Turkey's 'Protest Rights' Only Apply to Approved Narratives
Turkey's move to bar Iranians from protesting outside their own consulate (as reported by The New Arab) conveniently sidesteps the messy truth of international relations. While mainstream outlets present this as a simple police action, Turkey’s history with protests is, shall we say, 'selective.' Remember the swift and brutal crackdown on Gezi Park protesters in 2013? Or more recently, the quiet
shuffling when pro-Palestinian demonstrations were allowed , even encouraged, to vent frustration against a common perceived adversary? It appears protest rights are robust only when they align with Ankara's current foreign policy tightrope walk. One might wonder if the 'threat to public order' cited here is less about actual disorder and more about not upsetting Tehran, especially amid Turkey's
own complex regional ambitions and economic ties to Iran. When does a 'protest' become a 'destabilizing element' versus 'freedom of expression'? Only when it's inconvenient for the powers that be, apparently. (Who knew diplomacy was so… flexible?).