June 2023
Putin joins global condemnation of Quran burning in Sweden
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali: Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized Western countries that allow the burning of the Quran on grounds of free speech, saying such acts are criminalized by Russia. Putin made the remarks during a meeting with Muslims at the Juma Mosque in Dagestan's Derbent on Wednesday, where he was given a copy of the Quran as a gift. He expressed criticism towards Western nations that do not consider Quran burning a crime, emphasizing that Russia penalizes such actions. Read More
Quran burning anew in Sweden sparks outrage in the Muslim World
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali: Following approval from a Swedish court, a copy of the Holy Quran was burnt outside the main mosque in Stockholm on Wednesday which coincided with the beginning of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. According to Swedish public broadcaster SVT, 37-year-old Iraqi immigrant, Salwan Momika, had requested authorization for the burning of Quran. He wants the Holy Quran banned. He tore out pages from the Quran, rubbed them on his shoe, and put part of them on fire. The burning of a Quran outside the mosque in Sweden on one of Eid al-Adha sparked outrage Thursday in several Muslim countries with widespread condemnations of Sweden. Read More
Canada decodes law and justice to torture prisoners in solitary confinement: The case of Mohammad Momin Khawaja
By Dr. Habib Siddiqui: Canada’s political leadership needs to look ahead and correct its mistakes. Justice is not the exclusive property of police or judges but a shared civilized value with the public that is color- and religious-blind. Justice need not be outrageously harsh to punish someone’s alleged intention to join the Taliban, the same force that has now regained power in Afghanistan. What good can come out of unduly prolonging the suffering of Momin Khawaja, a sociologist and author of books like the Women in the Ancient World? He has served more than his due share of time under the disproportionate Canadian justice system. Let’s not forget that the Government of Canada was proven guilty in the Class Action suit. In all fairness, Prime Minister Trudeau and the Minister of Security and Homeland should immediately set Momin Khawaja free. The sooner the better for this victim of miscarriage of justice and his aggrieved family. Read More
Israeli settlers burn Quran in attack on mosque in occupied West Bank
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali: A group of Israeli occupation settlers broke into a mosque in the occupied West Bank and ripped pages from the Holy Quran before throwing it into the street, CCTV footage revealed. An Israeli settler accompanied by a dog desecrated the Muslim Holy book in front of a mosque in the Palestinian village of Urif south of Nablus, while a group of masked were on the watch out. Read More
SF Bay Area PTI prays for Imran Khan's success
SF Bay Area PTI held a gathering on June 17, 2023 to pray for the success of Imran Khan. The event was held at the Mehran Restaurant Newak CA. Nigar Raza was MC of the event mainly sponsored by Tajwar Sajjad. Maryam Turab was event organizer. The colorful program included naat khwani and special prayers. Firdos Kamran presented extensive dua. Read More
King of the Ashes Test
By Syed Rifaqat Ali: Australia's victory over England at Edgbaston in the first ongoing Ashes Test has prompted Sydney Morning Herald to crown Usman Khawaja, who was Man of the Match, as 'King' and made millions of Kangroos proud. Khawaja scored a brilliant century (141) in the first innings when the Aussies were 78 for 3 at lunch and in deep trouble, chasing England's huge total of 393 for 8 on the first day. Read More
hree years after Galwan clashes, China-India border standoff continues
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali: Thursday, June 15 marks three years of the Galwan Valley incident when Chinese and Indian troops clashed deep inside eastern Ladakh, leaving 20 Indian Army personnel and 4 Chinese dead. The Galwan Valley clashes were the first deadly skirmish between the two militaries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in five decades and they significantly strained the bilateral ties. The Chinese and Indian military officers held 18 rounds of high-level talks so far with an objective of taking forward the disengagement process in the friction points and restoring peace and tranquility along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. About 1,000 square kilometers of area in India’s Ladakh region along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is now under Chinese control, according to The Hindu. Read More
Top Swedish court approves Quran burning
Daily Sabah: The verdict by a Swedish court may pave the way for more controversial burnings of the Muslim holy book Quran. A Swedish appeals court on Monday said police had no legal grounds to block two gatherings where protesters had planned to burn copies of the Quran earlier this year. The burning of Islam’s holy book outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm in January sparked outrage in the Muslim world, leading to weeks of protests, calls for a boycott of Swedish goods and further stalled Sweden’s NATO membership bid. Read More
Australia whacks India in ICC WTC Final
By Syed Rifaquat Ali: Invincible Aussies triumphantly won the ICC Test championship at the Oval against India inthe final last Sunday before a capacity crowd by a whopping 209 runs. The English dailyThe Hindu aptly summed up the victory: India for all financial clout and hoo-ha around itscricket, lost yet as its underwhelming record in ICC tournaments continued with its 209-runhammering by Australia in the final. In a way, it was a replicate of Pakistan's emphatic win against India in the ICC Champions Trophy final at the picturesque Oval ground in 2017.Read More
What message did Erdoğan convey to the world?
by Ihsan Aktaş: In the aftermath of World War I, when the British and French occupied all lands around the globe, despair reached such a level that the psychology of defeat, destruction and helplessness emerged all over. Some three states had occupied all Ottoman lands, as well as China in the Far East to Indonesia to Africa. All Muslims were crushed under captivity. And people have been trying to hold on to their past to build vigor and resist with the help of valor and old stories. President Erdogan says: Whoever backs his own culture, belief and history, loves his nation, and takes his power from his people, will be successful in both development and progress. Read More
Resilient Anatolia amid Western turmoil
by Ihsan Aktaş: Over the course of the past 15 years, Western powers have persistently sought to bring about a change in the Turkish government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, intensifying their pressure. Read More
KAAN: Türkiye's homegrown fighter jet and its bold message to world
By Burhanettin Duran: Türkiye has become one of five countries that build fifth-generation warplanes. Hürjet, Türkiye’s first supersonic manned jet plane, completed its maiden flight, as Kaan reached the runway. Both products attest to the revolutionary progress of our country’s defense industry. Many more will follow. Together with the TCG Anadolu, Gökbey, ANKA and Kızılelma, May 1, ceremony highlighted the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government’s efforts to take the Turkish defense industry to the next level. Read More
Turkey’s Strategic Depth doctrine revisited
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali: Defying Western expectations, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan won in last month’s runoff election. His new mandate is expected to allow Erdogan to pursue increasingly independent policies that have strengthened Turkey’s position as a regional military power. Tellingly, Turkish foreign policy under Erdogan has been associated with the name of Ahmet Davutoğlu, once his chief foreign policy advisor. In his book “Strategic Depth,” published in 2001, Davutoğlu elaborates on his strategic vision about Turkey. He argues that Turkey possesses “strategic depth” due to its history and geographic position and lists Turkey among a small group of countries which he calls “central powers”. Turkey should not be content with a regional role in the Balkans or the Middle East, because it is not a regional but a central power. Hence, it should aspire to play a leading role in several regions, which could award it global strategic significance. Read More
Erdoğan’s victory harbinger of Turkish renaissance
By Ihsan Aktas: With historical precedents of Turkish prominence, the current age shows signs of a third Turkish renaissance, evident in the global recognition after Erdoğan's election. The comment of the Brazilian ultra-leftist "Workers' Cause Party" is striking. The party (Partido da Causa Operaria) calls Erdoğan's election victory a triumph over imperialism in the Middle East. Its tweet read: "Imperialism is defeated again. Amid a gigantic coup campaign against Erdoğan, the current president was reelected in Türkiye. Imperialism loses control of the Middle East." Afterward, all individuals and citizens in the Islamic world got excited as if Erdoğan was elected in their own country, and the election evening turned into a festive mood. This excitement is a sign of Türkiye's greatness, Türkiye's historical mission, the expectations of the world from Türkiye, and the enthusiasm, excitement and future ideal created by Erdoğan, who identified himself with such expectations. The uninterrupted dominance of the West in psychological warfare continued in the world for 200 years, and the oppressed nations have been losing. This electoral success has inspired all oppressed nations for wins, to organize, motivate and govern their own countries. Just as the conquest of Istanbul created extraordinary excitement both in the Christian and the Islamic worlds, this election will have an identical global effect. Read More
More than 30 countries want to join the BRICS
Modern Diplomacy: South Africa’s representative to BRICS Ambassador Anil Sooklal has hinted that the grouping is set to grow bigger this year with more than 30 countries having formally and informally applied to join the alliance. The latest report indicates that the countries ready to join the BRICS alliance are Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Read More
Brick By Brick, BRICS Now a New Bridge for a New World
By Naseem Javed: Measuring BRICS in single decades, in 2001, BRIC started as an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, and China; Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill claimed that by 2050 the four BRIC economies would come to dominate the global economy. So South Africa was added to BRIC in 2010. Read More
What to expect from Erdoğan, his ultranationalist Alliance and their ‘Family Values’ Pledges
By Balki Begumhan Bayhan: After a bitter and hard-fought campaign that went to a second run-off vote, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has retained the Turkish presidency in an election that some deemed as “free but not fair”. Having first won power in 2003, Erdoğan has been able to extend his rule for a further five years by creating an alliance with ultranationalist parties. A key aspect of the next term is likely to be a hardline conservative agenda. An agreement between the Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) and his hardline Islamist New Welfare party (YRP) allies has pledged to reevaluate existing laws to “protect the integrity of the family”. Read More
Economic dynamics in the context of elections: Pre and post-election analysis
By Levent Yılmaz: While the pre-election situation in the economy was as described, attention shifted back to the economy after the completion of the election process. We can see that Erdogan, who has been reelected, has placed the economy as one of his top agenda items. In both his victory speech on election night and his speech at the 79th TOBB General Assembly, Erdogan delivered messages emphasizing his sensitivity towards "inflation." Read More
Three Questions: Erdogan’s victory paves way for stronger ties with the Gulf
By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey: In three questions Jonathan Fenton-Harvey explains the present and future of Türkiye's relations with Gulf states under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. How do the Arab Gulf states view President Erdogan’s victory? What has caused relations between Türkiye and the Gulf to strengthen? What kind of cooperation can we expect in the future? Read More
Turkish presidential elections and Western misperception
By Muhittin Ataman: The incorrigible West, who believe in Middle Eastern exceptionalism and have an Orientalist understanding toward Türkiye, neither take any lesson from their past mistakes nor do they want any Muslim country to experience a consolidated democracy. In principle, the West does not recognize any result of the elections won by politicians who prioritizes the political independence of their country or by any anti-Western politician. Since President Erdoğan has been asking the West to have a relationship based on equal partnership, the West tries to overthrow him. Read More
‘Erdoğan to free foreign policy for post-election Türkiye’
Daily Sabah: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be pursuing an independent foreign policy in the coming term, according to James Jeffrey, former U.S. special envoy to the global coalition against Daesh, citing Türkiye's size and capabilities as the basis for the "rational" decision. Speaking at a panel by the Atlantic Council to discuss Turkish-American relations and Turkish foreign policy in the post-election period, Jeffrey, who is also a former envoy to Ankara, said there is a chance to improve ties between the U.S. and Türkiye, which he said are not "at a low point." Türkiye-U.S. relations have been strained in recent years because of the latter's cooperation with the PKK terrorist group's Syrian offshoot YPG, its stance toward the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), sanctions against Türkiye over its purchase of Russia's S-400 air defense system, Türkiye’s removal from the F-36 program, and the long delays in the deal for F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits. Read More
'Erdoğan's victory will flourish ties with Arab world'
Daily Sabah: Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye boosted its ties with Arab countries. Experts say his re-election on Sunday will further advance Turkish-Arab relations to greater horizons. Read More
Far-right Wilders tells Turks to 'pack bags' for voting for Erdoğan
Daily Sabah: Far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders, known for his anti-migrant and Islamophobic stance, urged Turks living in the Netherlands who voted for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to leave the country after Sunday’s elections. “I hope that all Turks in the Netherlands who voted for the Islamofascist Erdogan will pack their bags and move to Turkey. Byeiii!” Wilders said. He also claimed that Turkish people in Türkiye were “disappointed” that citizens living abroad impacted election results. Read More
Erdogan seen ‘balancing’ between China and the West in third term as Turkish president
By Laura Zhou: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to continue a balancing act between China and the West in his third five-year term, but observers say Beijing’s treatment of the Uygur minority in Xinjiang will remain a challenge for ties. Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Erdogan after he beat opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu – who had promised a West-leaning foreign policy – in a run-off election on Sunday. “In recent years, the development of the China-Turkey strategic cooperative relationship has maintained momentum, and practical cooperation in various fields has made positive headway,” Xi said in the message, according to state news agency Xinhua. Read More
Erdogan's election victory: a new era in Turkish foreign policy
By Kadir Üstün: President Erdogan's election victory represents a significant turning point in Türkiye's foreign policy. Thanks to this success, Erdogan will have the chance to solidify Türkiye's foreign policy gains in recent years. As an approved leader by the people, Erdogan is now in a strengthened position to shape Türkiye's national security strategy and foreign policy goals on the international stage. Türkiye will continuously feel the need for a dynamic foreign policy in the unpredictable environment created by global power balances and regional conflict areas. This situation makes predictable and strong leadership a prerequisite for success in international politics. Read More
Five key reasons that contributed to Erdogan's presidential win
TRT World: Recep Tayyip Erdogan's independent foreign policy, decades of political experience and domestic programmes gave him the edge over his challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who led a fragile opposition alliance. The May 28 presidential race provided a great political moment for Turkish President and AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who once again finished first in the first-ever presidential run-off. Erdogan has not lost an election since 1994, when he was elected as the mayor of Istanbul metropolitan municipality. Today with his second-round victory of the presidential election he further cemented his political legacy. There are multiple reasons why Erdogan won against the six-party alliance’s presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the leftist Republican People’s Party (CHP), but here’s some of the significant ones that helped him take a decisive lead in both rounds of the elections. Read More
What Erdoğan’s reelection means for Turkey’s political system, economy and foreign policy
By Ahmet T. Kuru, San Diego State University: Erdoğan won the election without making any promises of change regarding domestic or foreign policy. But if the economic crisis he faces fails to abate, change may be forced upon him. Indeed, the only factor that may force Erdoğan to return Turkey to a pro-Western position is Turkey’s ongoing economic crisis – which might necessitate the support of wealthy Western states and institutions. Read More
Free but unfair election: how Erdogan held onto Power in Turkey, and what this means for the Country’s Future
By Mehmet Ozalp: While there may be some political stability in post-election Turkey for now, the country will be in economic, social and political turmoil for the foreseeable future. Erdogan will continue to try to become a regional power independent of NATO, the European Union and the US. He will likely continue to strengthen Turkey’s ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has been a worry for Turkey’s Western allies. Read More
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The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
