Turkey: Violence and Death at Election Rally in Hopa

With Turkey's 17th general election scheduled for June 12, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan traveled on Tuesday to Hopa, a town on Turkey's northeastern border with Georgia, to attend a rally, but instead encountered rioting that resulted in the death of a retired school teacher. As reported by Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=protests-death-mar-erdogans-election-rally-2011-05-31):

"Lokumcu, a retired teacher, died in the hospital due to a heart attack, reportedly after collapsing during a police crackdown in the city. Lokumcu’s friends said he was kicked by a police officer while already on the ground due to the gas bombs used by the police.

Nine people were wounded and six others were overcome by pepper gas sprayed by the police, Hopa State Hospital authorities told the Hürriyet Daily News over the phone.

. . . .

Protests and clashes between the police and the protesters continued for the whole day, although they were not covered by television channels.

. . . .

The protests in Hopa started before Erdoğan’s arrival in the coastal town. A group of demonstrators hung a huge banner, reading 'Erdoğan, get out of Hopa,' on a building overseeing the square where the prime minister would hold his rally. Another building in the square bore a huge banner for the main opposition CHP."

This is not the first instance of violence surrounding the upcoming Turkish elections. In April, one person was shot dead in southeast Turkey after a dozen Kurdish politicians were barred from participating in the general election.

Meanwhile, preparations continue in Turkey for a second flotilla expected to challenge the Israeli sea blockade of Gaza later this month. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, seeking to galvanize Turkey's Islamic vote, stated last month (http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?ID=221581&R=R1):

"It should be known that Turkey will give the necessary response to any repeated act of provocation by Israel on the high seas."

Remarkable how Davutoglu can engage in such hypocrisy, given Turkey's treatment of its Kurdish minority. Davutoglu also ignores the fact that in Turkey, life expectancy is 72.23 years and infant mortality is 24.84 per 1,000 births, whereas in Gaza, life expectancy is 73.68 years and infant mortality is 17.71 per 1,000 births. In addition, Turkey's literacy rate is 88.7%, while in Gaza it is 91.9%.

How do you say in Turkish, "Charity begins at home"? Better still, how do you translate, "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones"?