Turkey's referendum: myriad views, only two options

Cleaner and farmer Fatma Peker, 58, posing in her tea field in Surmene, a town in Trabzon Province, says she will vote 'Yes'. "I love my President Tayyip Erdogan very much. He is powerful and a Muslim. Our biggest challenge is terrorism. Germany, the Netherlands, England, the United States - they all support the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). While they are torturing Muslims, they allow PKK members to do whatever they want,” she said. Peker concluded: "In 10 years’ time, Turkey will be the strongest country in the world."

Food vendor Adil Aydin, 47, posing in his shop in Diyarbakir, said: "I will vote 'Yes' but it's not from my heart. I will vote 'Yes' because there isn’t any leader who could rule better than Erdogan... In the past other countries didn’t care about what Turkey’s leader said, but now they are all listening to Erdogan." Aydin added that if he was in power, he would curtail all relations with the European Union. He said that it's a shame that a Turkish court banned the 'No' campaign song of pro-Kurdish opposition party HDP. "Turkey's biggest problem is the Kurdish problem. If it were solved, nothing would stop Turkey."

Author Ahmet Umit, 56, who says he will vote 'No', poses in front of his portrait during an international conference about his books in Istanbul. "Turkey’s main problem is social consensus... The constitutional changes should solve our existing problems and improve our democracy. But they won’t... What we need is not the rule of one man or one party. What we need is independent executive, legislative and judiciary powers and an independent media; not a system where one owns all the power. If you lose your country, what would a victory in the referendum mean?"

A retired manufacturer and head of an Alevi association Muzaffer Aksakal, 65, poses in his association's cafe in Istanbul. Aksakal describes himself as being "socialist and secular". He says he will vote 'No' in the referendum. "If the 'Yes' wins, parliament will be useless and the right to declare war or peace will be in the hands of a single man." Aksakal belongs to the Alevi religious minority, which make up about 15-20 percent of Turkey's 80 million people. Alevis draw from Shi'ite, Sufi and Anatolian folk traditions and practice distinct rituals which can put them at odds with their Sunni Muslim counterparts, many of whom accuse them of heresy. "Erdogan government always follows racist politics. Alevis are under pressure. The system ignores the Alevis."

Main opposition Republican People's Party MP Didem Engin, 39, who campaigns for the 'No' vote, said: "The ruling party wants to raise a religious generation but we need a generation that innovates and questions."

Restaurant owner Haluk Ozakin, 32, poses in his business in Diyarbakir. He said he was working for Diyarbakir municipality but was fired when pro-Erdogan parties took control of it. "I will say 'No' because there is a war environment in this country. There is a lot of violent pressure on us... Erdogan is a cunning man. The people who are voting 'Yes' don’t even know what are they voting for. Our biggest problem is the absence of democracy and this war environment."

Housewife Pinar Ayyildiz Ozen, 41, who says she will vote 'Yes', poses in her kitchen in Cesme, a town in Izmir province. "Erdogan is a reliable leader, he means a lot for Turkey. In the past, it was difficult to buy a washing machine. Now when one is broken, we buy a new one rather than have the old one repaired. If Erdogan rules for another 10 years, it would be good. Erdogan is the leader of the Muslim world."

Armen Demirjiyan, 55, a bookseller and member of a small Armenian community in Kurdish-dominated Diyarbakir, said: "I am a leftist. I will vote for 'No'. One man should not rule the country." Belonging to Turkey's Armenian community raises different issues for Demirjiyan. "I discovered that I was Armenian when I was 27 years old. My uncle said it at my father’s funeral. The AK Party did not do enough for Armenians. Armenian schools are still teaching according to the Turkish system. Turkey's biggest problem is that it does not recognise the Armenian massacre as genocide. If Turkey continues this way, it will be like Syria. Turkey must be a member of the EU." Turkey accepts that many Armenians died in partisan fighting during World War One, but denies that up to 1.5 million were killed and that this constituted an act of genocide, a term used by many Western historians and foreign parliaments.

Web-editor Mustafa Goktas, 47, who says he will vote 'Yes', poses in a park in Istanbul. "I am a religious conservative. Erdogan is like us. He understands us. He understands our needs. He is the man of the nation."

Shop owner Ilter Etike, 31, who says he will vote 'Yes', poses in his shop where he sells souvenirs in Cesme, a town in Izmir province. "Erdogan is a political genius. I love him. For democracy, these changes are necessary. If Turkey says 'Yes' in the referendum, there will be stability and it will help to solve the PKK problem. Once this is solved, Turkey will become one of the 10 biggest economies of the world within 10 years."

Mayor of Umraniye district of Istanbul and founder member of ruling AK Party, Hasan Can, 63, poses in his office in Istanbul. He says he will vote 'Yes' in the referendum. "The current system promotes instability. We need stable and decisive development. If the change that is planned with this referendum is approved, no one will be able to stand against Turkey. All our problems will be solved. Unemployment and terrorism will be solved."

Retired teacher Melek Algin Iyidinc, 60, who says she will vote 'No', poses in her garden in Artvin. "I am a socialist and atheist. I have never voted for the AK Party. Erdogan is not a person who settles with the power he has. He is an authoritarian, always asking for more power. There should be a point at which the people of this country stop this. The referendum gives us this opportunity. It’s time to say no," Iyidinc said. She said that Turkey's biggest problems are the lack of democracy, the economy and the environment. "The government recently gave license to mining companies to dig our green forests. It is going to cause a big environmental disaster. Only when these mining projects are cancelled, can I have hope again for our future."

Associate Professor of Pathology and Doctor Sevdegul Aydin Mungan, 40, poses in her laboratory in a university hospital in Trabzon. She says she will vote 'Yes'. "I am a humanist and a patriot. I had serious problems because of my headscarf while I was a student and then as an academic at the university hospital. I had friends wearing headscarves who left school and had mental problems. I am grateful to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan because under his rule I was aware again that I was human. I had the right to work with clothes that expressed my way of being. Erdogan is in love with his nation. If 'Yes' wins, we will become a more respectful and powerful country. But some countries are not comfortable with Turkey becoming more powerful."

Housewife Merve Songur, 37, posing on a main street in Istanbul, said: "I will say 'Yes' because all these changes are necessary for the good of this country. Erdogan is a real leader, to love him is different from any other kind of love. The European Union has double standards; they think Muslims are terrorists."

Galatasaray University student Pelin Isilak, 19, who says she will vote 'No', poses in an old bazaar in Istanbul. "I am against Erdogan but would also be against my father if he asked for so much power."

Retired banker Mehmet Emin Erelvanli, 62, who says he will vote 'No', poses in a crowded street in Cesme, a town in Izmir province. "Journalists are being jailed. He appoints ministers, judges, prosecutors, university rectors etc. He already has enough power but is still asking for more. If this goes on, it will end very badly," Erelvanli said.