Night watchmen and Horras al-Madina: Turkish militias surround Beirut
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has always relied on
political treachery with his closest friends and confidants, as is the case
with Abdullah Gulen and Ahmet Davutoglu. For that reason, Erdogan does not
trust the state institutions and has instead worked to build parallel militias
and organizations, such as the "night watchmen" in Turkey.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) tried to export its
expertise to allied parties and organizations in various Arab countries, with
the aim of creating an armed force for each of them that would enable them to
achieve their goals and neutralize their opponents. The Brotherhood established
the Hasm terrorist group in Egypt, while Tunisia’s Ennahda assassinated Chokri
Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi. In Lebanon, the Horras al-Madina movement was formed.
Turkish night watchmen
Following the staged military coup attempt in Turkey in July
2016, the Turkish president rushed to revive the "night watchmen"
force, which includes civilian personnel appointed by the Ministry of Interior and
therefore limited to individuals affiliated with the AKP.
Erdogan enabled this force to help the police forces protect
public security in residential neighborhoods, in addition to organizing patrols
and searches in Turkish streets when called upon by the police.
During the past four years, the number of watchmen increased
to 200,000, and the police and Ministry of Interior have increasingly depended
on them due to their loyalty to the AKP.
In January 2020, AKP MP Mehmet Muş made a proposal to expand
the powers of the night watchmen, which the sub-committee approved for
preparation to be presented to the full parliament.
The new proposal includes expanding the civilian personnel’s
powers to enable them to detain and search individuals and homes, and to use
weapons if necessary, meaning that they have become equated with the police
forces.
Erdogan used this armed militia to attack his opponents and demonstrating
citizens during the last legislative elections in March 2019, as well as to
control some areas where opposition parties are active.
Horras al-Madina in Lebanon
The Turkish president relies on armed militias, and he does
not trust the regular forces. He has also exported this manner of thinking to
the parties loyal to him abroad, as was the case in August 2015, when the
garbage crisis broke out in Lebanon.
The Turkish regime took advantage of these events to
establish the Horras al-Madina (Guardians of the City) group in Lebanon, using its
embassy in Beirut to manage the group’s financial and logistical cooperation
with the Turkish regime.
Horras al-Madina supposedly seeks to help the people of
Lebanon claim their rights and protect their demonstrations, even if this
requires cutting off roads, in addition to organizing street vendors to provide
food and drinks for the demonstrators.
The Turkish-backed movement succeeded in recruiting a
thousand volunteers in a short period, who became known by their yellow jackets.
Their hands were present during Lebanon’s recent protests, which Turkey sought
to exploit in its favor. They spread out among the demonstrators, especially in
Tripoli’s Nour Square. In November 2019, they organized a human shield to
protect hundreds of protesters against the government, which they say has led the
country into political turmoil and economic crises.
It is clear that there is great harmony between the Turkish
night watchmen and the Lebanese Horras al-Madina, although it appears that the
Turkish militia started using weapons faster than its Lebanese counterpart.
