Didim Today

I am outraged that the Turkish government released Defne Bayrak wife of suicide bomber Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi after questioning. When President Barak Obama made one of his first few foreign visits to Turkey last April, it was to emphasize the work the United States and Turkey must do together on behalf of peace, prosperity and progress.

It would also provide an opportunity to continue the President Obama’s dialogue with the Muslim world. With the support of the Presidency of the United States, Turkey was well on its way for the hopes of joining the European Union. American tourism to Turkey has been booming and for the first time in many years it appeared that Turkey would become the next member of the European Union.

This one woman, Defne Bayrak, who resides in Turkey remaining outspoken in support of her husband’s suicide and murder of seven American citizens, will do far more damage than the entire Armenian people have done in the past decade.

In the United States one’s Freedom of Speech., a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States comes with a price tag. If one wishes to speak up in favor terrorism they risk losing the right to keep their minor children and raise them as future terrorists.

Our Department of Social Services can and often will take those children placing them as wards of the State and releasing them into foster care. Freedom is not always free! Israel destroys the homes of Hamas suicide bombers in Gaza and flattens homes of suicide bombers inside of Israel. Perhaps Turkey should adopt this policy so that when one chooses terrorism then perhaps he might anticipate who would be left behind.

If Defne Bayrak is so outspoken against Americans, why is she still living in a country that enjoys a close relationship with the USA, enjoying all the luxuries that the USA brings? In the late 90’s hundreds of Egyptian students in Cairo demonstrated against America, while wearing their American Levi jeans, wearing their Adidas shoes. Defne, what luxuries do you continue to enjoy?

Do you use instant messaging and your cell phone camera? That is Israeli technology. If you wish to have action behind your convictions, why live in Turkey that remains strategic allies with Israel and a 1996 cooperation agreement? By Turkey’s refusal of consequences for this woman’s outspoken behavior will ultimately hurt Turkey. Does the Turkish government not realize that no action appears as support?

Only time will tell when tourism decreases and bids for the European Union fail as Turkey appears to the entire western world as a country that harbors families of terrorism. As many of those opponents of the Turkish bid to the European Union are waiting for Turkey to self combust by its inaction and lack of consequences, Defne Bayrak can do the world a favor and move to Gaza where I am sure that the people would welcome her with open arms. Defne Bayrak this American woman says, “Put up or shut up!”