⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀Maverick: An Interview with Baran Batuk
⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀Story by Cihat Aşkın, September 4740
⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ A CHALLENGER has entered the Jakanian political scene – not a new one, but a familiar face. Baran Batuk had long worked alongside premier Yilma Bal and the party they both joined as founding members – the Demokratik Ittifak. However, one year after the party was swept into power Batuk publicly split with his former colleagues, joining the new Ahmadist Birlik Movement.
Batuk has long been an outsider. As a business student at Dokuz National University, Batuk organized with reformist student groups often ostracized by their larger socialist counterparts. As a young real estate developer, Batuk competed with the entrenched monied interests in Jakania. When he joined Demokratik Ittifak, once again he became a conservative amid socialists with his party moving to nationalize the oil and gas industry and subsidizing university tuition for all students against his vote.
On assignment from Yüz Yüze, I met Batuk at his villa just outside Dokuz. The first impression given by the estate is that in his aforementioned battle with business, he won.
Speaking into the intercom at the gate, a woman responds. We answer affirmatively that we are indeed the journalists they've been expecting. "One moment!" the woman says with a joyful inflection. Moments later the gate is opened manually, revealing a thin, fashionable hijabi woman, Batuk's wife Esra. As we pull into the driveway and exchange introductions, she flashes us a smile.
"I apologize, my husband is currently in a conference call," she said, "would you care for some tea?"
Accepting the offer, we follow Mrs. Batuk through the villa. Constructed recently, the home itself represents the maverick who resides within its walls; a bold construction combining both Kalopian and Jakanian architectural styles which would offend the most orthodox designers of either tradition. The brilliantly bright marble floors are expansive, ending edgelessly with massive floor to ceiling windows which provide a magnificent view of the Dokuz valley region. One cannot help but be impressed by the dramatic aesthetics of the space, whether taken aback by its gaudy ostentatiousness or dazzled by its grandeur and majesty.
In the kitchen, a massive space, Mrs. Batuk pours us each a glass of tea before pouring herself one. Sitting around around the kitchen island, I ask Mrs. Batuk how long she thinks the call will last.
"It shouldn't be much longer," she replied, "as you know, it's been a very busy few months for my husband."
Indeed, Batuk has rapidly become a rising star of the political right, leading Birlik's assembly caucus. In that capacity, Batuk has celebrated a number of significant victories, far outshining any of his prior accomplishments in his former party: most notably, Batuk was instrumental in ending the ban on polygamous marriages, outlawing public sex, allowing prayer in schools and perhaps most notably, ending the sales tax and reducing the corporate tax rate.
We exchange small talk with Mrs. Batuk for a few more minutes before Mr. Batuk joins us in the kitchen. Dressed in a comfortable sweater and slacks, Batuk gave each of us a firm handshake before suggesting we switch to the parlour, while Ms. Batuk excuses herself. Gathered in the more intimate sitting room, which is made to feel smaller in no small part due to the imposing presence of massive lacquered furnishings. We exchange pleasantries before he lights a cigarette and sits back in his chair. "Bring on the questions," he says with a smirk.
Q: "Would you excuse me, Mr. Batuk, for asking how your phone call went?"
Batuk: (Chuckles) "It wasn't anything too exciting, just talking with strategists about the upcoming district elections. As you know, the premier is getting a little worried about Birlik... and perhaps he should be. Hopefully his party will be able to withstand a vote split with the communists."
Q: "Mr. Batuk, simply put, why did you resign from the Democratic Alliance? And if your politics are so different, why did you join in the first place?"
Batuk: "I joined the Democratic Alliance because I wanted this country to stand on its feet once again. I wanted to have faith in our democratic institutions again. I wanted to see Jakania strong and free once again. I left the party because they failed to deliver. That is not to say that things haven't improved – they have. You're not going to hear me lying about the governing party, I have my honour, okay? But the party pursued a hard-left economic strategy which will ultimately weaken our country, and create space for communists like those in Hope to flourish. I'm a devout Ahmadi, right? I cannot support those who give space to ideologies which run against my religious value system.
Then, I was approached by [Ayleen Basri] and the political bureau of Birlik, and made the decision to cross the floor immediately following that meeting, along with my dear colleagues."
Q: "I would like to ask you more about Ms. Basri, but first I'd like to stay on the government. What about foreign policy? The President has ratified a number of trade agreements and has revitalized our relations with a number of international partners. Are these not positive developments?"
Batuk: "What did I say? I won't lie about the governing party. Have they done good things in the realm of foreign policy? Of course! I support the good agreements the president has ratified, as does our Movement. We contributed constructively to the debate on foreign policy direction.
But what about security, brother? We cannot open our country to all without having even the ability to close the door. Look at the National Service Act, for example. When the president came, cap in hand, to ask the opposition to endorse him against the left-wing he allowed to grow, we said 'Okay, but how about we train our young people in the defence of our nation?' and rather than support that common-sense legislation, it seems he's willing to risk handing the presidency to communist athiests. Fine, that's okay, that's his decision and he'll have to answer to a far greater power than I for making it. But I'm putting my faith in Leader Basri. I trust her to protect the country, because she's done such a great job cracking down on crime in Bahçeleri. I trust her to instill Ahmadi principals in our young people, because she doesn't waver holds to the strength of her convictions. She's never going to waver between political expediency and her faith in God (swt)."
Q: "Do you think rhetoric like this, particularly rhetoric which raises the question of faith, might be counterproductive in a democracy such as ours?"
Batuk: "What? I really am confused by the question. We are an Ahmadi party, if not discussing faith and piety, what then should we discuss? It's an offensive question, actually. What rhetoric?"
Q: "The implication in what you said is that the President, or the Prime Minister, is choosing to play politics as opposed to –"
Batuk: "No, that's not what I said. You are putting words in my mouth. Don't be so tricky. I said I am an honourable person, and I won't disparage the government. In fact, we've worked with the government on many, many issues, and we'll count on a productive relationship with the Democratic Alliance when Ms. Basri is residing in the Presidential Palace. We tried to extend an electoral deal to the government over the issue of security, but it seems from all indications that the President is going to try to go it alone. Okay, very good. Let's hash it out then."
Q: "Okay, let's move on. Your party's leader, Mayor Basri has earned a nickname as the 'Bulldog of Bahçeleri,' do you worry that that sort of reputation may hinder her, or your party, from gaining power?"
Batuk: "Yes, let's talk about this 'Bulldog' business. Who created the term? It was the liberal media. Who brandished that slur on their signs and banners? Secularist rioters. For all their purported support of women's rights, and of feminism, they think it's right to call a woman a dog? See, this is why I crossed. Hypocrisy.
Fast forward to today. Now you see young women across the country embracing the term 'bulldog,' inspired by Leader Basri to demand more for their own lives. Many believe that feminism and Ahmadism are incompatible, but if that's your belief, why is the Ahmadist party putting forward a woman? Where are all the women in the government's administration? Ahmadism and feminism both have gender equality at the heart of their activism and projects."
Q: "But Ms. Basri received the nickname because her tough-on-crime approach was deemed overly aggressive. Do you think that you can attract liberals and moderates given Ms. Basri's record as Mayor?"
Batuk: "What record? Sustained economic growth? I remember when I went to Bahçeleri when I was still a private citizen. You could not show me a cleaner city in modern Jakania! Brand new, beautiful roads are being built or repaired everywhere you looked. Cranes are in the sky. It's remarkable. Where is there this kind of activity? Where?
I spoke to young college students, women, who said they had never felt safer walking the streets at night. Can you find me even one woman who will say the same about Asman or Mesul? Please! If you're asserting that's it's wrong to target sex traffickers and rapists then fine, vote for another party. Birlik is a party which does not tolerate violence against women. Look at how we moved the government on the issue of pornography, it's only the beginning.
Now to address your question, whether liberals or moderates will vote for us, only God (swt) knows. I think we are putting forward a very strong platform in 4742 that will interest the vast majority of Jakanians."
Q: "In an editorial written for ittifak, Defence Minister Khaalid al-Hashmi said 'an Alliance that panders to the kind of people that support Hope is not an Alliance that has a place for individuals like me.' Do you think that the Democratic Alliance will pivot to the right?"
Batuk: (laughs) "Brother Al-Hashmi sounds like he might be joining Birlik soon as well! (laughs) I don't want to poison the well, so to speak, but I expect to see some big divisions in the governing party soon. It's been outflanked on the left, and any major movement toward the right would look like spineless electioneering. However I must disagree with the minister, I think a political movement should reach out to everyone, even those who might be attracted to Hope. We will certainly be doing so in the general election."
Q: "But with all due respect Deputy Batuk, is Birlik also able to represent the views of all Jakanians? Some of the biggest divisions between your party and the governing party have been on the topic of homosexuality. Are homosexuals welcome in Birlik?"
Batuk: "See, it's unfortunate. I thought for a second we would have a civil interview, but once again you ask such a loaded and deeply offensive question –"
Q: "I'm sorry if –"
Batuk: "No, let me answer your question. You asked me a question, let me answer it. We are Ahmadis. We do not approve of it [homosexuality]. But Ahmadism does not spy on people. It protects private life. Everyone should live their lives as they wish. And everyone is responsible for it in front of their creator. So can a homosexual join Birlik? Yes, of course. Homosexuals are not deviating from Ahmadism. Homosexuality is a grave sin, but those who say that homosexuals deviate from Ahmadism are the real deviators. Let them receive their judgement from God (swt), it is not for me to punish. You will not see Birlik call for the criminalization of homosexuality. It won't happen!
This does not mean, however, that we support homosexuality on a societal or cultural level. Further, we don't accept the notion that marriage is between any more than a man and a woman, or women. These teachings come from God (swt). As our dear General-Secretary said, 'You cannot grow a seedling from dirt alone, for there must be water as well.' I hope that satisfies your question."
Q: "Thank you. Let me ask you a final question: what is something positive you can say about the government?"
Batuk: (laughs) "You make it sound like I've been speaking poorly about the government this whole time. But what have I said? Where is the negativity? It looks like, once again, the press is seeking to disparage people associate with conservatism in this country, like they did to Ms. Basri. But okay, you want something good? That's easy.
I am very pleased that under the government, there has been an open space for collaboration with other view points. Of course, we hope to have much greater bargaining power, but we do not seek to replicate the one-party state. Birlik will always be open to work with whoever is willing to put foreign ideologies aside, and unite in our common faith and nationhood. For the most part, we've had a productive relationship with the Democratic Alliance."
As if queued, Mrs. Batuk entered the parlour. "Gentlemen, I pray for your forgiveness, but I'd like to have dinner with my husband soon." Responding that, indeed, the interview had concluded, we stood up, shook hands with Mr. Batuk once more, and followed the pair to the door.
"I hope my husband didn't give you too hard of a time," she said in a jovial manner.
"Who, me?" Mr. Batuk quipped slyly.
"I guess it's why they call you a 'Maverick,' dear."
