‘Black propaganda’ against Turkey versus sweet little lies

“Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has accused international media outlets of launching a “black propaganda” campaign against Turkey,” said the state news agency’s story (in English). 

Apparently, Mr. Yıldırım is upset because a handful of English-language media outlets his government has set up to spread “white propaganda” and convince the entire world that things are coming up roses in Turkey goes widely unnoticed in objective international news reporting on Turkey.  

The prime minister said: “Turkey is faced with a perpetual perception operation run by international media outlets.” Then his most powerful blow came, possibly causing spasms of laughter in newsrooms at the international “enemy” media outlets. 

The purpose of that black propaganda, Mr. Yıldırım said, was to give the impression that “there was no stability in Turkey,” that “there is war in Turkey,” that “there is no rule of law in Turkey,” or that “people are dying every day in Turkey.” A campaign of lies… Of course there is stability in Turkey. For instance, Turkey’s instability is a very stable phenomenon. Turkey’s instability is rigidly stable. And of course there is no war in Turkey if you do not count the multiple (ethnic and jihadist) asymmetrical wars in the country. It is not true that there is no rule of law in Turkey. There is, of course, rule of law; whatever the ruling Islamist elite understands of the law is the rule of law.  

And of course people are not dying every day in Turkey. In the past year, for instance, there must have been at least a few days in which terror attacks on security forces or bomb and other attacks in Turkish cities or a putsch attempt did not kill people. In a span of a year the death toll must now be several thousands. 
All that does not count the average five murders per day since the beginning of this year until Sept. 9, or the 7,530 people who died in road accidents in 2015.  

But never mind, there is total peace and harmony in the society. According to a recent World Values Survey, only 11 percent of Turks believe that “most people can be trusted,” compared to, for instance, 45 percent in Germany – how naïve the poor Germans are! When it comes to trusting others, the survey found, Turks are at the bottom of an international list. 

There is a national feeling of unity, too. That feeling is supported by the most advanced anti-terror warfare techniques. In a thrillingly smart move against the Kurdish terrorists this summer, Turkey’s top Muslim cleric, Mehmet Görmez, issued a most punitive warning: “Those who choose the path of violence and terror will face the most raging pain in the afterlife.” In another campaign, the government has sent clerics to all corners of the country to preach to Muslims on how bad terror is. 

Most recently another headline of the “white propaganda” type heralded that 181 tribal chiefs from 16 different Turkish cities convened to protest terror and express their loyalty to the Turkish state. Is it not fascinating that in the year 2016, European Union-candidate Turkey has 181 tribal chiefs like it did two or three centuries ago? If that is not stability what else, then, could be?  

Prime Minister Yıldırım is right: Turkey, with all glamour and shine, boasts peace, stability and rule of law. Feeling too jealous that these national Turkish virtues do not exist in their failed states, Western media organizations are trying to portray Turkey as a mess and failure. 

None of that effort will undermine Turkey’s rise and rise, including a very dangerous conspiracy recently thwarted by the Turkish authorities.  

A Protestant pastor and his wife who have been living in Turkey for 20 years are now being deported on the grounds that their missionary activity posed a “threat to Turkey’s national security.” They should have been jailed for life, not deported. They should be grateful that there is rule of law in Turkey.