Why are so many True Leftists supportive of Erdogan and Modi?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I have a positive opinion of Erdogan and even I'm not sure why a true leftist type would be supportive of him. BRTD show us proof.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

The T-34s I've seen defend Erdogan or Modi tend to instantly get shat on by both other tanks and leftists of all stripes, so its not exactly a popular opinion, even among tankies.

What's the logic said T-34s use?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I have a positive opinion of Erdogan and even I'm not sure why a true leftist type would be supportive of him. BRTD show us proof.

lol why?

I loathe Kemalism, that's why. France-style secularism imposed on a country that's religious on the level of Alabama or Georgia, if not more. It's profoundly undemocratic. Kemalism is toxic waste, trash, a sorry excuse for a secular dictatorship where parties could be banned solely for being influenced by religion. Erdogan's AKP is a good fit for the country. He needs to do more to help unify the country though. That's important; and I don't think he's been doing that as much as he should in the aftermath. He's been arresting too many people, and frankly he needs to leave Gulen alone.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I loathe Kemalism, that's why. France-style secularism imposed on a country that's religious on the level of Alabama or Georgia, if not more. It's profoundly undemocratic. Kemalism is toxic waste, trash, a sorry excuse for a secular dictatorship where parties could be banned solely for being influenced by religion. Erdogan's AKP is a good fit for the country. He needs to do more to help unify the country though. That's important; and I don't think he's been doing that as much as he should in the aftermath. He's been arresting too many people, and frankly he needs to leave Gulen alone.

I'm pretty damn sure a lot of Turkish citizens would vehemently disagree with you. Erdogan, and the AKP, has exploited the increasing religiosity of Turks for personal and party gains. They've used it to route out any remaining democratic elements within society and checks on their power. Through stoking fears in the rising Kurdish population (Kurds are on-pace to outnumber ethnic Turks in Turkey within this century), Erdogan has justified extreme policies against Kurdish citizens, which have amounted to countless human rights abuses. He has purged institutions of any opposition simply by alleging they supported the failed coup. And he has done all this while the rich in Turkey have grown even richer in a society with an already high level of income inequality.

Erdogan is a demagogue, dictator, and violator of human rights. The referendum Turkey held earlier this year was plagued with accusations of vote rigging and other undemocratic methods. He has fanned the flames of Turkish ethnic nationalism to justify militarized occupation of Kurdish areas. In his own words, he has said (paraphrasing) "democracy is a train you ride until you get to your desired destination." He has extorted Europe through threats of sending in more refugees to destabilize the continent. His government has been known to assist or turn a blind eye to ISIS and ISIS collaborators while claiming to fight them.

The man has acquired and maintained his position and the power of his party through religious fanaticism, ethnic divisions, and schmoozing the super-rich. There's nothing good or democratic about Erdogan or the AKP.

I'd like to ask you, frankly, why the AKP has won every free election in Turkey since 2002; why Erdogan did win the support of many Kurds in 2002, 2007, and 2011; why the CHP, the leading opposition, has never gotten close to reclaiming power since the rise of the AKP.
What the referendum did show was that the country was still rather divided. Hence, that's why I said Erdogan needs to do more to help unify the country.
Also I'd say it's mainly Europe's fault the refugee situation is a thing in the first place. So what Erdogan is doing on that front isn't extortion. Rather, the chickens have come to roost. Colonialism messed up the Middle East.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I have a positive opinion of Erdogan and even I'm not sure why a true leftist type would be supportive of him. BRTD show us proof.

lol why?

I loathe Kemalism, that's why. France-style secularism imposed on a country that's religious on the level of Alabama or Georgia, if not more. It's profoundly undemocratic. Kemalism is toxic waste, trash, a sorry excuse for a secular dictatorship where parties could be banned solely for being influenced by religion. Erdogan's AKP is a good fit for the country. He needs to do more to help unify the country though. That's important; and I don't think he's been doing that as much as he should in the aftermath. He's been arresting too many people, and frankly he needs to leave Gulen alone.

So what you're saying is that if the majority is bigoted and wants a bloodthirsty, anti-freedom democracy they should be allowed to have it? Nice. Let's just let Alabama go back to the era of segregation, am I right? And Saudi Arabia executing gays is fine because the majority there supports it?

I would hardly say I have such a negative view of the Turkish people. I think some Muslim version of Christian Democracy is ideal for Turkey, and a good reflection of the wishes of the people. Protection for people regardless of sexual orientation, some role for morals serving as a compass for government policies, religious freedom. To pretend the AKP wants Dixie-style segregation is laughable alarmism and shows just how off your views on the party are. Erdogan's policies don't fit this profile exactly, but they are better than Kemalism and that's really 90% of what counts.