to settle into the 21st century, for its nationalism to calm down, because Turkey doesn't need it anymore. The Turkish nation is here now, and well-established. A lot of Turks these days know this and it's just a matter of time before they become the overt majority in voting and the government.
Sorry Mikey, but I really can't see Turkey getting into the EU, at lest within the next 50 years. I should add that I hope it doesn't and no-one I know thinks that it should get in.
I know the official British govt position is that it should be allowed to enter the EU but I don't agree with that.
And yes I know the USA has promised the Turks that for doing as the USA has wanted over the past 20 years, it will be rewarded with EU entry, but sorry, no fucking way.
I suppose if the part of Turkey connected to the European mainland, you know the bit with Constantinople, (Istanbul, Byzantium) in it, separated from the rest of Turkey and joined Greece, then that part would be acceptable. But the rest? No way. (Constantiople should be part of greece anyway, since it was conquored by the turks/muslims in 1492 and it should be back as part of Europe).
@ tallskin: The only "arse" here is you! Now I get your handle–you are a fu**ck*ing skin head who is taking it out on everyone because yor dad molested you! Get your racist shi*t out of here limey mofo before I kick your retarded, mother fuc*king, ass*ho;le out to the hellhole you came from, bia**tch!