I'll start by saying "Greetings, Mr. Fatih," and there won't be a broadcast where Mr. Fatih says "Greetings, Emre." Because it is the 103rd day of Fatih Bey's detention. And now, as in the past few days, I am sharing Fatih Bey's notes from Silivri with you. Greetings, Mr. Emre . Lots of love to everyone. I hope and wish that you are all well, healthy, and in the best possible spirits . If you're wondering about me, I'm in good health . After the operation on the abscess on my back in prison, I had another minor operation and dressing change yesterday. Apart from a little pain, I have no other problems. As I said, Silivri has cooled down now. I like cold weather, but it gets a bit extreme when there's a strong wind blowing inside the cell. They will turn on the heaters after October 15th. That's why all the detainees and convicts are sitting here wearing Kazakh clothes. But as I've always said, we're in a better situation than most of the nation. May God help the poor and needy, that is, the 85% of society struggling to live on an income below the poverty line . My dear Emre, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's statement that the engine of our national fighter jet, Kaan, was purchased from America has exposed the ignorance of the Turkish media. Everyone was greatly surprised to learn that the engine of our national aircraft is not domestically produced ? They started jumping up and down. I start laughing now that I'm watching television and reading newspapers. Brother, are you really that out of touch with reality? Did you really not know that Türkiye is far from being able to produce a jet engine? Hadi said the pro-government media didn't know. He didn't want to know. Didn't even the opposition, the critical media members know this? In recent years, I and many other writers have written about this. Clearly, they neither read, nor follow, nor reason. Or rather, that's how it should be said. We have many highly qualified journalists who are knowledgeable about all these things and familiar with the events and issues, but it seems no one is utilizing them or giving them opportunities on screen. The problem lies partly with the media moguls. Let me give this ignorant person some more information. Our unmanned combat aircraft, the famous Kızılelma, uses an American-made GE engine. If we can produce a domestic jet engine, hopefully that will be fitted to it as well . They shouldn't be too surprised again when they find out tomorrow. Similarly, the engines of our other IEDs, even our landing ship TCG Anadolu which was initially mistaken for an aircraft carrier, as well as our domestically produced attack boats and national ships, all come from other countries. One of the reasons why UAV manufacturer Baykar acquired Piagio Aerospace in Italy is certainly the fact that this Italian company has the capacity and technology to produce turboprop engines . Let me also say this. Bayer's acquisition of Piagoo Aerospace was also met with great satisfaction in Italy, as it was seen as a rescue and strengthening acquisition for the company . So let's close this topic here. Even Foreign Minister Fidan was surprised by the impact his words had created . He was astonished by the media's ignorance . Fidan probably shared this casually because she thought it was common knowledge . As I said, I laughed at this ignorance. Another thing that amused me was the government's announcement of a new housing project. This time, they're going to build 500,000 new homes and make them affordable for low-income families. I laughed. While hundreds of thousands of houses remain undeveloped and their foundations haven't even been laid in the valley, and the foundations that were laid years ago have turned into ponds, another 500,000 houses have been promised since 2022. If I haven't miscounted, the total number of houses promised has exceeded 3 million. What was done wasn't even 11 of that. That was a funny statement. Yesterday, Emre mentioned Aksoy's research and explained that 85.3% of Türkiye's population lives below the poverty line. Yesterday I looked at the sub-components of this research . I saw some interesting data. Guess which political party the poorest segment of Türkiye's population voted for. If you can't do it, I'll tell you. The largest segment of the electorate, those living below both the hunger line and the poverty line, votes for the AK Party. The second-ranked party, meaning the one with the second poorest voter base, is the MHP. These results may surprise some, but knowing the political thesis that deep poverty and despair are the fuel of authoritarian regimes, they are not surprising. Another debate I'm seeing is whether the US administration will lift the coefficient sanctions. The engines of the F-35, the licenses for our domestic and national defense industry, the future of our avionics, and the fate of many materials we will use in aircraft manufacturing all depend on this. At the time, I wrote that the ruling party had sent a letter to the American administration through a very influential figure in the AKP, giving assurances that the S-400s would not be used, and would not even be taken out of their packaging from storage. This article was not denied because it was true. The US did not accept this at the time. On the contrary, Trump wrote rude letters to the Turkish president. What happens now? Clearly, we will have to get rid of the S-400s , perhaps return them to Russia , or perhaps sell them at a bargain price to a third country that Russia would also accept . Trump may ask for further concessions . Because the guy is a typical greedy businessman. He's not even a businessman, he's a real estate agent. Real estate agents should n't take this as an insult. I'm not talking about the manufacturing sector , that's what I mean. Moreover, he's the type who tends to become authoritarian. It would be better if Treasury and Finance Minister Şimşek didn't speak . The more he talks, the deeper he sinks. Finally, when a young man asked him for help finding a job, he spouted nonsense by saying that there were 1.7 million vacant jobs listed on the İŞKUR (Turkish Employment Agency) website . I would like to ask Mr. Şimşek a question. If he has to look for a job tomorrow, which seems likely as the election approaches... If a banker were offered a security guard job at a bank, and paid minimum wage, would he see it as a job, a job opportunity? This is what is being done to our youth. Are jobs that have nothing to do with education and skills still considered jobs? If these two – the demand for employment and the supply of skills in a profession – do not align, then this is a management error or deficiency. It is the responsibility of governments to reconcile these two. It's not mine. Meanwhile, the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce also announced its September inflation figures . Even the pro-government chamber announced inflation at 3.2%. It also remained above 40 on an annual basis. This shows that our forecast will be correct at the end of the year, not the Central Bank's. It is becoming increasingly clear to everyone that the so-called Gaza peace plan is not actually a peace plan at all, but rather a plan to create a situation desired by Israel . CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, regarding this peace plan, quoted Aliya Izetbegović: "This is not a good peace agreement, but the worst peace is better than the best war." he said. The words sound good. The reference to Izzet Begovi is nice, but whether Izzet Begovi was right about what he said to Ali is debatable in my opinion. For example, there is a peace that ends all peace. Treaty of Versailles. It ended World War I, but it paved the way for, and caused, a far bloodier World War. It paved the way for an injustice that allowed a murderer like Hitler to come to power. Not every nice word is true . While I'm on the subject, let me also mention an injustice done to Özel. There are now critics for the kind words Özel said about the Kaan aircraft and the engineers and workers who worked to build it during his visit to TUSAŞ . What was Mr. Özgür going to say ? This plane is a disgrace, shouldn't it be built? He should have said that. Our defense industry and TUSAŞ are the result of 50 years of effort by Türkiye. Of course we will be proud, but we will not turn this into a defense industry fetish by spreading lies . On the contrary, we will remember that lies have dealt the greatest blow to the development of the defense industry . Finally, let me say this. The situation after the Gaza agreement may not be pleasant. Things could get really chaotic in the east of our country . The region could become more tense than ever before. We can see many different purifications. I'd say it would be good if the commission's work sped up. That's all for today, my brother Emre. My first court hearing is tomorrow. He receives everyone's good wishes and positive thoughts. Thank you. I wish everyone a wonderful day. Welcome, Mr. Dücane. Thank you. How are you? Are you alright? They used to say "He's worse than a moth" as a cliché. Let's just say I'm fine. Let's be good. Please be well, sir. I generally ask our guests about political topics, and that's usually the case for them as well. Today, I'd rather ask you questions focusing on freedom and society . So, firstly, this might be a general question, but what is freedom? When you analyze the concept of freedom in today's society, what kind of environment of freedom do you see? Let me start by asking him . The freedom we yearn for, the unattainable goals, have always been likened to women since ancient times. Truth, for example, is a woman. That's how justice works. Freedom is like that too. Remember Jacques Louis David's painting of liberty, related to the French Revolution? There is a woman there too . Well , because it's very difficult to obtain. But freedom has one condition. Freedom cannot be spoken of unless that condition arises . We cannot talk about freedom without being able to conceive and understand equality. We can perhaps divide freedom into only two categories, right from the start . So, the Germans call freedom "Freyhe Hight." But then there is also what I call adolescent freedom, the self-willedness that Kant called cannibalistic freedom . In other words, everyone can do whatever they want. The desire to obtain what one wants or hates, or to reject what one despises, even at the expense of others, without regard for others. This is not freedom. Freedom arises through the law, within the limits of the law . If there are no laws, no boundaries, we cannot speak of freedom. It may seem a bit contradictory, but we don't call a form of freedom without laws or boundaries, freedom. We call it willfulness. I call it teenage liberation . So, that's the naive mindset of a 14-year-old who wants to do whatever they want . Am I not free? We understand freedom within boundaries. From where? There's an example I always give. We stop at the red light. This is a limit. But when we stop at a red light, we know that the principle that established that rule is a product of our own reason and intellect. We recognize our own reason in the law. Let's say human intelligence has created traffic lights to regulate traffic, and has designated a red light as a limit for a situation . This is consistent with human reason, with common sense , with universal reason. Therefore, we act with the awareness that we are limiting ourselves, even within laws and prohibitions, because we find our own reason and intellect within those prohibitions. Law, as a product of human reason, is not something that restricts freedom; rather, it is the limits that enable freedom that freedom exists. Now, philosophy first emerged in ancient Greece in the 6th century BC, and the word philosophy has no equivalent in any other language . So the pronunciations change, you might say "filosophy," you might say "filosopher," you might say "philosophy," but ultimately you have to pronounce it as "philosopher" in Greek. There's nothing like it anywhere else . Philosophy did not originate in society. Look, science has emerged, faith has emerged. From the perspective of the history of science, science did not begin with Greece. Religion and faith did not begin with the Greeks, but philosophy did. Some people perceive this as a very Eurocentric interpretation. My own point, my justification, is why philosophy didn't emerge in another geographical area and another time period, but 2600 years ago in Ionia and Athens, in Greece. I think there are three main reasons for this . First, the emergence of money. Humans transitioned from bartering to trading. In exchange for money, the form of exchange changed. The physical object, the commodity, has been replaced by an abstract concept representing it: money. The second option is the alphabet. Humanity created the alphabet by abstracting sound . Uh, he found the writing. Therefore, the second condition is the alphabet. It is possible to show the vowels. The Greek alphabet is also a continuation of the Phoenician alphabet. But the third one is important for our purposes. Are these two enough? So, let's say in Türkiye, there's both the money and the alphabet to prevent philosophy from reaching the level we desire. Why is there no philosophy? Because the third condition is not met, it doesn't exist in Iraq, it doesn't exist in Syria, it does n't exist in Iran, and it doesn't exist in China. This is because the third condition, the third possibility, has not been met . What is it? Freedom. In other words, democracy. In other words, freedom of debate, freedom of expression. The freedom for those who are different, who are opposed to each other, to live together. There is a significant difference between an enemy and a rival. Who is the enemy? why? An enemy is someone who wants to destroy you . Then you must destroy the enemy . If you don't destroy it, it will destroy you . But you ca n't destroy your opponent. Because your opponent isn't someone who wants to destroy you. Your rival is someone who wants to surpass you. What we call competition emerges. Thought is the same. I disagree with your views, Mr. Emre. I find it completely wrong. I'll write you a review tomorrow as well. Sure, or you'll write to me. You express your thoughts. Then I will answer you. Then you will answer me . We try to convince each other that we are more right or more correct . One intellectual does not view another intellectual as an enemy. Because one thought does not want to destroy another. Mistakes categorically do not want them to disappear. Because opposing ideas are the very possibility for the existence of our own ideas. So, the moment we destroy our opponent, we too will cease to exist . The main problem in Türkiye is... you asked what I thought of Türkiye, but I answered by beating around the bush a bit . We are deprived of freedom. You'll ask, "What do you mean, you can't get what you want?" Where do you want to go but can't ? The highest degree of freedom is being able to say what I think without feeling that something bad will happen to me. I am someone who is prepared to criticize and be criticized for my opinions. Because I've been criticizing other people's opinions for years. My opinions, too, deserve criticism if they are deemed worthy. So I always keep in mind that I said things that could be criticized. I apply the same principle to other people's thoughts as well. But if, instead of being criticized for my opinions, they try to silence me, then I would no longer be seen as an opponent or a rival. I would be seen as an enemy. When we say "enemy," we generally mean an external enemy . Foreigners, the other. But here, one of Türkiye's biggest problems is internal enemies. In other words, we are unable to sit down and talk with those who are different from us, who are unlike us. That's how it was in my youth . It was divided into two factions: right and left. Only the guns were doing the talking. And our generation, during that turmoil, I wouldn't say it was wasted, but it suffered greatly . Those who know, know. We are still dealing with the consequences of that trauma. We've gotten older . We thought we had distanced ourselves from all of that, and so on. But I have a promise to keep. To live long enough to see how the most beautiful can turn into the ugliest is what fate has in store for us . Freedom of thought is nourished by the ability to express that thought, and this means being able to express it not only to those who embrace it, but also to those who do not . This is the only way for a society to live together and make universal contributions to the universe, to the whole world . Okay, I'll tell you three... philosophy capitals. First, Athens. Philosophy flourished there. It grew strong and spread there. The second is Baghdad. Baghdad was the heart of philosophy in the 9th century . All Greek works were translated into Arabic, and in the Middle Ages, that so-called dark age, in the 9th and 10th centuries, Baghdad became at least the second most important city in human history. That is, it lasted until the 12th century, but it was at its peak in the 9th and 10th centuries. Thirdly, the new era. Many places might come to mind in this modern era, but the capital city I have specifically chosen is Amsterdam. John Locke has arrived in Amsterdam. Descartes has arrived in Amsterdam. From where? Because it is said that the two countries were pushed into the sea by the landlocked states behind them. One of the countries that Spain pushed into the sea is Portugal. Thanks to Portugal, the Cape of Good Hope was rounded. Because it can't go up. There are British people. Across the way is the ocean. He doesn't dare go there either. They went down slowly, from below. Because they had no other options. They can't get in. Spain is there. The second country is Amsterdam. It is the Netherlands. So why? There are Germany, German, and Deutschland there. And it pushed it into the sea, and in terms of colonialism, the Netherlands was once ahead of almost all other countries . Philosophy will not breathe in Athens, Baghdad, or Amsterdam. Where was he going to get it? What was its distinguishing feature? The fact that they are cosmopolitan cities that don't resemble each other. There are people of all religions. There are men of all races . No matter what you say, nothing substantial ever happens to you. At least you can have discussions— intellectuals, educated people, artists. So, I can say this... Arguing and confronting those who are different from you, those who don't think like you, is a condition of your existence. Without opposition, you cannot exist. That's why it needs opponents of its ideas. If an idea cannot find its opposite, if it cannot criticize it, it will perish. Therefore, unless there are places and spaces where different elements of the cosmos coexist, freedom cannot emerge. They don't have to be legally equal. In Greece, in ancient Greece for example, there were foreigners called metek suu . So they're not citizens, but they've come from all over the world. In Athens, there were more foreigners than Athenian citizens . Let's not forget that even Aristotle was a foreigner and had to leave Athens. So, Greeks would treat someone a foreigner if they weren't a citizen of Athens, or if they weren't born and raised there . This foreignness is such a great advantage; Istanbul, and even Izmir, used to be like that. Think of Isklal Street, for example, right ? Think of Cihangir. So, while the Galata area may seem cosmopolitan, today, for example, Kadıköy, I was born in Üsküdar. I was born and raised in Üsküdar. Üsküdar is not very cosmopolitan. Look at non-cosmopolitan districts in Istanbul, for example, Fatih, Eyüp, and Üsküdar. It is a quintessential Ottoman town in every aspect. But you won't find many large bookstores around here. Religious books are sold there, etc. So it's generally geared towards a single color. But Istiklal Street, of course, doesn't have the same charm anymore, but there's a certain kind of people who walk along Istiklal Street. Nobody cares about anyone else. This is so significant; these differences are what allow the very idea of ​​freedom to breathe. In our country, these differences are perceived as a kind of dispersion, a weakness, a mixture—they're more commonly called composite. So, they like to call it a mosaic, something with different elements. But a very knowledgeable and respected gentleman whom I greatly admired was very disturbed by the word "mosaic" and said... In other words, in a mosaic, each mosaic piece joins next to the next. But in our Anatolian culture, we have aşure (a traditional Turkish dessert). Ashure contains many different ingredients . But within the same dish, it somehow maintains its own distinct existence . Isn't it the same with food? For example, you make a vegetable stew for your meal. You boiled it so much that the eggplant melted, the potatoes melted, and you can't even see the tomatoes. It would n't be a successful meal. Yes. They are all a bit like chickpeas before they go into a bean stew or the elements of aşure (a Turkish dessert) . It's tough, it's unique. This is who I am, folks. But when it's added to aşure (a Turkish dessert), or to green beans or eggplant stew, it loses a bit of its character. You've gotten a little thinner, chickpea brother. A little softened bean will turn into a brother. In large metropolises, in those cosmopolitan environments I'm talking about, the elements aren't as stable and independent as they seem on their own. They soften up a bit. I've always said this to people around me, including students. For example, have you ever had an Armenian friend, or a Greek friend or neighbor? If you don't have a Jewish friend, especially if they've been conditioned by certain ideological biases, you can say whatever you want. You start with the filthy Jews. Something about Greek something or other . But make sure you have at least one friend you know . A Greek friend of yours. Just when you're about to throw it, that's what comes to mind. You might think they'll be upset, that they'll be hurt. So, getting to know someone, meeting someone, protects you from making too many broad generalizations. You can't just hurl insults and profanities at the other side however you want. So, to become like aşure (a traditional Turkish dessert), if I may use an analogy, not like a mosaic with pieces placed side-by-side but rather inward, then some of our sharp edges need to be smoothed and softened over time. We need to come together with elements different from ourselves, to become an aşure element, and this is only possible through dialogue with those who are dissimilar. It can be achieved through talking, discussing, and criticizing . You criticize him, he criticizes you, and so on. That's how softening, the softening of those harsh edges, happens, and that's where civilization triumphs. Its greatest achievements have been in art, philosophy, and science, in environments where these dissimilar elements have come together. That's why philosophy doesn't belong in the countryside, it doesn't belong in the village; it belongs in the city, with writing and money. It's not possible in the village . The opportunities have not arisen. Because everyone praises Paris, right? Everyone finds something they like in Paris . Based on my personal experiences, I too, of course, read a lot about the Young Turks when I was young. Anyone who goes to Paris becomes a Westernizer, or whatever . I'm always curious. I felt the same way the first time I went to Paris. So what's going to happen here? What is changing? Muslim children are going on to become Westernized, and so on. Then I also had the opportunity to live there. If someone were to ask me what Paris means to me, I would say there's a very interesting sense of freedom there. Nobody cares about you. So there's a huge crowd, a great deal of activity, but what you want is for nobody to pay any attention to you. You can go and sleep on the ground in the park, or on a bench, whatever you want . So you don't need to hesitate, be embarrassed, or think it would be inappropriate. That is, within the law . Therefore, when that same thing happens in thought, the reason I place equality at the foundation of what I call freedom is actually related to the same reasons . In other words, if we continue with that analogy, the ingredients in aşure (a traditional Turkish dessert) cannot claim to be superior to one another. So, the most expensive thing there might be a piece of meat, but it's no more important than rice, bulgur, or beans, for example . Because without beans, that aşure (a traditional Turkish dessert) will be incomplete. Or, let's say a dish should have 78 ingredients; not only expensive ingredients but also inexpensive ingredients will play a role in creating that taste . We have lost this in our country. Politics largely feeds on antagonisms, on polarization, and especially for religious communities and sects, it evokes a sense of division, disintegration, and dissolution on a political scale, just as it does for political parties . I've been through this myself. So I understand that feeling. If you truly have such high ideals and ideological convictions, softening them within society will make you appear unprincipled, like a withered individual who cannot fully represent their cause. At first glance, that's how it seems. That's why you consider it a skill to close ranks. You consider it a virtue to resemble each other . You also dress similarly. In terms of attitude, style , and manner of greeting, the element of constant similarity is exaggerated. I'm not actually hungry, but it's always the same old thing: examples and pictures. So imagine a bowl of rice with nothing in it . But there is rice with tomatoes. So you add something that's not like it. The taste changes. This is where Iranians add saffron. As the ingredients increase, the taste changes and the mixture doesn't disperse. TRUE. That rice is no longer the same rice after it shook hands with the tomato . It's not completely dry. He's softened up a bit now. The tomato juice has slightly altered its color. Culture is like that too . So, among the ingredients, for example, in tomato rice or tomato pilaf, let's say 90% appears to be rice, right? So when placed on the plate, the contribution of the tomato may seem weaker, but the two are equal. Numerical majority means nothing. They all make a contribution. This is true in culture as well as in thought. It will soften. To soften does not mean to disintegrate, rot, or wither. The parties will protect their dignity. Politeness is not a vice. So listening to ideas that I think are wrong isn't a compromise. It is a blessing. So, the ability to criticize it is a blessing. For me, for myself, to exist, my opposite must exist . Now, politics in Türkiye is somewhat related to where the world is heading. It became a single entity. Now, opposition leads to those who object being perceived as an internal enemy . We are afraid of being different. They all act as if they're all the same. That's a common trait among businessmen. The more bohemian or whatever the guy is, the more emphatically he greets us with "Salamun alaikum." Peace be upon you . Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah. The emphasis is increasingly focused on that single sound. There is now a political will that is bothered if someone doesn't say "Assalamualaikum," but simply says "Hello." I'm not saying there is a society. Society somehow manages to preserve its differences, but it is still hesitant to interact with one another . So, if they are quickly incited, we see this happening to each other on social media. Even if journalists, intellectuals, thinkers, artists, or even cartoonists say something against the government's policies through trolls, they can be dismissed with accusations that can be interpreted in many ways, such as being treated as an internal enemy and inciting hatred, animosity, and division among the public, even if they deny their intentions. Nobody feels safe. What did I do? I didn't do anything. There's a saying, "I didn't eat anything raw, so why should my stomach hurt?" I didn't do anything wrong, so why would anything wrong be done to me? We're in such a state that even if we don't eat raw food, our stomachs hurt. The seat I'm sitting in right now is Fatih Altaylı's seat. He is the rightful owner of that empty seat. You are naturally placing deprived kindred spirits in this seat. Thank you. They are also there in Fatih Bey's absence. No one, of course, can fill the void left by Mr. Fatih when they sit here. He is aware of this gap in Türkiye. Look, the people who come here, who speak here, are people who, for better or worse, hold value in their own fields. So, artists, politicians, and so on, whether we agree with their ideas or not, whether we look at the world differently or not, they all have different values. Despite these efforts, despite different people coming here from different professions with various forms of support, they are unable to fill the void here. Why can't it fill? Let's say I'm not a journalist. We started with Ancient Greece, may God help those who are watching us. We said we would talk about freedom of speech, but where have we ended up? What Mr. Fatih has filled in here might be thoughts or feelings that anger some of us. Some of us may find these thoughts comforting. But it's an essential ingredient in aşure (a traditional Turkish dessert). It was an element that contributed equally with the others. Nobody can say that. Let's remove this from this aşure (a traditional Turkish dessert). Let's silence this. This will produce a result that will affect the whole society. That's what we're upset about. Ultimately, an intellectual, a journalist, an artist, a thinker can end up in jail for what they say or do . If he hasn't committed a shameful crime, this makes him a hero. Society needs heroes, and so does society itself. So, their stance, the contributions of people who pay a price for their difference, to the unity of society . So, interestingly enough, in Türkiye, elements that would strengthen social unity are being accused of being separatist, that is, of harming the unity of society . But strangely enough, you're arresting a poet. You are banning one of his poems. A journalist's review, a writer's article, a literary figure's novel. But interestingly, 50 years later, some of the most important members of that society are among its heroes. As far as I know, we have a court hearing on Friday. He's a pessimistic man, but I'm never a pessimist. That's why I'm having this conversation hoping that this seat will find its rightful owner on Friday . In fact, it was something that might not have been understood if I had said it alone. And hopefully, I'll be your last guest here, the last guest to sit in this empty seat . We'll receive the good news on Friday. Mr. Fatih, the rightful owner of this seat, will take his place and continue his contributions to the country, to democracy, thought, art, and science . There's a saying, "A stone is heavy in its place." Well, this, well, this remains as a memory of the country. Therefore, I believe that differences and dissimilarities will not divide or fragment us, but rather, on the contrary, will make us a true society. I would like to conclude my talk with a critique of Plato by Aristotle. The society says it is not based on the principle of unity. Plato based his understanding of society on unity. Society, by its very nature, is multiplicity, he says. Let me conclude by expressing my longing for the day when we will respect our differences. Thank you very much, Mr. Dücan. I'm so glad you came. Thank you. Yeah.