Plug Me İnto Something!

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 30 September 2018)


Çakmak's Henry Gross fans finally get their chance.

Thirty years ago electricity came to Erenköy, a village of
150 households 50 kilometers from Yusufeli district center
in Artvin province.  But Çakmak village, on the fringe of
Erenköy, was too distant and too sparsely populated for
the power line to be extended to it.

The Çakmak villagers were left to their own devices,
with some opting for gas lamps and others solar panels
and generators.  Recently, when Artvin Governor Ömer
Doğanay visited Çakmak the villagers bent his ear about
their electricity shortfall.


Çakmak now on his world tour itinerary.

Six months later, Çakmak finally has electricity and
Zeki and Sultan Akdeniz celebrated by dancing the
'horon', a traditional eastern Black Sea folk dance,
while their daughter Meral recorded the historic
moment on her cellphone for sharing on social media.

CSI Instagram: Missing Button Nails Killer

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 30 September 2018)


As usual, Instagram provides too much information.

In Bağcılar district of Istanbul, on 21 February 2018, after
his own family went out of their apartment building Ali
Güney (21) visited his neighbor Tatiana Açan (54),
originally from Moldova. Güney asked Açan for money
- a request which Açan found odd so she threatened to tell
his mother.  Enraged, Güney attacked Açan by stabbing
her in the throat with a knife he had in his pocket. 

When police reached the scene of the murder they found
a button by the side of Açan's body.  The button, though,
did not match any of Açan's clothes.  Police next looked
at video from the building's entrance and noticed that no
one other than the building residents had come in or out.
Fingerprints of all the residents were taken and their
social media accounts examined.


Instagram victim Ali and his ill-gotten loot.

A photo on Ali Güney's social media account from 28
January 2017 gave police the clue they were looking for
because the button seen on his sweater then was missing
in a photo from 9 August 2018.  Additionally, the DNA
found in tissue under Açan's fingernails matched Güney's.

A search of Güney's home turned up the knife used in
the murder, the tell-tale sweater and headphones from
Açan's husband's cellphone.  Güney confessed his guilt,
explaining that "I stabbed her in the throat and she fell
to the floor.  I took 200 TL, $200, a lighter, 5 or 6
watches, the headphones and some bottles of alcohol.
With the money, I bought an electronic cigarette as a
present for my cousin.  I got scared about the watches
so I threw them away.


                   Bağcılar district of Istanbul



 

Afghans' Love Wrecked Angles

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 29 September 2018)


You think life gets complicated in Afghanistan?  How
about Ankara!

In Ankara, Afghani Ajmal Amani (27), the married father
of two children, found out that his lover was having an
affair with Ansar Yousefi (19) so he stabbed Yousefi 32
times, killing him.

The incident occurred in Ankara's Keçiören district on the
evening of 19 September.  Amani received a call from
Fatemah Safari who told him that his lover Zeynab
Rezaei (18) was having an affair with Yousefi. Amani
and Safari then went to Yousefi's house, where Amani
found Rezaei and stabbed Yousefi to death.

Amani sought assistance from friend J.A. (17), who
helped Amani put Yousefi's body into a box and take it
in a truck to Sirekli village, in rural Ankara, where  they
left it in a hilly area.  Amani, Rezaei and Safari then
prepared to go to Erzincan in eastern Turkey,
in hopes of fleeing Turkey, but they were apprehended
by police before they could leave Ankara. 


Keçiören is northeast of Ankara's city center.

Elderly Bike-rider, Father of Slain Soldier, Attacked by Nationalist District Chief

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 28 September 2018)


Bahri Atakul with wife Cennet and the late Hamza.

The incident occurred on Atatürk Avenue in Dalaman,
Muğla province, on 24 September.  Bahri Atakul (75),
the father of a Gendarmerie private Hamza Atakul, who
was killed in a clash with the PKK in Mardin's Midyat
district in 1992, was attacked by MHP (Nationalist
Peoples Party) District Chief Hasan Şimşek while
Atakul was riding his bicycle. (!)

Video from the scene shows that Şimşek had left his
pick-up truck in a parking lot in front of  the Dalaman
municipal building and hid in wait behind a nearby
ATM.  When Atakul passed by on his bike, Şimşek
pounced on him and began punching him.  With
Atakul lying on the ground, Şimşek got back into his
truck, while passers-by came to Atakul's aid and took
him to a hospital for treatment of injuries that included
bruises on his arm and face and breakage of his glasses
and false teeth.

In his statement to police Atakul explained that "All of
a sudden someone attacked me with punches and I
fell to the ground. He again started punching and
insulting me. People then came to help me and as I
got up I recognized my assailant as MHP District
Chief Hasan Şimşek."


Conduct unbecoming a flag-waving nationalist.

Continuing, Atakul said that "I have had no previous
problem with the person who attacked me but I'm
suing him. I gave a son to this nation and what has
been done to me is inhumane.  This is shameful
behavior by someone who calls himself a nationalist.
Also, it is inexcusable behavior toward an elder like
me. Justice will be done."

As for the (somewhat) chastened Şimşek, he stated that
"A person on a bike came out in front of me suddenly. I
almost had an accident.  When I scolded him he made a
hand gesture toward me.  In the darkness, I couldn't
see who he was.  He crossed in front of me again
at the municipal building and I beat him up. I regret
having been in an argument with the father of a
martyr and I would like to apologize.  But he wasn't
as badly hurt as he claims to have been. (!)  I'm ready
to talk to him so he will rescind his complaint and
accept my apology. It was a moment of madness,
I'm sorry."

TNT History Archives: The Khedive Dialogues (1888)/Part II-FINAL

//Ed. Note:  TNT herewith presents the second
of two conversations between a Turk in Cairo, a
senior aide to Ottoman Egyptian emissary Gazi
Ahmed Muhtar Paşa, and the Egyptian Khedive
Tevfik Paşa, in 1888.

In the end, the Turk realizes that the Khedive is
playing games with both the English and the 
Ottomans, although the English are clearly in 
the driver's seat and 'our Egypt' is becoming a
lost Ottoman remnant.  The British occupation 
of Egypt would continue for another 68 years,
until 1956, and even Istanbul would spend 5
years under British occupation from 1918 to 
1923.//

Here is the other conversation on this topic that  I 

reported to Muhtar Paşa:

I met with the Khedive at 1630 at the Abidin palace today

in order to convey the ministers’ examination regarding 

customs.  Our conversation proceeded as follows:

Fakir ((your humble servant)) – Nubar Paşa has still not 

come but regardless of whether he comes or not, 

essentially, although Your Excellency has promised to 

rescind the related decision of the Council of Ministers, 

by confirming its corruption, there has as yet been no 

action taken.  Rumor has it that some merchants will come

 from Alexandria ((to Cairo)) this evening, so this indicates

 that Your Excellency has still not issued the order.  Since

 this matter lies with you, the wish is that you will issue 

an order on this matter.

Khedive -  Yes, I’ve heard about the merchants who’ve 

come from Alexandria.  In fact, they sent a telegram before

coming.  Nubar Paşa came in the morning. I said to him I 

understand you still haven’t gone to see Muhtar Paşa.  In 

response he said out of excess caution,  ‘Sir, I’m afraid to 

go because I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.’  

Yesterday he spoke with English Commissar Wolff and 

Consul Baring.  Wolff will go to see Muhtar Paşa today. 

Let them work it out so we’re rid of this matter.  //Bravo!

He’s expecting us to nullify a corrupt decision of the 

Government of Egypt.//  

F -  It is for you to confirm or change  a decision of the 

Council of Ministers.  There’s no need to leave this to the

confusion of them and the English.  We trust that today

you will issue an order to end this thing.

K – Ah! Sir, you don’t know the situation I’m in?

F – This matter is strictly an internal one that is in your

purview.  External interference cannot be tolderated.   

The issue is essentially corruption, as you have said.  

That being the case, there’s no need to be distracted by

Tom, Dick and Harry!

K – Our you leaving us to our own devices?

F – Sir, how is it possible that the decision of an English

Consul on such an important matter can be allowed  to 

cause political difficulties and inflict harm and injury on

your government.

K – There is no doubt, certainly  it ((harm and injury)) will

persist.

F – So in order for that not to happen I want to call your 

attention to the fact that it is desired that you use your 

legal authority.

K – For goodness sake!  Don’t let them leave me alone. 

Let them make an effort.  Have them talk to ((Sir Henry 

Drummond)) Wolff and the other Englishmen.  I’ll do my

part, as well!  According to what I’m hearing, Wolff is 

accommodating on this issue, whereas the opponents are 

the Consul and the Finance Advisor ?Vinson?.

F – Their opposition and espousal mean nothing 

compared to your power to guard the interests  of the 

country, because the matter is strictly one that is based

on internal law.

K – Well, have Muhtar Paşa show perseverance and I 

will, too.

Gazi Ahmed Muhtar Paşa, center, with fellow 

scientists in Egypt in 1882, to observe a solar 

eclipse.

F – The noteworthy aspect of this matter is that ?Vinsen?

or Baring are behind it, to the detriment of Egypt.  

Without keeping a close eye on the details, the Council

of Ministers made this decision.  I wonder whether if 

you had rejected the proposal or issued a decree 

beforehand, would all this be necessary?

K – You’re talking as though you don’t understand our

 Council of Ministers.

F – Actually, even if matters in the Assembly are being 

depicted accurately, administration and law are in your 

hands.  How would it be possible not to know this?

K – Let me tell you about an absurd thing.  Recently, the

matter of the 20,000 lira salary vacated by the death of 

the mother of the former Khedive, İsmail Paşa, came up.

This issue is entirely in my purview alone.  And there 

was 300,000 lira included in the budget and liquidation

law //which the Europeans imposed on Egypt//  for my 

family (Muhammed Ali’s family) ,but the English didn’t 

want to give even this to me.  Just now, before you came,

I flew into a rage.  I kept on rejecting it but Wolff 

persisted in asking how this money should be shared in 

the family and how much each person should get. 

//Wolff’s interference in this matter was aimed at getting

an increase in salary for Nazlı hanım, the sister of 

Mustafa Fazıl Paşa, because he ((Wolf)) has a legal tie 

to Nazlı hanım.// They won’t let me act on my own.  

What right do they have to interfere in a matter that 

belongs to my family and my uncle?  //Again, he wants

to paint himself as the victim.//

F – They have no right, of cours.  But even though they

don’t have the right, they still do it.  Do you have any 

additional orders for me?

K – Wolff will come to see Muhtar Paşa.  Let them put

some effort into all of this.

Our conversation ended here.  One of the noteworthy 

aspects was Nubar Paşa claiming to be caught between

two sides and another was that the other day the Khedive

told his staff not to pressure Nubar Paşa, indicating that

the Khedive was asked about this matter beforehand and

gave his approval.  In any case, as soon as I left the 

Khedive I wrote down my notes and related them exactly

as shown above.  13 Ramazan 1303 ((1888))

There are two things that standout in these notes of mine.  
The first is that the Khedive is making fools of us and that, 
with his camel-like and cat-like gestures, together with his 
Council of Ministers, he is in the odd position of opposing 
both us and the English.  Secondly, the English, who are 
attacking the Ottoman legal sovereignty,  want to put a 4.5 
kuruş import tax on our imports as part of a 9 % duty on 
goods and trade from European countries.  

So as we continue to talk somewhat pretentiously about 
defending our nationality, sovereignty and the community
of Islam, the more I think about the perversions of this 
issue ((Egypt)) the more outraged I become.  And yet we
poor fellows keep writing meaninglessly about ‘our Egypt’
in the Salname ((Ottoman Empire yearbook)) and official
documents! 

TNT History Archives: The Khedive Dialogues (1888)/Part I

//Ed. Note: TNT presents two dialogues between 
Egyptian Khedive Tevfik Paşa and an Ottoman 
Turk, who was a senior aide to Gazi Ahmed 
Muhtar Paşa, the Ottoman emissary in Cairo 
from 1882 to 1908.  This first conversation 
reflects the haughtiness and dominance of 
Egypt's British occupiers and the Khedive's 
and the Turk's fear of Egypt becoming a 
second India. 

Herewith the first dialogue from 1888, 6 years
after the beginning of British occupation, 
which would last until 1956.//



//As negotiations continued with our friend ((SirHenry))
Drummond Wolff,  the English, who have taken control of 
all the offices and departments in Egypt, announced a duty 
of 9% on all items and goods coming from Memalik-i 
Devlet-i Aliye (Ottoman Empire), with an eye towards 
increasing Egypt’s revenue, via a decision taken by the 
Egyptian Council of Ministers.  In order to have this order 
rescinded, since it was so egregiously against Turkey 
and not really a decision made by Egypt, Muhtar Paşa  
appealed forcefully to the Khedive and I had a couple 
of conversations with the Khedive, in this context.   The
conversations related to the state of the administration 
and other, secret matters and they occurred on 13 
Ramazan 1303 (1888).  I prepared the conversations in 
a report, which I gave to Muhtar Paşa and he sent the 
report to Bab-ı Ali (Istanbul).   I present the text of these
conversations below in order to, at the very least, 
preserve them from loss.

Herewith our conversation which occurred when I went 

to see the Khedive at his invitation. Our conversation ,

with Khedive Tevfik Paşa.

Ramazan 1303//

Egyptian Khedive Tevfik Paşa

Khedive -  I have inconvenienced you and  I apologize.

Fakir ((your humble servant)) – Not at all, Sir.

K -  The Italian Consul was just here before you.   He 

wanted to understand how the import regulations would

affect Italy and he also wanted to bid farewell to me 

because he’s going back to Italy for a rest.  He had gone

to a meeting at Baring’s ((British Consul Sir Evelyn 

Baring, later Lord Comer)), which was attended by 

Drummond Wolff ((Special British Emissary to the 

Ottoman Court for Egyptian Affairs)), Nubar Paşa 

((Egyptian Prime Minister)) and some others.  

Baring  spoke haughtily, to the effect that since Egypt is 

under  English military occupation he ((Baring)) must be 

consulted on affairs of state and finance, and that, just 

as there are no ministers in the Council of Ministers 

opposed to the English, neither should England leave 

Egypt.  //one can see the position they have the Khedive

in.  He was trying to say that they  ((English)) were 

apologizing for the announcement, while also explaining

how they threaten him.// 

My, how this rascal has lost his  senses!   Nubar Paşa 

wants to persuade them to rescind  the announcement but

that’s not possible. The rascal is  making waves; English

Commissar Wolff kept silent and even if he said anything,

it was submissive.  From this, it is understood that the 

troublemakers are Baring and the customs official 

“Ashmit”, who was there also.  He was the one who 

was screaming and carrying on.  I think it would be 

worthwhile for you to explain the seriousness 

of the situation to the Commissar Paşa ((Gazi Ahmed 

Muhtar Paşa, Ottoman emissary to Egypt)). 

Gazi Ahmed Muhtar Paşa

F – In my opinion, all their remarks are just noise.  Only

Your Excellency can decide on things one way or the other.

They cannot interfere if you make a lawful decision. The 

interference by them that you describe can be elevated by 

Bab-ı Ali (Istanbul) and our embassy in London.  And 

Muhtar Paşa and I are ready to do all that we can on this 

matter, as well.  //We know that he doesn’t want to bring 

this matter of English interference up with Istanbul but he,

nevertheless, felt the need to tell us about it.//   

Sir Evelyn Baring, First Earl of Comer.

K – The rascal ((Baring)) is quite impolite and impudent.  

A few months ago he came here about a matter and you’ll 

appreciate what he said to me: ‘you are this palace’ 

//referring to Abidin Barracks, which is adjacent to the 

Khedive’s palace, and where there were English soldiers.// 

He said that ‘thanks to this palace, you are in the office 

of power so you ought to recognize this and behave 

accordingly.’  //Amazing! What the Khedive is saying is 

that he’s being told that he is in power at the behest of the

English and cannot oppose their actions and ideas!//  

In response, I said quite loudly ‘excuse me Monsieur, 

but that is not the case. You are not respecting civil 

discourse.’  He then became silent.  //this response to 

the rascal’s remarks and threats was very appropriate.// 

I won’t listen to such noise.  In fact, he said such 

things //that the Khedive is pusillanimous// in London 

and in Parliament.  I don’t give them any importance. 

I won’t lose my zeal as I work.  //I don’t know what 

work he’s referring to.  I have no idea what work he 

does!//

     Sir Henry Drummond Wolff

F – It is very important for Your Excellency to cut off 

their interference and modify Baring’s impudence.  If 

you do not challenge their antics and noise, and if you 

are polite and well-behaved, they see this as weakness 

and it increases their boldness.  The behavior of all the 

foreigners in our country ((Turkey) ) is always like this!

K – Has Nubar Paşa come? //see how he changed the 

subject!//

F – No, he hasn’t come.  He’s dragging his feet.  I don’t

know what his aim is!

K – He says that he’s caught between a rock and a hard 

place.  He can’t persuade the rascals ((English)) so that’s

why he’s uncomfortable and doesn’t come.  Please tell 

Muhtar Paşa and have him be understanding toward him

((Nubar Paşa)) when he comes.

F- Of course Your Excellency. I will relay your command.

You will see that Muhtar Paşa will handle the situation 

as necessary.

K – These English are very strange and unseemly fellows.  

But Nubar Paşa must share some of the blame!  Every 

morning and evening he’s with either Baring or Wolff.  

I don’t know what they are talking to each other about.  

But I know about everything that goes on in the country. 

He ((Nubar Paşa)) thinks I don’t know what he’s doing 

and where he goes.  Sometimes when he comes here I 

ask him where he has been.  He tells me that he’s either 

coming from home or his office, but I know he has just

left the English to come to me.   This is the situation.  

What can I do? 

British 42nd Highlanders in front of Sphinx of Giza,

1882.

F – Certainly, there is wisdom in the approach that Your 

Excellency is taking. //at this point, his mood lightened  

and he laughed//   Shall we leave it to the Angel  of Death

to deal with these troublemakers?  I said this to Muhtar 

Paşa in the morning!   I said that Your Excellency is 

handling all matters and strengthening your power.  The

situation is important – it is a vital question for Egypt.  

The smallest detail could change matters.  Your 

Excellency’s difficulties are evident, may God help you. 

There is no doubt that those who hinder you will be 

remembered in the history of Islam with curses.  That is

why Muhtar Paşa always advises us that you are sincere 

about Egypt’s happiness and that you are working to 

preserve success and influence!

Egyptian Prime Minister Nubar Paşa

K – Yes, I know, those contemptible rascals will be 

cursed in our memories.  How could I countenance such

a thing!  You know very well how my father ((İsmail 

Paşa)) was kept idly distracted and what that led to.  Can

Egypt live on its own?  Certainly, if it is in such a 

condition it will become a failed state.  When the English

first came here they made some recommendations to me,

saying that I could live comfortably on 200,000 lira while

they would put down the insurrections.  Should I let them

do everything in my name and just watch from afar?  

What does that mean? //Isn’t that the case now anyway?

Isn’t what the English say now the same?   But the poor

fellow doesn’t think that way.  There’s no limit to his 

imagining,s but let him keep on seeing things as he wants

 to.//   

They want this place to be another India and make 

me an Indian raja.  I won’t accept such a thing and reject it

out of hand.  Rather than see such a thing, I’ll leave here 

and go live in Anatolia on a thousand liras.  May God!

Never let me see such a day.  Could I accept such a 

thing? //the poor fellow is fooling himself.//

F -  May Egypt last long and I kiss your hand.  The 

frightening and thought-provoking aspect of this is that 

these rascals want to make this place a second India.  Your 

Excellency is certainly aware of this.  We are not afraid of

this, though, because the eyes of the Islamic world are on

Egypt and this will ensure success.  How could any 

Moslem with a conscious accept such a dagger being thrust

into the heart of the world of Islam?  This is impossible. 

God willing, with the fruits of your great efforts  the result

will be favorable.

//The conversation ended here with some small talk and we

both got up.//

                 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan