Siyaset Platformu Kulübü Brings Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı and Mehmet Faruk Mercan to Campus
BY EMİRHAN KAYA (IR/III)
On December 21, the well-known journalists Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı and Mehmet Faruk Mercan came to Bilkent to discuss current issues in a question-and-answer session.
During the discussion, moderated by Samet Akpınar (POLS/IV), chairman of the Bilkent Siyaset Platformu Kulübü (BSP; Bilkent Political Platform Club), the speakers responded to the questions of a large number of audience members. A wide range of topics -- including civil-military relations, jailed deputies, the Turkish schools abroad, conscientious objection and the president's veto of the match-fixing law -- were discussed.
When asked about the reason for his increasingly critical stance, Mr. Kütahyalı stated that he has changed his views gradually over a 10-year period in parallel with political developments, namely the transition period that Turkey has experienced.
As for Mr. Mercan, he said that a critical threshold had been crossed in Turkish politics and that nothing should be exempted from discussion by being labeled as "indisputable."
Both journalists expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to speak before the Bilkent community and underlined the university's importance in the Turkish higher education system. Even after moments of heated debate, Mr.Kütahyalı said that he was willing to come to Bilkent again to discuss the match-fixing issue if invited by the Bilkent Fenerbahçe supporters' club.
