As I wrote here just a few days ago: “Erdogan is now positioning himself as yet another Mehmet the Conqueror, using Hagia Sophia as his illustrious predecessor did to proclaim Islam’s victory over both Christianity and Ataturk’s secularism. And with the centerpiece of the caliphate now again secured, the caliphate itself is virtually certain to follow.”
Omer Celik, even though he is of the ruling party, and the Ankara bar association are fighting a rear-guard action. Turkish secularism is dead.
“Turkish magazine calls for revival of CALIPHATE amid Hagia Sophia conversion, gets slammed for peddling ‘unhealthy debate,'” RT, July 28, 2020:
A Turkish pro-Islam magazine is in hot water after bringing the cause of a caliphate back to life with the cover story of its latest issue. The Ankara bar association has accused it of calling for an insurrection.
The Turkish legal body filed a criminal complaint against Gercek Hayat magazine, asking prosecutors to investigate it. It alleged that the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Kemal Ozer, and columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak, have instigated hatred and called for an armed rebellion against the Turkish state.
At the center of the accusation is the latest issue of the magazine, published on Monday, which features a cover stating: “Get together for caliphate. If not now, when? If not you, who?” An interview with Dilipak, a veteran Turkish conservative journalist, is one of the lead stories in the edition….
Arguing for revival of a caliphate is a political hot-button topic in Turkey, so the Gercek Hayat publication was met with skepticism even from the conservative side. Spokesman for the ruling AK Party, Omer Celik, said the magazine was seeking “unhealthy polarization” by questioning Turkey’s founding principles.
Some outrage came even before the issue was published, and was based on a preview of the magazine’s cover tweeted by Dilipak. Prominent Turkish journalist Ismail Saymaz said on Sunday that Turkey was not a country “to be ruled by a handful of radicals,” and that the people behind the Gercek Hayat issue “are not even aware of what kind of fire they were playing with.”
Ozer, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, said critics of the story were misinterpreting it. “Our journal demands that the countries of Islam come together, just as Europe has come together and established a union, just as others have made similar ones. Our call has nothing to do with any country,” he said….
gravenimage says
Turkish magazine calls for revival of caliphate in wake of Hagia Sophia conversion to mosque
………………
That’s exactly what this move by Erdogan was for.
More:
Ozer, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, said critics of the story were misinterpreting it. “Our journal demands that the countries of Islam come together, just as Europe has come together and established a union, just as others have made similar ones. Our call has nothing to do with any country,” he said….
………………
Yeah–just like NAFTA or the EU…sarc/off
Eur says
I am totally in favor if in return all the Muslims who live in the West go to the new caliphate. we would welcome all non-Muslims.
AnnChristine says
I so agree—please let it happen!
Just Venting says
I suspect that even the same-faith neighbors are not exactly thrilled by this. But, other than a very small country the size of New Jersey, are any of Erdogan’s neighbors capable of organized resistance?
Since the military was purged a few years ago, I doubt that there is any serious, organized, or capable resistance to this self-coronation in Turkey. If I lived in Greece, Crete, or Cypress, I would find someplace else to live. No one that could or should will stand up to Turkey if Erdogan tries to expand East or South.
Just Venting says
Sorry, that should be WEST or South. I suspect that Iran would not tolerate anyone invading their space. Just ask Saddam how well that little foray worked out.
gravenimage says
Just Venting, I don’t think that Greece should roll over for this saber-rattling.
Just Venting says
With Greece it is more a matter of the state of their defensive capabilities and whether NATO will stand up with them. Or will NATO side with the Bully Next Door?
The Greeks of WWII stood up to an overwhelming Nazi force and paid dearly. England did not have the resources to provide real help. I wonder how this will play out this time around.
gravenimage says
Yes–I was not meaning to imply this is not a real concern, Just Venting.
In a sane world, Greece’s NATO allies would come to her aid in the event of Muslim aggression–but they did nothing when Turkey invaded Cyrus in 1974.
Eur says
the two nations belong to the n.a.t.o so the allies do not think they would intervene. Greece would be alone unless friendly countries help them outside the alliance. Right now Erdogan is like Musolini. Musolini used the Roman past to lobotomize the masses and Erdogan is using Islam and the Ottoman imperial past. Armenia, Greece, Libya, Syria … Erdogan’s political allies are fascist Islamist drug traffickers (Erdogan is similar). Neo-imperial caliphal dreams wanting to unify the Turkish peoples that provided ethnic cleansings like a hundred years ago with the Armenians.
Kepha says
So, is the office of Caliph going to go to someone name Osmanoglu?
I love Iblis says
Secularism in Turkey could be lived forever if the stupid, so-called “secular” CHP did not forcibly deported remaining Christian Greek population to Greece. Now you cannot defend secularism in a country which is 98% of the population believes in islam. If there were important Christian population in Turkey then these islamist blockheads could not easily call for caliphate.
gravenimage says
Even Ataturk was fine with Muslim Turks slaughtering Christians in the Armenian Genocide.
I love Iblis says
Ataturk was a dictator, Gravenimage. I agree with you. Addition to his stance on the Armenian Genocide he also blocked Christians to become public servants. And his fascist government killed Alevis with their leader Seyid Riza in front of his little son when they rebelled against the fascist government of Turkey in Dersim (“Tunceli”). But today some Alevis are interestingly supporting and defending Ataturk. They should wake up for how their grandfathers’ killed by Ataturk’s government.
gravenimage says
Grimly, Ataturk was about as good as you were going to get in a Muslim country–but that is, as you note, still really bad.
As for the Alevis specifically, they know that a fully re-Islamized Turkey will be even worse for them as a religious minority, so this is not actually irrational.
Jayell says
“Islam, islam uber alles”
James Lincoln says
Consider this:
“The only serious potential security threat to Europe today is from Russia. Yet Turkey cannot be trusted to take NATO’s side in a conflict.”
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/time-to-kick-the-islamizing-turkey-out-of-nato/
Eur says
I prefer that Russia invade my country to see my neighborhood, my city, my region, my country turned into an Islamic souk. At least Russians have vodka and beautiful women. What the hell do Muslims have to offer?
ian hatch says
hell
werner says
What the hell do Muslims have to offer? devil worship, 72 virgins!!!
FYI says
Nothing of value :just their false piety,their Doctrine of Hate[al walaa wal baraa] their misogyny,their anti Christian,anti Jewish{koran 9:30,koran 98;6}anti Hindu,anti Buddhist,anti atheist.anti freedom,violent anti democracy ideology and warped immoral values.
No Music,Art,Literature of course…
gravenimage says
Eur, Russia is being increasing Islamized, as well–and often with Putin’s approval. He opened the largest Mosque in Europe in Moscow with Erdogan and Abbas, and has allowed a Shari’ah state in Chechnya on Russian soil–this is actually worse than any No Go Zone in the West.
The idea that Russia wants to invade you to save you from Islam is, I’m afraid, mistaken.
James Lincoln says
This posting from the Americans Conservative was meant to start a conversation.
Russia, for sure, is not the only threat.
Not sure why they completely avoided the topic of the muslim invasion…
jewdog says
Erdogan is ISIS in a suit.
Kepha says
A very perceptive comment, jewdog. For some time, Daniel Pipes has been warning that Erdogan’ Turkey is no longer an ally. It was also Erdogan’s shenanigans that are partly to blame for our “Anything you can do, I can do better, Nincompoop Bush!” girls Hill and Sam getting us into Syria, a fight in which we had no dog.
OLD GUY says
Erdogan, the little man syndrome dictator. He visions himself as the ruler of the world and that he will lead the Muslim Empire of the world. I truly dislike people like Erdogan, who have no respect for anyone else and put themselves and their self serving ideology ahead of everything. He’s no different than any cult leader and he wants to lead the biggest cult ever islam.
Most wars are fought because of these self serving individuals.