Turkish El Pasoan talks about the state of the country

The coup in Turkey has raised a cause for concern in the borderland.

ABC-7 spoke with Sabri Agachan, president of the Raindrop Turkish House, a Turkish community home and cultural center.

Agachan tells ABC-7 the recent attempted coup in Turkey is not the answer to the country’s problems.

“We can say between 200 to 500 Turkish people live around El Paso,” Agachan said.

Agachan was born in Istanbul, Turkey.

He tells ABC-7 current president Recep Erdegon has been in political power for 14 years and to a point he’s done some good things for the country

“They make lots of beautiful things like roads, hospitals,” Agachan said.

Agachan was also quick to add too much power changes people, their character, their personality and their goals.

“In 2013 there was a big corruption issue that happened including the Turkish president with his son,” Agachan said.

Agachan said the Erdegon, prime minister at the time, was accused of misusing the countries funds, leading some to distrust the government.

“Afterwards, many things changed in Turkey,” Agachan said.

Agachan said since then the president has acquired more control of the country
almost to the point of being a dictator.

“Whoever wants to write against the Turkish government, those journalists, those writers could go to jail so right now you cannot talk about freedom of media in Turkey,” Agachan said.

Agachan said the Turkish government has taken over media outlets and much of the older population who just watch television are influenced by the news. But the younger generation, he says, uses social media and is more aware of the government’s operations now.

“So unfortunately Turkey is going to a one man” system, Agachan told ABC-7.

Although the group that attempted the coup say they are fighting for a better country, Agachan said a coup is not the way to a better future.

“In Turkey we cannot go backwards from democracy. Democracy is the only way we can be successful,” Agachan said.

Agachan says since the beginning of the 20th century the Turkish people have overcome many hardships. He hopes they will overcome this situation too.