The execution of Sinan Ates: A Political Murder Reflects the Rise and Fracture of Turkey’s Far Right

Source:Newsline Magazine Date:25May2024

I’ve posted a news item on Turkey’s notorious crime lord Ayhan Bora Kaplan today, who is becoming instrumental to the proxy wars conducted between AKP-MHP. Another dimension of that war is the investigation into the drive-by shooting of charismatic nationalist leader Mr Sınan Ates. As with ABK,   there is strong evidence to suspect higher-ups in MHP were implicated in the assasination.  MHP leader Bahceli wants to bury both investigations.

So, it is useful to get  to know Sinan Ates.  Here is an excellent essay  by Nick Ashdown:

The murder of such a prominent figure in broad daylight in the center of Turkey’s capital exemplifies the violence, intimidation and impunity that have always lurked at the heart of Turkey’s ultranationalist movement. These malignant elements have worsened in recent years, after the movement broke apart when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan abruptly embraced a more nationalist stance and started working with the ultranationalist leader Devlet Bahceli. To understand the tumult unleashed by this moment, it’s necessary to trace the history of Turkey’s ultranationalist movement and how its violent ideology penetrated the Turkish state.