Bayram etiquette

CULTURE/PROPA TURKISH 

By Eray & Koray

With the recent run of Bayrams (there seems to be one every week), it made us think about an important tradition: ‘At what age do you stop kissing the hands of your elders when you greet them and when should you start extending yours?’

Like the rest of Britain, many Turks are getting married and having kids far older. Does that mean they cross the hand-kissing threshold later too? There’s nothing worse than meeting an older person and not knowing appropriate greeting methods.

Would a Nene aged 58 be a ‘kiss-the-cheeker’ or a ‘hand-kisser’? When does an Abi upgrade to an Enişte or skip straight to Amca even if he isn’t your dad’s brother? At what age should you keep cash for kids kissing your hand at Bayram? Who sets these rules?

Urgent London bone marrow appeal to help Turkish Cypriot mother of two

NEWS/UK TURKS

The TRNC London Office has made an appeal to help find a matching bone marrow donor for a Turkish Cypriot diagnosed with an aggressive blood cancer. Mrs Letife Çavuşoğlu, aged 49 is the mother of Hale Çavuşoğlu, who works as a secretary at the TRNC London office. She recently found out she has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia – the same disease that Bengu Shail bravely battled against.

Letife Hanim, formerly a pharmacist at Chase Farm Hospital, is currently having chemotherapy treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead and is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant. The Turkish Cypriot Doctors & Dentists Association UK, supported by Delete Blood Cancer (the UK arm of DKMS – the biggest donor centre in the world), has launched a campaign to quickly help find her a life-saving donor.

Two donor testing events are being hosted in London next month with British Turks and others originating from the Mediterranean region aged between 18-55 years old and of good health invited to attend. The testing process is simple: register your personal details and provide a saliva sample, which all takes just a few minutes. The samples will be tested to see if they match with Letife Hanim. Details will also be held on the donor database of Delete Blood Cancer in case it can help others fighting this deadly disease.

Donor test days and locations:

• SOUTH LONDON: Saturday 8 February between 10:00-12:00 at Rauf R. Denktaş Turkish School, Blackfen School for Gırls, Blackfen Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9NU

• NORTH LONDON: Sunday 9 February, Sunday between 12:00-14:00, Hornsey Atatürk School, Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, LondonN8 9JF

Please attend if you can and do circulate this news to others – you really could help save a life.

Get Away to Cappadocia

PLACES / HOLIDAYS

By Aliye Arif

Discerning travellers seeking a stimulating holiday to explore the rich history and fascinating landscape of Turkey need look no further than Cappadocia. Located in central Anatolia, this is a geological wonderland of lunar-like rock formations, the result of the downward erosion of layers of volcanic ash deposited millions of years ago. Natural cone formations smoothed by the elements are now known as fairy chimneys, which lead to caves and labyrinths below ground. See them silently at dawn from a balloon gondola, with a partner by your side, for maximum effect.

History

Cappadocia was ruled by the Hattis in the late Bronze Age, then Hittites, Phrygians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans, who were drawn by to the region’s fertile plains and strategic importance to key trade routes, such as the illustrious Silk Road. These diverse races ensured that a myriad of historical and cultural influences were left behind.

The location’s attractiveness meant the region was also frequently under attack. It prompted local inhabitants, including the early Christians fleeing Roman persecution, to create living spaces from Cappadocia’s natural caverns whose entrances could be easily concealed from invading forces. In time, these troglodytic dwellings became moulded by men into subterranean cities with homes, churches, water supplies, and incredible Byzantine frescoes.

Lie of the land

The natural rock citadel of Uçhisar is the tallest point in Cappadocia, visible for a great distance from the region's other towns such as Ürgüp (good nightlife) and Avanos, famed for its pottery. The underground cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu contain vast multi-levels of rooms and passageways that will leave you feeling like you're lost in a huge historical labyrinth. Derinkuyu for example was re-opened to the public in 1969 and is large enough to shelter 20,000 people and their livestock. Newly restored is the Monastery of St Nicholas located in Mustafapaşa. Other areas worth a trek are the Ihlara Valley and Monastery Valley. It’s good to travel around on foot, either as part of a tour or with an experienced private guide, who can help you to discover historical gems that are off the beaten track.

Göreme National Park and Open-Air Museum

Göreme is Cappadocia’s centre of tourism, with the entire area a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town is a short 20-minute walk (1 mile) to the Göreme Open-Air Museum situated in Göreme Valley, where you can see the region's richest collection of painted cave-churches. These were carved from the soft volcanic stone by medieval orthodox Christian monks (1000-1200 AD) who then decorated them with elaborate Byzantine frescoes.

 Hot-air ballooning

Thrill-seekers can appreciate Cappadocia’s natural wonders and aesthetic elegance by hot air balloon. There are a half-dozen firms operating out of Göreme daily. Start times are early, around 4.30am, and April through to October are generally the best times to fly, with a greater chance of cancellation at other times of the year due to bad weather.

Beyond the caves

If walking is too arduous, see Cappadocia on horseback. A 2-hour safari from Göreme will set you back €40. Amongst the striking scenery, you can also squeeze in a romantic gondola ride in the Red River or a jeep safari between the Fairy Chimney Valleys. Wine-making is said to go back 7,000 years and the region boasts excellent grapes. A modern and popular winery to visit is Turasan, where you can sample a range of quality wines at great prices. Local crafts are also in abundance: Soğanlı village is where the famous handmade wooden dolls of Cappadocia are produced. Visit Avanos to pick up terracotta pottery – their methods date back to the Neolithic age. The handmade Turkish rugs are highly sought-after for their brilliant attention to detail.

  

Accommodation

First-time visitors are in for a unique treat when it comes to staying over in Cappadocia, which is now teeming with boutique hotels and guest houses. Many, such as the luxurious Hezen Cave Hotel (pictured) and the smaller, family-run Star Cave Hotel are carved directly out of natural rock. They have been carefully adapted and include all the mod-cons, comforts and style of any other hotel, while offering a stunning environment to rest and great panoramic views of the surrounding areas. For those in need of more conventional accommodation, many Ottoman-era mansions in the region are being restored and turned into hotels and inns (pansions).

Cappadocia’s continental climate means hot dry summers and cold snowy winters. Rainfall is sparse and the region is largely semi-arid. Nearest airport: Nevşehir.

Tour operators:

www.ecoturkey.com

www.petersommer.com

Main photo courtesy of Turkey Tourism UK Office, hot air balloon image by Arda Cakır.

Reinstatement of anti-Turkish, anti-Muslim Tory councillor prompts new campaign to get him banned

NEWS/UK TURKS

News that an Enfield councillor who made offensive remarks about his constituents, Turks and Muslims, has been welcomed back into the Tory fold and is preparing to stand again in the May local elections has generated widespread criticism.

Conservative councillor Chris Joannides hit the headlines last year over a series of comments he made via social media, prompting several formal complaints. His offensive remarks included claiming: ‘terrorist groups like Hamas use children as propaganda tools’ underneath a picture of a Palestinian woman cradling an injured or dead child. On other occasions, he posted comments about how his constituents were ‘eating into his social time’ even though he is paid to meet the needs of his constituents.

Joannides, of Greek Cypriot heritage, also made a number of anti-Turkish comments. These ranged from using ‘Tourkosporos’ (seed of Turk), a derogatory term, to insult others and one-sided, inaccurate commentary about the Cyprus conflict aimed at demonising Turks, who he claimed: "killed 6,000, raped 1,000 women, children and disabled". He labelled North Cyprus "the racist so-called TRNC".

As a councillor in a borough with a huge ethnic Turkish community – Turkish is Enfield’s second most commonly spoken language – his efforts to pass his offensive comments off as “banter” was deemed unacceptable by many.

Initial complainant said: "no shame in exposing a member of your own community...By keeping quiet, you are just as bad as person who committed wrongdoing.”

The initial complaint against Joannides was made last year by a local constituent of Greek Cypriot extraction. She chose to remain anonymous after receiving threats from nationalists in her community. At the time, she told Weekly Zaman, “There is no place for xenophobia anywhere.  There is no shame in exposing or revealing a member of your own community if that person has done wrong. By keeping quiet, you are just as bad as the person who has committed the wrongdoing.”

Fevzi Hussein, chair of human rights group Embargoed! which has been at the forefront of combating racism against Turks, said: “We believe in zero tolerance for racists and religious bigots. We have seen the comments Mr Joannides allegedly made online. If true, he has to go.”

Following the complaints, Joannides was suspended by his party. A police investigation found he had not broken any laws to justify a prosecution. As a result, Joannides’ local Conservative Party decided to restore the party whip.

An article in last week’s London Turkish Gazette stated that Joannides had also been selected to stand in the local elections this May, infuriating British Turks. 

Online petition calling for Joannides' candidacy to be suspended signed by dozens within days of launch. Turkish Tories also complain about councillor's reinstatement.

An online petition launched by Yasar Duyal calls on the authorities to suspend his candidacy and has been signed by dozens of people within days of going live. The petition has been logged with Enfield Council who are monitoring the support it receives.

The controversial councillor still has to face Enfield Council’s cross-party disciplinary panel, which will assess what action, if any, to take following his comments, which were deleted last year. The Conservative Party’s national board can also intervene.

T-VINE has been informed by reliable sources that Turkish Tories in North London have made internal complaints to their party about Joannides’ reinstatement. Many do not wish to be associated with him and they are demanding he is barred from standing in the May elections to prevent an anti-Tory backlash from voters offended by his comments.

Bigoted North London councillor exposed: T-VINE article, 1 March 2013

Thousands turn out in Turkey to pay respects & demand justice for murdered Turkish Armenian Hrant Dink

NEWS/TURKEY

Thousands of people gathered in Istanbul to remember Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink on the seventh anniversary of his death.Standing outside his Agos newspaper offices on İstiklal Caddesi, where he had been murdered, they demanded justice for Dink and condemned the state for failing him.

World media captured the thousands of people who had assembled at Taksim square to remember the journalist, before marching a short distance to the spot where he had been slain in 2007. A large banner hung below the Agos office window read: “Seven Years, Together They Protected [the perpetrators], Together They Remained Silent”. Those waiting to address the crowds were met by a sea of placards, which bore the following messages: “For Hrant, For Justice”, “We are all Hrant, We are all Armenian”, and “We are here Brother”, while others labelled Turkey a “killer state”.

The 52-year old ethnic Armenian was shot in broad daylight outside his offices by Ogün Samast, a 17-year old extreme nationalist, who was tried and found guilty of Dink’s murder. Samast was sentenced to 23 years in jail in 2011. However, other older suspects were all acquitted, a decision recently quashed by Turkey’s Supreme Court of Appeals. Two of the prime suspects, Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel, are now being retried. Dink’s family and friends are highly critical of the state’s handling of the case and the failure to bring to justice all those implicated in the crime.

In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey had failed to protect Dink, despite being warned that ultra-nationalists were plotting to kill him. The prominent journalist had long campaigned for Turkey to recognise as “genocide” the 1915 killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks and was subsequently tried for ‘denigrating Turkishness’.

Dink’s death has brought to the fore the demonization by the Turkish mainstream of such activists – in 2000 Kurdish singer Ahmet Kaya was driven into exile by a hate campaign after he announced he wanted to record in Kurdish – and the right to freely debate the Armenian massacres and other contentious issues in Turkey.

European Court rules denying Armenian “genocide” not a crime

NEWS/GLOBAL

The European Court of Justice has ruled that it is not a criminal offence to deny the mass killings of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 were “genocide”. The case came about following a decision by the Swiss Parliament to make such denials an offence. As a result, Doğu Perinçek (pictured), leader of Turkey’s Labour Party, was fined following his comments on the issue at a 2005 debate in Switzerland, in which he called the Armenian genocide "an international lie".

The ECJ, which upholds the 47-nation European Convention on Human Rights, said the Swiss law against genocide denial violated the principle of freedom of expression. It added that the evidence about the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 did not equate to the legal understanding of genocide:

"Genocide is a very narrowly defined legal notion which is difficult to prove…Mr Perincek was making a speech of a historical, legal and political nature in a contradictory debate."

As part of its ruling made on 17 December 2013, the court drew a distinction between the Armenian case and denying the Nazi Holocaust. In the latter, the court argued, "the plaintiffs had denied sometimes very concrete historical facts such as the existence of gas chambers…They denied crimes committed by the Nazi regime that had a clear legal basis. Furthermore, the facts they denied had been clearly been established by an international tribunal."

A similar effort by France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy to make it compulsory to refer to the Armenian tragedy as “genocide” was ruled "an unconstitutional violation of the right to freedom of speech and communication" by France's Constitutional Council in 2012.

While Armenians are bitterly disappointed about the verdict, many in Turkey view the ruling a major victory not only for Perinçek, but also for Turkey. Many Turkish historians, politicians and other global commentators have long argued that the Armenian account of the events of 1915 is neither truthful nor balanced.

Switzerland has three months to appeal against the ECJ ruling.

100 Years of Western Music in Turkey: Mehmet Okanşar piano concert

 

Mehmet Okonşar, a renowned musicologist, pianist and composer from Turkey, will be performing at Pushkin House, Bloomsbury, on Thursday 23 January as part of a series charting the birth and development of the Republic of Turkey. The event is organised by the MCS Young Artists Fund and will take place under the auspices of H.E. the Turkish Ambassador Mr. Ünal Çeviköz. Following the concert, Mehmet Okonşar will hold a Q&A session with the audience.

2013 marked the 90th year of the demise of the Ottoman Empire and the birth of the Republic of Turkey. As the countdown to Turkey’s centenary year begins, the series: Countdown – 100 years of Western Music in Turkey 2013-2024 will put the spotlight on how Classical music from the West fused with Turkish culture.

Concert Programme

The event will start with a brief introduction and a short talk by Mehmet Okonşar on the History of Piano performance in Turkey, to by the followed by his piano recital:

• Piano sonata KV331 in A minor – ‘Turkish March’ - W.A. Mozart

Interval

• Three Sonnetti da Petrarca – Franz Liszt
• Three movements of Petrouchka – Igor Stravinsky

About the lecture talk

How Mozart was inspired by the Turkish Military Band (Mehter Takımı). How Liszt's performance inspired the Sultan who hosted Western operas at his palace, and how the arrival of Kemal Atatürk influenced general public perception of the shared European cultural heritage.

Both through his lecture and performance, Mehmet Okonşar will guide the audience through the history of Western Classical music in Turkey. The evening will be followed by Q&A and an optional champagne reception with Mr Okonşar.

Venue address: Pushkin House, 5A Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2TA

Doors open: 6.30pm

Concert starts: 7.30pm

Tickets are priced £20 with an optional £12 for the post-event champagne reception, which can be purchased:

• By telephone from the Pushkin House 020 7269 9770
• Online from Eventbrite.com 
• Or email ticket@mcsyaf.com for more information