 | EN Roundup |
EU/Turkey
Beware Turkish Hypocrisy
Algemeiner 25 February 2013
By Noah Beck
Recent Turkish pressure on France and Germany regarding accession to the European Union heighten the need to question Turkey’s strategic intentions and political identity. Is Turkey a moderate, pro-Western democracy? Or is it run by Islamists embracing policies and regimes hostile to the West?
Turkey wants to be treated as a member of the West, calls itself "European,” and expects EU membership alongside its NATO credentials. But Turkey has dissented on key policy issues like Iran sanctions, antagonized the only Middle East country with Western values (Israel), and – until the Arab Spring ruined relations with Syria – courted many regimes dangerously opposed to the West. 
Turks protest at peace talks with Kurd rebels
Saudi Gazette 25 February 2013
Hundreds of Turkish nationalists hold placards, reading: "We want respect for martyrs,” during a march Sunday on Istiklal Avenue to protest at the resumption of peace talks
Turkish Prime Minister visits Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
AME Info 25 February 2013
The Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) received Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the guest of honour of the 2nd Government Communication Forum, at the Sharjah Museum
Israel, Turkey look towards reconciliation
The Jerusalem Post 25 February 2013
By LINDA GRADSTEIN
While relations between Israel and Turkey are likely to remain tense, analysts say better ties would benefit both sides. Despite the widespread belief that ties between Israel
Terror charges against journalists ‘shocking,’ says European body
Hurriyet Daily News 25 February 2013
The terrorism charges against Turkish journalists currently on trial are "shocking to hear,” according to The European Federation of Journalists President Arne König, who
Mystery Over Turkish Bid for Shanghai Five Membership
Al-Monitor 25 February 2013
By Kadri Gursel
The debate in Turkey over the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was triggered by the answer Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave when he was asked whether "Turkey has
Hamas Leader Meshaal Pays 'Secretive' Visit to Turkey
Al-Monitor 22 February 2013
The state-controlled Anatolian News Agency reported on Tuesday, Feb. 19, after Hamas’ political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal left Turkey that he had met with Prime Minister
Turkey resumes Gaza flotilla trial for ex-IDF heads
The Jerusalem Post 22 February 2013
By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Israel says trial in absentia against Ashkenazi, other retired senior IDF commanders is politically motivated.The trial in absentia, at an Istanbul court, of a group of former Israeli
Fazil Say on trial
Deutsche Welle 20 February 2013
The trial against Fazil Say, accused of blasphemy, will resume in Istanbul on April 15. The internationally renowned pianist and composer is faced with a prison sentence in his
Ankara lifts headscarf ban in sporting events
Hurriyet Daily News 18 February 2013
Turkish Sports and Youth Minister Suat Kilic has expressed his backing for the recent overturn of a ban on headscarves in sporting events, calling the prohibition "backward and
Turkish Women's Groups Gird for Abortion Rights Battle
Voice of America 15 February 2013
By Dorian Jones
Women rights groups demonstrated in Istanbul earlier this month in support of abortion rights, accusing state institutions of complying with a government campaign to
Turkish Muslim Trades Daughter for a Cow
FrontPage Magazine 15 February 2013
By Daniel Greenfield
As Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s important to be reminded that the special day, like everything else in Western Civilization, was originally invented by Muslims. And there
Islamists Mobilize Support in West to Criminalize Criticism of Islam
Radical Islam 15 February 2013
By Karen Lugo
Islamists certainly do not want the American public to consider the current international campaign to make inspection of Islamism a crime
In January, journalists and journalism students were invited to a conference in Istanbul where Turkish deputy undersecretary Ibrahim Kalin announced that the Turkish government "has been working on projects to have Islamophobia recognized as a crime against humanity.”
Prime Minister Erdogan committed the Turkish government to "immediately start working on legislation against blasphemous and offensive remarks” and bragged that "Turkey could be a leading example for the rest of the world on this.”
Woman confesses to killing daughter, son-in-law in Mersin
Today's Zaman 15 February 2013
A woman has admitted to shooting to death her daughter, who had previously run away from home to elope, and her daughter's husband on Monday in the southern province of
No Turkish accession before agreement on Cyprus, says UK Foreign Minister
Financial Mirror 14 February 2013
The position of the Conservative party that Turkey cannot enter the EU as long as the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus continues, as it had been stated by William
Turkey Advances to Remove Headscarf Ban
Bianet 14 February 2013
Turkey's EU Minister Egemen Bagis has reportedly submitted a report to the cabinet regarding the regulations on headscarf dress code in the public sector of various European
Looking Eastward: Turkey’s Bluffing Game
theTrumpet.com 13 February 2013
By James Brandon
Chances are Turkey will never join the European Union. For one, it espouses the wrong religion. For another, Bible prophecy indicates it just won’t happen. But that doesn’t
Turkey's Selective Terrorism Outrage
The Jewish Press 11 February 2013
By Frimet and Arnold Roth
From Turkey comes a report today that its prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country "had grown impatient about European tolerance on terror groups.” On the face of
Erdogan: "The Image of the Jews Is No Different from that of the Nazis"
Gatestone Institute 11 February 2013
By Samuel Westrop
Now that we know that Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, uttered anti-Semitic comments similar to those made by Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi, will the media do its best to avoid reporting those, too?
In November 1998, the Institute for Jewish Policy Research released its annual report on current trends in anti-Semitism across the world. In the section for Turkey, the journal quoted the then-mayor of Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in June 1997, at a meeting organized by the municipality to celebrate the city's conquest by the Ottoman
Is Turkey Leaving the West?
Algemeiner 8 February 2013
By Daniel Pipes
Recent steps taken by the Government of Turkey suggest it may be ready to ditch the NATO club of democracies for a Russian and Chinese gang of authoritarian states. Here is
