Rapidly Islamizing Turkey is clearly moving toward reimposing Sharia blasphemy laws. But the Turks are still “moderate”: Hikmet Cetinkaya and Ceyda Karan could have been sentenced to death. And in prison, they will be in serious danger.
Meanwhile, anyone in the West who starts to feel self-righteous about Turkey and freedom of speech should remember the chorus of condemnation we received from the mainstream media (and others) last year after jihadis attacked our Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest. People aren’t jailed yet in the U.S. for Muhammad cartoons, but there are plenty of people here who would like to see that happen. It’s coming.
“Turkey columnists get two years in jail over Charlie Hebdo cartoon,” AFP, April 28, 2016:
An Istanbul court on Thursday sentenced two prominent Turkish journalists to two years behind bars for illustrating their columns with a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed originally published by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
“The Prophet Mohammed.” AFP, like all of the mainstream media, assumes that Muhammad is everyone’s prophet, and that we are all Muslims now.
The sentence handed to columnists Hikmet Cetinkaya and Ceyda Karan, both columnists with the opposition Cumhuriyet daily, intensified alarm over press freedoms in Turkey under strongman President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has made Islam the cornerstone of his politics.
“The two journalists were sentenced to two years each in jail,” said their lawyer Bulent Utku. “We will appeal the ruling at the appeals court,” Utku told AFP following a hearing at Istanbul’s criminal court.
The pair, who went on trial in January last year, were acquitted of “insulting religious values” but convicted on charges of “inciting public hatred”.
They were sentenced to three years in jail, which was reduced to two by the court on technical grounds.
‘Erdogan’s family among plaintiffs’
The state-run Anatolia news agency said the case was brought by a total of 1,280 plaintiffs including Erdogan’s daughters Esra and Sumeyye, his son Bilal and his son-in-law, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak.
The Erdogan family was represented by a lawyer in court, it added.
After the verdict, members of the public who had brought the complaint and were present in court shouted “Allahu Akbar”, Cumhuriyet reported — Arabic for ‘God is greatest’….

Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Normally here I’d scream that Turkey is an ally, but that would be Islamophobic cuz Britian is an ally too, and they shut down the free speech of Spencer and Geller by denying them entry. The same happened in another ally country, Holland, and yet a third ally country, Canada, with their prosecution of Mark Steyn. Now all Canadian writers know to curb their tongues when it comes to commenting on their glum scowling hairy neighbors.
It’s become a crime to tell the truth. Orwell must be rolling in his grave. But another Canadian, Marshall McLuhan, would be unsurprised at this. Islam reporting and commentary is a hot medium, the Moslem Medium. That’s why they always win.
Jay Boo says
“The “Partnership for Peace Training Center ….. provides strategic and tactical level training to military and civilian personnel from partner countries.”
That can’t be good
Full article at:
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/nato.en.mfa
marc says
The banned German poem for erdogan
https://freespeechdefense.net/german-poem-for-erdogan/
Jack Diamond says
From the article: “Trials for insulting Erdogan have multiplied since his election to the presidency in August 2014, with nearly 2,000 such cases currently open.”
A government deputy quoted by journalist Mustafa Akyol in 2011: “Even touching Erdogan is a form of worship.”
“We say ‘Salli Ala {Allah pray upon] Muhammed’ when we see him (Erdogan)” –AKP lawmaker Yasin Aktay as quoted in Al Monitor.
“He was reciting an Islamic phrase, known as “salavat,” used to salute and praise the Prophet Muhammad or to express allegiance to him.
In another recent incident, the head of an AKP youth branch in Istanbul posted on Twitter a picture of a water glass Erdogan had used, as if presenting a fetish object. ‘This is the glass from which our president drank water while making his speech,’ he wrote.”
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2016/03/turkey-erdogan-steps-up-politics-in-holy-realm.html#
Jack Diamond says
Genius in control of an army alert:
“Mr. Erdoğan claimed that Muslim explorers reached the Moon more than 300 years before the beginning of the Appolo (sic) program, vowing to build a mosque “in the crater” where they landed.
“It is alleged that the first man to walk on the moon was Neil Armstrong in 1969,” Erdoğan said. “In fact, Muslim space explorers reached our satellite 334 years before that, in 1635.”
http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/ottomans-were-the-first-to-reach-the-moon-says-turkish-president/
marc says
I love satire, but when it’s too believable it causes issues.
http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/disclaimer/
“WNDR assumes however all responsibility for the satirical nature of its articles and for the fictional nature of their content.”
jayell says
And of course they found it was made of cheese. Halal cheese, of course. And they got there flying on horses. Just like Mohammed!
JMB says
Perhaps Ergodan can team up with Obama and use the resources of NASA for a Mosque on the Moon project!
The Turks can get more information on how to do this by reading and learning from their arch rivals, the Greeks, and their attempts to get into space first, thousands of years ago, some guy by the name of Icarus. (He failed because of technical issues.)
In the mean time they can make sure any green cheese involved up there is fully Halal compliant.
And more seriously, Turkey is in NATO, wants to be in the EU, wants to be a safe destination for tourists and generally be part of the modern world, again this is a bit of a worry.
Anne Smith says
And the EU wants this stupid Muslim President and his backward country to join the EU by 2017.
75 million Turks will then have the unfettered right to enter Europe. Saudi Arabia will pay for all the mosques they will need. Islam will win – it will be the end of Christianity.
No wonder Obama came to Britain to tell us we have to stay in the EU – otherwise his Muslim mates would be unable to take over Britain as well as the rest of Europe.
Kolga says
“In our day, it is considered worse to judge evil than to do evil”. – Os Guiness.
common sense says
Quote of the day!
Champ says
Bravo, Kolga!
Jay Boo says
Dump Turkey from NATO and let Russia whomp on Erdogan.
DFD says
Hi Jay Boo,
this is a bit of a cross post, a reply to Agemon, nevertheless, have a look at these, it’ll give you an idea what we really can expect from Russia:
First one about the Muslim capital of Europe, Moscow. It’s from 2011, reading (English subs) inside is 2009…
https://youtu.be/Aihmte1DWvA from 2011
https://youtu.be/GqQcZwf-i4A
The second is about the opening of one of these triumphant megamosques – one of Europe’s largest. In, drumroll… Moscow! Attended by the various Imams, plus the ultra tough and sternly pro Christian, anti Islam Putin, oh dear, oh dear. And, not to be missed, Erdogan. Probably one of those occasions were Putin puts him in his place.
I wonder if Christianblood(curdling) is going to show up in this thread. And how he’s going to blame the west for this, may be we can ask him next time? ?
Jay Boo says
Thanks DFD
I will take a look at that link later when I get a chance around the AM — US EST
Angemon says
Undoubtedly to try to make their conviction palatable to sceptics who say that Turkey shouldn’t be allowed into the EU for, amongst other things, having blasphemy laws.
miriamrove says
erdogan is more vile that the saudis are. m
Angemon says
He also has a more eminently punchable face and kickable balls:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKfwUmQakaI
That he reacts to satire with the flair, panache and thin skin of a South American dictator only makes him a more desirable target 🙂
Jerry says
And this brutal oppression of free expression could easily come to America, it’s already started in Europe. The right of people to express their minds is now constrained for a violent and retarded ideology called islam and the people who live it. Intellectual freedom and humor must bow to muslims’ demonic doctrine of hatred for the infidel. It’s become taboo or even criminal to express truth by way of humor or facts that offend. The new paradigm: If we object to islam’s creed of bigotry and murder we’re islamophobes. If we make the logical connection between islamic jihad and terrorism then we don’t understand islam, “jihad” means good exercise don’t you know! If we denounce sexual mutilation, honor killings, or homophobic murder, then we’re racists and moral absolutists imposing our unfair will. If we point out their violent and uncompromising enclaves and sharia zones, we aren’t multicultural enough.
No matter how fair or reasoned our concerns about islam and muslims we’re always at the bottom of the hill where the sh*t rolls down.
Everyone should know by now, people that stand against islam’s jihad hate for the infidel are working for human rights. And anyone that defends or ignores these ugly truths are aiding an ideology not much different from Nazism. The politicians, the media, next time you hear those people speak this way please know you are listening to a traitor of the worst possible kind.
common sense says
Atheists and lefties have no problem removing the 10 commandments from society and continuously attacking our cultural religion. Actual attacks and removal of our beliefs and faith are ok for them and pinning Christ to a dart board is art but we are not supposed to tell the truth about Mohamed with cartoons and comedy. If any Muslims read these post’s I hope you saw Trumps speech on foreign policy. IS will be attacked all this will start to swing the other way. Hillary will fail and already is so flawed and weak the left will not be able stand her to mount these perpetual vile attacks.
EmHotep says
Erdogan and his followers (50 %) are planning to change the Turkish constitution, replacing with a religious one which mentions allah and no secularism. There is no place for seculars, alawites, christians, jews, kurds, atheists and so on. He is also planning to use 3 million syrian sunni refugees against countries own people.
Moreover by supporting ISIS he is trying to control Europe, mid east and some parts of Africa. Fanatic followers of him believes that he is sent by allah. People are so scared to say anything since you can virtually get killed in this environment.
Maybe a civil war is a solution but we are few in numbers and he controls army and police force which became islamic army and ISIS type police.
Despite everything, with his and arab money, the number of Erdogan followers increasing day by day .. We are losing against islamofascist sharia lover erdogan ..
Anne Smith says
Erdogan is presiding over the most dreadful betrayal of all that Kemal Attaturk achieved and the good he did for Turkey.
Xero_G says
The pair of journalists were “convicted on charges of “inciting public hatred”.
The biggest incitement to public hatred (towards non-believers) is the Koran.
Wakeup says
Time they were tbrown out of NATO.
Richard says
“After the verdict, members of the public who had brought the complaint and were present in court shouted “Allahu Akbar”, Cumhuriyet reported — Arabic for ‘God is greatest’ ”
Allahu Akbar means Allah is the greatest. It stems from Muhammad’s pagan origins and the pagan origins of Islam. The greatest what? – The greatest god – of all the gods of Mecca.
Max Saturation says
Allahu Akbar actually means, “Allah is greatest”. It’s an important distinction. Allah is the Muslim God, not the Christian God, who is named Yaweh. Please make that distinction.
Mubarak says
The trademark of Islam is, that it can only be imposed.
Carolyne says
Yes. it is coming if we do not prevent Hillary Clinton from becoming President. She attended a UN meeting while Secretary of State where censorshio, especially criticism of Islam, was propounded. That meeting was in Istanbul. If only will require one more left-wing Supreme Court Justice to overturn the First and Second Amendments, doing away with our freedom of speech and the right to own guns. That is what the left (Democrats) is aiming for and that is what will happen if a Democrat is allowed to nominate a Justice and if he/she is confirmed. Trump or Cruz are lall that stands between us and our complete loss of freedom and our country as we know it.