There is something of a war going on between a member of the European Parliament, Joost Lagendijk (NL, Greens - ultra progressive), and the Turkish political party the CHP. The Kemalist party has asked the Speaker of the European Parliament to remove Lagendijk from his post as co-chairman of the interparliamentary commission.

The reason? Lagendijk insulted the CHP on several occasions. He said that the party is a “disaster” and blasted it for its supposed anti-EU stance.

The fight between Lagendijk and the CHP is part of a larger fight between the Green Party and the before mentioned Turkish party. As we all know, ultra progressives believe that Islamism is simply a cultural exponent, a product of a culture. Therefore it is wrong to fight Islamist forces in Muslim countries.

The CHP, however, disagrees, believing that Turkey needs secularism, which the progressives, of course, consider to be a cultural product of the West. Hence the hatred.

Lagendijk is right to a degree when he says that the CHP is anti-EU. It has, however, reasons enough to oppose Turkey joining the European Union. The EU has treated Turkey is a despicable, denegrating manner for decades. Countries that are less ready to join the EU are allowed to join while Turkey is forced to implement reform after reform without getting anything in return. On top of that, there are many politicians and political parties in the West who run on an anti-Turkey platform during election time. Turks listen to the anti-Turkey rhetoric, and become increasingly angry and fed up.

Lastly TDN adds:

For many, the case of Lagendijk brings to mind the concept of “pet country syndrome” which is frequently used to refer to politicians who adopt a country and try to save it, usually from itself, without necessarily understanding its internal dynamics. Lagendijk seems to have fallen into this trap, as he is criticized by many for keeping silent on police action during last May Day, after all the talk about democracy thrown in the face of the CHP.

I think there is certainly some truth to that, but I think that it’s not so much about not understanding, as it is about disagreeing.

Consider the following:

Joost Lagendijk, a member of the European Parliament and chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee with Turkey, is probably not the most popular political figure in Turkey. But no doubt, he is a man of vision, specifically an acknowledged expert on the optimal level of warfare Turkey’s Islamist Muslims should engage in their holy crusade against secular Muslims.In reference to the legal challenge against Turkey’s ruling party, the Dutchman says he had warned the AKP politburo that “they should have gone quiet and slow” about the turban in particular, and probably about their other Islamic-motivated acts of governance/legislation in general. Surely, it is not a good omen for the AKP if the “level of warfare” is increased. Yes, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his men should have gone “quieter and slower.” Blame it on Mr. Erdoğan’s honesty!

But apparently the alternative force, possibly feeling excited about the legal challenge against “their party,” is doing wrong by not listening to the “Flying Dutchman:” they are just too active and, in a haste to win the war are in fact exposing “their party” to greater risks.They may be technically very well equipped. They may be very intelligent. They may, ironically, be boasting to run a “Jewish-style lobbying network around the globe.” They may have all imaginable means of support inside or outside Turkey: Governmental, systematic, financial or others. But they are making a tactical mistake which is very natural. Blame, this one, on their desire to finish, sooner than later, the holy job they are committed to. But such desires often cause mistakes such as the embarrassing “in-house” espionage scandal in Ankara. That scandal is best evidence that the Islamic crusaders keep on ignoring Mr. Lagendijk’s advice. If what is commonly – and wrongly – known as the “deep state” had been caught in attempts to tap a senior member of the government, it would have been – rightfully – condemned both in Turkey and “in the world of the civilized values that Mr. Lagendijk comes from.” But the fact that plainclothes policemen trying to tap the vice president of the Constitutional Court that will rule on whether the ruling party has violated the Constitution and therefore should be banned will probably go un-condemned in both realms.That is not the heart of the matter. The AKP’s European friends have recently become “certified” AKP friends and therefore any biased EU word (or no word) from them on Turkish affairs would not surprise anyone. That bias is only distancing Turkey from where it should be coming closer. The heart of the matter is that the stakes are now higher in the “Battle of Ankara.”

Lagendijk knows what he’s talking about, that’s not the problem. The real problem is that he simply supports the AK Parti and wants this party to destroy all Kemalist opposition.