Kaffa kaput
Reports from Turkey today say arrest warrants have been issued for forty two journalists. Thousands of soldiers, judges, civil servants, teachers and university heads have been arrested or suspended since the 15th July failed coup.
The Turkish authorities tell us they blame the coup attempt on the Gulenist movement, erstwhile associates of the current ruling party and leading players in previous actions to reduce the influence of secularist elements in the military and other wings of the state establishment.
When I was writing Blood from a Shadow in 2011/12, I did some research into the position of the Turkish military as a component of modern Turkish society.
This informed my writing of the Inspector Mehmet Kaffa character as the embodiment of the military as the self-proclaimed guardians of secularism and modernisation, continuing Kemal Ataturk's rejection of the Turkey of the Ottomans.
Political realities and perceptions are never static and I wonder now if my Kaffa character is, or soon will be, redundant in contemporary Turkey.
“I am a military man, I was trained and educated to defend Turkey against all enemies,” Kaffa said. “You understand that, Con. But because we defend the constitution, we are abused by east and west. You know Turkey is a country of Islam, of course, almost 100%. Does the west ever consider why Turkey has not become like Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia? Ruled by Islamic extremists like these other countries? No, they don’t consider, but it is only the Turkish military which has prevented this. So what does Europe say? They say the Turkish military is an evil force, keeping human rights from its poor people! and who are these poor people? The religious extremists who are the enemies of the west! Sometimes, I feel very frustrated, my friend, they do not want to understand.”
“Do you think the extremists will take over some day, Mehmet?” I said.
“The Turkish military will never allow that, my friend, despite the insults our western friends offer to us. You know, we said ‘Fine, we will join the European Union, that will bring us closer to the west and pull the rug from the feet of the extremists’. What did the European Union say? They said, ‘No, you cannot join us until you relax your laws against the terrorists, give more human rights to the extremists!’ So, fine, we give more space to the Islamists. Their people are even in government now. Does Europe welcome Turkey to the table? No, of course not, they only create more barriers! Every time we make concessions to the extremists, Turkey is weakened and so is Europe. Is that what the fools want, to weaken Turkey and strengthen the Islamic extremists on their doorstep? And what is behind it all, do you think? Because they fear their cultural memory of the Turk? They remember when the Ottoman Turks had the power to smash their Christian civilisation? I tell you, my friend, it is time they grew up, we are not fighting the Crusades anymore!”
“Did you run that past Artie McCooey when you were in Ireland with him, Mehmet?”
Kaffa calmed down.
“Oh yes, Monsignor Arthur, a very wise and holy man, but a religious extremist too, my friend, believe me. We had many good debates, and he is a friend of Turkey and a good friend of mine, but he does not really understand, you see. Ask Monsignor Arthur about Franco in Spain, when you see him again. That fascist Franco died in 1975. Did the European Union create a maze of barriers to prevent fascist Spain from joining? Of course not! ‘Come and join us straight away, Spain, your European brothers will help you to modernise’, that is what they said. Do they extend the same welcome to Turkey? No, they spit in our faces and say you are not ready. Give more European rights to the terrorists, then you will be ready! Is that how they help the USA in the war against terrorism, while half of the European cowards shirk their own duty, leaving Turkey to stand alone?”
We slowed down, turned left, slower, then stopped. I waited for Kaffa to give me the all clear before coming out of hiding. He passed me an envelope, two grand in Turkish Lira.
“The people you will have to mix with will tell you terrible stories about the military, Con,” he said. “Perhaps even about me. Just remember, Turkey would already be under extremist control if our military did not defend the constitution. The extremists will never be good for Turkey or for America. That is why we must continue to do our duty, first and foremost. Personal matters are not important. You understand me, don’t you, Con? We must try to forget about our friend Ferdia for now, and concentrate on our duty. This will not be a problem for us, ok?”
I understood him fine, military man to military man, and I was there to do my duty, that would not be a problem. But I would find and kill McErlane’s killer, with or without Kaffa’s help.
The Turkish authorities tell us they blame the coup attempt on the Gulenist movement, erstwhile associates of the current ruling party and leading players in previous actions to reduce the influence of secularist elements in the military and other wings of the state establishment.
When I was writing Blood from a Shadow in 2011/12, I did some research into the position of the Turkish military as a component of modern Turkish society.
This informed my writing of the Inspector Mehmet Kaffa character as the embodiment of the military as the self-proclaimed guardians of secularism and modernisation, continuing Kemal Ataturk's rejection of the Turkey of the Ottomans.
Political realities and perceptions are never static and I wonder now if my Kaffa character is, or soon will be, redundant in contemporary Turkey.
“I am a military man, I was trained and educated to defend Turkey against all enemies,” Kaffa said. “You understand that, Con. But because we defend the constitution, we are abused by east and west. You know Turkey is a country of Islam, of course, almost 100%. Does the west ever consider why Turkey has not become like Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia? Ruled by Islamic extremists like these other countries? No, they don’t consider, but it is only the Turkish military which has prevented this. So what does Europe say? They say the Turkish military is an evil force, keeping human rights from its poor people! and who are these poor people? The religious extremists who are the enemies of the west! Sometimes, I feel very frustrated, my friend, they do not want to understand.”
“Do you think the extremists will take over some day, Mehmet?” I said.
“The Turkish military will never allow that, my friend, despite the insults our western friends offer to us. You know, we said ‘Fine, we will join the European Union, that will bring us closer to the west and pull the rug from the feet of the extremists’. What did the European Union say? They said, ‘No, you cannot join us until you relax your laws against the terrorists, give more human rights to the extremists!’ So, fine, we give more space to the Islamists. Their people are even in government now. Does Europe welcome Turkey to the table? No, of course not, they only create more barriers! Every time we make concessions to the extremists, Turkey is weakened and so is Europe. Is that what the fools want, to weaken Turkey and strengthen the Islamic extremists on their doorstep? And what is behind it all, do you think? Because they fear their cultural memory of the Turk? They remember when the Ottoman Turks had the power to smash their Christian civilisation? I tell you, my friend, it is time they grew up, we are not fighting the Crusades anymore!”
“Did you run that past Artie McCooey when you were in Ireland with him, Mehmet?”
Kaffa calmed down.
“Oh yes, Monsignor Arthur, a very wise and holy man, but a religious extremist too, my friend, believe me. We had many good debates, and he is a friend of Turkey and a good friend of mine, but he does not really understand, you see. Ask Monsignor Arthur about Franco in Spain, when you see him again. That fascist Franco died in 1975. Did the European Union create a maze of barriers to prevent fascist Spain from joining? Of course not! ‘Come and join us straight away, Spain, your European brothers will help you to modernise’, that is what they said. Do they extend the same welcome to Turkey? No, they spit in our faces and say you are not ready. Give more European rights to the terrorists, then you will be ready! Is that how they help the USA in the war against terrorism, while half of the European cowards shirk their own duty, leaving Turkey to stand alone?”
We slowed down, turned left, slower, then stopped. I waited for Kaffa to give me the all clear before coming out of hiding. He passed me an envelope, two grand in Turkish Lira.
“The people you will have to mix with will tell you terrible stories about the military, Con,” he said. “Perhaps even about me. Just remember, Turkey would already be under extremist control if our military did not defend the constitution. The extremists will never be good for Turkey or for America. That is why we must continue to do our duty, first and foremost. Personal matters are not important. You understand me, don’t you, Con? We must try to forget about our friend Ferdia for now, and concentrate on our duty. This will not be a problem for us, ok?”
I understood him fine, military man to military man, and I was there to do my duty, that would not be a problem. But I would find and kill McErlane’s killer, with or without Kaffa’s help.
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