The Story of Blood and the Mask

 The Story of Blood and the Mask

Author: Gouya Roshan (Güya Aydın )

Today, politicians rely more than ever on image management and public opinion control. The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is one of the most striking examples of this process; for years, he has portrayed himself as a devout defender of justice, a protector of the oppressed, and a leader who saves Turkey from external threats. Yet, behind this polished image lie much harsher realities.

Behind the religious rhetoric and populist claims, Erdoğan has built a power structure based on repression, ethnic discrimination, and interference with democratic processes. One of Turkey’s largest ethnic minorities, the Kurds, have long been victims of this discriminatory political order. From the suppression of Kurdish political actors to military operations in Kurdish regions of Syria and Iraq, Erdoğan’s policies are rooted in distrust, violence, and marginalization.

This article seeks to closely examine the contradictions in Erdoğan’s behavior, the devastating impact of his policies on the Kurdish people, and the political maneuvers hidden behind the mask of justice and democracy. The real question we must ask is: Can a man who presents himself as the savior of the people actually be the true enemy of his own people?

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey, has for many years tried to present himself as a devout, populist defender of justice. But there is a stark difference between his policies and the reality. Erdoğan not only targets the Kurdish people with discrimination and repression but also systematically intervenes in their democratic rights.

Erdoğan's hatred and hostility toward the Kurds are clearly evident in both Turkey's domestic and foreign policies. This hostility is not only rooted in ethnic or political prejudice but also used as a tool to increase control over Kurdish regions. For example, in 2024, when a Kurdish citizen was elected as mayor of the city of Van by popular vote, the central government disregarded this democratic decision and removed the elected official without justification. This move is not only a violation of the local people's will but also a clear indicator of the systematic exclusion of Kurds from executive and administrative bodies.

Moreover, under the pretext of fighting terrorism, Erdoğan has deployed thousands of Turkish soldiers to Kurdish regions in northern Iraq and Syria. These operations are claimed to target armed Kurdish groups but often turn into assaults on innocent civilians, destroying lives in the region. This approach not only fuels ethnic tensions and hatred but also forms the foundation of ongoing humanitarian and political crises in the area.

In this context, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and its Iranian affiliate PJAK (Kurdistan Free Life Party) are significant and controversial actors. Since the 1980s, the PKK has been conducting an armed struggle in Turkey and is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. This group demands autonomy in Kurdish regions and has been engaged in a bloody war with the Turkish military for decades. PJAK operates in Iran and is linked to the PKK, focusing more on Kurdish rights within Iran.

The Erdoğan government uses the existence of these groups to legitimize widespread repression and military assaults, labeling the entire Kurdish population as “terrorists.” This policy has led to regional tensions both domestically and in relations with neighboring countries.

On the other hand, Erdoğan does not truly care for the Turkish people either. He sends young Turks to wars whose purposes and beneficiaries are often unclear, wars that serve nothing but to strengthen Erdoğan’s own political position. As a result of these policies, thousands of young Turkish lives are lost, and national unity within the country is weakened.

Overall, Erdoğan’s policies paint the portrait of a man who, under the mask of piety and populism, schemes to suppress minorities and maintain his grip on power. This “man of a thousand faces” is not only the enemy of the Kurds but also no true friend to the Turkish people; behind his policies lie personal ambition and a hunger for power.