my last day before the vacation I I was in Istanbul and just you’re getting
in Istanbul and just you’re getting
in Istanbul and just you’re getting ready to pack our bags and at just
ready to pack our bags and at just
ready to pack our bags and at just around 9:00 p.m. my aunt runs up into
around 9:00 p.m. my aunt runs up into
around 9:00 p.m. my aunt runs up into the living room and starts yelling oh my
the living room and starts yelling oh my
the living room and starts yelling oh my god there’s a coup now okay at first I
god there’s a coup now okay at first I
god there’s a coup now okay at first I thought this was just some classic
thought this was just some classic
thought this was just some classic family exaggeration but as I turned on
family exaggeration but as I turned on
family exaggeration but as I turned on TV I realized that both the bridges both
TV I realized that both the bridges both
TV I realized that both the bridges both bosphorous bridges that connect Asia to
bosphorous bridges that connect Asia to
bosphorous bridges that connect Asia to Europe and Europe to Asia are being
Europe and Europe to Asia are being
Europe and Europe to Asia are being blocked by the military so at this point
blocked by the military so at this point
blocked by the military so at this point I don’t really understand if it was real
I don’t really understand if it was real
I don’t really understand if it was real or not
or not
or not it was it was just news reports so uh at
it was it was just news reports so uh at
it was it was just news reports so uh at around 10 p.m. the the main government
around 10 p.m. the the main government
around 10 p.m. the the main government news channel was handed a piece of paper
news channel was handed a piece of paper
news channel was handed a piece of paper by the supposed coup plotters and
by the supposed coup plotters and
by the supposed coup plotters and basically this document was signed by
basically this document was signed by
basically this document was signed by something called the tussle Council and
something called the tussle Council and
something called the tussle Council and this was ironically named the Council of
this was ironically named the Council of
this was ironically named the Council of peace in the country and this document
peace in the country and this document
peace in the country and this document essentially said that the government was
essentially said that the government was
essentially said that the government was officially under military control and at
officially under military control and at
officially under military control and at this exact moment the pro coup f-16
this exact moment the pro coup f-16
this exact moment the pro coup f-16 fighters started flying low over homes
fighters started flying low over homes
fighters started flying low over homes and the email email and Internet was
and the email email and Internet was
and the email email and Internet was shut down across the country so this
shut down across the country so this
shut down across the country so this went around for around an hour about an
went around for around an hour about an
went around for around an hour about an hour of minimal conflict nothing was
hour of minimal conflict nothing was
hour of minimal conflict nothing was really going on and then at 11:00
really going on and then at 11:00
really going on and then at 11:00 CNN receives a call from the president
CNN receives a call from the president
CNN receives a call from the president through FaceTime and the president
through FaceTime and the president
through FaceTime and the president starts talking to the citizens of Turkey
starts talking to the citizens of Turkey
starts talking to the citizens of Turkey through FaceTime so he starts to tell
through FaceTime so he starts to tell
through FaceTime so he starts to tell people that there is nothing to worry
people that there is nothing to worry
people that there is nothing to worry about and that the country is still
about and that the country is still
about and that the country is still under his control now of course this is
under his control now of course this is
under his control now of course this is all natural coming from a present point
all natural coming from a present point
all natural coming from a present point of view but then he starts
of view but then he starts
of view but then he starts to take to the streets and fight back
to take to the streets and fight back
to take to the streets and fight back against the military now this this is at
against the military now this this is at
against the military now this this is at this point the coup really took full
this point the coup really took full
this point the coup really took full swing now the the risk of a civil war
swing now the the risk of a civil war
swing now the the risk of a civil war going on was actually mounting like
going on was actually mounting like
going on was actually mounting like insane and the jet fighters started
insane and the jet fighters started
insane and the jet fighters started flying much lower and dropping sound
flying much lower and dropping sound
flying much lower and dropping sound bombs on nearby neighborhoods and
bombs on nearby neighborhoods and
bombs on nearby neighborhoods and because obviously the military the
because obviously the military the
because obviously the military the citizens and the police were fighting
citizens and the police were fighting
citizens and the police were fighting together against the military because
together against the military because
together against the military because the police was still under government
the police was still under government
the police was still under government control military was forced to shoot
control military was forced to shoot
control military was forced to shoot back and the death toll in the country
back and the death toll in the country
back and the death toll in the country was increasing and this this cause this
was increasing and this this cause this
was increasing and this this cause this just caused more panic amongst the
just caused more panic amongst the
just caused more panic amongst the people so that night was most definitely
people so that night was most definitely
people so that night was most definitely the worst of my life I was up until 4:00
the worst of my life I was up until 4:00
the worst of my life I was up until 4:00 a.m. and the constant sound of the Jets
a.m. and the constant sound of the Jets
a.m. and the constant sound of the Jets were keeping me awake there was not much
were keeping me awake there was not much
were keeping me awake there was not much I could do to go to sleep at around 4:00
I could do to go to sleep at around 4:00
I could do to go to sleep at around 4:00 a.m. I did manage to get some sleep
a.m. I did manage to get some sleep
a.m. I did manage to get some sleep because the Jets the jet fighter sound
because the Jets the jet fighter sound
because the Jets the jet fighter sound bombs are getting much less frequent but
bombs are getting much less frequent but
bombs are getting much less frequent but the next day wasn’t really much better
the next day wasn’t really much better
the next day wasn’t really much better so first of all the neighborhood I was
so first of all the neighborhood I was
so first of all the neighborhood I was in which was actually close very close
in which was actually close very close
in which was actually close very close to the military base was a complete
to the military base was a complete
to the military base was a complete ghost town except for people doing their
ghost town except for people doing their
ghost town except for people doing their regular jobs and weirdly enough no one
regular jobs and weirdly enough no one
regular jobs and weirdly enough no one was really talking about what had
was really talking about what had
was really talking about what had happened last night the military had
happened last night the military had
happened last night the military had taken control of the government and
taken control of the government and
taken control of the government and everyone was acting like it was just
everyone was acting like it was just
everyone was acting like it was just some normal day but obviously with this
some normal day but obviously with this
some normal day but obviously with this the story was much much more different
the story was much much more different
the story was much much more different downtown in in downtown we’re right near
downtown in in downtown we’re right near
downtown in in downtown we’re right near the bridges the no one was really sure
the bridges the no one was really sure
the bridges the no one was really sure the coup had failed or had succeeded
the coup had failed or had succeeded
the coup had failed or had succeeded there no one knew if the government was
there no one knew if the government was
there no one knew if the government was back on the regular control even with
back on the regular control even with
back on the regular control even with the regular updates from the news
the regular updates from the news
the regular updates from the news stations so no one was really no one
stations so no one was really no one
stations so no one was really no one really knew who to trust at the time and
really knew who to trust at the time and
really knew who to trust at the time and every soldier was seen as an enemy of
every soldier was seen as an enemy of
every soldier was seen as an enemy of the state and this just ended up into
the state and this just ended up into
the state and this just ended up into more lawlessness and chaos luckily I
more lawlessness and chaos luckily I
more lawlessness and chaos luckily I managed to make it back home the day
managed to make it back home the day
managed to make it back home the day after through the main airport
after through the main airport
after through the main airport which was still under control of the
which was still under control of the
which was still under control of the government and just a quick summary of
government and just a quick summary of
government and just a quick summary of that there was only one real main thing
that there was only one real main thing
that there was only one real main thing that was on my mind and this was a
that was on my mind and this was a
that was on my mind and this was a threat to my life and a threat to my
threat to my life and a threat to my
threat to my life and a threat to my family’s safety right there wasn’t there
family’s safety right there wasn’t there
family’s safety right there wasn’t there wasn’t too much behind what I was going
wasn’t too much behind what I was going
wasn’t too much behind what I was going at so after I came back home to Canada I
at so after I came back home to Canada I
at so after I came back home to Canada I thought okay I’m safe the coup is over
thought okay I’m safe the coup is over
thought okay I’m safe the coup is over turkey is safe
turkey is safe
turkey is safe well I later found out that the coup was
well I later found out that the coup was
well I later found out that the coup was far from over
far from over
far from over although it had technically ended the
although it had technically ended the
although it had technically ended the Turkish government declared is something
Turkish government declared is something
Turkish government declared is something called a state of emergency and this let
called a state of emergency and this let
called a state of emergency and this let them pass any laws that they wanted so
them pass any laws that they wanted so
them pass any laws that they wanted so this gave them total control over the
this gave them total control over the
this gave them total control over the country and by doing this they arrested
country and by doing this they arrested
country and by doing this they arrested thousands of Dean’s academic leaders and
thousands of Dean’s academic leaders and
thousands of Dean’s academic leaders and teachers they were arrested and they
teachers they were arrested and they
teachers they were arrested and they were fired over three million civil
were fired over three million civil
were fired over three million civil servants were banned from leaving the
servants were banned from leaving the
servants were banned from leaving the country and at this point the government
country and at this point the government
country and at this point the government started blaming any group that they
started blaming any group that they
started blaming any group that they could to make to make it seem like it
could to make to make it seem like it
could to make to make it seem like it was a much more organized operation most
was a much more organized operation most
was a much more organized operation most infamously known the federal opulent
infamously known the federal opulent
infamously known the federal opulent group or movement is a Muslim religious
group or movement is a Muslim religious
group or movement is a Muslim religious movement that was based in Turkey and
movement that was based in Turkey and
movement that was based in Turkey and any opposition party or any party member
any opposition party or any party member
any opposition party or any party member from the non the party that was in power
from the non the party that was in power
from the non the party that was in power at the time was arrested and a lot of
at the time was arrested and a lot of
at the time was arrested and a lot of popular leftist news outlets were now
popular leftist news outlets were now
popular leftist news outlets were now we’re taking their had their
we’re taking their had their
we’re taking their had their broadcasting rights taken away and also
broadcasting rights taken away and also
broadcasting rights taken away and also much more recently I don’t know if
much more recently I don’t know if
much more recently I don’t know if you’ve heard but Kurdish members of the
you’ve heard but Kurdish members of the
you’ve heard but Kurdish members of the Kurdish Democratic People’s Party all of
Kurdish Democratic People’s Party all of
Kurdish Democratic People’s Party all of them were just arrested so there’s
them were just arrested so there’s
them were just arrested so there’s basically no more no more like a
basically no more no more like a
basically no more no more like a opposition against the main party in
opposition against the main party in
opposition against the main party in Turkey and of course with all this with
Turkey and of course with all this with
Turkey and of course with all this with the law with the rule of law logic and
the law with the rule of law logic and
the law with the rule of law logic and order being thrown out the window this
order being thrown out the window this
order being thrown out the window this led to also talk also led to talks of
led to also talk also led to talks of
led to also talk also led to talks of the death penalty being reinstated back
the death penalty being reinstated back
the death penalty being reinstated back into Turkey so at this point I really
into Turkey so at this point I really
into Turkey so at this point I really realized that my time spent in Turkey
realized that my time spent in Turkey
realized that my time spent in Turkey and pretty much after the coup all my
and pretty much after the coup all my
and pretty much after the coup all my basic rights as a human citizen were
basic rights as a human citizen were
basic rights as a human citizen were suspended my freedoms that I had taken
suspended my freedoms that I had taken
suspended my freedoms that I had taken for granted which had been there for my
for granted which had been there for my
for granted which had been there for my entire life were gone my freedom of
entire life were gone my freedom of
entire life were gone my freedom of speech
speech
speech movement assembly and access the
movement assembly and access the
movement assembly and access the information became null and void and
information became null and void and
information became null and void and this wasn’t only from the military but
this wasn’t only from the military but
this wasn’t only from the military but this was also from the government which
this was also from the government which
this was also from the government which wasn’t really something that people had
wasn’t really something that people had
wasn’t really something that people had expected because the god the military
expected because the god the military
expected because the god the military was seen as the enemy at the time but
was seen as the enemy at the time but
was seen as the enemy at the time but them but the government was the one who
them but the government was the one who
them but the government was the one who are taking away our rights so this was a
are taking away our rights so this was a
are taking away our rights so this was a true feeling of a military coup it was
true feeling of a military coup it was
true feeling of a military coup it was the end of democracy as I’d known it the
the end of democracy as I’d known it the
the end of democracy as I’d known it the eradication of human life rights and
eradication of human life rights and
eradication of human life rights and just law human dignity was thrown out
just law human dignity was thrown out
just law human dignity was thrown out the window and a beginning of total
the window and a beginning of total
the window and a beginning of total arbitrary power in Turkey was reinstated
arbitrary power in Turkey was reinstated
arbitrary power in Turkey was reinstated so how does this really affect you and
so how does this really affect you and
so how does this really affect you and all of us as Canadian citizens so this
all of us as Canadian citizens so this
all of us as Canadian citizens so this really goes to show how fragile our
really goes to show how fragile our
really goes to show how fragile our human rights and freedoms are how
human rights and freedoms are how
human rights and freedoms are how quickly they can be tampered with or
quickly they can be tampered with or
quickly they can be tampered with or taken away this summer coup really
taken away this summer coup really
taken away this summer coup really reminded that it’s important for us to
reminded that it’s important for us to
reminded that it’s important for us to stay vigilant in protecting our rights
stay vigilant in protecting our rights
stay vigilant in protecting our rights and our freedoms we must learn to be
and our freedoms we must learn to be
and our freedoms we must learn to be more appreciative of the of the rights
more appreciative of the of the rights
more appreciative of the of the rights and responsibilities that we already
and responsibilities that we already
and responsibilities that we already have and are given as citizens and the
have and are given as citizens and the
have and are given as citizens and the most important thing in life perhaps is
most important thing in life perhaps is
most important thing in life perhaps is to protect our democratic institutions
to protect our democratic institutions
to protect our democratic institutions and the values that we that are embedded
and the values that we that are embedded
and the values that we that are embedded to add to us in the Canadian Charter of
to add to us in the Canadian Charter of
to add to us in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms these rights and
Rights and Freedoms these rights and
Rights and Freedoms these rights and freedoms are what define us as equal
freedoms are what define us as equal
freedoms are what define us as equal individuals in what we make this what
individuals in what we make this what
individuals in what we make this what makes me not any different from any of
makes me not any different from any of
makes me not any different from any of you in the audience right now today so
you in the audience right now today so
you in the audience right now today so my last message to you is as we live
my last message to you is as we live
my last message to you is as we live every day appreciating this precious
every day appreciating this precious
every day appreciating this precious heritage of ours wherever you come from
heritage of ours wherever you come from
heritage of ours wherever you come from it is ours and it is our rights and
it is ours and it is our rights and
it is ours and it is our rights and freedoms as human beings we must not be
freedoms as human beings we must not be
freedoms as human beings we must not be complacent about it we must learn to
complacent about it we must learn to
complacent about it we must learn to appreciate every day
”
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