Nobody knows what 27-year-old Selahattin Cirit was thinking when he was shot in the leg in the Ýstanbul neighborhood of Okmeydaný last Wednesday. He was originally from Bingöl and working as a motorbike courier in a market in Okmeydaný. Was Cirit aware of the fact that some people in the neighborhood had come to believe he was a child molester? 

Nobody knows what the real motive of the furious crowd was, although sociologist Tanýl Bora and psychiatrist Professor Selçuk Candansayar have some educated guesses. Documentation from the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TÝHV) about the country’s rapidly evolving culture of lynching can give some clues, too. Despite police questioning, Okmeydaný residents continue to stay silent, though many of them witnessed what happened. Cirit cannot provide any information, either. After he fell from his motorcycle due to the wound in his leg, he was beaten to death by a group of approximately 50 people. His father says there was not a single bone in his son’s body that was not broken.

Nobody knows what the real motive of the furious crowd was, although sociologist Tanýl Bora and psychiatrist Professor Selçuk Candansayar have some educated guesses. Documentation from the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TÝHV) about the country’s rapidly evolving culture of lynching can give some clues, too. Despite police questioning, Okmeydaný residents continue to stay silent, though many of them witnessed what happened. Cirit cannot provide any information, either. After he fell from his motorcycle due to the wound in his leg, he was beaten to death by a group of approximately 50 people. His father says there was not a single bone in his son’s body that was not broken.

According to media reports, a student in Okmeydaný told her mother that someone with a motorcycle had harassed her. Suddenly a rumor about Cirit started to circulate in the neighborhood. Even today it is not known whether this rumor had any relation to reality, but it was enough to stir up the anger that led to Cirit’s murder. 

More: http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=158864

*************

Especially sentences in the article like these: ´a tendency toward lynching against Kurds is already strong in Turkish society´ and ´Male adolescents, if they are unable to cope with their strong emotions, which is the case in Turkey´ I find very alarming. What is wrong, it´s not the 19th century anymore!

barbarity!

only thing i can say!

barbarians, even in istanbul!

This is a dreadful story, but the title leads me to believe I am going to read about the lynching  (Hanging) of several people at a given time, similar to Iran with homosexuals.  This headline gives this story a much more sensationalistic begining. 

This is not a lynching but a mob attack, so why have they called it a mass lynching?

 its amazing how often you expose your own ignorance.

in iran they have religous system of justice where an imam or bunch imams issue the vedict and the mob (mass idiots) goes and kills the so "criminals" by hanging or stoning or even mutulating. so everything is carried out according to the system and "laws".

in this case, there was no a procedure, but suspicions and the mass went out to carry out their own street justice.

 more and more you prove how heartless you are. you didnt comment on how barbaric it was, but showed your concern about two very alike incidents and how the article´s title doesnt fit your ignorance.

 Thank you for your kind comments, but you have no idea how I feel about this therefore you will remain ignorant.

 I like the kind way you point out my failings.

 i judge by what you wrote not by your feelings you have hidden into your shoes.

since you dont show your concern about the victim but on articles title, i keep stating that you are HEARTLESS.

 I get the picture, I am HEARTLESS............................. and you are the most compassionate person on this site

Who is the most compassionate?  The one who ignores such things for fear of causing offence, or the one who challenges such things regardless of causing offence?

yikes.. relax beautiful ladies.. you guys are an intelligent and ermm mature bunch sooo yea.

About the article... whoa such a rumour could actually make people hit that poor guy to his death... :S it´s like honour killing.. :S

 libra simply fails putting herself in place of the victims.

and you yours....she did say it was dreadful...but then commented that the title was not accurate. What is wrong with that?A mob attack is a mob attack, to lynch someone is an act committed by a mob.

As this was a published article, a proper use of terminoligy is to be expected.I am constantly amazed at how little precision words offer. In looking at the definition of lynching I found that it actually was not always hanging, or extrajudicial. The term is named after Charles Lynch, who was a jurist.

................................but it looks like you are less concerned with her compassion than you are in looking for a way to attack her? Do we need attention?

I was enjoying your posts lately, but then you have to be School teacher again grrrrrrr

Please excuse my digression dear Aenigma.....habits are hard to break....you know?

+10000

Although the article says the reason for this incident is unknown but ´kurdish hating´ and then the heroic  youth with the idea ´cleaning the country from its enemies´  should not be ruled out.

I think it is a serious and a growing problem in these days.

It´s unfortunate that incidents of "hate crimes" seem to be on the increase. I think it has more to do with world resources and economics than any real differences.

At the bottom of this are the feelings of getting what´s "mine".

 so what is your point here dear miss all-know?

libra was trying to steal our attention from the real problem just like always (your school).

she called it a simple mob attack.

and dont you ever teach me.

 what was so valuable in zettea´s post?

good afternoon everyone.

In America, one is innocent until proven guily. We also have a system in place, when one is convicted of a sexual crime, they are placed on a website. Anyone can access this site. So when you decide to move to a new neighbor, you see how many sexual pretators are in your neighborhood. Everyone knows and no need to take matters into your own hands. 

Also I think in most Muslim countries, women and girls are not special and not protected. If one is convicted of rape;  The rapist is found and jailed. No one cares of the girls virginity and its not kept a secret. until your country and people as a whole see sexual exploitation as a CRIME, then no justice will insue.  We do not protect the male rapist, but in turkey you do and you solve the problem, by having the rapist marry the victim....... This is unthickable in the rest of the world. 

I hope your country starts changing the laws.... This is sad. thanks

Good afternoon Cubanita

You make the US sound like the promised land   I never realised there was such a perfect country in this world.

Bless God! Bless Allah!  USA is the new heaven

 You didn´t know?

 you better hurry to heaven, uk soon will be ruled by sharia.

 cubanita,

this system works throught the whole world, well, except islamic countries. so it isnt something new to us non-americans.

I´m sorry you feel that way. You know, I do not think anyone can teach anyone. It´s just like putting crumbs out for birds. Some will take them, others will not. Some won´t even see them.

Dear Aenigma,

Thank you for your reply. First of all, nothing in my paragrahs stated that America is the promised land. its my opinion and observations from years of experience with dealing with different cultures, and people from all over the world.

The beauty of being humans is that we think and can make educated decisions, based on facts and information. I gave some facts of what America is doing with sexual predators because its a huge problem in this country as well. In America its the land of many. All cultures and different religions,  living in close proximity of each other. For example, in Astoria Queens,  you will have a Greek Restuarant and next to it, a Russian, and so forth. This is what makes America great. All cultures in 1 block. living and working together, even though our thought and feelings are different, we try to repect them.  We try to live with each other. Everyone is a unique individual with unique thoughts and feelings. But, @ least we do not go and mob someone because we think they are guilty of a crime. We must try and be civil and allow the laws that we voted for,  the people, put in place via votes to occur.  I hope this helps;  My intentions are not to insult anyones religion, country, ethnic background.  We should, be able to be different and not be worried that who I am will kill me.  Im very tolerant of others´ thoughts and feelings, thats what makes us civil and not animalistic.  By the way, Im Cuban American.  thanks.

Im new to this website, so forgive me, if im not emailing correctly. 

 im not the only person who thinks so. im sure you ve been told many times that you patronize everyone.

oh yeah, now we are birds and you are a kind hand with crumbs

this is not even slightly true. You`re only accepted by the society in America if you`re white and christian. haven`t you heard of the racial threats around America after Obama got elected president? even schoolscildren chanted "assainate Obama".

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081116/ap_on_re_us/obama_racial

Lynching is in fact a long American tradition. According to the statistics,

From 1882-1968, 4,743 lynchings occurred in the United States. Of these people that were lynched 3,446 were black.

http://faculty.berea.edu/browners/chesnutt/classroom/lynchingstat.html

Don`t tell us that in America, people respect all the minorities, that`s just a cheap lie, and I know this from experience, I also know how Americans still hate Cubans just like they hate Mexicans. Not to mention about muslims and middle esatern people of course.

tamikidakika... you are so boring with your constant "but in america..", "in the west.... it is much worse, or you do the same, or you don´t want a muslim mosque, therefore our nationalism is not bad"... etc etc..... *yawn..

I just wanted to tell what cubanita said is not true. if you have a counter-argument proving Americans don`t hate anyone, don`t hesitate to share it with us.

Wow!!! So your point is that Americans hate everyone!? Canim... I think that YOU hate everyone and I have a proof of it that I can show.

 Offffffffffff Tam! I cant BELIEVE you had the audacity to say such bad things about the US!! It is rule of TC you just don´t do it...

I removed the content of my post. Is there a way to delete it altogether?

We have myriad of possible identities at our disposal, just choose what suits you.

For example, you are a Cuban American hence  in conflict with the majority of Cuban Cubans who are proud of the fact that they could free their country from American invasion. There may even be American Cubans who still occupy a portion of the island and there are those American Americans who have convicted Cuban Cubans to misery by locking  their trade lines for decades forcing frustrated Cubans to become Cuban Americans who are ready to serve American interests at the expense of their impoverished country.

Today, on this small isolated, island in the middle of the ocean, a very proud and equally talented people live. They withstand with perseverence all the hardships inflicted on them by the US. 

This may not appeal to you or to anyone reading this at all but I admire these people, I like their music, I like their culture and the way they have excelled in medicine and athletism...

To me, they are the real Spartans of our times.

 Ouh me too Vineyards, viva Cubaaaaaaaaaaaa

when did I say Americans hate everyone? They don`t hate themselves for sure.

Did I misunderstand?

why did you delete it? so you`re saying its wrong to make generalizations about Americans, but why is it ok to make generalizations when it comes to Turks? right, you can`t generalize Americans being hateful bigots, but you can say Muslims are terrorists or terrorists are muslims.

"It`s not true that American`s don`t hate anyone"

that sentence doesn`t mean American`s hate everyone handsome. It rather means Americans do hate some. is it that confusing?

 Yes you didn´t say that Americans hate everyone. Just that some people have bad inference skills lol on purpose

I delted it because I decided against getting into the debate, I think it´s difficult to talk about any issues when one or both participants feel very emotional about them, which I suspect is the case here.

I don´t agree with the second part of your statements either. I don´t think one should generalize when it comes to anyone, Americans or Turks or muslims. I´m assuming you´re a Muslim, since you feel so strong about it, and I´m sorry that in your perception (right or wrong) you´re being lumped into the same group as terrorists - it surely isn´t right and you have every reason to be upset about it. But as you don´t like being labeled in a certain way, you surely can understand why I would feel the same way.

Im not a muslim, and I dont think one has to be a muslim to see how disgusting it is.

 I agree with you, but that´s what happens when people label others.

+10000

And a huge conguratulation. Once more you have managed to change the main topic by arguing that ´ah you have these sort of things too, therefore your critisisim is void´

I never referred to what the main topic says, and I don`t support what happened to that child molester either. is that enough for you?

I dont think you needed to for that purpose...

 And that means he is a GENUÝNE TLC member handsom,dimi ? ´thx LÝR´ lol

 Ã can delete it for you Melek,but we would like if you share your opinion here with us,to hear all points of view

So,would i keep it if you consider reposting ?

 Aww, thanks. I was just curious if one could delete one´s own message if one has a change of mind. I don´t remember the message verbatim to repost it, it was basically my reaction to some of the statements about what Americans are like and about generalizing and labeling people - pretty similar to my subsequent post. Anyway, thank you for the response, I think we can leave it as is for now . 

 Mods and admins only can delete the messages,and in some certain cases only.

Ýf one can delete his own message for any reason,it would make the threads some how not logical,i mean specially at debats

And when others read them,they would feel it not logical or strange,but you can modify it as you did .

And im leaving it as it is

PS:Welcome to TLC

I of course sympathise with the guilty before proven innocent and the accused´s family.

however,

The article was apparently regarding a ´mob mentality´ in dealings with people and to ask WHY the mob of people are taking the law into their own hands.

The objective would therefore be to wonder why?  is it that the legal system in these parts of turkey where this is happening..has been too slow in the past for victims of child abuse or whatever the lynched person has been accused of doing?  why are the people taking the law into their own hands?

Culture of mass Lynchings on the rise across Turkey

 no, they lynch everyone they suspect of crime. it is related to honor killings, and its done and very popular throughout islamic countries and maybe in south america.

what legal system? what for? who cares? we deal it our way, this way our ancestors dealt, and this way we will deal.

the blood must be shed, we need to see the blood, revenge. now, kill. and mob goes out full of anger and hatred.

this is how are dealt all the honor killings.

but of course, we dont pay attention to the reality, to what happent, to the victims, no. we discuss wether the title was correct or maybe people dont know what lynchings are, therefore we provide links.

then we discuss about maybe how america is bad. or maybe the system failed?

people, sometimes i hate you, i do hate you. there are thousands and thousands are killed daily, but you discuss if it should be a mob attack or a lynch.

or how heroic is cuba.

you made me angry. and i HATE you.

...quite an emotional viewpoint 

+1

   I am so glad someone finally realized!! 

 does my emotional viewpoint shock you?

and the honor killings dont shock you?

you prefer you are smarter and discuss with a cold head?

why none od you for goddness sake say: this is horrible, this is disgusting?

you guys are heartless.

i read such articles, they touch me, i read them with a pain and anger.

i dont care if you judge my emotional posts. they are emotional, and im not ashamed of them.

 I think you are generalizing.  In fact, I know you are.  It´s obvious you don´t like America, but to be honest most Americans are very accepting of different cultures.  You are talking about a very small percentage of people in America who are racists....but racism exists everywhere.  When I lived in Europe, I saw plenty of it.  When I stayed in Saudi when my father was stationed there, I saw hatred amoung Arabs and non-Arabs and in staying in Turkey, I have seen it.  The fact of the matter is, many more Americans than not like Barrack Obama.  Even those of us who did not vote for him are proud of his rise to power and that we have finally seemed to break at least one racial barrier.  I would be very sad to see anything bad happen to him. 

well.. that is good, we need passionate people like you but that alone won´t solve anything...

 oh, and when you say the title is incorrect does solve the problem?

when you show your concern maybe then it touches people´s hearts and shake them a bit? talking about them and taking them to a light and make public think about that makes a difference. its not just a sensation, its peoples life, you just cant ignore honor killings.

but if you do ignore then you are just a cow. i cant put more simple as this.

well you are right but you will not eliminate evil from the world, no matter how angry you are. you might be able to make a small difference if you approach it well... but definitely not through alienating poeple, but only when we all come together. you are right that we need to inspire each other

For Femme

http://www.acapela.tv/Cartoon-bb377b1dd015a-bb377b20a717f-bb377b234ba0a-4-6-2

Muhahahahahha... (is is a coincidence that femme is a cat here? )

 will you try to understand me?

trudy posted it. and its not a joke. its a tragedy. instead of saying something reasonable, libra says something idiotic and alameda adds more idiocy, and others join the idiocy. when i try to pull their attention to the real problem i get called emotional.

yeah. right.

thats what always does alameda. she takes your attention from the horrible things done in middle east and brings your attention to white supremacy in the west. do whites keep her there? do they enslave her? do they kick her hispanic ass everyday? if she indeed suffers why doesnt she come to one of the midlle eastern paradises?

so what´s your solution? what do you propose?

 i suppose nothing can be done for now. its a very slow process. we should talk about it.

in turkish tv they should make lots of talk shows, documentary-educational films condemning such barbaric actions. i suppose not much is done in any of these countries, therefore these backward actions are continously repeated from centuries and maybe encouraged even? because its easier to keep uneducated mass under control.

last year i posted a horrible youtube video about a young girl beaten up on a street being watched by glorious and brave turkish gentlemen. i didnt see then alameda&co condemning the action.

and no one should generalize Americans!! have you ever watched a bum fight video femmeous? there are so many people making money out of it in the states. what they do is they throw couple of bucks in front of a bunch of poor homeless people and film them while they beat each other, and then they sell this under the name of "bum fight", and thousands of americans pay money to watch this barbaric thing.

why did I tell about this?

 oh, thank you cat, for paying attention to what i said. i reckon you asked me to try to drive me into more polite and civilised debates

im sure you can have it with alameda and vineyards types who dont like to use everyday english but only when they talk to shallows like me

I love the background music..

And femme looks so cute..ha ha

 nobody forces those people to take part in idiotic shows. while your women are beaten up to death for honor and treated like slaves, you turkish men run and watch a brother or husband torture a helpless girl.

i feel sorry for your mentality, tami. shame on you. you dont have any counter arguement but look at america. shame shame. when i watched that vid my blood boiled i just wanted to be there and knock down all those brainless turkish men. were you there tami?

yes I was the one beating the woman.

I really find what you are saying quite embarressing as a Turk..

But denying it or trying to find examples from the west that so it can be shown as ´ah ha it is hapenning there as well, so we are square type of behaviour´ is more embaressing!

how so? I already admitted that I was the guy beating the woman

One can´t win either way. Don´t criticize if you see bad stuff happening and you´re being accused of being heartless and lumped together and labeled as an idiot. Criticize what´s going on and you´re culturally insensitive, Islamophobic, a bigot, etc. What´s the purpose on posting articles like this? To stir a debate, that´s not really a debate, but a contest in insults? I´m here to learn some Turkish and about the culture and people of that country that I happen to love, but so far I have been rather disappointed

 i personally didnt invite you, melek, into any discussions. if you dont like - dont take part. who said that discussions are meant to be pleasant and painless? and why do you think that ignoring the problems is better than bitter debates? and who said that we can avoid mutual insults? so far i dont live in heaven.

you said, you learn turkish? why dont you go back to your class and continue your lessons in peace? or you were also tempted to jungle insults and dip your pure heart in a dirt we make?

i just wonder where from such innocent angels such as yourself come from?

 Boratstan? 

Point taken. I guess I brought this on myself. Nah, no interest in dirt dipping. I was bored at work, that´s all, felt like some human interaction. Stupid me.

You live in the world you make. And it never hurt anyone to be nice.

And FYI, angels come from paradise I think Tami knows where that is.

Anyway, I won´t impose any longer. Have fun and enjoy the rest of the day.

 Melek, I get what you are saying....but if you love Turkey so much, you must understand that Turkey is very special when it come to East meets West conflicts.  It is one of the very few places in the world that you can go to where the two seem to live in relative harmony.  However, that is not to say that there is not problems.  We discuss many of the issues and problems of this nature here because it is reflective of modern Turkish life.  In many ways, Turkey is a country in transition but has always been a sort of cultural melting pot.  Cultural conflicts are very magnified here because of it geographical location and its secular government V. Islamic Idealism.  You are free to participate in the discussions or you can just go to the language sections or avoid posts that upset you.  People here are very passionate about their views but that is not to say we don´t all like/love Turkey.

Ýf you have the right to express your opinions,so does anyone here!

And no one would need an invitation from you or from anyone else to say what they think

Even ´ and what a surprise´ if you dont agree with their opinions.

And also surprisingly as it may sound,they are free to do what they like,debat,study,or reply to your posts!

 hello Melek, don´t let some here frighten you away. Welcome to Turkish Language Class.

 nay, only demons like myself.

 said the wolf to the sheep!

 Excuse me??? From where does this come?

 good girl

to be nice is boring, i dont want to be as nice as you.

thank you,

you too have a good night, hope you and tami share a peaceful paradise.

im 100% sure tami knows where to find angels as well.

Awwwww Melek,dont take it personally...

Sometimes things get...mmmm harsh ´soften my word ´ at TLC

And some get hurt by being nice,they cant get along with it...they think its weakness

 no.

said the wolf in the skin of sheep in angelic sweet voice.

What is this all suddenly? A TLC therapeutic session?

rolling on the floor!

you didnt know they are theurapeuts hahahaha

sometimes your sharp sense of humour makes fall off my chair

 I know a "B" word too that would fit you nicely

i too get emotional myself for some articles.  but i´ve more of a detective thought process and want to know why something happens, on the other hand,  this is why i wouldnt run for any political chair.   that requires calm, you know.

where do you sit when you read?  is anyone within your reach?  hehe  let´s hope not. 

 OMG, what image i have created of myself now!

Dont panic..

you are now just perfectly yourself  femme..

  you seem you know too many words

 ahaha

i just now could watch this your work fully. thanks but why does handsome need to be a king all the time?