Turkey’s President Erdogan has aroused suspicion in the West by dragging his feet against the Islamic State and moving much more energetically against the Kurds than against the jihadis. But he has allowed the US to use a Turkish air base, and so that has lost him any sympathy he might have had among Islamic […]
Islamic State jihadis recruiting in Turkish mosques, treated in Turkish hospitals
Turkey’s head of religious affairs insists that “all the Islamic institutions agree that Daesh is a non-Muslim group.” Turkey’s actions suggest that the head of religious affairs is either dishonest or not informed about what his own government is doing. “Ambulances ferry ISIL terrorists between Adıyaman and Syria, CHP report says,” Today’s Zaman, August 9, […]
Turkey’s religion chief: “Islam never orders a jihad which approves of bloodshed”
“All the Islamic institutions agree that Daesh is a non-Muslim group,” says Görmez, but that just yet again begs the question: why does this “non-Muslim group” have such appeal among Muslims that thousands of them from all over the world have traveled to Syria, Iraq and Libya to join it? And if Islam never orders […]
Turkey intentionally late in action against Islamic State recruiters
It is every day clearer that Erdogan hopes to use the Islamic State to his own advantage, using it as an excuse to hit his enemies and as a stalking horse for the reestablishment of the Ottoman caliphate. “Turkey intentionally late in action against ISIL recruiters: Report,” Hürriyet Daily News, August 10, 2015 (thanks to […]
Senior Western official: Links between Turkey and the Islamic State are now “undeniable”
Turkish President Erdogan clearly hopes that the Islamic State will take care of his enemies — the Kurds and Assad — and then the Turks can march in and reap the benefits. “Senior Western official: Links between Turkey and ISIS are now ‘undeniable,’” by Natasha Bertrand, Business Insider, July 28, 2015 (thanks to John): A […]
Obama White House says Turkey has right to attack Kurds
Muddying the waters. The Obama Administration apparently threw the Kurds under bus in order to induce the Turks to do something — anything — against the Islamic State. And so yet again Obama antagonizes an ally in service of an entity that is far less likely to be pro-American. “White House says Turkey has right […]
Turkey uses the Islamic State as excuse to attack Kurds
Erdogan has been notably reluctant to attack the Islamic State, and when he finally does, he attacks the Kurds. Clearly he hopes that the Islamic State will take care of some of his enemies for him, and then Turkey can step in and reap the dividends. “Turkey Uses ISIS as Excuse to Attack Kurds,” by […]
Turkey: Muslim cleric calls on Muslims to “slaughter” Islamic State jihadis
“If you run across them, slaughter them like you fight with the people of Ad and İrem,” said Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü. In other words, they are to be the executors of the wrath of Allah: “Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ‘Aad — with Iram — who had lofty pillars, the likes […]
Turkey: Dozens killed in suspected Islamic State bombing in border town
Time for Obama to explain to us again how the Islamic State is losing. “Turkey Blast: Dozens of Students Killed in Suspected Isis Suicide Attack in Border Town Near Kobani [VIDEO],” by Johnlee Varghese, International Business Times, July 20, 2015 (thanks to Anne Crockett): Dozens of volunteer students, who were planning to visit Kobani to […]
Thailand deports 109 Muslims from China who had been on their way to Turkey, Syria or Iraq to join jihad
“Many had been radicalized by materials released by the World Uygur Congress and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). The recruitment gangs had used religious extremism to encourage people to go to Syria and Iraq to participate in jihad.” No one, however, has yet bothered to explain exactly how “religious extremism” differs from standard, ordinary […]