emanuele satolli

The New Sultan

Da quando mi sono trasferito a Istanbul, in Turchia, nel 2015, ho lavorato a un saggio fotografico intitolato “The New Sultan” viaggiando in tutto il paese, fotografando molti dei cambiamenti storici in atto lì sotto la guida del presidente Recep Tayyip Erdogan e del suo partito Justice and Development (AKP), incitando un’ondata di nazionalismo radicale e promuovendo manifestazioni di credenze religiose islamiche ultraconservatrici al fine di aumentare il loro potere politico.

A causa della sua posizione geografica centrale e del suo ruolo vitale nella sempre crescente crisi globale dei rifugiati, il benessere politico, sociale ed economico della Turchia è fondamentale per la stabilità dell’intera regione. Visto nella sua interezza, ‘The New Sultan’ è un mosaico fotografico di eventi, che illustrano molti dei fattori chiave che contribuiscono all’attuale clima travagliato di questo paese. Questi e altri eventi a cui ho assistito in passato – e sarò testimone in futuro – mi rendono profondamente consapevole delle molte condizioni politiche, sociali ed economiche opposte presenti nel paese, che ritengo debbano essere documentate, esaminate e dibattute.

TURKEY. Istanbul, 29 March 2019 – Supporters of the AKP (Justice and Development Party) right before Erdogan’s speech during his rally campaign in support of his candidates for the municipal elections in Istanbul.

TURKEY. Istanbul, 07 May 2019 – Demonstrators in the Kadikoy District, Istanbul, during a protest against the High Election Board (YSK) decision to re-run the mayoral election, in Istanbul. The ordered to re-run the Istanbul’s mayoral election come after the party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan complained about its shock defeat in the vote.

TURKEY. Istanbul. May 2016 – A modest fashion creation by Turkish designer Esin Ertan at the Istanbul Modest Fashion Week.

TURKEY. Hatay. February 2020 – People attend the funeral, at the cemetery mosque in Hatay, of Turkish soldier Mustafa Bayrakdar, who died in an airstrike in the Syrian town of Idlib that killed 33 soldiers.

TURKEY. Istanbul. July 2021 – Turkish police clash with demonstrators as they protest against Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, a human rights treaty aimed at preventing and combatting violence against women.

TURKEY. Istanbul, 21 July 2015 – A man is arrested in the Kadikoy District, Istanbul, during a protest again the Suruç suicide bomb attack, where 33 people were killed during a meeting of young activists discussing the reconstruction of the Kurdish neighboring Syrian town of Kobane.

TURKEY. Akcakale, 13 October, 2019 – A man in Akcakale is evacuated from a building hit by a mortar reported to be fired from within Syria as a response to the ‘Operation Peace Spring,’ a military offensive launched by President Erdogan with the aim to create a 30-km “safe zone” in northeastern Syria.

TURKEY. Hatay. February 2020 – Members of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) attend the funeral of Turkish soldier Emin Yildirim, in Akcurun village, Hatay, who died in an airstrike in the Syrian town of Idlib that killed 33 soldiers.

TURKEY. Istanbul, 16 July 2016 – A wounded man is rushed to a hospital during the failed July 2016 coup attempt. President Erdogan responded to the uprising by declaring a national state of emergency and by purging the government of any followers of cleric Fethullah Gulen, a longtime rival, who Erdogan blamed for the uprising.

TURKEY. Istanbul, 20 July 2016 – After the coup attempt, a crowd gathers in Taksim Square to hear President Erdogan announce a temporary state of emergency, greatly expanding his government’s powers. This state of emergency would eventually last for a full two years.

TURKEY. Istanbul, 29 March 2019 – A member of President Erdogan’s security force keeps watch from atop a bus where President Erdogan is getting off during his rally campaign in support of his candidates for the municipal elections in Pendik District, Istanbul.

TURKEY. Istanbul, 25 June 2021 – A little girl hugs a column of the Holy Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. In July 2020 the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul has been converted into a mosque under the pressure of President Erdogan.

TURKEY. Istanbul, 21 August 2016 – Demonstrators protest the killing of a transgender sex worker in Istanbul, who was found mutilated and burned. Due to the country’s conservative attitudes and the government’s repressive policies, the LGBT community in Turkey often experiences discrimination, violence, and denial of their rights.

TURKEY. Istanbul, 31 January 2020 – A little girl takes part at a demonstration at Fatih Mosque, in Istanbul, organized to protest against the Middle East peace plan unveiled by the United States.

TURKEY. Akcakale, 11 October, 2019 – A map showing Turkey’s suggested operation in Syria, is displayed to be used for a TV broadcast by journalists in Akcakale. President Erdogan launched ‘Operation Peace Spring’ with the aim to create a 30-km “safe zone” in northeastern Syria.

TURKEY. Diyarbakir, June 2015 – Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party celebrate during the day after the election. Their party’s success in the parliamentary elections denied the AKP the majority they needed to call a referendum to convert Turkey to a presidential system. After the result of the election Erdogan called off the ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

TURKEY. Diyarbakir, 10 June 2015 – Family and friends attend the funerals of pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) who died during post-election clashes with President Erdogan’s government supporters after the Kurds successfully denied the AKP the majority they needed to convert Turkey’s government to a presidential system, prompting Erdogan to call off the ceasefire with the Kurdish PPK.

TURKEY. Akcakale, 24 September 2015 – A view of the Akcakale refugee camp, southeastern Turkey. Of the 3.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, 30% live in 22 government-run camps.

TURKEY. Edirne. March 2020 – A refugee stands inside a makeshift tent at the Pazarkule crossing gate. Thousands of refugees arrived after been encouraged by Turkey to leave for the European Union.

TURKEY. Edirne. March 2020 – Refuge covers his face with a plastic bag to protect from tear gas during clashes with Greek border police near the Pazarkule crossing gate. Thousands of refugees arrived after been encouraged by Turkey to leave for the European Union.

Istambul, Turchia

www.emanuelesatolli.com

Nato nel 1979 a Fabriano, in Italia, Emanuele Satolli si è specializzato in fotogiornalismo dopo aver conseguito il Master in Giornalismo presso l’Università di Torino. Collaboratore frequente di TIME Magazine, lavora a lungo in Medio Oriente dove ha fotografato eventi cruciali come la battaglia per liberare la città irachena di Mosul dall’ISIS e la caduta dello Stato Islamico nella roccaforte Siriana di Raqqa. Nel 2018, Satolli ha documentato le proteste a Gaza quando gli Stati Uniti hanno spostato la loro ambasciata da Tel Aviv a Gerusalemme.

La sua base a Istanbul gli fornisce un facile accesso al Medio Oriente e una visione delle tensioni sociali, economiche e politiche in Turchia. Attualmente sta documentando queste tensioni, che vanno dalla politica radicale alle turbolenze rivoluzionarie fino al tentativo di integrazione dei profughi Siriani che vivono in tutto il Paese. Il suo lavoro è stato pubblicato sulle principali riviste mondiali ed esposto in molte gallerie.