Erdogan's followers in The Netherlands - Docu - 2016
130The struggle of many Turkish Dutch people: do you have to choose between your fatherland and your motherland?
During and after the failed coup attempt in Turkey, thousands of Turkish Dutch living in The Netherlands went on the streets to support President Erdogan and the elected Turkish government. The fact that some people in the Dutch Turkish community went on the streets in The Netherlands in order to openly support Erdogan brought up the question of the community's integration and loyalty to the Netherlands. What lays under this embrace of the Turkish democracy?
Original title: Erdogans aanhang
Since the failed coup attempt and the display of the Turkish flags on the Dutch streets, the debate has broken loose. In the last years, the overall image of the Turkish Dutch is absolutely positive. They are often successfully integrated and score low on the list of crime rates. With higher and higher education, some of them even resturn to Turkey to take advantage of the economic growth there. In short, a community who rarely reaches the front pages.
Now, after the coup attempt in Turkey, the Turkish Dutch who see Erdogan as a carrier of democracy are suddenly catching all the attention: the degree of their integration and their loyalty to the Netherlandsare being questioned. And more particularly the pro Erdogan and strongly against the coup slogans that were chanted during the protests set a lot of people loose. Why do the Turkish Dutch support a president often described in Europe as a dictator?
For the followers, Turkish pride, Erdogan and sovereignty are inextricably linked. But what is hidden behind the self-conscious embrace of the Turkish democracy? Is that also linked to the fact that the Turkish Dutch community does not feel fully accepted by the Dutch as Dutch citizens?
Do the turkish Dutch have to choose between the Netherlands and Turkey? Is it possible to choose between your father and your mother?
Originally broadcasted by VPRO in 2016.
© VPRO Backlight November 2016
On VPRO broadcast you will find nonfiction videos with English subtitles, French subtitles and Spanish subtitles, such as documentaries, short interviews and documentary series.
VPRO Documentary publishes one new subtitled documentary about current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics every week. We research subjects like politics, world economy, society and science with experts and try to grasp the essence of prominent trends and developments.
Subscribe to our channel for great, subtitled, recent documentaries.
Visit additional youtube channels bij VPRO broadcast:
VPRO Broadcast, all international VPRO programs: https://www.youtube.com/VPRObroadcast
VPRO DOK, German only documentaries: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBi0VEPANmiT5zOoGvCi8Sg
VPRO Metropolis, remarkable stories from all over the world: https://www.youtube.com/user/VPROmetropolis
VPRO World Stories, the travel series of VPRO: https://www.youtube.com/VPROworldstories
VPRO Extra, additional footage and one off's: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTLrhK07g6LP-JtT0VVE56A
www.VPRObroadcast.com
Credits:
Director: Halil Ibrahim Özpamuk
English, French and Spanish subtitles: Ericsson.
French and Spanish subtitles are co-funded by European Union.