Tag: islamists attack

Fans of the band Radiohead were roughed up and frightened in Turkey, during a release party for the band’s recent album. Angry men burst in, demanding that the store close and shut down the party. The men were angry because alcohol was being served at the event during Ramadan.

Shouts of “I kill you” and “I will burn you alive inside,” were heard, which evoked memories of a tragic Islamist attack in 1993, during which 30 intellectuals were burned alive. Also one man was forcibly pulled from the store into the street, and another was hit on the head with a bottle, requiring stitches. But fortunately nobody was more seriously hurt during this week’s frightening episode.

However, there’s a very disturbing trend: more and more, Turkish Islamist groups are responsible for an increasing number of threats against secular groups and citizens, including ominous threats that have lead to the cancellation of  the country’s 13th Gay Pride Parade, scheduled for next week. These threats to liberty are a serious cause for concern, and members of secular Turkish society are very worried.

Learn about Islamist threats to liberties in Turkey (CNN)

 

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

• CC BY-SA 2.5

• image cropped to two include only the two left-most musicians and resized