İhsan Yılmaz
I am in Diyarbakır with a group of academics. The first thing that must be said about the city is that it is not like its image in the media.
May 21, 2011
May 20, 2011
Hizmetophobia: A by-product of the Turkish Muslim Spring
Ali H. Aslan
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently issued its latest annual report with an embarrassingly long Turkey section. In addition to the problems of minority non-Muslims and Alevis, the commission has also alluded to those of majority Sunni Muslims in Turkey. But a useful term that would describe the main reason for their suffering was missing: Islamophobia.
Islamophobia has been in the veins of the post-Ottoman Turkish republican regime since it was established in 1923. Many founders of the Republic of Turkey were secularist-positivists who held deep reservations about the institution of religion, especially organized Islam. Hence, they employed immense pressure (open and covert) to cleanse religion from public and even private life in this majority Muslim nation. Centuries-old Islamic missions were banned. At one point, teaching the Muslim holy book the Qur’an was illegal. Religious lifestyles often resulted in job and promotion denial, or even expulsion, in some key government institutions, such as the military.
Islamophobia has been in the veins of the post-Ottoman Turkish republican regime since it was established in 1923. Many founders of the Republic of Turkey were secularist-positivists who held deep reservations about the institution of religion, especially organized Islam. Hence, they employed immense pressure (open and covert) to cleanse religion from public and even private life in this majority Muslim nation. Centuries-old Islamic missions were banned. At one point, teaching the Muslim holy book the Qur’an was illegal. Religious lifestyles often resulted in job and promotion denial, or even expulsion, in some key government institutions, such as the military.
May 19, 2011
Anti-government, Fethullah Gülen plan in action
Markar Esayan
It is now evident that decisions were made to ignite hatred, to spill blood and intensify tension as election day approaches. The recent assaults and casualties should not be viewed as some sort of coincidence.
It is not understandable or reasonable that military operations are carried out and that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) assaults keep going on, while PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan previously declared his contact with state figures fruitful and that the cease-fire will remain in effect until June 15. In his column in Today’s Zaman and Taraf where he analyzed the operation claiming the lives of 12 PKK militants in Şırnak’s Uludere district and the PKK assault targeting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Kastamonu, Emre Uslu gave some valuable tips.
It is now evident that decisions were made to ignite hatred, to spill blood and intensify tension as election day approaches. The recent assaults and casualties should not be viewed as some sort of coincidence.
It is not understandable or reasonable that military operations are carried out and that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) assaults keep going on, while PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan previously declared his contact with state figures fruitful and that the cease-fire will remain in effect until June 15. In his column in Today’s Zaman and Taraf where he analyzed the operation claiming the lives of 12 PKK militants in Şırnak’s Uludere district and the PKK assault targeting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Kastamonu, Emre Uslu gave some valuable tips.
May 18, 2011
Turkish Scholar Fethullah Gulen Honored with "Peacebuilding Award"
Ebru News
Hundreds gathered in New York City this week - for the 30th anniversary of the East/West Insitute. The Global organization works to create dialogue between different cultures. And this year -- the group honored Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen with a prestigious award.
Hundreds gathered in New York City this week - for the 30th anniversary of the East/West Insitute. The Global organization works to create dialogue between different cultures. And this year -- the group honored Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen with a prestigious award.
CHP deputy candidate voices support for Ergenekon trial
Hüseyin Keleş
Journalist Aydın Ayaydın, a candidate for deputy from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has declared support for the ongoing trial of Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal network accused of working to overthrow the government, saying criminals should be called to account regardless of their titles or positions.
“There are gangs and mafias within Ergenekon. I find the [Ergenekon] trial right. I see many people [on trial] whom I believe are guilty. … No matter what their titles or positions are, a man should be called to account and punished if he committed a crime,” the candidate told Today’s Zaman.
Journalist Aydın Ayaydın, a candidate for deputy from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has declared support for the ongoing trial of Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal network accused of working to overthrow the government, saying criminals should be called to account regardless of their titles or positions.
“There are gangs and mafias within Ergenekon. I find the [Ergenekon] trial right. I see many people [on trial] whom I believe are guilty. … No matter what their titles or positions are, a man should be called to account and punished if he committed a crime,” the candidate told Today’s Zaman.
Writer Aytav says ‘Ali should throw the ball to Hagop' before it's too late
Yonca Poyraz Doğan
A writer who has questioned how being “the other” is and what it means in Turkey in his recent book has told Today's Zaman for Monday Talk that the society has been victimized by the republican state ideology that idealized a “Muslim Hanefi secular Turk,” but that this doesn't have to be that way forever.
“Hrant Dink had formulated that very well: Ali should throw the ball to Hagop. It's time; indeed, the time is past. We should say enough is enough. Ali has been playing ball only with other Ali's; but when he starts to play with Hagop, there will be a better game because there will be a better team. We will solve the problem when we realize this,” said Erkam Tufan Aytav, who wrote the book “Being Other in Turkey” (“Türkiye'de Öteki Olmak”) based on his interviews with eight people who are members of Turkey's different communities that have been singled out as “others” for a long time.
A writer who has questioned how being “the other” is and what it means in Turkey in his recent book has told Today's Zaman for Monday Talk that the society has been victimized by the republican state ideology that idealized a “Muslim Hanefi secular Turk,” but that this doesn't have to be that way forever.
“Hrant Dink had formulated that very well: Ali should throw the ball to Hagop. It's time; indeed, the time is past. We should say enough is enough. Ali has been playing ball only with other Ali's; but when he starts to play with Hagop, there will be a better game because there will be a better team. We will solve the problem when we realize this,” said Erkam Tufan Aytav, who wrote the book “Being Other in Turkey” (“Türkiye'de Öteki Olmak”) based on his interviews with eight people who are members of Turkey's different communities that have been singled out as “others” for a long time.
May 17, 2011
Amazing readiness to believe lies
Kerim Balcı
I have been observing an amazing readiness among Western intellectuals -- be they journalists or academics -- to believe in smear campaigns against the religious people of Turkey.
The religious-democratic sources inform them about the coup plans of fundamentalist secularists with all kinds of evidence and yet they prefer to believe the secularist sources. The secularists lie to them about the alleged secret agendas and intentions of religious people without any evidence at all, and yet they spare a place in their columns, articles, speeches and documentaries for those allegations.
I have been observing an amazing readiness among Western intellectuals -- be they journalists or academics -- to believe in smear campaigns against the religious people of Turkey.
The religious-democratic sources inform them about the coup plans of fundamentalist secularists with all kinds of evidence and yet they prefer to believe the secularist sources. The secularists lie to them about the alleged secret agendas and intentions of religious people without any evidence at all, and yet they spare a place in their columns, articles, speeches and documentaries for those allegations.
May 16, 2011
Will the MHP stay above election threshold?
Mümtazer Türköne
Recent public polls show that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will receive 9 to 12 percent of the vote in the upcoming elections. Experts are concerned about the party's votes. The analysts I talked to say they are experiencing difficulty in gauging electoral support for the party. The MHP could be the major surprise of this election as it may fall below the election threshold. Based on the current outlook, I think the party will not be able to surpass the threshold.
Recent public polls show that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will receive 9 to 12 percent of the vote in the upcoming elections. Experts are concerned about the party's votes. The analysts I talked to say they are experiencing difficulty in gauging electoral support for the party. The MHP could be the major surprise of this election as it may fall below the election threshold. Based on the current outlook, I think the party will not be able to surpass the threshold.
The Kemalist sympathizers of bin Laden
Mustafa Akyol
“One Laden dies, a thousand Ladens are born,” reads the cover story of the current issue of the magazine “Türk Solu,” (Turkish Left.) A smiling photo of bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader who just got killed by American soldiers, covers the front page of the magazine. And its logo presents a sober photo of the all-secular Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, while defining the publication as “An Atatürkist, nationalist, leftist paper.”
I know, it sounds weird. But it is actually not that weird when one gets to know the “anti-imperialist” strain within Kemalism (aka “Atatürkism”), and the political, rather than religious nature of al-Qaeda.
“One Laden dies, a thousand Ladens are born,” reads the cover story of the current issue of the magazine “Türk Solu,” (Turkish Left.) A smiling photo of bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader who just got killed by American soldiers, covers the front page of the magazine. And its logo presents a sober photo of the all-secular Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, while defining the publication as “An Atatürkist, nationalist, leftist paper.”
I know, it sounds weird. But it is actually not that weird when one gets to know the “anti-imperialist” strain within Kemalism (aka “Atatürkism”), and the political, rather than religious nature of al-Qaeda.
May 15, 2011
Misrepresentation of Fethullah Gülen in English-language media
Mehmet Kalyoncu
For an average American and European reader, the name Fethullah Gülen may not necessarily be a familiar one. That Gülen is a scholar who has inspired millions of volunteers across the world to engage in educational and intercultural initiatives, that he publically denounced Osama bin Laden for the shame that the latter brought upon Islam, and that he advocated Turkey’s full membership in the European Union at time when his counterparts opposed it by simply viewing the EU as a Christian club with Zionist touches, are not something that the average reader would know, either.
Recently the English-language media have been increasingly covering Gülen and the worldwide civil society initiatives he has inspired. However, the language in general and the way certain politically significant words can be used in some of this media coverage are somewhat problematic in the sense that they fail to present the full picture about Gülen, if not deliberately create doubts and prejudices about him.
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| Fethullah Gulen |
Recently the English-language media have been increasingly covering Gülen and the worldwide civil society initiatives he has inspired. However, the language in general and the way certain politically significant words can be used in some of this media coverage are somewhat problematic in the sense that they fail to present the full picture about Gülen, if not deliberately create doubts and prejudices about him.
Controversial remarks to prove costly for MHP
Fatma Dişli Zıbak
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, whose controversial statements regarding the video scandals shaking his party occupied column inches throughout last week, continued to be a subject of debate over the weekend. Bahçeli’s unfortunate statements in which he pointed to Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who has pioneered extensive educational activities around the world, as the mastermind behind video scandals involving several MHP members will prove costly for the party ahead of the June 12 general elections, columnists say.
Bugün’s Ahmet Taşgetiren interprets Bahçeli’s attack on Gülen as an effort to convince the MHP voter base that the party is under attack from outside forces, but he thinks this is the kind of effort which is doomed to fail because MHP supporters are careful and aware enough to see and appreciate the services Gülen has provided to serve the interests of the country.
Bugün’s Ahmet Taşgetiren interprets Bahçeli’s attack on Gülen as an effort to convince the MHP voter base that the party is under attack from outside forces, but he thinks this is the kind of effort which is doomed to fail because MHP supporters are careful and aware enough to see and appreciate the services Gülen has provided to serve the interests of the country.
Kemalist fabrications
İhsan Yılmaz
I have been arguing here in this column that there has been a psychological war campaign against both the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Gülen movement at home and abroad.
I have been arguing here in this column that there has been a psychological war campaign against both the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Gülen movement at home and abroad.
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