The AKP and Erdogan’s regime has banned the sales of alcohol as part of its announcement that there will be a complete “lock down” between 29 April and 17 May in the effort to fight the spread of Covid-19. No support is to be available for workers and those living in poverty.
The decision to ban sales of alcohol is considered a further step in the regime’s imposition of Islamic rules and values on the country.
Many people in Turkey were supportive of a “lock down”as factories and many non-essential businesses remained opened even as Covid cases increased. However, while the government has called this a “lock down”, it is no different to previous measures. Shops and supermarkets selling essential groceries can remain open, however they will not be allowed to sell alcohol. Opposition groups have attacked the restriction of alcohol sales, stating that this is ideologically led and a further example of interference in the private lives of Turkey’s population.
The AKP and Erdogan’s regime have been exposed for significant breaches of social distancing, demonstrating that there is one rule for the ruling AKP and another for members of the public. Recently Erdogan’s AKP party transported thousands of supporters to their party conference at which no social distancing measures were in place for participants – at the same time other parties were banned from social gatherings/conferences citing the need for social distancing in order to take precautions against the spread of Covid-19. The government also allowed thousands (including the Minister for Health) to participate in the funeral of a religious leader, whilst restricting all other funerals to 30 participants. With no hint of irony, the Minister for Health appeared on national television in the evenings calling on people not to participate in social gatherings.
