Istanbul (AsiaNews) – A targeted raid on a cultural event at the weekend casts a dark shadow over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Turkey, which in recent years has repeatedly exploited the ‘weapons’ of nationalism and Islam to consolidate power. An as yet unidentified Islamic fundamentalist group attacked a Japanese festival showcasing anime, manga, traditional food and typical products of Japanese culture, forcing the organisers to close early.
The attackers targeted the stalls and families in attendance, causing moments of panic and leaving some with minor injuries from the beatings they suffered, whilst chanting the slogan “Allah Akhbar”; the government in Ankara has so far declined to issue any official comments on this deeply disturbing incident.
The event, which included, amongst other things, fancy dress competitions based on Japan’s most famous characters, video games and sushi tastings, was scheduled for 3 and 4 October in the Ümraniye district of Istanbul, the country’s economic and commercial heart. Over the two days, KonohaFest attracted a huge number of enthusiasts and curious onlookers, particularly children and families, but the organisers were forced to bring the event to a hasty close following the attack, which resulted in damage to stalls and equipment. The subsequent police intervention succeeded in dispersing the group and preventing even more serious consequences for those present.
The Japanese festival had been targeted on social media in recent weeks, well before it took place. Posters bearing the signature ‘Ümraniye NGOs Platform’ – with no further details or acronyms – called on families to attend a rally to demand the event be cancelled. “We will not remain silent! We call on all families,” the posters read, “to sign our statement to stop this initiative, which sets a bad example for our children’s future and for our values.”
The group gathered near the area where stalls and stands had been set up to read out a statement referring to the “Decade of the Family and Population” initiative announced by the government, which has a clear nationalist slant and is linked to “traditional” Turkish values. At the same time, the demonstrators vigorously expressed their support for the operations known as “My Family is Safe”, carried out in September across 15 provinces and aimed at targeting LGBTI+ groups and those fighting for inclusion and equal rights for all.
KonohaFest brought together fans of anime, manga and Japanese culture in Turkey. The name derives from Konoha, or the ‘Village of the Leaf’, featured in the anime series Naruto. Islamic radicals argued that the festival’s costume performances and the lifestyle it represented were ‘contrary to the family structure of society and to national and spiritual values’. Furthermore, the festival was accused of alienating young people and children from Turkish culture, leading them into ‘identity confusion’, with an appeal – or rather, a warning – to local authorities and public institutions to block the event and cancel future editions.
The banners displayed by the group bore slogans such as: “If you’re looking for a role model, look to your own history”, “Our hero is Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror”, “No to exhibitionism, yes to decency” and “We will not hand our youth over to imitation”. After finishing reading the statement, the crowd headed towards the festival area, chanting the slogan “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) and attacking – including physically – the participants. The police intervened to disperse the protesters only after they had damaged the equipment.
What happened is not an isolated incident in Turkey, where nationalist and Islamist extremist groups target anything not strictly linked to Muslim tradition, including attacks on religious minorities including Christians. The government and Erdogan himself have also fuelled this ideology, personally backing controversial decisions such as the conversion of ancient Christian basilicas, such as Hagia Sophia and Chora, into mosques. To date, there have been no arrests, investigations or official statements from the authorities regarding the incident.
