Aydın Ünal’s Statement

Incident Information 

Date of Incident: July 10, 2023

Location of Incident: Turkey

Identifying information of Perpetrator(s) Aydın Ünal, Journalist

Source: https://twitter.com/KronosHaber/status/1678321090643279873?t=qvA6sa81dtu08G-6OrZQyg&s=08

Hate Speech Analysis

Transcription of the hate speech statement: ” Üyeler ve ailelerinden oluşan, sayıları azımsanmayacak bir kitle oluştu. İşlerini kaybettikleri ya da hapis yattıkları için tüm aileleriyle birlikte devlete muhalif olan bu kitle, bu haliyle potansiyel tehdit içeriyor. Onun için, 15 Temmuz’un 7. yıldönümünde, ”FETÖ”ye karşı öfkemizi, kinimizi, yeniden diriltmemiz gerekiyor. ” (Translation: A considerable amount of members and their families formed. This mass, which is against the state with their entire families because they lost their jobs or went to prison, poses a potential threat as it stands. That’s why, on the 7th anniversary of July 15, we need to resurrect our hatred and resentment against ”FETÖ”.)

Target group(s) of the hate speech: The hate speech in this statement is directed against those alleged to be members of the Gülen movement.

Justification of the hate speech: There is no justification for hate speech. Hate speech is generally rooted in prejudice, intolerance, and a desire to demean or harm individuals based on their true or perceived affiliation, characteristics, or beliefs.

Analysis of the hate speech statement: The perpetrator refers to members of the Gulen movement or alleged members of the movement because the perpetrator uses the term ‘FETÖ’ in the rest of his statement. It is important to acknowledge that “FETÖ” is a derogatory label used by the Turkish government to stigmatize and marginalize followers of Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Islamic scholar residing in the United States. The deliberate usage of this term on social media perpetuates negative stereotypes and contributes to the stigmatization of individuals associated with the Gülen movement. It is important to recognize that hate speech targets specific groups or individuals based on their characteristics, affiliations, or beliefs, and serves to demean, marginalize, or incite hatred towards them. By employing the term “FETÖ” to refer to individuals allegedly affiliated with the Gülen movement, the statement contributes to the amplification of discriminatory and harmful rhetoric. Such language further reinforces negative perceptions, fuels social division, fans the flame of hatred and can lead to the marginalization and discrimination of the targeted group. It has to emphasise on the fact that the perpetrator publicly states in his statements that hatred and resentment against the Gulen movement needs to be rekindled which is directly an incitement to violence and arbitrary detentions.

Contextual information: The hate speech statement is part of a statement of Aydın Ünal, a journalist and ex-text writer of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, who used the term “FETÖ” in his statement. “FETÖ” is a derogatory term that the Turkish government coined to refer to the faith-based Gülen movement, which it deems a terrorist group responsible for a failed military coup in July 2016. Its US-based leader, Fethullah Gülen, denies any involvement in the putsch. The European Union and the United States have refused to adopt Turkey’s views on the group. The context of the post suggests a potential misuse of the term “FETÖ” to label and stigmatize individuals associated with the Gülen movement.

Impact of the statement: The usage of the term “FETÖ” may contribute to further stigmatization and discrimination against individuals associated with the Gülen movement and be a reason to legitimize arbitrary detentions. It has the potential to perpetuate negative stereotypes and create a hostile environment for this specific group.

Conclusion

The statement contains hate speech due to the usage of the derogatory term “FETÖ” to refer to individuals associated with the Gülen movement. Hate speech targets specific groups or individuals based on their characteristics, affiliations, or beliefs, and serves to demean, marginalize, or incite hatred towards them. The usage of such hate speech perpetuates negative stereotypes, contributes to the stigmatization of individuals, and fosters an environment of discrimination and social division. It is crucial to recognize the harmful impact of hate speech and to promote responsible journalism that upholds principles of equality, fairness, and respect for all individuals, regardless of their affiliations or backgrounds. In addition, he defames the movement with baseless slander as a drug smuggling group.