Arrests of Activists, Suppression of Political and Cultural Expression Intensify

Syrian authorities should end their unlawful and unjustified practices of attacking peaceful Kurdish gatherings and detaining Kurdish political and cultural activists, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

The 63-page report, “Group Denial: Repression of Kurdish Political and Cultural Rights in Syria,” documents the Syrian authorities’ efforts to ban and disperse gatherings calling for Kurdish minority rights or celebrating Kurdish culture, as well as the detention of leading Kurdish political activists and their ill-treatment in custody. The repression of Kurds in Syria has greatly intensified following large-scale Kurdish demonstrations in March 2004. The report is based on interviews with 30 Kurdish activists recently released from prison, as well as 15 relatives of Kurdish activists still in jail. The Syrian government refused to reply to requests for information or meetings with Human Rights Watch.

Human Rights Watch, November 26, 2009

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Also, message from International Support Kurds in Syria Association [SKS]

People conducting cases with Kurds from Syria may find useful reports on our website – see below. We bring together reports that are in English, others we translate from Arabic, and some are first-hand. We concentrate on the Syria part of Kurdistan but have also put up reports about, for example the death of Ehsan Fattahian in Iran.

Web: http://supportkurds.org

Email: info@supportkurds.org

Waiting to be sacrificed. I took it as I was waiting for the green light...

At the end of the first day of Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, 1954 people were reported to be injured in Turkey as they were trying to slaughter sheep and cows, as Hürriyet reports.2 died of heart attack during the act of amateur butchership.

Eid al-Adha | Turkish Islam | Muslim holidays

Previous year reports here.

And more the Turkish society:

I and Can were vaccinated a few days ago. A doctor friend of mine fixed us vaccination. It was Can’s idea, I did not mind much. Ministry of Health has a special page for flu here. It looks like a very informative site. At least two faculty members from Bilgi got swine flu and and they are healthy. A nuisance but no panic I sense around…

found in Obey CDC, or Thomas R. Frieden Has a Posse

How the H1N1 vaccine is made

The most striking feature of the H1N1 flu vaccine manufacturing process is the 1,200,000,000 chicken eggs required to make the 3 billion doses of vaccine that may be required worldwide. There are entire chicken farms in the US and around the world dedicated to producing eggs for the purpose of incubating influenza viruses for use in vaccines. No wonder it takes six months from start to finish. But we’ll get to that in a minute.

A visitor looks at the clothes of Turkey’s former first lady Mevhibe Inonu in an exhibition in Istanbul, November 26, 2009. An evening gown slit discreetly from the neck to the navel worn by Turkey’s former first lady Mevhibe Inonu is on show in an Istanbul exhibition, tracing how her style helped define the image of the young Turkish Republic. Picture taken November 26, 2009.

A visitor looks at the clothes of Turkey’s former first lady Mevhibe Inonu in an exhibition in Istanbul, November 26, 2009. An evening gown slit discreetly from the neck to the navel worn by Turkey’s former first lady Mevhibe Inonu is on show in an Istanbul exhibition, tracing how her style helped define the image of the young Turkish Republic. Picture taken November 26, 2009.

Teachers Get A Report Card

OECD’s 2009 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) provides the first internationally comparative perspective on the conditions of teaching and learning. For the report on Turkey’s teaching profession, click here. Some excerpts from the report:

New Poll On Religion in Turkey

Updating his 1999 social survey of Turkey, Sabanci University political scientist Ali Çarkoglu along with Ersin Kalaycioglu reported new research findings on religiosity in Turkey under the framework of the International Social Survey Program, or ISSP, which measures religious values from 43 different countries. Below are some excerpts. Click here for a news article in English, here in Turkish. Although both are from today’s Hurriyet newspaper, they relate quite different elements of the study. I don’t believe the actual report is available online yet.

The State Of Democracy and Local Administrations in Southeastern Turkey

Sedat Laciner-Director
Although it was the remnant of a multinational, multi-religious and multi-sectarian empire, the Turkish Republic had inherent biases against local administrations and minorities. Since the Ottoman Empire had disintegrated mainly due to the local uprisings and the local minorities the new state developed intense biases accordingly.”

Soul-Searching in Turkey After a Gay Man Is Killed

Ahmet Yildiz was shot last year outside his apartment in Istanbul, in what may have been the first “honor killing” of a gay man to gain public attention.

 

Bedrettin Dalan, who is claimed to be one of the highest leaders of Ergenekon gang and who is on the run, was spotted in Amsterdam as several dailies gave the news…

Ergenekon fugitive Dalan photographed in Amsterdam
Today’s Zaman
Former Mayor of istanbul Bedrettin Dalan, who is named as a suspect at large in the Ergenekon investigation, was spotted at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport .

Ruling through manipulation and provocation: The unwritten history of Turkey
Today’s Zaman
Later, its president, Sinan Aygün, was indicted in the Ergenekon trial, but no one paid any attention to the active campaign his organization was conducting

”ve ersele aleyhim tayran ebabil…” (Pul)

An anarchist art case: juxtaposing Quranic verse with Turkey’s first female pilot, Sabiha Gökçen, who was one of the bombers over the Dersim rebels in a fictional stamp: “And send against them swarms of flying creatures,…” (Quran, 105/3)

First Kurdish signs by Diyarbakır municipality, a huge roundup on Ergenekon case etc follow:

The Kurdish initiative after the İzmir incident

Stoning the DTP in İzmir

As Turkey takes determined steps to resolve its long-standing Kurdish problem, with the government aiming to expand the scope of the rights enjoyed by Kurds, an unfortunate case which took place in the western province of İzmir, where a pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) convoy was stoned by residents, has led to great disappointment.

The First Kurdish Signs

Roma education to get crucial boost in funding

Roma education to get crucial boost in funding

BRUSSELS, November 12, 2009―At an international donor conference hosted by the Open Society Institute, the World Bank and the European Economic and Social Coimmittee, donors swung their financial support behind education for the Roma, Europe ’s largest minority population. The €25.5 million in funding commitments announced by donors today is targeted for the Roma Education Fund (REF) and will provide the essential ingredients needed for children to succeed in school: scholarships, school meals, teacher training and academic support. The added financial support will also help governments develop stronger national policies for Roma inclusion.

Editorial – Turkey and the Kurds – NYTimes.com

On Kurds, Syria Bucking the Trend

Human Rights Watch has just issued an interesting and thorough report about the repression of Kurdish political and cultural life in Syria (Kurds make up about 10 percent of the population there). While Iraq’s Kurds are getting closer and closer to something approaching statehood and Turkey is discussing significant changes in how to approach its Kurdish minority, Syria appears to be heading in the other direction. From the report, entitled “Group Denial”:

Democratization of Kurdish region: the economic perspective

While examining the government’s Kurdish initiative I came to the conclusion that the initiative itself does not match the reality on the ground, making it difficult to sustain a durable democracy in the region.

Turkey’s Kurdish move linked to EU accession – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

MIT says it informed General Staff about illegal command houses in 2007 Today’s Zaman The question came from the 13th High Criminal Court after a hearing for the Ergenekon trial, during which Col. Cengiz Köylü was cross-examined about the

Top European Parliament officials say Ergenekon probe must run its course
Today’s Zaman
Top European Parliament officials have said Europe has been watching to see the results of the investigation into Ergenekon, a clandestine organization

Ergenekon suspects noted in textbooks as role models
Today’s Zaman
Mehmet Haberal and Şener Eruygur, two suspects in the Ergenekon case, an investigation into a clandestine gang plotting to overthrow the democratically

Ergenekon general probed over Hizbullah, PKK weapons
Today’s Zaman
The general is currently one of the prime suspects in the case against Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal organization accused of plotting to topple the

European Union follows Cage action plan ‘very closely’
Today’s Zaman
In a written statement the commission made clear that it has been following all Ergenekon-related developments, including the latest Cage plan

A public survey: Democratic initiative and coup document (1)
Today’s Zaman
The policies’ success or failure in addressing a number of political and social issues, including the Ergenekon investigation, the Kurdish issue,

Psychiatrist Selçuk Candansayar: Constitution harms our mental health

by AYŞE KARABAT

Psychiatrist Professor Selçuk Candansayar from Gazi University says the mental health of society is harmed by the current Constitution and that in order to protect it, Turkey needs a new constitution.

Would you dare to say this to Bartholomew and Dink?
Today’s Zaman
It was about the Ergenekon gang, our infamous “deep state,” and the case opened against it. Unfortunately, the story was a completely distorted account of …

Two gendarmerie officers arrested in Ergenekon probe
Today’s Zaman
Two officers serving in the Erzincan Provincial Gendarmerie Command have been arrested in the ongoing investigation into Ergenekon, a clandestine network

Ergenekon defendant Balbay remains silent on notes
Today’s Zaman
The current trial is one of two separate trials into Ergenekon. This one is based on the second and third indictments prepared so far in the case,

Naval junta under Ergenekon control, document shows
Today’s Zaman
Levent Göktaş, who is in jail for suspected membership in Ergenekon, which suggests that the Naval Forces Command junta was under the control of Ergenekon.

The Ergenekon case and The New York Times story by AYDOĞAN VATANDAŞ

I totally agree with the idea that reporters who claim to be unbiased constantly struggle with criticism from their readers because it is impossible to be completely objective.
In that sense, I understand Dan Bilefsky, The New York Times reporter in İstanbul who recently wrote two stories about the Ergenekon case in Turkey.

Main opposition party, CHP, has recently opened up an office in Brussels. Some thought it as a good sign that finally CHP would actually support the EU process. There has not been any positive signs though. In the mean time, Brussels office sends email-bulletins. The last one was about CHP’s views on the Kurdish Question. EU leadership proves to be more and more naive and I guess in this respect good, abstract but without substance statements may have an impact on EU public. If only ignores the fact that CHP triggers more nationalist hysteria than nationalist MHP does…Below, there is also a roundup on the EU-TR relations and TR’s Foreign Policy moves…

CHP VIEWS AND PROPOSALS ON THE KURDISH QUESTION

The Turkish Parliament debated the government’s initiative on the Kurdish question on November 10th and 13th.

Background: In 1991, the first proposal of law in Turkey on the abolishment of all obstacles to the use of the Kurdish language was a social-democratic initiative. It was signed and introduced by Mr Deniz Baykal and his colleagues. In 2002, during the rule of the coalition government (Social-Democrats-Liberals-Nationalists) several reforms were adopted to allow the teaching and broadcasting in Kurdish. Recently, the Turkish government declared its intention to implement a new reform on the ethnic issues without making public its proposal. CHP responded in reminding its previous comprehensive reports on the Kurdish question and its very recent concrete proposals.

Download the document !!!…Download the document !!!

____________________________________________________________

Please refer as well to :

http://brussels.chp.org.tr Facebook – CHP EU Twitter – CHP EU
TRT – Visa and free movement regulations between Turkey and the European Union

Turkey seeks new EU accession push

from EurActiv.com Turkish EU Affairs Minister and chief negotiator Egemen Bagiş said his country will pursue a strong communication strategy aimed at opening six new negotiation chapters during the coming year, EurActiv Turkey reported on 23 November.

The EU’s Imaginary Clash of Civilizations

from Atlantic Community RSS-Feed Basak Yavcan Ural: Public opposition to Turkey’s accession to the EU has largely been ignored, although it represents a real threat to the negotiation process. The EU needs to reconstruct its identity, by emphasizing diversity and multiculturalism. Turkey also needs to address existing misperceptions.

“Blog-dialogues” – European Commission’s Progress Report on Turkey: a Greek view

from Blogactiv This year’s Progress Report on Turkey, released on the 14th of October, surely came at a critical juncture for Turkey. Over the last year, accession negotiations have been proceeding at a snail’s pace and run the risk of coming to a complete standstill unless there is some substantive progress on Cyprus. In addition, at the

What if the EU slams the door on Turkey?

by ŞAHİN ALPAYFrench President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who seem to be determined to preserve the European Union as a “Christian Club,” first saw to it that former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a politician detested in the Muslim world, was appointed secretary-general of NATO. They did not even fail to chide Turkey, a member of NATO since 1952, for objecting to that most inappropriate appointment.

Minaret debate angers Swiss muslims

In Switzerland populist right-wingers and Christian Fundamentalists say minarets are not Swiss and in the run-up to a referendum on whether or not to ban the construction of them, have wall-papered Switzerland with anti-minaret posters.”

Turkish-Armenian normalization: Borders, hearts need to open up!

by MİLLİYET’s HASAN CEMALOf course the creation of new diplomatic relations and the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia are very important. And we need to recognize and commend the “political determination” on this front displayed by both Ankara and Yerevan. But still, this is not enough.

The US needs Turkey for its Middle East Agenda

from Atlantic Community RSS-Feed Brian Katulis: Turkey and the US need to coordinate their efforts in South Asia, Iraq, Iran and the Arab-Israeli conflict, towards common goals. In order to make progress on his ambitious policy agenda for the Middle East, Obama needs Turkey. To this end, improving US- Turkish bilateral ties is a first crucial step.

Journalist Çelik says Turkey is more assertive, respected in world despite domestic hurdles

by YONCA POYRAZ DOĞANHakan Çelik, a journalist who specializes in Turkish foreign policy, has said Turkey has been going through painful times domestically in its democratization process but that its assertiveness in the world is paying off as it is able to gain respect.

Europeans’ perception of Turkey

by SABAH MAHMUT ÖVÜRThe perception in Turkey is that Europeans tend to hold Christianity and secularism in higher esteem compared to other values. However, this is not the case for Europeans on the street.

A New EU in the Making: Reflections from Turkey

European Union With Turkey

After a long period of speculations and intergovernmental tug-of-wars, the EU finally elected its new president and foreign policy chief. Taking the profiles of the recently elected politicians into consideration, it can be confidently said that the EU disappointed may people who believe in an ‘ever closer Union’ and a more ‘proactive Europe’ at the international fora……….

Two tribes

from BBC News | Europe | World Edition Britain’s awkward role in divided Cyprus

Turkey and the Need for New Europe

By Sedat Laciner

Europe has was always been dream, an ideal. Throughout history, this peculiar Asian peninsula was never able to set its own boundaries. At times it designated even the Caucasus as Europe, at other times it could not even call the Balkans Europe. This ideal, drawing its roots from the Mediterranean and the Middle Eastern civilizations, developed a certain dislike towards its past. With the Explorations, the Reformation, the Renaissance, the French and Industrial revolutions, charging himself the role of the ‘leader’ and ‘pioneer’ of the world, the European failed to address the questions “What is Europe?” and “Who is a European?”

The US Needs Turkey for its Middle East Agenda

from Atlantic Community RSS-Feed Brian Katulis: Turkey and the US need to coordinate their efforts in South Asia, Iraq, Iran and the Arab-Israeli conflict, towards common goals. In order to make progress on his ambitious policy agenda for the Middle East, Obama needs Turkey. To this end, improving US- Turkish bilateral ties is a first crucial step.

‘Cat row’ deepens Cyprus-Turkey dispute

from EurActiv.com A row over cats has erupted between Cyprus and Turkey, adding a surprising new flavour to a long-standing stalemate between the communities of the divided island and its difficult relationship with Turkey, the divided EU country’s biggest neighbour.

Turkey: Ottoman mission

from FT.com – World, Europe After decades of looking west, Ankara is re-engaging with the lands once ruled by its sultans – but this quest for a leadership role in the Muslim world holds the risk of overreach

Obama Administration Defending Law that Makes Speech Advocating Human Rights a Terrorist Crime

November 17, 2009, New York – Yesterday, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed the first brief in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, the first case to challenge a portion of the Patriot Act before the Supreme Court. The case, originally brought in 1998 on behalf of a human rights group, a retired federal administrative judge, a doctor, and several nonprofit groups, challenges the constitutionality of the law that makes it a crime to provide “material support” to groups the administration has designated as “terrorist.”  In particular, the plaintiffs charge that the law goes too far in making speech advocating lawful, nonviolent activity a crime.  The lower courts have unanimously declared several provisions of the law – including one added by the Patriot Act – unconstitutionally vague because they encompass speech and force citizens to guess as to their meaning.

The case challenges those aspects of the “material support” statute that criminalize pure speech – specifically the prohibitions on providing “training,” “personnel,” “expert advice or assistance,” and “service.”  Under the law, any speech that falls within these terms – no matter how peaceable and nonviolent – is a crime if communicated to, for, or with the collaboration of any organization placed on a list of “foreign terrorist organizations” maintained by the Department of State. Convictions can result in sentences of fifteen years to life.  According to the government, the statute requires no showing that the donor intended to further any act of terrorism or violence.

Said CCR Cooperating Attorney David D. Cole, “This statute is so sweeping that it treats human rights advocates as criminal terrorists, and threatens them with 15 years in prison for advocating nonviolent means to resolve disputes. In our view, the First Amendment does not permit the government to make advocating human rights or other lawful, peaceable activity a crime simply because it is done for the benefit of, or in conjunction with, a group the Secretary of State has blacklisted.”

The lower courts held unconstitutionally vague the law’s prohibition on the provision of “services,” “expert advice or assistance,” and “training,” reasoning that these terms could easily encompass a wide range of lawful speech, such as providing training in international law.  The Obama administration sought Supreme Court review of that decision.

Plaintiffs in the case include the Humanitarian Law Project (HLP), a human rights organization in Los Angeles that seeks to provide human rights advocacy training to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the main Kurdish political party in Turkey, and a former federal administrative law judge, Ralph D. Fertig, who is the president of the HLP. Once the State Department designated the PKK a terrorist organization, it became a crime for HLP to continue to train the group in human rights advocacy, even though that assistance is designed to reduce violence by encouraging peaceful ways of resolving conflict.

“To deny me the right to speak of peace to a group because it  is branded ‘terrorist’ is to defer the possibility that it could ever be anything else,” said plaintiff Ralph D. Fertig, JD, ACSW, retired U.S. Administrative Judge and Clinical Associate Professor, University of Southern California School of Social Work. “And to punish those who seek peaceful resolutions of conflict is to yield to violence. Surely the First Amendment must protect against such government action.”

The Patriot Act added a prohibition on the provision of “expert advice or assistance” to the statute.  After earlier court decisions declared that and other parts of the statute unconstitutional, Congress amended it in 2004 to try to correct the infirmities.  However, the district court and court of appeals concluded that the prohibitions on “services,” “expert advice and assistance,” and “training” remained unconstitutionally vague. The court of appeals decision the administration is seeking review of is the sixth ruling from the lower courts since 1998 finding significant parts of the material support statute to be unconstitutionally vague.

For more information on the case, including briefs and a detailed explanation of material support, visit http://ccrjustice.org/holder-v-humanitarian-law-project.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.

According to a Hürriyet news, Diyarbakır Police Department, who issues car licence plates, is having a problem with GA, GI and GU letters. Because GA means “ox”, GU means “shit” in Kurdish. And finally, GU means “shit” again in the local Zaza accent…

Haleva (C) is accompanied by Beyoglu district Mayor Ahmet Misbah Demircan (R) as they walk together with residents during a commemoration near the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, November 15, 2009. Relatives and friends gathered at a peace monument near the Neve Shalom synagogue to mark the sixth anniversary of the Al Qaeda-linked twin suicide car bomb attacks against the city’s two main synagogues. Neve Shalom and Beit Israel synagogues had been devastated in twin suicide car bomb attacks on November 15, 2003, killing around 30 people including Jewish people praying as well as Muslim passersby.REUTERS/Murad Sezer

and a few more from the Turkish society…

The swine flu and errors

A new polemic: GMO regulations

The adoption of a regulation last month regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has led to heated debate in Turkey, with environmental organizations, consumer associations and many other nongovernmental organizations lashing out against the regulation, saying it poses a great risk to public health and allows GMOs to enter Turkey freely.

Murder Count: Murders of Women Increase Exponentially

Statistics made public by Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin reveal that the number of women murdered in Turkey has drastically increased in the past seven years. Sixty-six women were murdered in 2002, whereas 953 were slaughtered in just the first seven months of this year…

Court of Appeals: Virginity as Essential Wedding “Qualification”

A Kurdish political prisoner, Shirko Moa’refi, 30, was transferred on Thursday evening to a solitary confinement in the Saqqez city’s Central Prison and he faces execution.

The Iranian regime’s henchmen responsible for carrying out the death sentences in the Kurdistan province’s prisons along with Garoosi, the province’s judiciary chief have travelled to Saqqez to carry out the execution.

Shirko Moa’refi, from city of Baneh in Kurdistan was arrested in October 2008 and imprisoned by the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) in Saqqez.  After a long period of interrogation and torture, he was sentenced to death for “acting against the national security” and “waging war against God,” without going through any proper legal procedure. Agents of MOIS threatened his family and prevented them from holding any protest or publicizing his case.

This move by Iranian authorities comes two days after the execution of another Kurdish political prisoner, Ehsan Fattahian.

The Iranian Resistance calls on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions to take immediate measures to save the life of Mr. Shirko Moa’refi.

The Decade in 7 Minutes:

I’ve Got Nothing: Crowdsourced Song Created by YouTubers [VIDEO]

This American Life:

The 1987 Dance Aerobics Championship

Island by Fyodor Khitruk

“Island” by Fyodor Khitruk. 1973 Golden Palm at Cannes Film Festival, 1974 for Best Short Film. Golden Dragon at Cracow Film Festival 1974:

How about some Kurdish music? From the popular Sivan Perwer: Yek Mumek

And yet another sample of Kurdish music. Koma BAWLEKAN – Şerizdin

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VESBRT8lG4I]

 Heke em binihêrne dîroka neteweya Kurd, em dibînin ku hertim di dirêjahiya dîrokê de serbarê parvekirina welatê me Kurdistanê û herwisa êrîşa hovane a desthilatdarên zal bi ser Kurdistanê de bona tepeseriya hawara azadîxwaziya vê netewê, desthilatdaran ji bombeya kîmyayî û komkujî û jînosaydê mifah wergirtine û ev tepeseriya hovane tenê taybet bi vî serdemî nine. Heke di rabihurî de çekên kîmyayî tune bûn, dujminên me ji rêyên din ve dixwastin neteweya Kurd ji nav bibin ku mînaka berçav ya vê dûrxistina bi kom a sedan malbatên Kurd di serdemê desthilatdariya Sefewiyan, Efşariyan û Qacariyan bo Xurasanê ye ku xwastine bi vî awayî nasnameya neteweyî a Kurdan bimirînin û ji nav bibin. Niha piştî derbasbûna pitir ji 500 salan bi ser yekemîn koçberkirina wan bo Xurasanê, em dibînin nifûsa Kurdan di vê herêmê de gihîştiye 2 milyon kesî ku ne tenê nasnameya xwe a netewî ji bîr nekirine, belkû bi avakirina rojname, belavok û sazî û girûpên stiran, muzîk û folklora Kurdî bi dil û can ji nasnameya xwe berevanî kirine û heta peyivînên wan jî bi zimanê Kurdî ê 500 salan berî niha ye ku bê şik û guman ji bîrkirina zaf ji peyvên Kurdî û têketina peyvên biyanî di nava zimanê me de encama heman siyaseta asîmîlasiyonê ji aliyê Fars, Turk û Ereban ve ye, lê bi vî halî jî gelekî ciyê şanaziyê ye ku Kurdên Xurasanê karîne van peyvên şîrîn û bedew ên Kurdî ji siyaseta asîmîlasiyonê biparêzên. Bê şik û guman heke em îro rojê gewahyarê avakirina dameziravên weke Kirmanc û girûpên sitran û muzîkên weke Koma Baran û rojnameyeke bi navê Kirmanc di Xurasanê de ne, lê şik û guman di vê yekê de nîne ku di vê rêyê û di dirêjiya van 5 sedsalan de, gelek kesan zor û zehmetî dîtine û heta di rêya îsbatkirina nasnameya Kurdbûna xwe û parastina ziman û çanda xwe de canê xwe gorî kirine, lê navê van hatiye ji bîrkirin. Di vê navberê de û di nava van Yusufên dûrketî ji Kenanê, zana û helbestvanên navdar hebûne ku nevê Ceferquliyê Zengene mîna stêrkeke ronahî nava gişt van zana û helbestvanan bi şewqa xwe dixemilîne û diçilvilîne . Ceferqulî ku renge heya îro rojê jî kêm kesî navê wî anî be lê bi cehd û tekoşîna kesên xebatkar û mandînenas weke Kelîmulahê Tewehudî ji vê bênaviyê derketiye û bûye sembol û berjenga helbestvan û hozanvanên di nava Kurdên Bakûra Xurasanê de. Lê pirs eva ye ku erê gelo Ceferqulî kî ye û çima heya niha di nava piraniya Kurdan de weke serbazeke bê nav û nîşan ma ye? A rastî eva ye ku siyaseta îstimargeriya desthilatdarên zal bi ser Kurdistanê de û her wisa dûr mana Kurdên Xurasanê ji hevtuxmên xwe ên din, bixwe bûye sebebê bê naviya vî arifê mezin. Ceferqulî Zengene bi jiyê dirêj û bikêr yê xwe çavkaniyeke mezin ji muzîk û tore û îrfanê ji neteweya Kurd, bi taybetî ji Kurdên Xurasanê re bi dîharî hêlaye, ku heya niha bi egera jevbelavî û windabûna helbestên wî, bi awayeke nivîşkan û bê ser û ber hinek ji helbestên wî, yanî dilopek ji behra helbestên wî dest me ketine. Helbestên Ceferqulî zaf bûne, lê çimkû wî bi xwe helbestên xwe nedinivîsandin, belkî kesên din ew helbest ji wî guhdarî dikirin û jê re dinivîsandin, lewra piraniya helbestên wî yan ji nav çûne, yan jî hêja di welatên din de bi awayekî bê ser û ber hinek beşên vê mabin. Niha tenê dîwaneke îrfanî ji Ceferquliyê Zengene bi cî maye, ku ew jî bi cehd û tekoşîna zana û nivîskarê Kurd, Kelîmulayê Tewehudî hatiye komkirin û ji navçûnê rizgar bûye. Ceferqulî serdana piraniya welatên Asyayî û Afrîqayî kiriye û bi komkirina zanyarî û tecrûbeyan bi geryana xwe û bi tiştên ku bi çavê xwe dîtine, gulistanek ji xwe bi cî hêlaye. Ew çûye welatên Hindistan, Efxanistan, Tacîkistan, Ozbekistan, Turkemenistan, Azerbaycan, Qefqaziya, Osmanî, Îraq, Erebistan, Sûriye û Misrê û li wir gelek helbest gotine ku heya niha weke pirtûk negihêştine destê tu kesî û heya gelek ji van helbestan jî ji nav çûne. Ceferqulî nasyariyeke tewaw bi zimanê van welatan re hebû û bi wan zimanan helbest jî gotine ku eva bi xwe bûye sebeb da ku ew di vî karî de çêtir helbestan bibêje û gelek şareza be. Şêweyên gotina helbestên wî bi egera taybetmendiyên zimanê Kurdî tevî helbestên helbestvanên din ferq û cudahî heye.Her wiha xezeliyatên wî tevî xezeliytên helbestvanên din di warê kêş ve ferq û cudahî heye û şêweyên taybet bi xwe hene . Ceferqulî tenê helbestvan, muzîkvan yan jî arifek nine, belkî ew mamostayê exlaq jî bûye ku bi kiryar û riftarên xwe ên baş, fikirîna baş û bi jiyana baş, cangorîtî fêrî dersxwanên xwe kiriye û xwe ji karên kirêt ên cîhanê dûr xistiye û rû dikire karên menewî. Ceferqulî fîlozofek bûye, çimkû di tevaya temenê xwe de li pey zanist û tecrûbeyan bûye û ji niqteyekê çûye niqteyeke din û ji welatekê çûye welateke din û bona bidestveanîna zanyariyên zaftir dest bi lêgerîn, taqîkirin û geryanê kiriye. Ew bi tevaya wateya peyvê zana ye. Çimkû mirov kesekî weke wî nabîne ku ji hemû kes û karên xwe dest hilgirtibe û bona gihîştin bi meremên xwe temenek di çol û çiya û di xerîbiyê de derbas kiribe. Heke Mewlewî daxwazkarê Şemsê Tebrîzî bû, Ceferqulî li pey dermanê derdê xwe, li pey evîna dilê xwe yan li pey “Melwarî” bû. Ceferqulî helbestvan, hozanvan, gerîde, mamostayê exlaq, arif, şirovekar – Dîroknas û muzîkvanekî şareza ye. Piraniya helbestên Ceferqulî awayê dîmenî hene û mirov dibne nava kûrahiya fikr û xeyala mijara helbestên xwe de. Helbestên wî gelek dewlemend û watedar in, yanî gişt taybetmendiyên helbestên têr û tejî û pir naverok di helbestên wî de hene. Ceferqulî mirovekî gelek cesûr û gernas bûye û heta di helbestên xwe de tenê daxwazek ku ji Xwedê kiriye eva ye ku Xwedê wî bikete xwediyê îlm û zanisteke xurt. Wî qet daxwaza malê dunyayê ji Xwedê nekiriye û piştî mirina wî tenê torbe û tenbûrek ji wî bi cî ma. Wî qet li hemberî tu kesî de serê xwe neçewandiye. Wî tenê bîr ji zanînê û hunerê dikir û rêz jê digirt. Serbarê vana Ceferqulî bi çar zimanê Kurdî, Farsî, Turkî û Erebî helbest gotine ku di Îranê de tenê Ceferqulî ye ku bi çar zimanan helbest stirîne. Helbet stirîna helbestan bi çar zimanên naskirî ên Rojhilata Navîn hunera helbestvanê Kurd weke Ehmedê Xanî û Melayê cezîrî ye. Erê gelo ev Ceferqulî kî ye û çima koçberî çol û çiya û sererdên bîhanî bûye? Ceferqulî Zengêlanlû ji îleke Kurd bi navê Zengene û li malbateke sade a gundî li geliyê Emaret li bakûra rojhilata Qûçanê di parêzgeha Xurasanê li gundê Gûganê di sala 1320’an a Heyvî de di serdemê Fethelî Şahê Qacar de hate dinê. Navê bavê wî Mela Reza Qulî bûye. Ceferqulî di zarokîniya xwe, bavê xwe ji dest dide û apê wî Hecî Elîesxer bi diya wî a bêvejin re dizewice û serperestî û perwerdehiya Ceferqulî digire stûyê xwe. Elîesxer di 7 saliyê de Ceferqulî şande xwendingehê da ku li cem Melayê gund mela Berat, dersa Quranê hîn bibe. Lê Ceferqulî gelek hez li çûna xwendingehê nedikir, lewra naçe xwendingehê. Ceferqulî bedela çûn bo xwendingehê, ji kela Gûganê derdikeve û her roj diçe nava şeqara çiyayê bakûr a gundê Gûganê û li dema nîvro de ku deriyê xwendigehê dihate daxistin, ew jî vedigeriya mal û bi vî awayî ew qet neçû xwendingehê. Ceferqulî xwe ji xelkê û hevtemenên xwe dûr dixist û diçû nava çiyayên derdora gund û li wir difikirî heya ku bû 15 salî. Di wî çaxî de bi qewlê xelkê Gûganê her çi hate serê wî, di geliyê naskirî bi Nalî Çûkan, de hate serê wî ku ew gelî dikeve navbera gundê Emarat û Behmenganê. Ceferqulî di wî geliyê de ye ku di nûciwaniyê de dibe evîndarê rûyê xweşik û bedew yê Melwarî, Melwarî di Farsî de tê wateya Mirwarîd, ku navê keçên Kurmancan e. Evîna Ceferqulî nexuya bû û kesê nedikarî wê bibîne, tenê çavên Ceferqulî dikarîn Melwarî bibînin. Wê evîna xeyalî, nerastî a Melwarî, Ceferqulî weke Mecnûn li heyrana dîtina Leylayê de koçberî çol û çiya kir û ew di kûreya şewitîner a eşqê de sor sor kir û ji wî arif, helbestvan, muzîkvaneke tewaw û gerîdeyeke têgihîştî û hafiz û şirovekerê Quranê çêkir, helbestên bi cî mayî ji wî, vê yekê ji me re bi tevahî îsbat dike. Ceferqulî piştî vê ku dibe evîndarê Melwarî, bi egera vê ku serdana sererdên cur bi cur û tayfe û tuxmên cur bi cur ên Asiya û Afrîqayê kiribû û nêzîkatî bi wan re hebû, lewra bi çand û zimanê xelkê wan herêman, yanî Kurd, Fars, Turk û Ereban re nasyar bû û bi van çar zimanên fermî ên herêmê dest bi stirîna helbestan û çêkirina miqam û dengê muzîkê kir. Di rastî de eger Ceferqulî jî weke Nasir Xusro, Ewliya Çelebî û … sefernameyek ji xwe bi cî hêlaba, bê şik û guman heke ji wan dewlementir û pirnaveroktir nebaya, kêmtir jî nedibû. Ceferqulî yek ji wan kesana ye ku ciyê rûmet û şanaziyê ye bo netewa Kurd û nabixeyekî neteweyî ye ku hetanî niha ew cura ku hewce ye nehatiye naskirin û li ser şûn û warên bi cî mayî ji wî, kareke wisa nehatiye kirin. Ku sebebên bingehîn ên nenaskirî mana wî evne ne: 1. Komnekirina helbestên wî û çapnekirina wan. 2. Ceferqulî Kurd bûye, lewra çi yek ji hikûmetên Pehlewî û Melayan ku dijî netewa Kurd bûne, qet giringiyeke wisa nedane bi nivîskar, helbestvan û … ên Kurd, belkî her tim xwastine ku şûn û warên netewî ên neteweya Kurd ji nav bibin. 3. Dûrmana Kurdên Xurasanê ji Kurdistanê bi xwe egereke bo bênaviya Ceferqulî. 4. Fêmnekirina zana, helbestvan û nivîskarên Fars ji zanyarî û çanda Ceferqulî bi egera çend cureyiya zimanê wî (Kurdî, Farsî, Turkî û Erebî). Ceferqulî Zengene navên din jî weke Cefer, Ceferquliyê Bêçare, Ceferquliyê Endelîb, Ceferquliyê Muxtar, Ceferquliyê Zengî û Ceferquliyê Kurd hebûne. Ceferqulî ne tenê qet negihîşte evîna xwe, belkî tevaya helbestên wî, ji bilî yên ku xelkê ew parastin yan jî nivîsandin, ên din bi giştî an ji nav çûn, yan jî di memleketên din de weke helbestên bê nav û nîşan man. Ceferqulî tenê di nava Kurdan de nayê hebandin, belkî di nava Turk û Farsên Xurasanê de jî tê hebandin û her yek ji van neteweyan, hinek helbest ji Ceferqulî bi zimanê xwe hene û di piraniya rê û resmên xwe de, Ceferqulî weke zanayekî bi bîr tînin û malên xwe bi helbestên wî dixemilînin. Lê Ceferqulî li cem Kurdên Kurmanc ên Xurasanê ciyekî bilind û hêja heye, çimkû Ceferqulî serbarê vê yekê ku helbestvan û ciyê şanaziyê ji bo xelkê wê herêmê bûye, ziman û toreya Kurdên wê herêmê jî parastiye. Ceferqulî helbestvanê destanrêsvan ê Xurasanê aqibet li derdora sala 1315’an ya Heyvî de koça dawiyê kir, her çend ku tu kesî mirina wî nedîtiye, lê li gorî lêkolînên nivîskar û zanayê Kurd ê Bakûra Xurasanê, Kelîmulah Tewehudî, renge Ceferqulî di derdora sala 1315’an de koça dawiyê kiribe û wî çaxî 95 sal temenê wî bûye. Bi mirina Ceferqulî, Kurdên Xurasanê yek ji kesayetiyên mezin û bênimûne yê xwe ji dest dan. Lê îro rojê Kurdên akinciyê Xurasanê weke mirovên têniyê avê li du helbestên Ceferqulî ne û her salê bi rêvebirina rê û resmekê di Gûganê de wî helbestvan û zanayê mezin ê Kurd bi bîr tînin. Di rê û resmekê de ku li sala 1384’an a Rojî (2005), di Gûganê de bona rêz û hurmetgirtina ji yad û bîranîna Ceferqulî bi cehd û tekoşîna mamosta û nivîskarê Kurd Kelîmulayê Tewehudî pêk hatibû, nêzîk 6000 xwendekarên Kurd ên bakûra Xurasanê tê de beşdarî kirin ku beşdariya wan bi xwe nîşaneya vê yekê ye ku Ceferqulî ji aliyê xelkê wê herêmê ve pir tê hezkirin. Ceferqulî helbestvanekî netewî ê neteweya Kurd e. Îro erkê li ser milên me ye ku ji bilî Kurdên neteweparêz ên Xurasanê, em jî tewayî cehd û tekoşîna xwe bi kar bînin, bona nasandina vî helbestvanê netewî bi Kurdên seranserî Kurdistanê da ku bi vî awayî serbarê xizmeta bi tore û huner û dîroka Kurdistan, me rêz û hurmet ji riha vî navdarê Kurd girtibe. Çend parçe ji helbestên Ceferqulî Xan 1: Wesfê yarê biwêjim, ez li dur û zemanê Tarîfê wê ez bêkem, mîna gulê cenanê Newe qelem mumkin, tersîmê gulcîhanê Newe zimîn tê gotin, wesfê şîrîn zimanê Bê hemta, bê manendê, li xelkê Kurdistanê 2: Yar were ser xakê min, mezarê min bilivîn Wê bejn û balê reina we nekîran binimîn Je serê wan biwe hûş, je wan bistîn eql û dîn Vê navê emalê min ji wan hilgir, bidirîn Hînga dade destê min, je bin xakê bikişîn Ta biwînim qudretê xudawend le rûy zemîn Je husn û cemalê te, xeber biwêne asimîn Le ser serê min bise, mest û mestane, dilwer Nivîsên berê yên Mecîd Cinîkanlû

Nivîsên berê yên
Mecîd Cinîkanlû28 Oct 2009

The Causes of Terrorism Change with Political Winds

The causes of terrorism seem almost impossible for anyone to define. Here’s why: they change over time. Listen to terrorists in different periods and you’ll hear different explanations. Then, listen to the scholars who explain terrorism. Their ideas change over time too, as new trends in academic thinking take hold.

Many writers begin statements about “the causes of terrorism” as if terrorism were a scientific phenomenon whose characteristics are fixed for all time, like the ’causes’ of a disease, or the ’causes’ of rock formations. Terrorism isn’t a natural phenomenon though. It is name given by people about other people’s actions in the social world.

Both terrorists and terrorism’s explainers are influenced by dominant trends in political and scholarly thought. Terrorists—people who threaten or use violence against civilians with the hope of changing the status quo—perceive the status quo in ways that accord with the era they live in. People who explain terrorism are also influenced by prominent trends in their professions. These trends change over time.

Viewing Trends in Terrorism Will Help Solve It

Viewing terrorism as the extreme edge of mainstream trends helps us understand, and thus seek solutions, to it. When we view terrorists as evil or beyond explanation, we are inaccurate and unhelpful. We cannot ’solve’ an evil. We can only live fearfully in its shadow. Even if it is uncomfortable to think of people who do terrible things to innocent people as part of our same world, I believe it is important to try. You will see in the list below that people who have chosen terrorism in the last century have been influenced by the same broad trends that we all have. The difference is, they chose violence as a response.

1920s – 1930s: Socialism as a Cause

In the early 20th century, terrorists justified violence in the name of anarchism, socialism and communism. Socialism was becoming a dominant way for many people to explain the political and economic injustice they saw developing in capitalist societies, and for defining a solution. Millions of people expressed their commitment to a socialist future without violence, but a small number of people in the world thought violence was necessary.

1950s – 1980s: Nationalism as a Cause

In the 1950s through 1980s, terrorist violence tended to have a nationalist component. Terrorist violence in these years reflected the post-World War II trend in which previously suppressed populations committed violence against states that had not given them a voice in the political process. Algerian terrorism against French rule; Basque violence against the Spanish state; Kurdish actions against Turkey; the Black Panthers and Puerto Rican militants in the United States all sought a version of independence from oppressive rule.

Scholars in this period began seeking to understand terrorism in psychological terms. They wanted to understand what motivated individual terrorists. This related to the rise of psychology and psychiatry in other related realms, such as criminal justice.

1980s – Today: Religious Justifications as a Cause

In the 1980s and 1990s, terrorism began to appear in the repertoire of right-wing, neo-Nazi or neo-fascist, racist groups. Like the terrorist actors that preceded them, these violent groups reflected the extreme edge of a broader and not-necessarily violent backlash against developments during the civil rights era. White, Western European or American men, in particular, grew fearful of a world beginning to grant recognition, political rights, economic franchise and freedom of movement (in the form of immigration) to ethnic minorities and women, who might seem to be taking their jobs and position.

In Europe and the United States, as well as elsewhere, the 1980s represented a time when the welfare state had expanded in the United States and Europe, the agitation of the civil rights movement had produced results, and globalization, in the form of multi-national corporations, had gotten underway, producing economic dislocation among many who depended on manufacturing for a living. Timothy McVeigh’s bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building, the most lethal terrorist attack in the U.S. until the 9/11 attacks, exemplified this trend.

In the Middle East, a similar swing toward conservatism was taking hold in the 1980s and 1990s, although it had a different face than it did in Western democracies. The secular, socialist framework that had been dominant the world over—-from Cuba to Chicago to Cairo-—faded after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and the death in 1970 of Egyptian president Gamal Abd Al Nasser. The failure in the 1967 war was a big blow—it disillusioned Arabs about the entire era of Arab socialism.

Economic dislocations because of the Gulf War in the 1990s caused many Palestinian, Egyptian and other men working in the Persian Gulf to lose their jobs. When they returned home, they found women had assumed their roles in households and jobs. Religious conservatism, including the idea that women should be modest and not work, took hold in this atmosphere. In this way, both West and East saw a rise in fundamentalism in the 1990s.

Terrorism scholars began to notice this rise in religious language and sensibility in terrorism as well. The Japanese Aum Shinrikyo, Islamic Jihad in Egypt, and groups such as the Army of God in the United States were willing to use religion to justify violence. Religion is the primary way that terrorism is explained today. 

Future: Environment as a Cause

New terrorism forms and new explanations are underway, however. Special interest terrorism is used to describe people and groups who commit violence on behalf of a very specific cause. These are often environmental in nature. Some predict the rise of ‘green’ terrorism in Europe–violent sabotage on behalf of environmental policy. Animal rights activists have also revealed a fringe violent edge. Just as in earlier eras, these forms of violence mimic the dominant concerns of our time across the political spectrum.

Instead of self-congratulations here how we stand at our human rights record:

Turkey’s dirty stories on display – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Turkey

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion; however, constitutional provisions regarding the integrity and existence of the secular state restrict these rights.
The Government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the reporting period. The Government continued to impose limitations on Islamic and other religious groups and significant restrictions on Islamic religious expression in government offices and state-run institutions, including universities, for the stated reason of preserving the “secular state.” Authorities continued their broad ban on wearing Islamic religious headscarves in government offices as well as public schools. The Government also continued to oppose “Islamic extremism.” Religious minorities said they were effectively blocked from careers in state institutions because of their faith. Minority religious groups also faced difficulties in worshipping, registering with the Government, and training their followers. Although religious speech and persuasion is legal, some Muslims, Christians, and Baha’is faced some restrictions and occasional harassment for alleged proselytizing.

A nation grows up

Kurdish letters are now in official documents. This is an ID card approved by a local Registration office in Çankara according to an Hürriyet news.And in another case a father named her daughter as Helin Kürdistan…

“Action Plan against Reactionary Forces” – a Chronology

Anti-Terror Law Thwarts Kurdish Initiative

Did Başbuğ Paşa know the truth all along?

The story was first reported in the Taraf newspaper last June. The enormous headline read:  “A plan to finish off the AK Party and Gülen.”

Concerning civilian-military relations

A consensus between the civilian government and the military is critical for democracy in Turkey now. The military has long been a powerful political player, but the people are now demanding change in the relationship between the military and the civilian government.

‘Piece of paper’ ends military’s myth

Truth finds you with a smile or comes as a slap in the face. Not so long ago I met a foreign diplomat — an ambassador of a powerful European country — over dinner.

FACTBOX-Coups in Turkey over last 50 years
Reuters
A shadowy group known as Ergenekon first came to light in June, when a cache of explosives was discovered in a police raid on an Istanbul house. …
Reputation of Turkey’s military takes a hitNational

General Staff Launched New Investigation into “Piece of Paper”

turkeybans: http://bit.ly/3gIG68 – buzcevheri.com (a personal weblog) blocked (in Turkish)

Prison Sentence for “Azadiya Welat” Distributor Altay

Struggle against Homophobic Discrimination in Professional Life

Establishment, Doğan media and freedom of the press in Turkey

Turkey: Amnesty International Calls on Turkish Authorities to Respect the Rights of Refugees (Amnesty International)

A group of Kurdish refugees said on Tuesday Turkey has denied them entry visas they needed to return to the country under government reforms aimed at expanding Kurdish rights.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to expand Kurdish rights as Ankara looks to end a 25-year-old conflict between the state and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrilla group.

But at the weekend Erdogan said his government wants to halt the return of Kurdish refugees after a group of separatist militants returning from Iraq received a festive welcome.

In Brussels, 15 members of the Kurdish Peace and Democratic Solution Group said they also wanted to return, but were denied necessary travel documents.

The Turkish consulate in Brussels was not immediately available for comment.

“The government’s present attitude is blocking the way for the peaceful and democratic solution of the Kurdish issue,” Ismet Cem, leader of the group, told a new conference.

“The ruling AK party government is claiming that we created a crisis of confidence,” Cem said. “On the contrary, the government and state forces are responsible for causing a crisis of confidence by disturbing, provoking and sabotaging the process.”

Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AK Party has launched an initiative that is expected to give greater freedom to the 12 million-strong Kurdish minority in Turkey’s southeast.

The reforms are important for advancing Turkey’s application for membership of the European Union, and responds to demands that Ankara meet the bloc’s human rights criteria.

The PKK, based in northern Iraq, took up arms in 1984 to carve out an ethnic homeland in the predominantly Kurdish southeast.

The conflict has severely hampered economic development in the region, which lags far behind relatively prosperous western Turkey.

Source: Reuters India

Turkey is currently the main cornerstone regional power;

Erdogan next in line for Nobel Peace; (October 21, 2009)

            In December 18, 2004 I wrote “Turkey: A Regional Power in the Making “.  In February 4, 2009 I updated my article “A Regional Power out of hibernation in the Near East“.  Another update is required because Turkey seems to vigorously and quickly act everywhere.

Turkey forgot the Islamic world for over 60 years and relied on its military to impose a secular state and emulate the Western culture in alphabet and in dress codes. Ataturk wanted to shed the image of backward Ottoman Empire that lost an Empire extending from Hungry to Iraq to Arabic Peninsula, the Near East, Egypt and all Northern Africa.   The other Empire to the east was the Persian Safafid Dynasty that extended to Pakistan. The Safafid Empire was founded by another Turkish leader and opted to adopt the Chiaa Moslem sect as the religion of his Empire.

Turkey is part of NATO (this year is its turn to lead the NATO forces in Afghanistan) thanks to the cold war against the defunct neighbor of Soviet Union: Turkey was the main effective ally to the US in the region during the cold war. Turkey was denied full membership in the European Union because the same Soviet Union disintegrated into “independent States” recognized by the UN; France and Germany offered a rational for their refusal on ground of Turkey not satisfying the basic social and political requirement of a homogenous member.  For 60 years Turkey had turned its back to the Arab problems, and allied to the State of Israel and the Shah of Iran.

Things are changing fast after the horrors of Gaza and the tearing down of the mask of the Zionist ideology of terror, expansion, and apartheid.  Turkey was playing the fair mediator between Syria and Israel in order for the return of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Turkey was mediating between Israel and the Palestinians to render the life of the Palestinians under occupation more bearable during the peace negotiations for a separate Palestinian State.  Israel Olmert PM lied to the Turkish PM Erdogan before the barbaric re-incursion into Gaza.

Rajab Tayyeb Erdogan, Turkey’s PM is undeniably the most powerful leader criticizing the Zionist State for its genocide in Gaza. He canceled a joint military maneuver with the US and Israel. The US has nobody else to conduct military maneuvers but Israel in this region; the latest naval one is to last two weeks with objective to save Israel of mass missile attack!

Turkey, under Erdogan, is currently more powerful than the whole of Europe in the Near East for establishing peace, stability and equitable political resolutions.  Turkey is a self sufficient independent Nation and has ruled the whole Middle East for four centuries. Turkey has awakened from a long hibernation and decided to be a major regional power broker.   

Turkey is demanding and acting as the main power broker in the Near East because it has interest in the stability of its south eastern borders with Syria, Iran, and Iraq.  So far, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq were peons for the larger policies of the US, Europe, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East.  Turkey’s current policies beg to differ: “no more war zones at my borders and in my back yards”.  The US and Israel must have understood the message clearly and loudly. The so-called “moderate” Arab States of Egypt and Saudi Arabia are cowering down and are taken by surprise to the emergence of the new revitalized Turkey siding with the underdogs.

We are not hearing anymore about the Turkish war on the Kurdish self-autonomous movement.  I wholeheartedly wish that negotiations are secretly and seriously underway with the Kurdish Workers’ Party for a peaceful resolution.  The Kurdish problem was used by the USA and Israel to blackmail Turkey.  I have a feeling that the Kurds in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran appreciate the new directions of Erdogan’s government and would find in Erdogan a viable interlocutor and would cooperate with Turkey to lighten up this heavy burden of a useless and fruitless civil war. The new policy in Turkey is to open peaceful negotiations with the opposition Kurds; around 200 Kurdish leaders in the resistance movement have turned themselves in and all indicates that a resolution is palpable.

Turkey will be asked to exercise its beneficial influence in restoring peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region.  It will inevitably join the European Union with the unavoidable important changes that Turkey will have to accept and undergo in matters of democracy, liberty, human rights, social and economical constraints.

This transformation of a powerful neighbor will transcend into a drastic transformation of the societies surrounding Turkey. The benefits are already materializing in closer ties with Syria, pressures on Israel to agree on a Palestinian State, and greater normalization with Iran.  Turkey is obviously the main power that can provide autonomy to the Kurdish nationalism spreading among Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Turkey is the main power that can efficiently check US omnipotence in the Middle East and any resurgence of Russia militarism. Turkey prevented Bush Junior to invade Iraq through its territory; the US air base in Interlink was prohibited to launch air raids on Iraq.  I have great hope in this new power amongst us, especially that the current Turkish government has proven to be far sighted and confident in its power and role in this region.

For a couple of years after Europe shut off the door for Turkey entering the Union Turkey felt the need to crawl in a cave and hibernate; Turkey shook off its lethargic attitude and is now in the driving seat and operating a strategy that befits its power in the Middle East.  It has surmounted tough obstacles in economic difficulties, human rights issues that are frequently reemerging, and demonstrations that are occasionally broken by brute force. Turkey is no longer allowed to relax.  Turkey is quickly learning that it has to keep pace with the culture of Europe and to fight harder to catch up with lost time. Its dialogue with Syria has brought fruits: no visas are needed to cross joint borders, seasonal water resource shortages are frequently revised, and the western world had come to term that it can no longer circumvent Syria in this volatile region with Turkey’s backing.

Europe must be appreciating the decision of Turkey to play a major role in the Near East but the US is very wary because it refuses to share pre-eminence in the Middle East.  Turkey active diplomacy and clear policies should weight heavier in the decision process for joining the European Union.  The frustrations of Turkey with the EU must have given it a clear hint of what its policies should be based on and where its focus should be directed to.

            Turkey is the new pivotal power in the Middle East in the coming decades.  It is the cornerstone for new emerging Northern Middle East Block with Syria, Iraq, and Iran.  This strategic block in formation is inevitable after the US troops leave Iraq and would constitute the best guarantee for this volatile region to peace and security.

            Erdogan should have received the Nobel Award for Peace instead of Barak Obama who has no active records to show for earning this prize (Read my post “What that! Nobel Prize for Passivity?”  Erdogan has already executed peace treaties with his archenemies: Syria, Armenia, the Kurds, soon with Cyprus, and has definitely sided with the Palestinians against apartheid Israel.  Normally, Erdogan is in line for the peace prize. Judging from the trend, the cynical Nobel Committee never feels comfortable awarding Peace Prizes to Middle Eastern leaders unless it is shared with the devils such as Began and Shimon Peres. Erdogan got my highest prize and we all feel much more optimist in our future.