Letter from Istanbul
A few weeks ago, speaking before members of the Women and Democracy Foundation (Kadem), which was founded by his daughter Sümeyye, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained why having children was so vital. “It is a matter of survival” for the country, Erdogan said, stressing that in the years ahead, “if the nation fails to pull itself together, it will lose its ability to survive on these lands.” He added, to applause: “The threat facing our country is greater than war. The family as an institution is under threat; we must act.”
The president has long made a habit of urging women to “have at least three children,” and in some speeches has encouraged four or even five, in a bid to boost Turkey’s birth rate. The father of four himself, Erdogan has said he is concerned with safeguarding the demographic and economic future of a youthful Turkey, especially in contrast to an aging Europe. Despite his repeated appeals, reality tells a harsher story.
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