The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sparked international criticism and debate, with many viewing it as a controversial move that prioritizes Islamic heritage over other faiths.

The decision has been criticized by the Greek Orthodox Church, UNESCO, and other countries, including Greece and the US, who argue that it undermines Turkey's commitment to religious freedom and cultural diversity.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a political move by Erdoğan to consolidate his power and appeal to his conservative base, particularly in Anatolia.

The move has been criticized for its potential impact on Turkey's relations with the EU and Western countries, with some arguing that it could lead to a further deterioration in relations.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion of Hagia Sophia reflects the complex and often fraught relationship between religion and politics in Turkey, with some arguing that the country is struggling to balance its Islamic heritage with its secular principles.

The Turkish government's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been perceived as promoting Islamo-nationalism and erasing part of Turkey's multiculturalism.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque may affect the demographics of Istanbul, with potential long-term consequences for the balance between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

The site's UNESCO World Heritage status has been affected by the conversion, which may impact Istanbul's cultural identity balance.

The international community has criticized Turkey's decision to convert the site, citing concerns about the erosion of multiculturalism and the impact on non-Muslim communities.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a symbol of Turkey's cultural identity, which is characterized by a unique blend of Islamic, Byzantine, and secular elements.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion highlights the complex and sensitive nature of Turkey's cultural and religious identity, with potential long-term consequences for the country's demographics and cultural heritage.

The Turkish government's decision to reimpose an entrance fee on tourists at Hagia Sophia may affect the site's visitor numbers and revenue.

The reconversion has sparked concerns about the preservation of the site's cultural assets, with extensive restoration work underway to prevent damage from large crowds.

The UNESCO World Heritage site status of Hagia Sophia has been affected by the conversion, which may impact the site's preservation and management.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a move by Erdoğan to strengthen his support among conservatives, potentially altering the balance between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Istanbul.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion of Hagia Sophia reflects the deeper tensions and conflicts within Turkish society and politics, with some arguing that it could lead to a further polarization of Turkish society and a decline in secular traditions.

The long-term consequences of the Hagia Sophia reconversion are likely to be significant, with some arguing that it could lead to a further erosion of Turkey's secular principles and the promotion of a more Islamist agenda.

The international community has called on Turkey to respect the cultural and historical significance of Hagia Sophia, and to ensure that the site is protected and preserved for future generations.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has sparked criticism from the international community, with many viewing it as a move that may impact Turkey's relations with the EU and Western countries.

The Turkish government's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been criticized for its potential impact on the site's cultural and historical significance, with some arguing that it could lead to the erosion of the site's universal value and significance.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion of Hagia Sophia highlights the need for greater understanding and respect for the cultural and religious diversity of Turkey, and the importance of preserving the country's rich cultural heritage.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a symbol of Turkey's growing assertiveness on the global stage, with Erdoğan seeking to promote his country's Islamic heritage and identity.

The potential consequences of the reconversion of Hagia Sophia for Turkey's secular status are significant, with some arguing that it could lead to a further erosion of the country's secular principles and the promotion of a more Islamist agenda.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has sparked concerns about the coexistence of religious and tourist visitors, with tourists and worshippers now using separate entrances.

The entrance fee for foreign tourists visiting Hagia Sophia will be used to fund the preservation of the site, with the aim of improving the quality and safety of the visitor experience.

The Turkish government has announced plans to implement a visitor management policy to improve the quality and safety of visits to Hagia Sophia.

The policy includes separate entrances for tourists and worshippers, and information about Hagia Sophia will be provided in 16 languages.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has also led to criticism from Western countries, which have expressed concerns over the preservation of the site's cultural and historical significance.

The Turkish government's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been promoted by Turkish state media as a "peacemaker" role, aimed at promoting Islamic resurgence and national pride.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia may impact Turkey's relationships with neighboring countries, particularly Greece and Cyprus, which have historical and cultural ties to the site.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion of Hagia Sophia reflects the complex and often fraught relationship between Turkey and its neighbors, with some arguing that it could lead to a further deterioration in relations.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a symbol of Turkey's cultural identity, which is characterized by a unique blend of Islamic, Byzantine, and secular elements.

The Turkish government's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been perceived as promoting Islamo-nationalism and erasing part of Turkey's multiculturalism.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque may affect the demographics of Istanbul, with potential long-term consequences for the balance between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

The site's UNESCO World Heritage status has been affected by the conversion, which may impact Istanbul's cultural identity balance.

The international community has criticized Turkey's decision to convert the site, citing concerns about the erosion of multiculturalism and the impact on non-Muslim communities.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a move by Erdoğan to strengthen his support among conservatives, potentially altering the balance between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Istanbul.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion highlights the complex and sensitive nature of Turkey's cultural and religious identity, with potential long-term consequences for the country's demographics and cultural heritage.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sparked international criticism and debate, with many viewing it as a controversial move that prioritizes Islamic heritage over other faiths.

Title:

Content: She returned Hagia Sophia to a mosque.
Turkey has challenged global trusteeship
Daily Morning
Istanbul, Turkey
Posted at 29.10.2022 10: 23
Hagia Sophia Mosque (Getty Images)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that the fact that Turkey has returned the Hagia Sophia museum from a museum to a mosque represents a major challenge to the global trusteeship.
Speaking at a ceremony announcing the vision of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) “Turkey ’ s Century ” in Ankara, Erdogan said his country was challenging global tutelage and thanked citizens for their support for the decision to return Hagia Sophia.
He noted that his party has always sought to eliminate any vestiges of guardianship and promote democracy in the country over the past 20 years.
Turkey has lived through a remarkable period in its history in general and the history of Istanbul, especially when Hagia Sophia was transformed from its status as a museum and restored to its former glory as the Grand Mosque of Hagia Sophia on July 24, 2020.
The historic building remained a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul.
It was then used as a mosque between 1453 and 1934, nearly 500 years before becoming a museum for 86 years.
It is one of the most visited historical buildings in Turkey by domestic and international tourists, and Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
On July 10, 2020, a Turkish court overturned a 1934 ministerial decision that turned Hagia Sophia into a museum, paving the way for it to be used again as a mosque after an 86-year hiatus.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The decision has been criticized by the Greek Orthodox Church, UNESCO, and other countries, including Greece and the US, who argue that it undermines Turkey's commitment to religious freedom and cultural diversity.

Title:

Content: After Hagia Sophia, Turkey converts a second ancient Byzantine church into a mosque

Hundreds of worshippers filled the narrow streets of Istanbul's Fatih district on Friday to hear the sounds of Friday prayers ringing out from the newly inaugurated Kariye Mosque.

Once known as the Chora Church, the site spent the last 79 years as a museum. But it is now the latest structure to be converted back into a mosque by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the conversion of Hagia Sophia in 2020. While viewed as a triumph by many Turkish Muslims, the Greek Orthodox Church has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom."

Chora's conversion was announced shortly after Hagia Sophia's, but its opening for prayer was delayed by years of restoration work.

The showing for the first Friday prayers at Kariye was relatively quiet compared to Hagia Sophia, which drew hundreds of thousands who filled the streets with prayer rugs for blocks and blocks away from the building. By contrast, the crowd on Friday was relatively average for a mosque in one of Istanbul's more religiously conservative neighborhoods, where Friday worshippers frequently spill out onto the streets.

Both the Chora Church and Hagia Sophia are 4th-century Byzantine constructions. They spent nearly a millennium as Christian holy sites before being converted to mosques by the Ottomans after their conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century. Despite their conversions, they remained revered by Orthodox Christians. After the founding of a secular Turkish Republic in the early 20th century, the decision was made for both to be neither mosque nor church but simply museums.

"Both Hagia Sophia and Chora embodied Byzantine and Ottoman pasts, and they became symbols of co-existence and multi-faith living practices. Their conversion fundamentally implies a hierarchy, prioritizing the Islamic past over all other layers, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Syriac, et al," Dr. Özgür Kaymak, a lecturer and researcher on minority rights at Istanbul's MEF University, told Religion News Service in an email.

Rededicating the sites as mosques is more than just a status change. According to Islamic tradition, artwork of human figures are forbidden in places of prayer, while in Orthodox Churches, icons of Christ, saints and other biblical figures are a defining feature.

In Hagia Sophia, the mosaics of Jesus and Mary have been covered with curtains since the conversion. While Erdoğan promised Hagia Sophia would remain fully accessible and free to all visitors, Turkey reneged on that earlier this year, reimposing an entrance fee on tourists and relegating them to the upper level, while the main floor is exclusive to Muslim worshippers.

Observers have also criticized the Turkish Directorate of Religion's caretaking of the site, noting damage that did not exist when it was under the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Though Chora is significantly smaller than Hagia Sophia, it is home to some of the best-preserved examples of late-Byzantine art, including mosaics, icons and frescoes, and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"For us it's a very important place because it remembers our culture and our traditions here," Father Evangelos Markantonis, an Orthodox priest who was leading a group of theology students to Chora on Friday, told Religion News Service.

"Though we cannot venerate as Orthodox Christians, we have to try to find things we can be united on. Only with dialogue and good deeds can we continue our lives," Markantonis, who is also a professor at the University of Athens, said when asked about the controversy.

Erdoğan had long refused calls from his right to convert churches like Hagia Sophia and Chora, telling supporters in 2018 to fill the nearby Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known in English as the Blue Mosque) before they talked about needing to pray in Hagia Sophia.

Nonetheless, he made an about-turn in 2020.

"My dear nation, the conquest of Istanbul and the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a Mosque are among the most glorious chapters in Turkish history," Erdoğan said at the time in a speech inaugurating the Hagia Sophia as a mosque.

"This is the most honorable day that Islam has been looking forward to, Greek Constantinople has become Turkish Istanbul," he added, quoting the Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet.

"The resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque. The resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the footsteps of the will of Muslims across the world to come out of the interregnum," Erdoğan said in his concluding remarks.

Chora's opening as the Kariye Mosque comes just weeks after Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered its largest electoral defeat in two decades during Turkey's nationwide municipal elections.

"The recent conversion of Chora into a mosque may be due to Erdoğan's many problems, including his geopolitical power politics, his appeal to religio-nationalism to revive his electoral popularity after the March elections or his tactic to divert attention from Turkey's economic downturn," Kaymak said.

Many analysts have attributed the loss to AKP bleeding votes to the more Islamist-leaning New Welfare Party, which has pressured Erdogan over his response to the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed its rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.

"This mosque is one of the symbols of the Conquest. We are proud and happy. There are very beautiful frescoes inside. They were also nicely renovated before they were closed. May it be good for our country and our nation," a bystander, Ahmet Öteyüzoğlu, told Turkish media.

"Thank God for these days. Not everyone has the opportunity in their lifetime," another bystander named Mehmet Çelik told the Turkish news service Anadolu Agency, in reference to having been able to pray at both the rededicated Hagia Sophia and Kariye Mosques.

However, Greece, the U.S. State Department and Orthodox Christian institutions worldwide have all criticized the decision to revert the structure into a mosque.

"I want to publicly express my intense dissatisfaction, interpreting the feelings of all Greek women and men, for the completely unnecessary conversion of a historic Byzantine temple, the Monastery of Chora, into a mosque. It is, I believe, an action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said shortly before leaving for Turkey for a planned meeting with Erdogan.

"We encourage the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories," a State Department spokesperson said in response to questions from Greek media.

"The Turkish government's appropriation of both as the property of one faith group not only constitutes yet another sign of that government's contempt for Turkey's rich Orthodox Christian heritage but further imperils the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the remaining Christians of that land," the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate said in a statement.

© Religion News Service

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a political move by Erdoğan to consolidate his power and appeal to his conservative base, particularly in Anatolia.

Title:

Content: On the 564 anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans, the American Council for the Liberation of Hagia Sophia (CALHSC) called for the Hagia Sophia Museum to return to its original significance, that is, it should once again hear Christian prayers and Christian services.
Such a statement, reports the Austrian Catholic news agency KATHPRESS, was made by the president of CALHSC, an American politician of Greek origin Chris Spirou.
According to the agency, he has already appealed to the Turkish government with a proposal to start negotiations on this issue.
As a first step, it is proposed to allow regular liturgical services while maintaining the status of Hagia Sophia as a museum.
All Christians still perceive the cathedral as a shrine, Spira argues, so if the Turkish authorities raise the issue of returning it to the status of a cult place of worship, Ankara should hear the voices of Christians, not just Muslims.
In the event that the Turkish leadership does not go to negotiations, the “American Council for the Liberation of Hagia Sophia ” is going to file a lawsuit in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Erhan Elaldı – Anadolu Agency
The 564th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople was celebrated by the Hagia Sophia as a museum.
What is the 565th anniversary?
This is not the first time Spirou has taken such an initiative.
His organization, registered in 2005, but not particularly famous, has already announced its intention to celebrate the liturgy in the cathedral museum.
The Turkish government then called the words of the American politician a provocation, and he himself was denied entry to the country.
But a lot of things are changing in the Middle East, Europe and the United States today.
Ankara is no longer the “best ally ” it used to be, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is moving further and further away from the familiar image of the head of state for Western colleagues, with whom you can deal.
Washington even under the previous administration with a squeak, but went on to recognize the importance of protecting Christian minorities in the Middle East, and the current Trump administration puts this at the forefront.
Cracks went on the sarcophagus, which until now protected the secular museum of Hagia Sophia from degeneration into a religious object.
And not at all in the church, in the mosque, which Hagia Sophia became after the conquest by the Ottomans of the capital of the Orthodox Byzantine Empire in May 1453.
The intensification of this process is associated today with the rebirth of Erdogan himself, although it is difficult to be completely sure that there is no political conjuncture here, which, as you know, is changeable.
Alexxx1979
View of St. Sophia Cathedral
Recall that in early April this year, a number of Turkish newspapers reported that the President was going on Friday, April 14, together with the leadership of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and religious leaders of Istanbul to visit the Hagia Sophia Museum to pray in it as Muslims.
The timing of Muslim prayer in the former church was not accidental.
On April 14 this year was Holy Friday, which is dedicated to the memory of the condemnation to death, the suffering of the cross and the death of Jesus Christ, as well as the removal of His body from the cross and burial.
Considering also that Easter is now the Orthodox and Catholics coincided, the message was sent powerful and significant.
All this seemed to be a continuation of playing the religious card on the eve of the referendum on April 16, which decided whether Turkey should be a parliamentary or presidential republic.
On April 18, it became clear that Erdogan had won.
But I lost at the same time.
In September 2015, during the parliamentary elections, the ruling party received 51% of the vote, and the nationalist Nationalist Action Party received about 20%.
When the AKP merged with the nationalists in the course of lobbying for constitutional amendments, it expected that the addition of 50% and 20% would give 70% or more in the referendum.
Only 51% of Turks supported the union of the two parties.
In this regard, many Turkish experts, analyzing the current situation, pointed out that the Justice and Development Party, having entered into an alliance with the Nationalist Action Party, made a strategic mistake, creating not only the impression of a synthesis of “soft Islamism ” with nationalists, but also began to cultivate a hybrid ideology of neo-Ottomanism, which was not supported by almost half of the citizens of Turkey..
However, there is another thing – the conservative and religious inner Anatolia, whose votes went to Erdogan, began to realize that from now on she has the right to present her demands to him.
This directly affects Saint Sophia.
An observer for the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News points out in this regard that on the eve of the 564 anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople, the space around the Hagia Sophia Museum is again filled, but not by tourists, but by members of the Anatolian Youth Association (AGD), whose motto is the words of the late Islamist politician, former Prime Minister of Turkey Necmettin Erbakan: “Life is faith and jihad ”.
These passionately believing people are actively opposed to everything that testifies to the presence of the non-Muslim faith in Turkish society.
And not just Santa Claus for the New Year.
For the past three years, they have focused on making Hagia Sophia “free from shackles ” and converted into a mosque.
Erdogan is slow.
However, the impatient members of the AGD are even more demanding for action this year.
After the referendum, Turkish politics entered a difficult phase of implementing the new constitution, and after May 29, the question arises whether these loud signals from Anatolia will now be ignored.
The Turkish president himself, during a speech in the ancient capital during the celebration of the conquest of Constantinople, according to the government news agency Anadolu, emphasized that “Istanbul, which since its foundation has been the capital of different states and cultures, has become a center of peaceful coexistence and tolerance during the just rule of Sultan Mehmed Fatih [also known as Mehmed the Conqueror]. ”
This part of Erdogan ’ s rhetoric looks tolerant.
But what will follow?
If suddenly the Turkish president decided to allow the Hagia Sophia Museum to serve the liturgy, then this, at least, made us think about the prospects of a possible return of Turkey to the path of improving relations with the Christian world, in particular with the European Union, which Erdogan has repeatedly sarcastic called “the Christian club ”.
However, this will require from the president not only personal courage, but also reliance on new political and social forces, the search for new allies in the country and abroad.
The problem is that even in Turkey itself, an opinion is beginning to take shape that Erdogan is becoming a hostage of internal Anatolia.
This means that the Hagia Sophia Museum, under pressure from this part of the country and society, would rather become a mosque than a church.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The move has been criticized for its potential impact on Turkey's relations with the EU and Western countries, with some arguing that it could lead to a further deterioration in relations.

Title:

Content: Earthquakes and rampant inflation: Why did Erdogan win again?
Font Size:
Source: Hong Kong 01
Author: Liu Yanting
On May 28, Turkey held the second round of the presidential election.
Although Turkey's Supreme Electoral Council is not expected to announce the official results until June 1, according to preliminary election statistics, with 99.59% of the votes cast, the incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has 51.91% of the votes, defeating his opponent Kemal Kılçdaroğlu with 48.09% of the votes. Determine the rate of re-election.
This election has caused global concern.
First, people are curious about whether there will be a regime change in Turkey, changing its fierce cross-border diplomatic style.
Looking back over the past two years, since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022, Turkey has repeatedly played a fierce swing beyond the size of medium-sized countries, including facilitating the Russian-Ukrainian foreign ministers' talks in March 2022, blocking Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO in May, and announcing the "green light" in June, leading Russia to sign the Black Sea Food Agreement in July, and negotiating energy cooperation with Russia at the CICA summit in October. For the first time since the start of the war, senior officials have talked about launching a new round of military action in Syria, implying that it may threaten Russia ’ s and Iran ’ s geopolitical interests.
In between, the outside world is surprised by Erdoğan ’ s active actions, and also uncertain about Turkey ’ s opportunistic diplomatic style.
Second, Erdogan suffered two major shocks before the election, causing the outside world to generally not optimistic about his re-election, one is in 2022 for months to break through 80% of the serious inflation, the second is the earthquake disaster.
Among them, Turkey ’ s high inflation is the sequela of the 2018 economic crisis. The deep reason is that Turkey ’ s long-term economic overheating and political interest rate cuts have caused a linked financial storm after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates in Turkey. He lost power in big cities such as Istanbul and Ankara.
And the earthquake will also affect voters' support for Erdogan.
On February 6, 2023, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in southeastern Turkey, killing nearly 50,000 people, and economic losses are even more incalculable.
After the disaster Erdoğan once faced criticism, public opinion criticized its failure to improve the phenomenon of uneven development and urban poverty, resulting in old buildings with low earthquake resistance being vulnerable to a strong earthquake, and fragile buildings are often difficult to get away from the collusion of officials and businessmen, cutting corners, the ruling Erdoğan and the positive development party are to blame.
However, from the results of this election, although the gap between the two people is less than 5%, but Krechidaloğlu is finally a step away from the door, showing that whether it is high inflation or an earthquake, can not prevent Erdogan from being re-elected.
In addition to the lack of integration of Turkish opposition forces, Erdogan ’ s success in mobilizing the new situation of “Turkey ’ s rise ” is also key.
The opposition is not well integrated.
First of all, although the polls of the Republican People's Party (CHP) party leader Krechidar Oulu once exceeded Erdoğan ’ s, making many foreign media boldly predict that Turkey will soon change, but focusing on the current state of Turkish politics, Erdoğan ’ s positive party is the strongest force, and the opposition ’ s long-term mountainous and independent government has not only offset the integration efforts to challenge Erdoğan, but also to some extent.
Looking at the interaction of Turkish opposition parties in recent years, there have been obvious signs of integration until the 2017 constitutional referendum.
At that time, Erdoğan greatly expanded the presidential power and removed the obstacles to re-election in the system, causing a collective panic among the opposition forces. The four major opposition parties, the Republican People's Party (İYü), the Good Party (İYü), the Happiness Party (SP) and the Democratic Party (DP), jointly formed the "State Union" (Millet İttifakı), advocating the restoration of the parliamentary system and abolition of the executive presidential system, hoping to curb the positive party and Erdoğan. Together with the Democratic and Progressive Party (DEVA), they formed the "Six Party Round Table" (Altılı Masa), which is seeking to jointly launch a presidential candidate representing the opposition forces and compete with Erdogan in 2023.
After all, Erdogan was the president at the time, with political resources such as the media and the judiciary, enough to crack down on various opposition forces, such as Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul from the Republican People ’ s Party, who was originally highly polled and regarded as a star of tomorrow enough to end Erdoğan ’ s 20 years in power, was sentenced to more than two years in prison in December 2022 for “suspected insult to the Supreme Electoral Council. ” He lost the right to run for president.
After Imam Oulu was forced out, the "six-party round table" did not immediately integrate new candidates, but entangled in ideological scuffles, political spoils distribution, until March 2023, it was determined to nominate CHP party leader Krechidar Oulu, but this nomination was initially not supported by the good party, the latter also threatened to withdraw from the "six-party round table".
After many days of consultations and political exchanges, Krechdarolu agreed to have Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş and Imam Oulu as vice presidents, and the good party agreed to stay at the "six-party round table" and support the nomination of Krechdarolu for election.
In fact, from the point of view of the composition of the structure, the only ideology that can unite the "six-party round table" is against Erdogan.
Because the Republican People's Party with the most seats is the centre-left pro-European secularism party, the Happiness Party is a Eurosceptic conservative party with Islamism, the Democratic Party is a centre-right nationalist party, the Democratic and Progressive Party is a centre-right pro-European party, the Future Party is a right-wing pro-European party, and the Good Party is a centre-right nationalist party.
In short, the parties have a combination of ideologies that straddle Islamism and secularism, and basically if Erdoğan and the AKP had not been in power for too long, the parties would have no incentive to integrate.
However, even if it is reluctantly integrated, the "six-party round table" is still divided, otherwise it will not be until two months before the election to determine the nomination of candidates; and after the confirmation of the presidential candidate, the "six-party round table" broke out in a new civil war on the list of parliamentary candidates, all parties want to strive for more security seats distribution, resulting in the continued difficulty of the list.
All these things are quite chilling in the eyes of Turkish voters: Erdoğan may have a monopoly on power and love the position of power, but the opposition forces are also only interested in the division of territory and political division of spoils, and have no intention of changing Turkey's development predicament.
Under the balance of the two, or some voters who are tired of Erdoğan, after going through a thousand turns of heart, they chose to continue to vote for the positive party and Erdoğan, instead of supporting the opposition forces whose governing ability is unknown and whose positions are mixed, resulting in the eventual defeat of Krechdar Olu by a small margin.
How Erdoğan mobilised the "rise of Turkey"
In addition to the weak integration of opposition forces and the failure to gather enough political energy, Erdoğan and the Positive Development Party are still able to gather support and call for votes under the impact of high inflation and earthquake disasters, which is also the key to the defeat of Krechdar Olu.
According to the results of the poll, voters in large cities whose wealth has been severely eroded by high inflation supported Krechdarolu in the election, including the top three cities of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Adana, the fifth largest city; however, Bursa, the sixth largest city of Gaziantep, and the seventh largest city of Konya. (Konya) is still supporting Erdoğan, and Gaziantep is still the hardest hit area of the 2023 earthquake, but voters still vote for the current president who has been denounced by public opinion, and it is clear that Erdoğan still has a certain degree of political energy.
Looking at this source of energy, it is obvious that it is not all the economic achievements that have been downhill.
Looking back at Erdoğan ’ s path to power, he experienced high economic growth in Turkey during his term of office, which can escort him to power.
From 2008 to 2013, developed markets such as the United States, Europe and Japan adopted a number of rounds of quantitative easing policies, international "hot money" poured into emerging markets including Turkey, stimulating the latter's economic growth. Erdogan took advantage of the momentum to promote easy credit, ask the central bank to continue to cut interest rates, and promote large-scale infrastructure projects. On the altar alone, no one can resist.
However, after the US Federal Reserve released a possible interest rate hike in 2013, foreign investment was greatly withdrawn, and emerging market currencies, including the lira, began to depreciate, and Turkey ’ s economic growth continued to slow down. And...
In the process of coping with the crisis, Erdoğan obviously wants to sacrifice prices and preserve economic growth, so he used extreme economic means and insisted on cutting interest rates in the face of high inflation.
The result, while maintaining economic growth to a certain extent, has led to a sharp depreciation of the lira, soaring prices, a near collapse of the bond market, and widespread protests in major cities such as Istanbul.
But looking at Erdoğan ’ s political actions in the past 10 years, it can be seen that he has begun to actively mobilize public support in the military, historical traditions, and diplomatic fields of major powers to fill the “Turkish rise ” narrative under the slowdown in economic growth and make up for his political loss.
As far as the diplomatic tradition after the Cold War is concerned, Turkey is an intermediate power anchored in the Western world and, with its strategic position across Eurasia, moves among different groups of countries.
However, after the outbreak of the Arab Spring in 2010, the outside world saw a more "eastern" and "military power" Turkey: on the Egyptian issue, its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, its involvement in the local political situation; on the battlefield of Syria and Libya, it has successively sent troops to intervene in the civil war there since 2016, and successfully achieved certain results. In the Gulf field, Turkey and Iran have maintained close interaction with Qatar, to a certain extent, prompting the 2017 Qatar severance storm, but because Turkey and Iran insisted on not retreating, the final storm ended with Saudi concessions in 2021, and Turkey successfully maintained its political achievements in the Gulf.
Of course, Turkey's foreign military operations are not all fruitful results.
Taking the Syrian battlefield as an example, Turkey launched four military operations against Syria: the Euphrates Shield from 2016 to 2017, the Olive Branch in 2018, the Peace Spring in 2019 and the Spring Shield in 2020.
Since the "olive branch" operation, the Turkish army has not only attacked the Kurdish forces, but also exchanged fire with the Syrian government forces supported by the Russian side, causing strong dissatisfaction in Moscow.
After many unsuccessful coordination, the Russian army was brazenly engaged with Turkey in 2020, resulting in the scribbled end of the "spring shield", and Turkey can only be forced to obey the Russian-led order in northern Syria.
However, under the propaganda of the Erdogan government, Turkey is not clearly aware that Turkey lost to Russia, but to see the Turkish army fighting in northern Syria in order to fight terrorism, which is very encouraging for nationalists and patriotic people.
In addition, in the historical tradition, Erdogan ’ s most classic action is to announce in July 2020 the abolition of the 1934 cabinet decree, the end of the 86 years of Hagia Sophia ’ s museum years, and the restoration of its mosque status.
Although this has caused many Western countries to criticize, but Erdoğan is not without the basis of public opinion, because in the 2015 capture of Junstenburg memorial ceremony, many Turks have held morning prayers in the museum square, in 2018, the Turkish Islamic Association is publicly applied to hold worship in the museum, although it was finally rejected, but has attracted a lot of public support.
Therefore, Erdogan's decision to "liberate St. Sophia" is aimed at the Islamic resurgence in Turkey in recent years, hoping to draw the support of anti-Kemalist voters.
And in the great power diplomatic field, Turkey's action is not to be said, in addition to the neighboring Central Asia and the Middle East, the Russian-Ukrainian war under various violent swings across Eurasia, are Erdogan's excellent election materials.
Taking the March 2022 Russian-Ukrainian Foreign Minister ’ s talks in Turkey and the landing of the Black Sea Food Agreement in July as an example, Turkish state media vigorously promoted Erdogan ’ s “peacemaker ” role; as for blocking Finland and Sweden from joining NATO, Turkish state media used Erdogan ’ s“ defense of national interests ”, “no fear of offending the West ” and“ combating Kurdish terrorism ”.
Of course, under the burden of economic decline and governance for many years, the narrative situation of mobilizing military, historical traditions and great power diplomacy can play a role in Erdoğan ’ s election, which can only be determined by the election results.
Judging from the results of 51.91% to 48.09%, although the above actions did not create a brilliant victory, they were enough to defeat the opposition forces and guarantee Erdogan another five-year term, which obviously still has some effect.
However, Turkey ’ s high economic growth has ended, and how to buffer Turkey ’ s economic storm and find new solutions outside of “Erdoğan ’ s economics ” are difficult issues that cannot be solved in the short term.
After the election, Erdoğan ’ s challenge continued.
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The controversy surrounding the reconversion of Hagia Sophia reflects the complex and often fraught relationship between religion and politics in Turkey, with some arguing that the country is struggling to balance its Islamic heritage with its secular principles.

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Travel / Istanbul preserves the imperial glory
Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, is one of the bustling international metropolises. It is the economic, cultural and transportation center of Turkey, as well as a world-famous tourist destination. It was also the capital of the ancient Three Great Powers – the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire.
Ten years ago, I stood on the black coast of Batumi, a famous city in Georgia ’ s Black Sea. The azure sea showed before me, the sea breeze gently blowing in my face, and I looked fondly at the other side of the sea, the misty Istanbul, dreaming about when I could go to the other side.
Finally, on the Golden Week of the Spring Festival the year before last, I took a flight north to Turkey after a trip to Egypt with my wife and daughter.
Before the plane landed, I saw the earth in the air, the green Mamoras Sea and the curved Bosphorus Strait, three Eurasian land bridges on the strait clearly visible.
The plane flew north over the Black Sea, fluttered a beautiful arc, turned around and landed at Ataturk Airport, and I finally set foot in Istanbul, which has been my dream for 10 years.
Snow White Cotton Fort is a hot spring.
The next morning we flew to a cotton fort in the interior of Turkey.
The Bosphorus, Mamorah and Dardanelles straits are the dividing lines of Eurasia, dividing not only Turkey into two, but also the Istanbul metropolitan area. The Cotton Fortress is located in Asia, which is why we came to Asia from Europe.
When the plane landed at the airport south of Denizli, the sun was just rising on the Anatolian mountains, and the earth was painted with pale gold. The Cotton Castle is the site of the ancient Roman city of Hilápolis, a snow-white limestone formed by volcanic eruptions, and the rock formation of numerous hot springs.
Because of the rich hot spring resources in the area, the ancient Roman and Greek nobles used this as a healing place, and built the prosperous city of Hierapolis here in 190 BC.
At 9: 00 a.m., we entered the Cotton Fort, and in front of us was the snow-white limestone of the entire ring-shaped hillside, layered and crystal-clear, like cotton.
At this moment, the light sun is shining on the snow-white limestone, and the pale blue hot spring is rippling, and the water surface is reflected.
We took off our shoes and walked on the rocks wearing socks, some hurt feet and cool, the hot spring through the gully rushing down, the little girl soaked her feet in the hot spring, and was very happy.
2000 Old Town Theatre intact
Walking uphill through the Cotton-Fort area is the ruins of the city of Hirápolis, including the ancient cemetery, large baths, markets, arches, amphitheatres, the Temple of Apollo and ancient hot springs, which are scattered on the hillside from north to south.
When I sit in the amphitheater, I am not shocked by the majesty in front of me! The theater more than 2000 years ago is basically intact, and the entire theater is divided into 18 areas, which is easy for the audience to enter and exit; it is said that the theater can accommodate 15,000 people, looking up from the bottom, and the highest row of people seems to be in the sky.
As I sat in the top row, I could look beyond the stage and see countless sites such as the Temple of Apollo, which stands at the bottom of the hillside. Through the years, it has become more and more quaint, elegant and fragmentary in the sunlight.
Further up, we walked into the ruins of the ancient Roman market.
There is a large circular square in the middle of the market, and the tall Romanesque door tower is like an eight-petal lotus flower around the square.
I wandered through the market, shuttling between the doors, imagining the happy bustle of the crowd and the hustle and bustle of shopping in those years, and now all this prosperity is gone, leaving only the lonely ruins in front of me, abandoned on the desolate slope.
The whole afternoon lingered in the ruins, not by the sigh of a thousand years, white clouds and pale dogs.
We flew back to Istanbul that night, and when the plane landed at Ataturk, we were back in Europe from Asia.
Istanbul has a Mediterranean climate, and we are greeted by an endless, all-day rain.
We took the bus past the ancient city wall for miles and got off to Sultan Ahmed Square.
Looking up, you can see the towering square pillars, 32 meters high, which were built by the ancient Roman emperor Constantine VII in the 10th century in memory of his grandfather.
The column was originally filled with gold-plated bronze reliefs, but was later ransacked by the Crusaders and only the core pillars remain.
In front of the square pillars stands an ancient Egyptian obelisk, reflecting on the wet square floor.
This monument was originally built by the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III. It was erected in the temple of Luxor Kanak, which was purchased by Theodosius the Great from Egypt in 390 AD.
There is also a famous monument between the two pillars, the bronze snake pillar.
These three relics are like an open-air museum, adding to the splendor of the square, showing a sense of ancient history and glory.
The square itself is also an ancient Roman site, originally a huge arena that was expanded after the relocation of the Roman Empire; according to historical records, the arena is next to the palace to the east, completely modeled after the Roman Colosseum, but 40 meters longer.
The racetrack is paved with sand and can accommodate eight horse-drawn carriages, and the surrounding stands can accommodate tens of thousands of people to watch the race, and the Roman emperor can see the scene in the arena from the palace.
In 330 AD, the Roman emperor Constantine I moved the capital to this place and named it New Rome, which was soon renamed Constantinople.
The walls of Constantinople, built by Constantine I, extend westward from the north to the south.
Both north and south of the city are facing the sea, so the height of the two walls is only 12 to 15 meters, and the entire city is located on the hills behind the wall. From the sea, the merchant ships from afar can see the majestic buildings such as the palace, the arena and the Hagia Sophia.
The western end of the city was later rebuilt with a third wall, the 4.3 km long wall of Constantine.
Saint Sophia Cathedral Inclusion 2 Religions
In 395 AD, the Roman Empire split into Eastern and Western Rome, and Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire).
In the 5th century AD, the Byzantine emperor Theodosius II added the Theodosian wall to the west of the city wall built by Constantine, which doubled the area of the city. The enlarged wall of Constantinople was 21.5 kilometers long, of which the wall facing the Sea of Mamorah was 8 kilometers long, the side of the Golden Horn was 7 kilometers long, and the side of the land was 6.5 kilometers long.
This land wall design is incomparably complex, from the outside to the inside and in turn for the outer wall, the moat, the moat inner wall, the steep slope wall, the outer wall, the inner wall, the inner wall; the outer wall and the inner wall stand more than 300 towers, corner buildings and bunkers, forming a strong support system.
Constantinople faces the sea on three sides, plus the western land city defense system, bronze walls and iron walls, so that the city became a "barbarian" city.
The old city wall that we saw along the way is a remnant of the Byzantine Empire.
In the 6th century AD, a great generation of monarchs emerged in the empire, Justinian I.
He went on to conquer the West, and recovered a large part of the western lands lost by the Roman Empire. The weather of the revival of the Roman Empire was very good, and the Byzantine Empire entered its peak.
The city of Constantinople also entered the glorious period, most of the buildings are in the ancient Roman style, the main buildings include the above-mentioned walls, gates, palaces, squares, arches, public baths, cisterns and churches.
To the north of Augustus Square is the majestic Hagia Sophia.
This is the most glorious legacy Justinian has left in the history of architecture. Built between 532 and 537, this church became the center of Byzantine religion and Eastern Orthodoxy and became a symbol of the empire.
The Cathedral of St. Sophia uses the shape of a Greek cross on the plane, creating a huge dome in the space, but no pillars support the interior; the dome is 55 meters above the ground, and it was the largest church in the world until the completion of St. Peter ’ s Cathedral in the 17th century.
In 1453, the Ottoman Empire captured Constantinople, and the Eastern Roman Empire fell, and the Empire moved its capital there and renamed it Istanbul.
Sultan Mehmed II converted the cathedral into a mosque and added an Islamic minaret, and over the next 500 years it became one of the most important places of worship for Muslims.
After World War I, Turkey ’ s founding father, Kemal, converted it into a museum in 1934 and gradually became a famous tourist attraction.
Last year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the conversion of the Cathedral of St. Sophia into a mosque. On July 24 of the same year, he attended a Muslim service at the Cathedral of St. Sophia, the first religious event held in the church after nearly 90 years.
Entering the Cathedral of St. Sophia, visitors are amazed by the tall, domed dome and the exquisite Byzantine frescoes on the dome, especially the statue of the Virgin and Child on the top of the altar.
We walk through the spiral passage paved with medieval stone blocks to the second floor of the church gallery, which can be closer to and carefully admire the various corners of the church. In particular, we can see the wall of the gallery with many murals of Christian stories.
Overlooking the entire hall, you can feel the grand space design of the hall.
100,000 tons of underground water
Another architectural gem left behind by Justinian is the "Groundwater Palace".
Constantinople was built solid, but the rulers of the empire were still worried, and built a secret underground reservoir and brought water from the forests near the Black Sea, which could store up to 100,000 tons.
If the city is besieged during the war, it serves as a strategic reserve for the entire city to drink for a month; during the Song and Dance Period, it provides water storage for the palace and other palaces.
The reservoir is 140 meters long and 70 meters wide, with 336 Corinthian stone columns 9 meters high, supporting a huge brick vault with exquisite relief, and it is also called an underground palace.
There are two places in the park that are worth looking at.
One place is a weeping column, the underground humidity is large, specially designed a column, and the water drops flow down the column, as if someone is crying.
The other is a column supported by two inverted Medusa heads, decorated with figures from Greek mythology.
This revealed that the Byzantine Empire was passionate about Greek civilization, and its influence was everywhere.
Blue Mosque 6 Minaret Tower Rare
The next day we took the subway to Istanbul University Station, then took the light rail to Sultan Ahmet Square, passing through the square to visit the Blue Mosque.
The original name of the mosque is Sultan Ahmet Mosque, because the walls are all decorated with Iznik blue and white tiles, so it is also known as the Blue Mosque, which is a landmark of Istanbul.
The first thing we see is the mosque ’ s six long and towering minarets, full of lightness and spirit, and looking far away like the city in the sky.
The Blue Mosque is the largest domed building in Istanbul, with more than 30 domes rising up to the 41-meter diameter central dome.
Take off your shoes and enter the mosque, look up at a huge dome, and the sun shines through the stained glass of 260 small windows.
The four columns supporting the large dome are clearly chiseled, and the blue gold word Arabic on the column head and the black gold word Arabic on the column body are as beautiful as the pattern.
The shrine is an important part of the interior of the Blue Mosque, made of carved marble. Beside the shrine, there is a beautiful mission altar, and scholars stand on the altar to preach on Fridays at noon and religious festivals.
The Blue Mosque, an artistic masterpiece of the Ottoman Empire, took seven years to build and became an icon of the empire ’ s heyday.
It is said that the Ottoman Sultan asked the architects to build the minaret into gold, and the Turkish pronunciation of "gold" and "six" is very similar, so it became the only mosque in the world with six tall towers, and thus one of the ten wonders of the world.
Out of the Blue Mosque, gaze across the square, and you can see the minaret towering above the clouds, which is the “Mosque ” of St. Sophia, which we visited yesterday and features both Christian and Islamic architecture.
The two mosques are opposite each other and form a beautiful landscape in Istanbul.
We walked through the square and walked to Topkapi Palace.
The palace is the first officially built palace after the Ottoman Empire entered Istanbul. It has a strong Ottoman style royal architecture characteristics, mysterious and elegant.
The Old Palace is a former place of national ceremonies and royal entertainment, from the construction of the Topkapi Palace by the Conqueror Mehmed II in 1465 until 1853, nearly 400 years ago, it was the place where Sultans worked and lived.
There is a main entrance in the middle of a tall wall, which only the sultan could enter and exit, and it was called the "Gate of the Emperor". Through the main entrance, you enter the first courtyard and follow the courtyard path, and you can see a sacred peace church built in the Byzantine period on your left hand.
Continue forward to the welcome gate, which is a city gate with an octagonal tower on the left and right, like a castle gate.
When you look up at the door, you can see the Qur ’ an engraved on the door.
Pass security and walk into the second courtyard, looking at a large area of grass and flower beds.
Passing through the Gate of Happiness is the Venerable Room in the Third Courtyard, where the sultans and the Grand Vizier (equivalent to the Prime Minister) and generals met four days a week. Passing through the Third Courtyard and entering the Fourth Courtyard, it is the Baghdatin, with its interior walls decorated with Iznik tiles and shells.
At the edge of the platform is a small gold-topped pavilion, Ifthaya, from which you can see the Golden Horn Bay and the new urban area across from it.
We visited the four courtyards in turn, then turned back to the entrance to the harem of the second courtyard, and then visited the residence of the four wives of the sultan, the queen ’ s room, and the sultan ’ s bathroom.
We were dazzled by the golden splendour of the harem, the many rooms covered with fine tiles and the beautifully decorated scenes of life.
In front of the harem there is a quadrangular column building called the "Tower of Justice", which has been used to monitor the city and defend against external enemies, and is also a large landscape.
There is also an open-air restaurant with great views inside the palace. Here you can see the Bosphorus Strait, Eurasia Bridge, Istanbul ’ s new city district and the world ’ s smallest sea, the Mamora Sea.
At noon, the sun is still hiding behind the clouds, the light is not strong, the sea is full of green waves, and the silver bridge across the Eurasian continent in the distance, it is really pleasing to see.
Once out of the palace, we took the light rail through the bustling business district to the Galata Bridge, where we boarded a boat from the Golden Horn pier to explore the Bosphorus Strait.
The sky was clear, the sky was blue and white, the waves were flowing, and the boats were weaving.
Thousands of seagulls soar around the cruise ship, and the moving pictures of historical buildings, mosques, Galata Towers, and villas built on the mountains are displayed in turn, forming an absolutely beautiful exhibition of sea-view paintings.
When we crossed the first Eurasia land bridge, we came to the second Eurasia land bridge, and saw a fortified castle on the left bank, which attracted my attention, and regretted that we could not abandon the boat to go ashore to visit.
After an hour and a half of excursion, we disembarked and boarded the bridge, and looked at the city area on the north shore of the Golden Horn from the Galata Bridge.
Darkness falls on the ground, night falls, looking back at the old area on the right bank, by the mountains and the water, stars point, experience in the eyes, the lights of Suleiman Mosque live on the top of the mountain, suspended above thousands of households.
The New Palace witnesses the Westernization of Osman
On the third day, the weather changed.
My wife and daughter were tired and stayed at the hotel to rest. I went out alone. Take the subway to Taksim Square station, walk around Taksim Gezi Park, walk up or down the steep road, and after more than ten minutes to the sea, you can see the Dolmabach Mosque with a blue dome and a milky white wall. The road, facing the Dolmabachet clock tower.
Through the bell tower is the Dolmabache Palace.
Built in the middle of the 19th century, it is the last palace of the Ottoman Empire. Also known as the "New Palace", it is built in the style of the Baroque and neoclassical European palace. It is located on the coast of the European part of the Bosphorus. The building stretches 600 meters along the Strait, and the interior wall is covered with gold leaf, and the main body is made of white marble and Egyptian alabaster. And...
The palace has two main parts, namely the ceremonial palace, the harem and the concubine court, with 285 rooms, 43 halls and 6 Turkish baths.
Both inside and outside the palace are extremely luxurious and luxurious.
Among the most noteworthy attractions are the crystal staircase pillars in the ceremonial palace, as well as the large and spacious Imperial Hall, which has 56 columns and 4.5 tons of giant crystal chandeliers, and the golden throne of Sudan.
Compared with the old palace, the new palace is more elegant and luxurious, but less of the mysterious elegance of the Oriental palace, extremely European and modern, the degree of luxury is far more than the Meichun Palace in Vienna and most of the European palaces, and Versailles in France.
The courtyard of the new palace is larger than the four courtyards of the old palace, and the layout is also European style. There are fountains, statues, lawns, etc., especially the grand doors facing the Bosphorus Strait, which are beautifully decorated.
During World War I, the Ottoman Empire joined the Allies, and with the defeat of the Allies, the Ottoman Empire split, and the Sultanate was abolished two years later.
In this crisis, Kemal defeated the invaders and the military intervention of the European powers, saved Turkey, became the founder of the Turkish Republic, and the Ottoman Empire was destroyed. Kemal ruled for more than ten years, achieving great success, making Turkey secularized, Westernized, and modernized, becoming the model and standard of secularization of the Islamic state.
From the New Palace Tea House, I walked back to Taksim Square from the original road.
The square is the main transportation hub of Istanbul and the meeting place of the Turkish people for major meetings and processions.
In the center of the square stands a circular monument of independence to commemorate Kemal. Bronze reliefs show the father of the country ’ s glory.
Every year, thousands of Turks offer flowers to their Father of the Nation to express their admiration and gratitude.
Go southwest from Taksim Square to the north entrance of Independence Avenue.
This 4-kilometer pedestrian street, with many boutiques, music shops, cinemas, libraries, cafes, bars and restaurants, is a leisure avenue for Turks to shop and play, and is therefore known as Istanbul ’ s “Champs Elysees ”.
I wandered south from the north entrance to fully appreciate the Turkish way of life.
Local women have deep eyes and high noses, elegant temperament, and rarely have a headscarf, let alone a veil, revealing the inclusiveness and openness of the city.
The Turkish look is not very different from the Uighurs in Xinjiang, and it feels very friendly to deal with them.
There are many small streets on both sides of the street.
Look at the small streets on both sides, are downhill paths or stairs, leading to highways or community buildings, I found that Independence Street was originally built on a ridge.
As I walked, I looked at the buildings on both sides of the street, many of which were old buildings with long history or mottled ruins. There were government departments, consulates, various churches, etc. It can be said that this area occupied an important position in the political, economic and cultural life of the Ottoman Empire, and now it has become a paradise for ordinary people to relax, shop and entertain.
St. Anthony ’ s Church, Istanbul ’ s largest Roman Catholic church, is hidden behind an ordinary old neighborhood.
The entrance is not very eye-catching, easy to miss, I also accidentally saw the two red brick towers are different, with curiosity only to find that there is no hole in the sky.
As I walked along the street, there were art shows and begging, and on this street, foreign tourists could experience the secular life of the local Turks and fully experience the freedom, openness, romance and vitality of modern Istanbul.
Fort Rumeli World Military Miracle
The Bosphorus Strait, also known as the Istanbul Strait, is also known as the "Turkish Strait" (also known as the Black Sea Strait), along with the Mamora Sea and the Dardanelles Strait.
On the fourth day, my friend, Mr. Chung, accompanied us on a tour of the Black Sea Scenic Area, which allowed us to see both the Black Sea exit of the Bosphorus Strait and the entire Strait as we headed north along the coastal highway.
The weather is sunny, driving up the mountain road, and the scenery is spectacular when it comes to the sea canyon.
About half an hour later we drove to the cliffs of the sea and we finally saw the Black Sea.
When we got out of the car, we stood on a cliff, and the wind was fierce, stirring the waves.
In front is an endless sea, on the left is the jagged coastline, and on the right is the Bosphorus Strait exit, narrow like a stream, a rainbow bridge across both sides of the strait, is the third Eurasian land bridge just built in recent years.
There is a stone brick wall on the edge of the cliff, forming a strong wall.
There is a tunnel on the cliff leading to the military fortifications under the city wall. There are four underground tunnels for the army to hide or transport.
Nearby, there is also an artillery castle, built on a cliff, between the two towers built a curved wall barrier, the wall also opened dozens of guns facing the Black Sea, can be mounted dozens of cannons.
These two military fortifications, clear and dark, constitute a complete defense system and hold the first line of defense in the strait.
There is a small fishing village near the bridge under the cliff, dozens of residential buildings are built along the road, red tile and white wall, high and low, there is a small mosque is particularly eye-catching, and the minaret tower is unique.
Near the artillery castle, the small fishing village is like a paradise.
At that time, many fortifications were built on both sides of the Ottoman coastal fjord, and several lines of defense were built at each level to closely defend Istanbul.
One of the most complete preservation is the Fort Merry that we will visit in the afternoon.
From the Black Sea exit of the strait, we follow the original coastal mountain road to the south of the second Eurasian continental bridge, such as the Fort Merry is built on the European shore of the strait.
This is the narrowest point of the strait, only 750 meters wide.
The Anatolian Fortress was built on the coast of Asia.
The two fortifications echo in the distance, holding the throat of the strait, forming a tight and complete defense system.
When I set foot on Rumeli Fortress, I suddenly realized that this is the castle we saw on the sightseeing boat the day before yesterday!
For example, Merry Fortress covers an area of 30,000 square meters, mainly composed of three tower-shaped fortresses, the castle is connected by the city wall into a roughly quadrilateral group of fortresses, and there are many small towers similar to the main tower between the three main fortresses.
It was built by Mehmed II the Conqueror in only four months in 1452, before the conquest of Constantinople, and became a miracle in world military history.
The fort is built according to the mountain situation, high and low, magnificent and full of spirit, it is the most beautiful fort in the existing military buildings in the world.
When we climb the steps from the foothills, climb the highest main tower fort, look back, the straits like green streamers, the second continental bridge is like a long rainbow lying wave, and the Turkish red flag on the circular fort under the mountain is fierce and fierce, forming a permanent map of the river and mountains.
At the end of our visit to Fort Merry, Mr. Chung drove us to Ataturk Airport. Istanbul, the soulful city of Istanbul, goodbye!
Expect another day to meet again!
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No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The Turkish government's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been perceived as promoting Islamo-nationalism and erasing part of Turkey's multiculturalism.

Title:

Content: >
December 9, 2021

Christian leaders look forward to Turkey's new law on religious foundations

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities whose places of worship are entrusted to and managed by their governing bodies

Religious minorities in Turkey are looking forward to the increasingly Islamo-nationalist government making good its promise of outreach to non-Muslims by giving them freedom to establish and run their religious and social institutions.

The Turkish government is preparing to issue a new regulation on the administrative management of foundations linked to non-Muslim faith communities, which have been paralyzed for years by a legislative impasse that blocks the renewal of their governing bodies.

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities such as Armenians and Assyrians, whose places of worship – many of them historic --, other real estate and public institutions are entrusted to and managed by foundations.

Burhan Ersoy, head of the state-run Directorate of the Foundations, has confirmed that the plan for the drafting of a new regulation concerning the elections for the assignment of offices within the foundations has come into being, Fides reported.

The draft of the text has been drawn up, taking into account requests and proposals from the various minority communities, and it is expected that the new rules, after obtaining government approval, would be implemented by April 2022.

The previous electoral regulation for the top management of foundations had been suspended in 2013, after the government chose to establish new procedures to make the management of real estate more functional and transparent.

This led to some confusion with representatives of the various minority communities unable to come to a consensus to either accept or reject the new electoral rules, Ersoy said.

The Syrian Orthodox Christian Süleyman Can Ustabaşı, current representative of the non-Muslim Foundations within the Assembly of Foundations, has said that the structure of foundations and their membership profiles had changed over time.

The Turkish government already had consultations with the representatives of religious minorities to resolve the dispute over board elections for their foundations.

But Ustabaşı now urges Turkish authorities to carry out another consultation with representatives of minority communities before the new text is to be implemented in 2022.

The legal status of the Foundations is still based on the Peace Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923 by Turkey and the Entente powers (British Empire, France and Russian Empire) victorious from the First World War.

The treaty guaranteed equality before the laws and the freedom to promote and manage "religious and social institutions" for non-Muslim communities in Turkey.

However, the state had seized properties run by these foundations and had to contend with litigation as these foundations claimed the rights guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne.

Also, starting from 1936, legislative provisions had allowed foundations of non-Muslim communities to acquire new properties. But in 1974, this guarantee was canceled and the state begun seizing assets acquired by these foundations.

Between 2013 and 2018 about 1,084 properties were returned to the foundations linked to non-Muslim communities, and 20 places of worship restored and given back to the foundations, according to official data.

Greek Orthodox Laki Vingas, in a speech published by the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, said that the legislative deadlock on the question of the regulation of the foundations has had a negative effect on the life of the different ecclesial communities.

The block in the processes of renewal of the governing bodies of foundations had led to the expulsion of young people from the institutions linked to their communities, and also that many voluntary activities were "unfortunately interrupted".

Non-Muslim places of worship

Within the general Assembly of the Turkish Foundations are some 167 minority foundations. The Turkish Greek community has 77, the highest number of foundations. The Armenian community has 54 and the Jewish community has 19 foundations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a cabinet meeting held on October 25 announced that authorities had put on the agenda the question of the elections of the directorates of the foundations linked to religious minorities.

He also spoke of fundamental tools for the management of assets and resources destined for non-Muslim places of worship.

The issue of the foundations come at a time when Turkish authorities have expelled more and more Protestant Christians -- foreigners and Turkish converts-- on grounds they constitute a "threat to national security".

Turkey had also recently transformed museums into mosques, such as the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

Both churches had been turned into museums after the end of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of modern Turkey.

The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora was built by the Byzantines in the 5th century. The Ottomans then turned it into a mosque after they captured Constantinople in 1453. And it remained a Muslim worship space until the end of the Second World War when it was transformed into a museum.

The same happened to the Hagia Sophia Museum in Iznik, and the high-profile reconversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul's most identifiable monument.

Many observers believe that President Erdogan, weakened internally by a bad economy and a lack of political perspective, is compensating with erasing part of the country's multiculturalism, aimed at shoring up the ranks of his Islamo-nationalist base.

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What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque may affect the demographics of Istanbul, with potential long-term consequences for the balance between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

The site's UNESCO World Heritage status has been affected by the conversion, which may impact Istanbul's cultural identity balance.

Title:

Content: The first Friday prayer in the old church of Istanbul that has been converted into a mosque - Sunrise Gate
Friday 10 May 2024 9: 23 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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First Friday prayers held in the old Istanbul church that has been converted into a mosque
Istanbul - (DPA)
Published on: Friday 10 May 2024 - 7: 21 PM | Last updated on Friday 10 May 2024 - 7: 21 PM
Muslims held Friday prayers at the historic ancient church of Chora, one of Istanbul ’ s most famous Byzantine era monuments, for the first time since it was converted into a mosque, state broadcaster TRT reported.
The Chora Church, formerly a museum, was officially converted into a mosque in 2020.
After lengthy restoration work, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated the UNESCO World Heritage Site as a mosque on Monday.
It is noteworthy that in 2020, the famous Hagia Sophia church in Istanbul was converted into a mosque after a decree issued by Erdogan.
The two churches were converted into mosques after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1435.
The Hagia Sophia became a museum in 1935 and Chora in 1945, and the conversion of the two churches was met with international criticism.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis criticized the transformation of Chora as "an act that offends Istanbul's rich history" ahead of his planned meeting with Erdogan on May 13 in Turkey.
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The international community has criticized Turkey's decision to convert the site, citing concerns about the erosion of multiculturalism and the impact on non-Muslim communities.

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Content: New rules come into force for the visit of Hagia Sophia Mosque in Turkey - Sunrise Gate
Tuesday 16 January 2024 2: 04 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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New rules come into effect for visiting Hagia Sophia mosque in Turkey
DBA
Published on: Tuesday 16 January 2024 - 1: 54 PM | Last updated on Tuesday 16 January 2024 - 1: 54 PM
The project for the Hagia Sophia mosque was closest to the heart of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – but it was also the project that drew international criticism.
In the summer of 2020, Erdogan restored Hagia Sophia to be a mosque after it was originally a church, converted into an Ottoman mosque, converted into a museum.
At the time, Erdogan assured citizens that entry fees would be abolished, adding that the cultural edifice would remain open to everyone – Muslims or non-Muslims alike.
There will be another major change from January 15, with access to the Hagia Sophia restricted and visitors will have to pay fees again.
Turkish Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Arsoy hopes this will improve coexistence between religious and tourist visitors.
Arsoy said recently that tourist visitors are making noise and disrupting calm and prayer.
Until recently, visitors and worshippers were allowed to enter the interior of Hagia Sophia together, with barriers and signs keeping a certain distance between them.
However, from now on, worshippers and tourists will be introduced through different entrances.
Although worshippers can use the same entrances as before, tourists will be guided through an upstairs hallway.
According to Arsoy, tour guides will not be allowed to accompany visitors through the corridors, and earphones will be used instead.
“Our priority there is prayer, ” Arsoy said, noting that the building is a world cultural heritage site and should therefore remain open to all visitors around the world.
Zuleiha Duman, 29, who returned to Istanbul from Germany to see Hagia Sophia after it was converted into a mosque, said she found it taking away.
Welcoming the new rules, she said: “As long as the entrance fee isn ’ t too high, I think it ’ s acceptable. ”
“Why shouldn ’ t Turkey and the government take advantage of this place?
These funds can be channeled to preserve more religious places. ”
Hagia Sophia has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of Istanbul ’ s history since 1985.
Built by Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia was the largest place of worship in Christianity for nearly a thousand years, it was the main church during the Byzantine Empire, and from the seventh century, the emperor was crowned inside.
After the Ottomans entered Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1453, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque.
On the orders of the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the building was converted into a museum in 1934 until the summer of 2020.
Hagia Sophia is as symbolically important to Orthodox Christians around the world as St. Peter ’ s Basilica is to Catholics.
After the building was converted into a mosque, criticism poured in from the Greek Orthodox Church.
The UNESCO Foundation also criticized the decision without consultation.
For Erdogan, turning the place into a mosque was his “childhood dream, ” as he himself said, and pleasing to religious voters.
A few external changes were made at the time, for example, a green carpet was placed above the marble floor.
It seems clear that all these things did not detract from the popularity of this teacher.
According to official statistics, some 13.6 million people visited the Hagia Sophia landmark in 2022, not all of them from Europe.
The number of visitors from Indonesia in particular has risen, Hagia Sophia Imam Binyamin Topoglu told Turkey ’ s Anadolu news agency in 2023.
The amount of the fees has not yet been determined.
Tourism Minister Ersoy says the proceeds will be spent on cultural assets, for excavation or preservation of monuments such as the Hagia Sophia.
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Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a symbol of Turkey's cultural identity, which is characterized by a unique blend of Islamic, Byzantine, and secular elements.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion highlights the complex and sensitive nature of Turkey's cultural and religious identity, with potential long-term consequences for the country's demographics and cultural heritage.

Title:

Content: Turkey officially opens the Byzantine church and museum "Khora" as a mosque (PHOTOS)
World News
"Kari Mosque" in the Museum and Monastery of "Khora"
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / xhpk
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday officially opened the Kari Mosque in Istanbul ’ s Byzantine Museum and Monastery of Khora, four years after the church dedicated a mosque to Muslims.
On Monday, Erdogan oversaw the official remote opening of the Khora mosque and a number of restored sites from the conference hall of his residence in Ankara.
Erdogan said during the opening ceremony, which was broadcast on Turkish television, "May it be a good start."
One of the first worshipers at the mosque told Anadolu Agency: “I have been waiting for its opening for four years, and I have been honored to pray in such a place. ”
Anadolu quoted another serum as saying: “Thank God for showing us these days, I hope we come here from time to time and do our prayers. ”
The site near the walls of the old city of Istanbul is famous for its fine mosaics and frescoes.
The church dates back to the 4th century, although the edifice took its present form during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Greece has criticized the Turkish government ’ s decision to return it to use as a mosque, accusing Ankara of “personal insult ” to another World Heritage site, saying the decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and Khora back into mosques are steps aimed at strengthening the support base of conservatives and the religious trend of Erdogan ’ s ruling party amid an economic downturn.
The museum was built "Khora" monastery, in 534, the building was converted into "Kari Mosque" at the beginning of the 16th century, it was used as a mosque for more than four centuries and was converted into a museum in 1945 by a Turkish ministerial decision.
In August 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Kari Museum, known as a “bottomless church ” in Turkish, into mosques.
The conversion of the two churches into mosques was praised by Muslims, but drew criticism from Greece and other countries that urged Turkey to protect important Byzantine monuments, both of which have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.
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The Turkish government's decision to reimpose an entrance fee on tourists at Hagia Sophia may affect the site's visitor numbers and revenue.

The reconversion has sparked concerns about the preservation of the site's cultural assets, with extensive restoration work underway to prevent damage from large crowds.

Title:

Content: [ditty_news_ticker id="27897"] Video Shows Fragments Falling from the Dome of Hagia Sophia - Orthodox Christian Laity

Video Shows Fragments Falling from the Dome of Hagia Sophia

0

Source: Greek Reporter

A still from a recently released video shows visitors rushing to take cover as fragments fall from the dome of Hagia Sophia. Credit: Daily Motion/BirGün

A video from 2022 that came to light recently shows fragments falling on visitors from the dome of Hagia Sophia, the former epicenter of Christian worship at Constantinople, today’s Istanbul.

The footage released by the Turkish newspaper, BirGün, raises serious questions over the safety of the former Orthodox Christian cathedral, now a mosque.

BirGün notably quoted officials as saying that “pieces are falling from the roof, due to the humidity created by the crowd, but no precautions are being taken”.

The president of the Turkish Art History Association, Serif Yasar, argued for restoration of the monument as soon as possible, suggesting that “If Hagia Sophia is not restored, it will collapse with the first earthquake.”

The monument was restored as a mosque three years ago after serving as a museum from 1935-2020 and has since received 21 million visitors, according to Turkey’s tourism and culture minister.

Yasar added that when the church was a museum, the scientific council overseeing it urged that groups of no more than 25 people should be allowed to enter the building at any one time.

This enormous lift in visitation has likely brought to the forefront the need for repairs and it was indeed reported in September that the Turkish government had decided to start long-term maintenance of Hagia Sophia.

Turkey to implement visitor management policy at Hagia Sophia

In early October Turkish historian Ilber Ortayli expressed fears that the large number of visitors to Hagia Sophia could lead to a catastrophic structural failure if not addressed immediately.

Writing in the Hürriyet daily, Ortayli said that the monument, which attracts three million pilgrims annually apart from tourists, has undergone significant damage since its conversion into a mosque.

He asserted that even a modest number of 20-30 thousand people annually, including scientists, historians, archaeologists, representatives of the Muslim religion, politicians, and public officials, could be considered excessive for the endurance of the monument.

In June 2022 a number of tiles of the ancient marble floors in Hagia Sophia were damaged by heavy machines used to clean the site.

In April 2022, The Turkish Association of Art Historians stated that the historic Imperial Gate in Hagia Sophia had been badly damaged.

The group posted a picture clearly depicting the damage to the oak wood of the 15-century-old gate.

Turkey unveiled plans in late October for a visitor management policy at Hagia Sophia, including charging foreign tourists with an entrance fee to be implemented starting Jan. 15.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that extensive restoration work is underway in various sections of Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, with plans to progress to other parts upon their completion.

He emphasized that, based on UNESCO’s recommendations, a visitor management plan would be enforced to enhance the quality and safety of visits while preserving the historical significance of the site.

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Officials argue for repairs to Hagia Sophia after footage shows fragments falling from the dome – Neos Kosmos

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The UNESCO World Heritage site status of Hagia Sophia has been affected by the conversion, which may impact the site's preservation and management.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a move by Erdoğan to strengthen his support among conservatives, potentially altering the balance between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Istanbul.

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Content: Turkey officially opens the Byzantine church and museum "Khora" as a mosque (PHOTOS)
World News
"Kari Mosque" in the Museum and Monastery of "Khora"
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / xhpk
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday officially opened the Kari Mosque in Istanbul ’ s Byzantine Museum and Monastery of Khora, four years after the church dedicated a mosque to Muslims.
On Monday, Erdogan oversaw the official remote opening of the Khora mosque and a number of restored sites from the conference hall of his residence in Ankara.
Erdogan said during the opening ceremony, which was broadcast on Turkish television, "May it be a good start."
One of the first worshipers at the mosque told Anadolu Agency: “I have been waiting for its opening for four years, and I have been honored to pray in such a place. ”
Anadolu quoted another serum as saying: “Thank God for showing us these days, I hope we come here from time to time and do our prayers. ”
The site near the walls of the old city of Istanbul is famous for its fine mosaics and frescoes.
The church dates back to the 4th century, although the edifice took its present form during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Greece has criticized the Turkish government ’ s decision to return it to use as a mosque, accusing Ankara of “personal insult ” to another World Heritage site, saying the decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and Khora back into mosques are steps aimed at strengthening the support base of conservatives and the religious trend of Erdogan ’ s ruling party amid an economic downturn.
The museum was built "Khora" monastery, in 534, the building was converted into "Kari Mosque" at the beginning of the 16th century, it was used as a mosque for more than four centuries and was converted into a museum in 1945 by a Turkish ministerial decision.
In August 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Kari Museum, known as a “bottomless church ” in Turkish, into mosques.
The conversion of the two churches into mosques was praised by Muslims, but drew criticism from Greece and other countries that urged Turkey to protect important Byzantine monuments, both of which have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.
Source: A B
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What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion of Hagia Sophia reflects the deeper tensions and conflicts within Turkish society and politics, with some arguing that it could lead to a further polarization of Turkish society and a decline in secular traditions.

Title:

Content: Kılıçdaroğlu lost the spring and the quiet democracy Erdogan the winner faces major challenges in his third decade as president
The Weekly Resurrection – Nasser ’ s Care
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan resolved the round of presidential re-election held on May 28, 2023 to become President of the Republic of Turkey for the next five years with 52.87% of the votes, against 47.13% of his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the Republican People ’ s Party (CHP), while Erdogan ’ s electoral alliance obtained a parliamentary majority of 321 out of 600 deputies.
According to the new presidential and parliamentary elections law in Turkey, political parties have been forced to enter into alliances, according to the constitutional amendments that moved the country to the presidential system instead of the parliamentary system in 2018, with the establishment of a parliamentary threshold that must be exceeded to enter parliament by the parties in the event of running alone elections.
The five coalitions that participated in the Turkish elections held during the first round on May 14 were the Republican Alliance, the People ’ s Alliance, the Atta Alliance, the Effort and Freedom Alliance, and the Union of Socialist Forces Alliance.
The existing alliances include heterogeneous parties and differ in their orientations, the Republican Alliance includes the Nationalist Movement Party on the one hand, and enjoys the support of the Kurdish Islamist Huda Barr Party, which is contradictory in its approach.
As is the case between the Democratic Left Party and Welfare again, each has different orientations, which may reflect on the alliance in the future.
The same is true of the opposition People ’ s Alliance, which includes the Ataturk Republican People ’ s Party (CHP) with the Islamist parties of Happiness, Future and Medicine, and the nationalist Good Party.
The alliance receives support from the HDP, which is accused of being linked to the PKK, which could be the cause of future disagreements within the alliances.
According to the official statistics of the first round, Erdogan received 49.52% of the votes of 27 million and 133 thousand and 849 votes, while Kılıçdaroğlu received 44.88% of the votes of 24 million and 595 thousand and 178, while the candidate of the ancestral alliance, Sinan Ögan, received 5.17% of the total votes of 2.28 million.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was Erdogan ’ s main opposition candidate, a former civil servant and veteran of politics, head of the Republican People ’ s Party (CHP) founded by Ataturk – the founder of modern Turkey – has promised a “return to spring ” and a“ quiet democracy ”, a return to the rule of law, a parliamentary system of governance, and an independent judiciary that critics say Erdogan has used to stifle dissent. In order to defeat Erdogan, he vowed to repatriate 10 million refugees.
Faced with the prospect of defeat, he changed his positions, abandoning his promises to address social divisions, and during a visit to Antioch, one of the areas affected by the February earthquake, he said: “We will not turn Turkey into a repository for migrants. ”
The results of the first round were an unexpected shock to the People ’ s Alliance, especially since its ally in this election is the deteriorating economic situation and the devastating February earthquake.
It seems that the opposition alliance, or what was formerly known as the “six-party table, ” was not prepared for such an outcome and did not have a clear plan for managing the crisis.
In shock, Kılıçdaroğlu sacked his campaign managers, and the allied parties ’ reaction to his support appeared lackluster ahead of the second round, according to experts, suggesting internal differences, raising the question of the cohesion of the People ’ s Alliance, where the nomination of a candidate representing the alliance was the first indication of differences, which erased the credibility of the opposition and severed its weak bonds.
Voters faced a chaotic political scene, according to most opinion polls, and the atmosphere of electoral competition was heated as a result of political and social polarization between the two largest political blocs in Turkey, the ruling People ’ s Alliance and the opposition Umma Alliance, as well as the “Kurdish ” Labor and Freedom Alliance, and the“ nationalist ” ancestral alliance, which was dissolved by a decision of its affiliated parties.
Challenges facing Erdogan in his new term
There are many important entitlements and urgent issues facing Erdogan and his government, especially with Erdogan ’ s pledge during his election campaign to work on urgent issues, including the disaster of the earthquake that hit the southern regions on February 6, which spread over an area of 300 kilometers, where Erdogan ’ s government was criticized for its delay and failure to respond to the disaster, as well as lax implementation of building laws that exacerbated the losses.
In addition to the displacement of about 1.5 million Turks, and the collapse of more than 160,000 buildings, reconstruction requires $45 billion, according to economic estimates, with additional funds allocated to infrastructure such as electricity, water and sanitation.
Inflation and the deteriorating economic situation
The deteriorating economic situation, which is at a critical stage, is one of the most important internal challenges that the Turkish president must deal with quickly, as the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war, and then the earthquake disaster of February 6 deepened the economic crisis, as a result of its dramatic repercussions and its expected impact on GDP.
There is also an acute cost-of-living crisis that experts blame on the government ’ s mismanagement of the economy, while Erdogan believes that low interest rates tame inflation, contrary to traditional economic theory, and pressure the central bank to reverse his view.
The inflation rate has officially reached about 44 percent, but many are skeptical, saying the rate is much higher, as it began to rise sharply after the currency crisis in late 2021.
Food prices rose 54 percent year-on-year in April, with inflation finally falling after peaking last October at 85.5 percent, the highest level during Erdogan ’ s rule.
Erdogan ’ s unorthodox policies for growth have caused the Turkish lira to depreciate 80% of its value over the past five years, perpetuating the problem of inflation, and the Turkish lira had hit a record low ahead of Sunday ’ s crucial presidential election round.
As a result, the lira, seen as a symbol of Turkey ’ s crisis, has deteriorated and is becoming increasingly unattractive to investors worried about what will happen when Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains in power.
Moreover, the Turkish political scene will witness the disintegration of alliances that began with the collapse of the national “ancestral ” alliance, and a wave of“ partisan splits ”, especially as it is one of the manifestations of the Turkish political scene during the past 7 years, including the parties of the good, the future, democracy, progress, and the homeland, not only because of differences between traditional currents but because of internal partisan differences.
The Republican People ’ s Party (CHP), headed by Kılıçdaroğlu, seems to be the closest to this scenario, as it did not abandon the one-party mentality since the birth of the Turkish Republic led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk until his death in 1938, during which the party tweeted “solo ”, and in recent years (2010-2023) Kılıçdaroğlu manages the party in the same way.
A new political phase
There is no doubt that Turkey is coming to a new stage, in which President Erdogan will strengthen the presidential system in cooperation and coordination with the majority achieved by the public alliance in the parliamentary elections, and despite the victory achieved by President Erdogan and his electoral alliance in the elections, he pointed to a clear decline in the voting bloc, and this may be justified by the circumstances experienced by Turkey, whether at the level of economic crises, earthquake disaster, or even at the level of foreign relations. There is a real challenge in the next phase.
President Erdogan will also be on a new date with the Turkish people, whether at the level of constitutional amendments he will make or at the level of municipal elections next year, as President Erdogan will seek to return the major municipalities to the incubator of the Justice and Development Party, specifically Ankara and Istanbul, without the return of these municipalities, he will not be able to translate many service policies on the ground, which can support the path of the AKP in the upcoming elections. It may be President Erdogan ’ s last election.
The AKP will find itself required to accommodate any divergence of views and ideas between its leaders and cadres, and to continue the internal committees formed by Erdogan previously to adopt more policies that strengthen the cohesion of the party and preserve its symbols, and to hold the leaders of the Supreme Advisory Council responsible for coming up with unconventional visions and solutions at all levels.
Another challenge for Erdogan is to implement a transition unparalleled in Turkey ’ s modern history, because Erdogan, during his reign, is the authoritarian populist politician who has brought Turkey and its important societal institutions under his control, ranging from the judiciary to the central bank.
However, nothing can move forward without first re-establishing the rule of law.
In addition, one cannot attract investments in an environment where legal rules are constantly violated.
So how will the new government deal with pent-up expectations for fairness and justice in a country where thousands have been arbitrarily imprisoned or fired from their jobs and professions?
There is also an internal social bet related to the decline of the secular traditions on which modern Turkey was built since its founding in the 1920s with Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish president ’ s desire to return to the symbols of the Islamic culture on which the Ottoman Empire was founded is no secret, and it is no more symbolic than the approval of the Islamic prayer in the mosque Hagia Sophia of Christian origins.
Young people in the Turkish scene
In an attempt to attract voters in light of the deteriorating economic situation, especially the youth, Erdogan promised to create six million jobs, achieve high growth rates, review the employment policy in the government sector, raise the per capita income to $16,000 annually, and work to enhance the gains that improve their reality and meet their demands, especially given the map of political parties. On the other hand, the youth segment does not have a clear vision that addresses the problems and challenges facing the generation of promoting rights and freedoms, lifestyle, education and employment opportunities.
In the end, winning the election will leave Erdogan in a quagmire of his own making, according to journalist Louise Callahan, that if Erdogan wins, Turkey ’ s problems will already have begun.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The long-term consequences of the Hagia Sophia reconversion are likely to be significant, with some arguing that it could lead to a further erosion of Turkey's secular principles and the promotion of a more Islamist agenda.

Title:

Content: Roundup of news from December 30, 2021
Erdogan the Conqueror
The Turkish president compared the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Constantinople.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to try on the kaftan of Sultan Mehmed II, whose troops captured Constantinople in 1453.
In this regard, he, summing up the year, compared the transformation of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Tsargrad, reports the UOJ with reference to the publication “Vima Ortodoksiya ”.
According to the head of Turkey, the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is “as important ” for the Turks as the fall of the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
However, at the same time, many pay attention to the fact that the Turkish lira in the outgoing year fell strongly against the dollar, and this seriously hit the Turkish economy.
Responding to the criticism, Erdogan said he would “lead his people to what they deserve ” and stressed that he would“ apply the laws of Islam. ”
Thus, the Turkish authorities seek to distract their citizens from economic problems by proclaiming the Islamization of Turkey to the detriment of its secular status.
The economy of Turkey is not in the best condition, but Erdogan was again able to win the Hagia Sophia.
This is what officials in Ankara are thinking.
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What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The international community has called on Turkey to respect the cultural and historical significance of Hagia Sophia, and to ensure that the site is protected and preserved for future generations.

Title:

Content: Erdogan invited the leaders of Muslim states to the first prayer in Hagia Sophia
13: 26 22 July Kiev, Ukraine
According to the plan, on July 24, the first prayer will be held in Hagia Sophia in Turkey, after it was decided to convert the building of the Orthodox church into a mosque.
The leaders of many Muslim countries are invited to take part in it.
Erdogan ’ s invitation came from Qatar and Azerbaijan.
The remaining heads of state have not yet responded to the Turkish president.
Remind me!
The Turkish government decided to change the status of the architectural monument and the Orthodox Church of St. Sophia and convert the room into a mosque.
The Pope said that this situation causes him grief.
The Patriarch of Ecumenical and Constantinople, who recently received a great number of churches on the territory of Ukraine, and did not demand the transfer of the museum to the Diocese of Constantinople in a timely manner, said that the creation of a mosque in the museum building can be negatively met in the Orthodox world.
It is expected that the first prayer in the new mosque will be attended by about 1000-1500 people.
All quarantine conditions will be met, participants in prayer will be given masks, and disinfectants will be placed everywhere in the cathedral so that people can treat their hands and their prayer mats.
During the prayer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also be present in the cathedral, along with Turkish ministers, leaders of the ruling Justice and Development Party.
As previously reported, all the frescoes and mosaics at the time of prayer will be covered with curtains.
On July 10, a Turkish court ruled that the decision to convert the mosque into a museum in 1934 was illegal.
Erdogan immediately signed a decree on assigning Hagia Sophia the status of a mosque.
The move has sparked international criticism and concern, including from Greece, the United States and Russia, as well as UNESCO and Pope Francis.
Turkey insists that the status of the architectural monument is its internal affair.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has sparked criticism from the international community, with many viewing it as a move that may impact Turkey's relations with the EU and Western countries.

Title:

Content: Erdogan invited the leaders of Muslim states to the first prayer in Hagia Sophia
13: 26 22 July Kiev, Ukraine
According to the plan, on July 24, the first prayer will be held in Hagia Sophia in Turkey, after it was decided to convert the building of the Orthodox church into a mosque.
The leaders of many Muslim countries are invited to take part in it.
Erdogan ’ s invitation came from Qatar and Azerbaijan.
The remaining heads of state have not yet responded to the Turkish president.
Remind me!
The Turkish government decided to change the status of the architectural monument and the Orthodox Church of St. Sophia and convert the room into a mosque.
The Pope said that this situation causes him grief.
The Patriarch of Ecumenical and Constantinople, who recently received a great number of churches on the territory of Ukraine, and did not demand the transfer of the museum to the Diocese of Constantinople in a timely manner, said that the creation of a mosque in the museum building can be negatively met in the Orthodox world.
It is expected that the first prayer in the new mosque will be attended by about 1000-1500 people.
All quarantine conditions will be met, participants in prayer will be given masks, and disinfectants will be placed everywhere in the cathedral so that people can treat their hands and their prayer mats.
During the prayer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also be present in the cathedral, along with Turkish ministers, leaders of the ruling Justice and Development Party.
As previously reported, all the frescoes and mosaics at the time of prayer will be covered with curtains.
On July 10, a Turkish court ruled that the decision to convert the mosque into a museum in 1934 was illegal.
Erdogan immediately signed a decree on assigning Hagia Sophia the status of a mosque.
The move has sparked international criticism and concern, including from Greece, the United States and Russia, as well as UNESCO and Pope Francis.
Turkey insists that the status of the architectural monument is its internal affair.

The Turkish government's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been criticized for its potential impact on the site's cultural and historical significance, with some arguing that it could lead to the erosion of the site's universal value and significance.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

The controversy surrounding the reconversion of Hagia Sophia highlights the need for greater understanding and respect for the cultural and religious diversity of Turkey, and the importance of preserving the country's rich cultural heritage.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a symbol of Turkey's growing assertiveness on the global stage, with Erdoğan seeking to promote his country's Islamic heritage and identity.

Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The potential consequences of the reconversion of Hagia Sophia for Turkey's secular status are significant, with some arguing that it could lead to a further erosion of the country's secular principles and the promotion of a more Islamist agenda.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has sparked concerns about the coexistence of religious and tourist visitors, with tourists and worshippers now using separate entrances.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

The entrance fee for foreign tourists visiting Hagia Sophia will be used to fund the preservation of the site, with the aim of improving the quality and safety of the visitor experience.

Title:

Content: Events
Entrance to Hagia Sophia will again be paid, but not for everyone
Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that visiting the Ayia Sophia mosque for foreign citizens from January 15 will be paid.
Ersoy, who held a press conference at the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM), said that according to the first 9 months of tourism, the total number of visitors, which last year amounted to 40.2 million people, increased to 45.2 million at the end of September.
Noting that Ayia Sophia and Sultanahmet Square are included in the UNESCO permanent heritage list, Ersoy said that they listened to the advice and opinions of UNESCO and implemented the decisions on the restoration of the Ayia Sophia Mosque.
Minister Ersoy stressed that from January 15, 2024, they will move to the management plan of the visitors of Agia Sofya on the recommendation of UNESCO, and said:
“In this management plan, the quality of visits and safety will be improved.
Density will be regulated by distributing it along different routes.
Again, our precious mosque will be incorporated into a very ideal ecosystem focused on protecting and promoting the "Common Heritage of Humanity".
According to Ersoy, the entrance for worshippers will remain the same, but the tourist entrance will change, so that these two streams will not change. that information about Hagia Sophia will be provided in 16 languages through an application with a QR code and headphones.
Ersoy added: “From now on, visitors will be able to complete the process by receiving detailed information about the entire history and iconography of Hagia Sophia in a quiet environment without disturbing the faithful. ”
Noting that from January 15, 2024, foreign tourists visiting the mosque will be charged a ticket fee, Ersoy said: “Visits by our Turkish citizens for the purpose of worship will be free as before.
This practice also exists in many countries. "
In general, judging by the words of Ersoy, the Hagia Sophia mosque will partially return to the function of a museum.
The most important question that may concern us now is whether the mosque will become accessible to believers from other countries?
Ersoy said that free entrance will remain only for Turkish citizens, but perhaps here he was simply referring to those who come to the mosque for the purpose of prayer, since it is obvious that the absolute majority of those praying are Turks.
In any case, we hope for this, because if passports are checked at the entrance to the mosque, and the descendants of Bosniaks or Albanians are asked to pay money so that they can pray in the mosque that their ancestors conquered in the army of Sultan Fatih Mehmed, any neo-Ottomanism can be put a bold end to.
Author: Jakub Hadžić
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The Turkish government has announced plans to implement a visitor management policy to improve the quality and safety of visits to Hagia Sophia.

Title:

Content: Events
Entrance to Hagia Sophia will again be paid, but not for everyone
Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that visiting the Ayia Sophia mosque for foreign citizens from January 15 will be paid.
Ersoy, who held a press conference at the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM), said that according to the first 9 months of tourism, the total number of visitors, which last year amounted to 40.2 million people, increased to 45.2 million at the end of September.
Noting that Ayia Sophia and Sultanahmet Square are included in the UNESCO permanent heritage list, Ersoy said that they listened to the advice and opinions of UNESCO and implemented the decisions on the restoration of the Ayia Sophia Mosque.
Minister Ersoy stressed that from January 15, 2024, they will move to the management plan of the visitors of Agia Sofya on the recommendation of UNESCO, and said:
“In this management plan, the quality of visits and safety will be improved.
Density will be regulated by distributing it along different routes.
Again, our precious mosque will be incorporated into a very ideal ecosystem focused on protecting and promoting the "Common Heritage of Humanity".
According to Ersoy, the entrance for worshippers will remain the same, but the tourist entrance will change, so that these two streams will not change. that information about Hagia Sophia will be provided in 16 languages through an application with a QR code and headphones.
Ersoy added: “From now on, visitors will be able to complete the process by receiving detailed information about the entire history and iconography of Hagia Sophia in a quiet environment without disturbing the faithful. ”
Noting that from January 15, 2024, foreign tourists visiting the mosque will be charged a ticket fee, Ersoy said: “Visits by our Turkish citizens for the purpose of worship will be free as before.
This practice also exists in many countries. "
In general, judging by the words of Ersoy, the Hagia Sophia mosque will partially return to the function of a museum.
The most important question that may concern us now is whether the mosque will become accessible to believers from other countries?
Ersoy said that free entrance will remain only for Turkish citizens, but perhaps here he was simply referring to those who come to the mosque for the purpose of prayer, since it is obvious that the absolute majority of those praying are Turks.
In any case, we hope for this, because if passports are checked at the entrance to the mosque, and the descendants of Bosniaks or Albanians are asked to pay money so that they can pray in the mosque that their ancestors conquered in the army of Sultan Fatih Mehmed, any neo-Ottomanism can be put a bold end to.
Author: Jakub Hadžić
subscribe to the channel

The policy includes separate entrances for tourists and worshippers, and information about Hagia Sophia will be provided in 16 languages.

Title:

Content: Events
Entrance to Hagia Sophia will again be paid, but not for everyone
Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that visiting the Ayia Sophia mosque for foreign citizens from January 15 will be paid.
Ersoy, who held a press conference at the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM), said that according to the first 9 months of tourism, the total number of visitors, which last year amounted to 40.2 million people, increased to 45.2 million at the end of September.
Noting that Ayia Sophia and Sultanahmet Square are included in the UNESCO permanent heritage list, Ersoy said that they listened to the advice and opinions of UNESCO and implemented the decisions on the restoration of the Ayia Sophia Mosque.
Minister Ersoy stressed that from January 15, 2024, they will move to the management plan of the visitors of Agia Sofya on the recommendation of UNESCO, and said:
“In this management plan, the quality of visits and safety will be improved.
Density will be regulated by distributing it along different routes.
Again, our precious mosque will be incorporated into a very ideal ecosystem focused on protecting and promoting the "Common Heritage of Humanity".
According to Ersoy, the entrance for worshippers will remain the same, but the tourist entrance will change, so that these two streams will not change. that information about Hagia Sophia will be provided in 16 languages through an application with a QR code and headphones.
Ersoy added: “From now on, visitors will be able to complete the process by receiving detailed information about the entire history and iconography of Hagia Sophia in a quiet environment without disturbing the faithful. ”
Noting that from January 15, 2024, foreign tourists visiting the mosque will be charged a ticket fee, Ersoy said: “Visits by our Turkish citizens for the purpose of worship will be free as before.
This practice also exists in many countries. "
In general, judging by the words of Ersoy, the Hagia Sophia mosque will partially return to the function of a museum.
The most important question that may concern us now is whether the mosque will become accessible to believers from other countries?
Ersoy said that free entrance will remain only for Turkish citizens, but perhaps here he was simply referring to those who come to the mosque for the purpose of prayer, since it is obvious that the absolute majority of those praying are Turks.
In any case, we hope for this, because if passports are checked at the entrance to the mosque, and the descendants of Bosniaks or Albanians are asked to pay money so that they can pray in the mosque that their ancestors conquered in the army of Sultan Fatih Mehmed, any neo-Ottomanism can be put a bold end to.
Author: Jakub Hadžić
subscribe to the channel

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has also led to criticism from Western countries, which have expressed concerns over the preservation of the site's cultural and historical significance.

The Turkish government's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been promoted by Turkish state media as a "peacemaker" role, aimed at promoting Islamic resurgence and national pride.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia may impact Turkey's relationships with neighboring countries, particularly Greece and Cyprus, which have historical and cultural ties to the site.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion of Hagia Sophia reflects the complex and often fraught relationship between Turkey and its neighbors, with some arguing that it could lead to a further deterioration in relations.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a symbol of Turkey's cultural identity, which is characterized by a unique blend of Islamic, Byzantine, and secular elements.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

The Turkish government's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been perceived as promoting Islamo-nationalism and erasing part of Turkey's multiculturalism.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque may affect the demographics of Istanbul, with potential long-term consequences for the balance between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

The site's UNESCO World Heritage status has been affected by the conversion, which may impact Istanbul's cultural identity balance.

Title:

Content: The first Friday prayer in the old church of Istanbul that has been converted into a mosque - Sunrise Gate
Friday 10 May 2024 9: 23 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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First Friday prayers held in the old Istanbul church that has been converted into a mosque
Istanbul - (DPA)
Published on: Friday 10 May 2024 - 7: 21 PM | Last updated on Friday 10 May 2024 - 7: 21 PM
Muslims held Friday prayers at the historic ancient church of Chora, one of Istanbul ’ s most famous Byzantine era monuments, for the first time since it was converted into a mosque, state broadcaster TRT reported.
The Chora Church, formerly a museum, was officially converted into a mosque in 2020.
After lengthy restoration work, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated the UNESCO World Heritage Site as a mosque on Monday.
It is noteworthy that in 2020, the famous Hagia Sophia church in Istanbul was converted into a mosque after a decree issued by Erdogan.
The two churches were converted into mosques after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1435.
The Hagia Sophia became a museum in 1935 and Chora in 1945, and the conversion of the two churches was met with international criticism.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis criticized the transformation of Chora as "an act that offends Istanbul's rich history" ahead of his planned meeting with Erdogan on May 13 in Turkey.
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The international community has criticized Turkey's decision to convert the site, citing concerns about the erosion of multiculturalism and the impact on non-Muslim communities.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia has been seen as a move by Erdoğan to strengthen his support among conservatives, potentially altering the balance between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Istanbul.

Title:

Content: Turkey officially opens the Byzantine church and museum "Khora" as a mosque (PHOTOS)
World News
"Kari Mosque" in the Museum and Monastery of "Khora"
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / xhpk
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday officially opened the Kari Mosque in Istanbul ’ s Byzantine Museum and Monastery of Khora, four years after the church dedicated a mosque to Muslims.
On Monday, Erdogan oversaw the official remote opening of the Khora mosque and a number of restored sites from the conference hall of his residence in Ankara.
Erdogan said during the opening ceremony, which was broadcast on Turkish television, "May it be a good start."
One of the first worshipers at the mosque told Anadolu Agency: “I have been waiting for its opening for four years, and I have been honored to pray in such a place. ”
Anadolu quoted another serum as saying: “Thank God for showing us these days, I hope we come here from time to time and do our prayers. ”
The site near the walls of the old city of Istanbul is famous for its fine mosaics and frescoes.
The church dates back to the 4th century, although the edifice took its present form during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Greece has criticized the Turkish government ’ s decision to return it to use as a mosque, accusing Ankara of “personal insult ” to another World Heritage site, saying the decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and Khora back into mosques are steps aimed at strengthening the support base of conservatives and the religious trend of Erdogan ’ s ruling party amid an economic downturn.
The museum was built "Khora" monastery, in 534, the building was converted into "Kari Mosque" at the beginning of the 16th century, it was used as a mosque for more than four centuries and was converted into a museum in 1945 by a Turkish ministerial decision.
In August 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Kari Museum, known as a “bottomless church ” in Turkish, into mosques.
The conversion of the two churches into mosques was praised by Muslims, but drew criticism from Greece and other countries that urged Turkey to protect important Byzantine monuments, both of which have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.
Source: A B
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What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The controversy surrounding the reconversion highlights the complex and sensitive nature of Turkey's cultural and religious identity, with potential long-term consequences for the country's demographics and cultural heritage.

Title:

Content: Turkey officially opens the Byzantine church and museum "Khora" as a mosque (PHOTOS)
World News
"Kari Mosque" in the Museum and Monastery of "Khora"
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / xhpk
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday officially opened the Kari Mosque in Istanbul ’ s Byzantine Museum and Monastery of Khora, four years after the church dedicated a mosque to Muslims.
On Monday, Erdogan oversaw the official remote opening of the Khora mosque and a number of restored sites from the conference hall of his residence in Ankara.
Erdogan said during the opening ceremony, which was broadcast on Turkish television, "May it be a good start."
One of the first worshipers at the mosque told Anadolu Agency: “I have been waiting for its opening for four years, and I have been honored to pray in such a place. ”
Anadolu quoted another serum as saying: “Thank God for showing us these days, I hope we come here from time to time and do our prayers. ”
The site near the walls of the old city of Istanbul is famous for its fine mosaics and frescoes.
The church dates back to the 4th century, although the edifice took its present form during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Greece has criticized the Turkish government ’ s decision to return it to use as a mosque, accusing Ankara of “personal insult ” to another World Heritage site, saying the decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and Khora back into mosques are steps aimed at strengthening the support base of conservatives and the religious trend of Erdogan ’ s ruling party amid an economic downturn.
The museum was built "Khora" monastery, in 534, the building was converted into "Kari Mosque" at the beginning of the 16th century, it was used as a mosque for more than four centuries and was converted into a museum in 1945 by a Turkish ministerial decision.
In August 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Kari Museum, known as a “bottomless church ” in Turkish, into mosques.
The conversion of the two churches into mosques was praised by Muslims, but drew criticism from Greece and other countries that urged Turkey to protect important Byzantine monuments, both of which have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.
Source: A B
Agree.
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Title:

Content: Reclaiming History: The Fight to Save Lebanon's Rashid Karami International Fair

News Bulletin Reports
2023-06-13 | 10:30
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Reclaiming History: The Fight to Save Lebanon's Rashid Karami International Fair

The Rashid Karami International Fair, an emblem of Lebanon's stride towards modernity in the 1960s, now stands as a monument to potential and neglect. The site, designed by the acclaimed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and executed by leading Lebanese engineers, has been dormant since the outbreak of war in 1975.

The fair, whose structures are deteriorating, was intended to be a permanent regional exhibition space, but today it reveals a different image: abandoned buildings whose economic and cultural purposes have been indefinitely suspended.

Ahmed Nabulsi, a director who has maintained a relationship with the site since his childhood, shares his experiences and connection with the area.

The fair, never fully utilized, has been included on UNESCO's World Heritage and Endangered Heritage lists since the start of 2023. This classification indicates the international community's awareness of the site's exceptional global value and the urgent need for its preservation.

A UNESCO director stated that the site serves as a "reality check for the government that attention needs to be channeled into rehabilitating the site so the community can utilize it and enjoy it." Furthermore, funding from the Getty Foundation for the conservation plan is essential for the government to preserve the site. A collaborative initiative between the Ministries of Economy and Culture is underway to formulate a vision for the fair's future.

As the formal restoration and activation plans for the site are awaited, UNESCO has issued recommendations for its preservation. These stipulate that any project that could affect the fair's value should be preceded by environmental and heritage impact studies.

UNESCO consultant Maya Hmeidan underlined the urgent need to stabilize the structures to prevent their collapse, highlighting the desperate need for funding.

Meanwhile, architect Wasim Nagi expressed that the private sector has shown interest in revitalizing the fair through cultural or economic projects. He noted that the new law enacted for the fair in March, along with its World Heritage classification, has made the site more appealing to investors. "All we need is a stable political climate in the country," Nagi commented.

Despite the fair's general neglect, the Guest House, one of the site's components, underwent restoration last year and earned the prestigious Aga Khan Award, setting a positive precedent for the fair's potential reactivation.

In a bid to encourage restoration work, the cultural attaché at the Brazilian embassy has announced a photography competition and offered logistical support for the restoration.

According to UNESCO, the Rashid Karami Fair represents a "distinctive example of intercontinental exchange." To shake it from its current stagnation, the vision for its future role must unquestionably incorporate this principle of exchange at its core.

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Title:

Content: Customs Union Between Turkey ’ s Pressure to Modernize it and Ignoring the EU
Customs Union Between Turkey ’ s Pressure to Modernize it and Ignoring the EU
ANKARA – Turkey has for years been insisting on the European Union to update the customs union agreement signed between them, in light of the difficult economic conditions experienced by Ankara, and its efforts to employ economic and geopolitical changes in the region to its advantage.
Twenty-eight years after the declaration of the customs union between Turkey and the EU, there is again talk of the urgent need to quickly update the agreement to meet current trade requirements.
The Customs Union entered into force in early January 1996, pursuant to the decision taken at the meeting of the Turkish-European Association Council on 6 March 1995 following negotiations between Turkey and the European Union.
The relationship between Turkey and the EEC, which began with the Ankara Agreement signed in 1963 and continued with the Additional Protocol in 1973, moved to a new dimension with the decision of the Customs Union on 6 March 1995.
EU, which plays leading role in world free trade, insists not to modernize customs union with Turkey
With the implementation of the customs union, customs duties, quantity restrictions and measures with a similar effect in the trade of industrial products between Turkey and the Union disappeared.
Thus, Turkey began to implement the common customs tariff set by the European Union for third countries.
Although it has made many economic gains for Turkey, the customs union suffers from many structural problems as the current trade structure evolves.
The agreement was supposed to be an implementation of the transition period before Turkey ’ s full accession to the European Union, but due to the lack of clarity of the perspective of full membership so far, the implementation of the agreement has lasted longer than expected, as the agreement has been going on for more than a quarter of a century, which makes it turn into a partnership system that causes some problems for Turkey.
One of the main problems in the customs union is that Turkey is not a direct party to free trade agreements between the EU and other countries, and is not properly involved in the consultation and decision-making mechanisms related to the customs union.
Also, the customs union needs to be modernized to address new problems that have emerged with dramatically changed global trade practices in the past 28 years.
The Turkish authorities expect that the inclusion of the public procurement, services and agriculture sectors within the customs union will lead to further economic integration between the EU and Turkey.
In fact, a large part of the structural problems in the customs union stem from the fact that Turkey is not a member of the European Union, which a number of its members insist on refusing to join the bloc.
The decisions taken by the EU in matters related to trade, and in trade agreements with third countries directly affect Turkey, because of the customs union.
However, its absence from the negotiating table on issues in trade agreements is causing problems and obstacles.
The Customs Union provides for the reciprocal free movement of industrial goods.
The obstacles faced by Turkish vehicles loaded with these goods and products and their drivers are among the most troublesome issues for the Turkish side in this regard.
According to data obtained by Anadolu from the Turkish Ministry of Commerce, the volume of trade exchange between Turkey and the European Union last year amounted to 196.4 billion dollars.
This confirms that the bloc maintains the status of the most important trading partner for Turkey.
The EU ’ s share of Turkey ’ s exports was 40.6 percent in 2022 worth $103.1 billion.
The European Union also occupies the first place in the list of Turkish imports, where the total value of goods imported by Turkey last year amounted to 364 billion dollars, and the share of the Union was 93 billion dollars or 25.6 percent.
Turkish circles say that if the scope of the customs union, which currently covers only processed industrial and agricultural products, is expanded and deepened, it is expected to further stimulate trade and ensure mutual profit for both sides.
It also stresses that the current customs union needs to be modernized in order to further revive trade relations with the EU.
Turkish authorities expect the inclusion of public procurement, services and agriculture sectors within the customs union to lead to increased economic integration between the EU and Turkey
In 2020 alone, for example, Turkey held 57 meetings, 40 of them at the ministerial level, with various EU institutions to find solutions to problems in Turkey-EU trade relations, update the customs union agreement and expand it to include agricultural products, services and public procurement, as well as develop agricultural concessions mutually.
If the agreement is updated, Ankara says it will cover agricultural, service and industrial products and the public procurement sector, and will prevent Turkey from being harmed by free trade agreements concluded by the EU with other countries.
The EU, which plays a leading role in free trade around the world, insists on not taking steps to modernize the customs union with Turkey, one of its most important trading partners.
Diplomatic relations between the European Union and Turkey have witnessed a significant decline in recent years due to differences in views on many international and regional issues, the most important of which is the Turkish intervention in a number of conflicts and its insistence on continuing its illegal exploration in the territorial waters of Cyprus and its use of the refugee card to pressure the Union from time to time.
It is noteworthy that the European Union has continuously postponed the process of modernizing the customs union for political reasons.
For formal negotiations on the modernization of the customs union to begin, the European Commission should have powers from the European Council.
However, the Council of Member States is still not taking steps in this regard.
arabic

Title:

Content: The new Turkish trends and their prospects in Syria
The new Turkish trends and their prospects in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s approval of Sweden ’ s accession to NATO did not come from a vacuum; it was the result of a long series of meetings, oral and written contacts and consensuses, whether between Turkey, Sweden, Finland and NATO; between Turkey and the United States; or between the latter and Sweden.
As for the latest Turkish-Swedish consensuses, the document was signed by the Turkish President and the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Christerson, at their meeting in Vilnius on the eve of the NATO summit (12 / 11-7 – 2023), which was moderated by the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg.
Among the six points that formed the basis of the document in question: praise for Sweden ’ s amendment and enactment of laws to strengthen the fight against terrorism, mention of the PKK by name, and the lifting of the ban on the export of Swedish weapons to Turkey.
This is in addition to raising security cooperation to the ministerial level, in order to put an end to the activity of terrorist organizations, and Sweden ’ s commitment not to provide support to both the Democratic Union Party and the People ’ s Protection Unit, and to ensure the continuity of this cooperation, even after Sweden joined NATO.
The agreement also provided for increasing the volume of trade and investment between the two countries; and obtaining a special promise from Sweden to support Turkish orientations in its dealings with the European Union, whether in terms of improving the terms of the customs union agreement, or seeking to join the European Union in the future.
In addition, it facilitates the issue of visas for Turkish citizens wishing to travel to EU countries.
It is likely that there will be another agreement between Turkey and the United States, including the F-16 deal that Turkey intends to buy from the United States, as well as spare parts.
There may be consensus regarding the future dealing with the region east of the Euphrates, and limiting the influence of the PKK on the situation there, based on the classification of the Turkish and American sides of the said party within the category of terrorism.
Orientation to the West remains a key option in Turkish military doctrine, even for Turkish societal elites.
It is worth mentioning here that this relatively new Turkish approach, expressed by the Turkish President before and during the NATO summit, was not surprising to the follower of the reality of regional and international changes, and familiar with the development of the situation within Turkey itself, Turkey today suffers from major economic difficulties due to a number of factors, foremost of which is the coolness between it and Western countries, which reduced the volume of trade and investments between the two parties. For his part, along with other factors related to the economic policy adopted before the elections last May, to the rapid rise in inflation and the collapse of the value of the Turkish lira against the major international currencies, especially against the dollar and the euro.
Russia, with its economically weak potential, has not and will not be able to offer Turkey an alternative option.
On the other hand, westward orientation remains a key option in the doctrine of the Turkish military, even for the various Turkish social elites, whether economic or intellectual.
The Turkish Republic is still adhering to the approach of its founder; and the Turkish elections are still held according to the rules of the secular system established by Mustafa Kemal, a system that the army, along with the deep state, undertakes to maintain; and this is deduced from the keenness of the Turkish President, regardless of the nature of his party affiliation, on various occasions, especially after the legislative and presidential elections, to visit the shrine of the founder of the contemporary Turkish state. Ending the Islamic Caliphate in 1924.
Although Putin was betting heavily on Turkey ’ s position under Erdogan ’ s leadership, admiring on various occasions his decision-making courage and praising his pragmatism, at most he did not expect the Turkish turn to finally come so quickly.
But Turkey and the West, led by the United States, seem to have realized that their interests, especially in terms of economic and geopolitical factors, are far greater than those transient political positions, or reactions, which were, in most cases, governed by internal factors and calculations, especially in the electoral phase, and the desire of each party to mobilize and attract people.
Turkey realizes that Putin will be a serious danger to it if he wins in Ukraine from the north, while his forces and bases are already present from the south in Syria.
On the other hand, Turkey was and still is aware that a strong Putin, who does not hide his nostalgia for his country ’ s imperial past, would be a serious danger to it if he wins in Ukraine from the north, while his forces and bases are already present from the south in Syria and in areas adjacent to its southern border.
At the same time, Putin, and at most his successor, will seek to compete with Turkey in Central Asian countries.
If Putin loses his war on Ukraine, Erdogan ’ s cards with the West will lose much of its power and influence, which will oblige him to make concessions, and distance him from the circle of ability to impose conditions, or at least demand the minimum possible advantages that enable him to pass (and justify) his fragile agreements with the West at home.
The question that imposes itself in this context, after the Turkish-Swedish agreement referred to, which comes within a broader consensus with the Americans, relates to the repercussions of this agreement on the current and future Syrian reality, Turkey, which controls important areas in the northwest of Syria, and looks forward to rearranging the matter in the east of the Euphrates region, by reducing, if not abolishing the influence of the PKK on the situation there, and giving more role to other political and community forces. The balance according to its calculations, Turkey will not be the same as it was before its agreement with the West, and specifically with the Americans.
Its new role will not be a continuation of its role within the Astana track used by the Russians to bypass the Geneva Declaration (2012) and enable the authority of Bashar al-Assad to control many areas under different slogans.
Sweden ’ s explicit commitment not to support both the PYD and the YPG can ’ t be far from the Americans ’ knowledge, but more likely with their consent.
Will we see in the next stage a serious American approach regarding pressure on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) to become a Syrian force that considers itself, not by slogans, as part of the Syrian opposition against the authority of the Assad family, and as part of a comprehensive solution to the Syrian issue in the future based on the unity of the people and the country, and away from cross-border projects with different slogans of sectarianism, nationalism and others?
On the basis of a serious political transition that takes into account the sacrifices and aspirations of Syrians, and the crimes committed by Bashar al-Assad ’ s authority against Syrians through killing, destruction, displacement, and absenteeism?
Swedish authorities ’ approval to burn copies of the Koran under the slogan “freedom of expression ” will be obstacles to Sweden ’ s accession to NATO
Will Turkey be ready in the post-election period to return to the political process that was and failed, in order to reach a just and realistic solution to the Kurdish issue in Turkey from various parties on the basis of the unity of the people and the country?
This, if achieved, will be for the benefit of Turkey first, and for the benefit of the peoples and countries of the region, because it will bring stability to Turkey and the region, and get the Kurdish card in Turkey out of the hands of the Russians, Iranians and the authority of the Assad family.
This step will be crucial in terms of promoting democratic freedoms and freedom of expression, especially for journalists, intellectuals and other cultural workers, and will cut the way for radical, racist European voices opposed to the European rapprochement with Turkey, the approval of Turkey ’ s future accession to the EU, or at least the treatment of Turkey as a privileged partner of choice.
As for Syria, the step of disengagement between the SDF and the Democratic Union on the one hand, and the Kurdistan Workers ’ Party on the other, will make the north of Syria in its west and east a strong card in future negotiations on the Syrian file.
This paper will also be influential on the Iraqi issue as well. It is no longer a secret that Iran is trying the impossible through its associates in order to suppress the aspirations of Iraqis, all Iraqis, and Iraqi Shiites in the forefront.
Perhaps it is superfluous to say here that these steps will be stronger and more effective in light of a strong Arab presence active in the Iraqi and Syrian files, a presence that possesses all legitimacy, and many strong pillars affecting the Syrian interior as well as the Iraqi, provided that there is desire, will and strategy.
Last but not least, the Swedish authorities ’ continued special approvals to burn copies of the Holy Quran under the banner of “freedom of expression ” will be a constant obstacle to Sweden ’ s accession to NATO.
The racist campaigns against Syrian refugees in Turkey, as well as the violent tactics of the agencies responsible for their deportation, will cast a dark shadow over the future of the positive relations that should be between the two neighboring peoples linked by the realities of history, geography, population overlap and common interests.
The New Arab

Title:

Content: Turkey received 5.1 million tourists in May
The number of foreign tourists visiting Turkey reached an unprecedented 5.1 million in May, a 14 percent increase from the same period last year, according to data released by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Tuesday.
The increase brought total arrivals in the first five months of the year to a record high of 15.8 million, reflecting a year-on-year increase of about 12.5% from last year.
Major tourist destinations
Antalya, the popular resort city on the Turkish Riviera, emerged as the top destination, attracting 1.8 million tourists last month, accounting for 35 percent of the total arrivals, according to figures quoted by the Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Istanbul, Turkey ’ s largest city and main tourist hub, received about 1.7 million visitors, followed by the Aegean coastal province of Mugla and the northwestern province of Edirne, bordering Bulgaria and Greece, according to the newspaper.
Russians made up the largest group of foreign visitors in May, with 739,000, or 14.4 percent of the total international tourist arrivals.
Germans and Britons followed with 729,000 and 550,000, respectively, and in the first five months of the year, Germans topped the list with 1.9 million arrivals, up 17 percent year on year, followed by Russians with 1.8 million and Britons with 1.2 million.
Future Expectations
Daily Sabah says the influx of tourists is critical to Turkey ’ s economy, providing vital foreign exchange that helps address budget and current account deficits.
The tourism sector reached a record high in 2023, with 49.2 million foreign arrivals generating a significant income of $54.32 billion, up from $46.48 billion in 2022.
The government expects the number of tourists to reach 60 million this year, with an expected income of $60 billion.
Istanbul accounted for 43.9% of the total foreign visitors, with a total of 6.9 million, while Antalya followed with 23.1%, or 3.7 million tourists in the first five months of the year.
The significant growth in tourism is attributed to an increase in arrivals from Russia and Europe, especially Germany and the UK.
Source: Turkish Press

Title:

Content: Journey of 30 years: Hue cultural heritage’s integration with the world

Three decades ago, the Complex of Hue Monuments was the first in Vietnam recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Since then, the management, preservation, and promotion of the heritage system in Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, have been prioritised, reviving numerous architectural and artistic works, contributing to the ancient capital’s integration with the world and providing a foundation for the local socio-economic development.

First site accredited as world heritage

During its 143 years of existence, the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the last feudal one of Vietnam, left behind an extensive complex of monumental sites. However, the heritage system has been significantly impacted by the war and the harsh weather conditions.

Thai Cong Nguyen, former Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, recalled that during the war, the Hue Imperial Citadel became a target of bombs and artillery fire, with many areas and architectural structures destroyed. After the war, more than 300 remaining works were damaged. At the time, limited resources were allocated for heritage conservation, putting the area at risk of collapse.

In 1981, following his visit to the Vietnamese city, Amadou Mahtar M’Bow, then Director-General of UNESCO, called for saving the local cultural heritage. In response, a strong international campaign to support the city was launched, gradually and positively changing the perception of the heritage. In mid-1982, the Hue historical and cultural relics management company was established, later renamed the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, marking a step forward in the local heritage preservation.

According Nguyen, the process to make the Complex of Hue Monuments a World Cultural Heritage began in 1990. In that year, during a visit to Thua Thien-Hue by then Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, provincial leader asked for permission to develop a conservation and value enhancement plan for Hue monuments, prepare scientific documents for submission to UNESCO for listing the area as a World Cultural Heritage, and demarcate a protection zone to prevent locals’ encroachment. Kiet approved these proposals.

The dossier for the UNESCO submission was completed in two years, 1992 and 1993, and the complex became Vietnam first’s World Cultural Heritage on December 11, 1993.

Now, Thua Thien-Hue is home to five UNESCO-recognised cultural heritages. They are the Complex of Hue Monuments (1993 – tangible heritage), nha nhac royal music (2003 – intangible heritage), woodblocks of Nguyen Dynasty (2009 – documentary heritage), documents of Nguyen Dynasty (2014 – documentary heritage), and royal literature on Hue Royal Architecture (2016 – documentary heritage).

Conservation efforts

After receiving a nod from the Government, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre implemented a master plan for the conservation and bringing into play the value of the complex between 1996 and 2010. The 720 billion VND (30.61 million USD) project aimed to preserve, restore, and renovate over 80 major architectural structures.

Subsequently, the centre carried out a project adjusting the master plan for 2010-2020. At a cost over 2.3 trillion VND, it undertook the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of over 170 structures and components.

Phan Van Tuan, Deputy Director of the centre, stated that after three decades being a World Cultural Heritage, the complex is approaching its revival and its original appearance of a historical imperial city is gradually being restored.

According to UNESCO’s assessment, the local conservation efforts are now entering a phase of stability and sustainable development, becoming a significant lever in the province and the region’s socio-economic development strategies.

Revival, sustainable development

Alongside the support of the international community, Vietnam has proactively implemented policies to mobilise resources for the preservation and promotion of the monuments, creating attractive tourism products to make Hue a beckoning destination.

To develop Hue into a “heritage city” as well as a national and global cultural tourism hub, the centre is currently working on building a blueprint for the conservation and restoration of the complex until 2030, with a vision towards 2050. The plan is expected to undergo assessment by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Prime Minister in September this year.

According to UNESCO representative in Vietnam Christian Manhart, the restoration work needs to be carried out regularly to maintain the outcomes achieved over the past 30 years and effectively utilise the value of the heritage in the near future./.

Title:

Content: ...
...
...
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Turkey has threatened to expel its ambassadors.
The United States and European countries are growing.
Posted in: Last Updated:
After Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened yesterday to expel the ambassadors of 10 countries, including Germany and the United States, and called for the release of jailed civil activist Osman Kavala, reactions followed.
Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands, whose ambassadors signed the joint statement on Saturday night, said they had not received any official notification from Turkey.
"He didn't do anything."
Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Trod Masaid told local media that “the ambassador did nothing to justify the expulsion, ” vowing to keep up pressure on Turkey over human rights and democracy.
A State Department spokesman said his country was aware of the information and was seeking to learn more from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, the German Foreign Ministry announced that it is currently conducting intensive consultations with the other nine countries concerned.
"A fair and swift settlement"
Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the United States called in a statement late Monday for a "fair and speedy settlement of the case" of businessman Osman Kavala, who has been jailed for four years.
However, the Turkish president did not like this position, who yesterday threatened to expel the ambassadors.
“I ordered our foreign minister to deal as soon as possible with the declaration of these 10 ambassadors as persona non grata, ” he said during a visit to central Turkey, using a diplomatic term that usually represents a pre-expulsion procedure.
He also considered that these ambassadors should "know and understand Turkey," adding: "They should leave the country if they know it again."
Since 2017
Kavala, 64, has been behind bars since 2017 without being convicted and faces a number of charges over the 2013 Gezi protests and the 2016 coup attempt.
Osman Kavala (archival from AFP)
Following Erdogan ’ s comments, which raised fears of a new wave of tension with the West, the Turkish lira continued to fall to a record low against the dollar.
It has lost a fifth of its value against the dollar since the start of the year, and annual inflation has reached nearly 20 percent, four times the government ’ s target.
The Eurasia Group said Erdogan was in danger of “dragging the Turkish economy into a crisis of the president ’ s making. ”

Title:

Content: Turkey and Greece discuss normalization of relations
The possibility for this appeared after the NATO summit in Vilnius
Dimitris Papamitsos / Greek Prime Minister's Office via AP
Turkey and Greece have agreed to “reset ” bilateral relations and resume negotiations to resolve all contentious issues that have accumulated in recent years, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with Kathimerini on July 13.
In May 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suspended bilateral contacts after he accused the Greek authorities of pressuring the United States to block the sale of American F-16 fighters to the Turkish armed forces.
Despite the fact that Athens and Ankara are part of NATO, the parties have been engaged in a dispute over the islands in the Aegean Sea and the Cyprus problem for several decades.
Previously re-elected Erdogan and Mitsotakis (the first after winning the second round of presidential elections at the end of May, the second after the results of repeated parliamentary elections at the end of June) held talks on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 12.
There, the heads of state agreed to “activate several channels of communication ” between the governments of the two countries.
“It is beneficial for both countries that the positive climate that has developed in bilateral relations in recent months has continuity and consistency, ” the Greek prime minister said on his website.
On the same day, the Turkish presidential administration ’ s liaison office reported that the leaders had agreed on the work of the High-Level Cooperation Council in Thessaloniki, which is scheduled for autumn.
The meeting of the Council at the level of the two governments was held for the first time
But since 2016, due to growing political differences, these meetings have been interrupted.
But the actual normalization of Greek-Turkish relations began earlier – after Athens was among the first to send a rescue team to Turkey to deal with the aftermath of the February earthquake in the southeast of the country, which killed more than 50,000 people.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias flew to Ankara, becoming the first European minister to visit Turkey after the disaster.
During talks with Turkish officials, he called for the elimination of differences between Turkey, the European Union and the United States: “From the conflict of Ankara with the authorities of the EU and the United States, Athens does not have any strategic benefits. ”
In addition, Dendias added that cooperation with the Turkish authorities to eliminate the consequences of the earthquake “has made many changes in the psychology ” of Greek-Turkish relations.
The apple of discord between Turkey and Greece is a long-standing dispute over the delimitation of territorial waters in the Aegean: both countries now define their breadth as 6 nautical miles (11 km).
Most of the Aegean islands, except for Gokcead and Bozcaad, belong to Greece, and a number of large Greek islands are located in close proximity to the mainland borders of Turkey.
This does not allow Ankara to expand either sea or air zones of influence.
At the same time, Athens claims the right to extend the border to 12 miles, citing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which causes resistance from the Turkish authorities.
On the other hand, Turkey has not signed the UNCLOS Convention and periodically threatens Greece with war if it expands its territorial waters.
In addition, Erdogan demands an end to the militarization of the islands in the Aegean Sea by the Greeks.
All these disagreements in 2020 almost led to an armed clash after the Turkish research vessel Oruç Reis began exploration for minerals in the southeastern Aegean.
Then the armed forces of Greece were put on high alert.
The situation was de-escalated after the intervention of Washington.
Finally, Ankara and Athens cannot agree on the Cyprus issue.
Since 1974, Cyprus has actually been divided into almost two equal parts: the north of the island is controlled by the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the south by the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, inhabited by Greeks.
Greece supports the unification of the island and insists on the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island (this contingent numbers about 40,000 people).
Turkey refuses to comply with these requirements and advocates international recognition of the TRNC as an independent state.
The conflict around Cyprus is also exacerbated by the discovery of large gas reserves in the territorial waters of the island, in the development of which the Turkish authorities are interested.
According to the Greek authorities of the southern part of the island, only in the Aphrodite field, gas reserves can be about 170 billion cubic meters. Ankara does not recognize the sovereignty of the Greeks over the fields and considers the drilling licenses issued by the Greek Cypriots to Western companies illegal.
At the same time, Turkish drilling vessels have been working south of the Karpas Peninsula in the north of the island since 2019.
Through the restoration of contacts with Greece, the Turkish authorities in general are trying to reset relations with Western states, said Arif Asalıoğlu, Director General of the International Institute for the Development of Scientific Cooperation.
Earlier, Erdogan lifted the veto on Sweden ’ s admission to NATO after Stockholm agreed to support Ankara ’ s accession to the European Union.
The normalization of relations with Greece is one of the criteria for Turkey ’ s entry into the EU.
Thus, the Turkish president says that he has changed his foreign policy approaches in the Western direction, ” the expert said.
Ankara, normalizing relations with the West, is trying to get a package of financial assistance to solve economic difficulties in the country, Asalıoğlu said.
The leaders of Turkey and Greece, most likely, go to the normalization of relations under pressure from the authorities of the European Union, believes the Balkanist Oleg Bondarenko.
“Against the background of the Ukrainian crisis, European states are not interested in the emergence of other potentially conflict points in the region.
I believe that the idea of normalizing Greek-Turkish relations belongs more to Brussels than to Ankara and Athens, ” the expert believes.
On the other hand, Bondarenko continues, in the foreseeable future the parties will not be able to eliminate all existing contradictions, and future negotiations will take place for the sake of negotiations.
“The problem of the shelf of the Aegean Sea and Cyprus is of a fundamental nature for both Ankara and Athens.
Therefore, I do not expect any breakthroughs in the negotiation process.
Probably, in Thessaloniki, the leaders will sign a declaration of intent, and everyone will stop there, ” the expert said.

Title:

Content: Bilateral trade was $6.8 billion in 2023

Turkey halts all trade with Israel; Jerusalem denounces ‘dictator’ Erdogan

Turkish ports said already preventing export of goods to Haifa and Ashdod ports, while Israeli imports not being unloaded; FM Katz says Israel will find alternatives, emerge strong

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, shake hands during their meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, April 20, 2024. (Turkish Presidency via AP)

Turkey stopped all exports and imports to and from Israel as of Thursday, Bloomberg News reported, citing two Turkish officials familiar with the matter, in a highly impactful move against Jerusalem over the war against Hamas.

The Turkish presidency and foreign and trade ministries were not immediately available for comment. But sources familiar with the matter told the Globes financial daily that Turkish ports are already preventing the export of goods to Haifa and Ashdod ports, while Israeli goods arriving in Turkey are not being unloaded.

The two countries had a trade volume of $6.8 billion in 2023.

After the reports emerged, Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of “breaking agreements by blocking ports for Israeli imports and exports.”

“This is how a dictator behaves, disregarding the interests of the Turkish people and businessmen, and ignoring international trade agreements,” Katz wrote on X.

He said he instructed Foreign Ministry Director General Yaakov Blitshtein to “immediately engage with all relevant parties in the government to create alternatives for trade with Turkey, focusing on local production and imports from other countries.”

File: Foreign Minister Israel Katz during a plenum session at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, March 6, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

“Israel will emerge with a strong and daring economy,” Katz pledged. “We Win, and They Lose.”

Turkey has been one of the harshest critics of Israel during the war against Hamas, with Erdogan branding Israel a “terrorist state.”

Erdogan’s salvos against Israel include allegations it is committing “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza. He has defended Hamas — considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union — as “a liberation group.”

Citing a diplomatic source, the Al-Monitor news site said the Foreign Minister was investigating the economic consequences of Turkey’s measure.

Israel and Turkey have free trade agreements from the mid-1990s that are now being violated.

Last month, Turkey announced export trade restrictions to Israel on 54 products including cement, steel, aluminum, iron construction materials and equipment, in response to the war in the Gaza Strip.

Turkey’s exports to Israel stood at $5.43 billion last year, down from $7.03 billion in 2022, according to the Turkish Exporters’ Union and statistics agency Turkstat.

File: Supporters of Palestinians in Gaza protest in Istanbul, Turkey, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

The Turkish leader repeatedly attacked Israel on the campaign trail ahead of local elections held on March 31.

His party nevertheless suffered a significant defeat, losing control of many cities, especially to the Islam-based Yeniden Refah (New Welfare) Party.

The party, which won seats in the Turkish parliament last year after allying with Erdogan’s AKP, fielded its own candidates in the March elections, with its leader Fatih Erbakan attacking Erdogan for maintaining Turkish trade with Israel despite the war in Gaza.

“The result of this election was decided by the behavior of those who continued to trade freely with Israel and the Zionist murderers,” Erbakan said on election night.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and President Isaac Herzog speak to the media after their talks, in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (AP/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkey and Israel normalized ties in 2022 by reappointing ambassadors after years of tensions, but relations have again become strained due to the war.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

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Title:

Content: Greece continues to target Ottoman mosques
Anadolu News Agency
Istanbul, Turkey
Posted at 17.03.2023 10: 57
Greece continues to close historic Ottoman mosques (Anatolia)
Greece continues its policy of closing historic Ottoman mosques to worshippers, most notably those of the Sultans, which it has turned into warehouses and a museum, in violation of the principle of reciprocity with Turkey regarding the use of religious buildings.
Both the faculty member of the Department of History at the Turkish University of Thrace, Dr. Sabri Jan Sinau, and the faculty member of the Faculty of Architecture at the Turkish University of Marmara, Dr. Nawal Konouk, told Anadolu Agency that "Greece deliberately keeps the historical Ottoman mosques on Saqz Island (Chios) closed to worshippers."
Museum for displaying antiquities
Snau added that after the Greek takeover of the island in 1912, the Majidiyeh mosque on Saqez was converted into a museum to display antiquities from the Byzantine era.
On the current status of the mosque, Sinau explained that it has undergone restoration work at various periods to change its architectural and historical character, and that Christian artifacts and models of Jewish and Muslim tombstones are currently on display.
A faculty member at the Department of History at the Turkish University of Thrace reported that the Ottoman Empire archives of 1894 indicated that the island contained 9 mosques, 2 schools, 3 tekaya, 98 churches, 1 monastery, 2 synagogues, 2 baths and 18 streams of water.
Explaining the difference between Greece and Turkey, he pointed out that while Greece continues to close the mosque, Turkey has not imposed any restrictions on the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, who has continued to lead mass throughout the country, including in the Turkish state of Izmir near the Greek island of Saqez.
As a member of the European Union, Greece should be more concerned with human rights principles and related issues.
All EU member states affirm freedom of religion and belief and equality before the law, regardless of religious or sectarian affiliation, and undoubtedly these principles also apply to places of worship.
Although it is not a member of the European Union, Turkey, he added, adheres to the rules on freedom of religion and belief.
Today, non-Muslims can pray freely in their religious institutions across Turkey.
While Christians can come to churches in Turkey and pray there, Muslims cannot pray in the Majidiya Mosque or other mosques in Greece.
Sinau stressed that Greece does not follow a policy consistent with the principle of reciprocity regarding Ottoman monuments and places of worship within its borders.
He explained that in the past 20 years, we have opened about 84 Greek Orthodox churches in Edirne, Gesme (Izmir), Ordu, Gemlik and other Turkish states and regions, while Greece continues to close many mosques dating back to the Ottoman era, foremost of which is the Majidiya Mosque in Saqz, the Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Rhodes.
Mosques of Sultans.
Warehouses
Criticizing Greece ’ s approach to Ottoman antiquities, Nawal Konouq said Greek authorities were using historic buildings from the Ottoman era for their own ends.
She explained: We have four mosques in Saqz known as the Sultans Mosques.
One such mosque is used today as a warehouse where electrical appliances are repaired.
Not only that, according to Konouk, the mosque was converted into a museum after Greece occupied the island, and an Ottoman and Orkhanid mosques used as warehouses for excavation equipment owned by the Directorate of Antiquities.
She stressed that Greece follows a policy of ignoring Ottoman Turkish monuments, although the country still contains more than 8,500 historical Ottoman buildings.
The Greek authorities are using negligence as a means of destroying Ottoman historical buildings and resorting to restoration to change the historical and religious character of those buildings.

Title:

Content: Erdogan sows in the Gulf, NATO, harvests in Europe
Erdogan sows in the Gulf, NATO, harvests in Europe
BRUSSELS – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s gains do not seem to stop at the series of agreements he made in his Gulf tour, which totals more than $100 billion, nor at Ankara ’ s pivotal role in determining the list of new NATO members and the guarantees it received in return.
It will go beyond that to gain from the European Union.
This comes at a time when observers say Erdogan is planting in the Gulf and NATO and harvesting in Europe, after a meeting held by the foreign ministers of the 27 member states of the European Union to discuss the possibility of strengthening their relations with Turkey in light of their inability to offer it a serious prospect to join the bloc.
The Europeans found that Erdogan is a difficult opponent to circumvent, especially after he entered his third presidential term quietly, and was keen to reassure those who are wary of his old slogans, starting from the United States through Europe to the countries of the Middle East.
Relations between Brussels and Ankara have been strained after the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016 and the subsequent crackdown on dissidents and journalists.
The Turkish president began the new five years of his rule in a style that had nothing to do with hysteria at the beginning of his previous term, in which he shook the bonds of Turkish-Western and Turkish-Arab relations.
Now the man has little talk in politics, and if he engages in it, he seeks to gather and calm down.
On the other hand, his speech focused on interests, agreements and partnerships, which was met with positive interaction from several countries.
This change has embarrassed Europeans, who in recent years have found logical arguments to oppose Turkey ’ s accession to the EU, relying on Erdogan ’ s rhetoric and fiery statements attacking everyone.
EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said ahead of Thursday ’ s meeting in Brussels that Ankara wanted to “relaunch accession negotiations and put the issue at the top of the ladder of its political approach with us, that ’ s good news. ”
German Foreign Minister Annalina Birbuck was even clearer when she said that after Erdogan ’ s re-election, “it ’ s time to think strategically ” about cooperating“ with a neighbor that is not easy to handle but remains a strategically important global player in our immediate neighborhood. ”
The long-planned debate over an inescapable partner has taken on even greater significance after last week ’ s NATO summit in Vilnius, where Erdogan ’ s terms weighed on the air.
But Erdogan has created a surprise by tying his approval of Sweden ’ s accession to NATO to the relaunch of his country ’ s EU accession negotiations, which have been frozen for several years.
At the end of intense diplomatic activity, Erdogan finally raised his opposition to Sweden joining the alliance, warning at the same time that there would be no ratification before October at the latest.
On the other hand, the Europeans paved the way for improving relations with Ankara; after his meeting with the Turkish president, European Council President Charles Michel spoke in a tweet about their desire to “revitalize ” relations between Turkey and the European Union.
Sweden agreed to “actively support ” efforts to relaunch Turkey ’ s accession process while helping modernize the customs union and liberalize visas, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
These two issues are important to Ankara.
The customs union agreement between Turkey and the EU has been in place since 1995 and can therefore be adapted to encourage more trade while the potential liberalization of visas would ease the conditions for Turkish citizens entering the EU.
In contrast, it is hard to imagine short-term progress in EU accession talks.
Borrell said granting candidate status to Ukraine last year “created a new dynamic in the neighborhood of the Union, ” especially for the Balkan countries, and“ sooner or later Turkey will get on the line. ”
The Europeans found that Erdogan is a difficult opponent and can not be circumvented, especially after he entered his third presidential term quietly
But Turkey ’ s accession negotiations, which began in 2005, stalled over the years, until member states realized in 2018 that they were “at a standstill ” because of decisions taken by Ankara that were seen as contrary to EU interests, and also because of Turkey ’ s“ continued and alarming decline in the rule of law and fundamental rights. ”
Relations between Brussels and Ankara have been strained since the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016 and the subsequent crackdown on dissidents and journalists.
“The process remains elusive because key chapters of the negotiations, such as the rule of law and human rights, have not been implemented and are far from being implemented.
We should not be naive, there will be no gifts. ”
In the foreseeable future, however, cooperation, particularly the visa liberalization demanded by Ankara, could be hampered by the ongoing dispute over Cyprus.
arabic

Title:

Content: Turkey’s iconic Hagia Sophia mosque to charge $28 entry fee for tourists

Published: Updated:
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Turkey’s Hagia Sophia mosque began charging tourists nearly $28 on Monday for entrance to the landmark site.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its blue-tiled interior, will no longer allow free admission to foreigners, the Turkish tourism ministry announced.

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The former museum-turned mosque has a new entrance in front of the Topkapi Palace Museum open for tourists.

Tunnel entrance at Turkey's Hagia Sophia. (File photo)

The Hagia Sophia was a museum space from 1934 until 2020 when Turkey decided to change it to a mosque. Various historical reports say the mosque with byzantine architecture was an Orthodox cathedral decades ago.

“With the new application that will start on January 15 at the Hagia Sophia Mosque, tourists will be able to visit the mosque without disturbing the prayer environment,” the ministry said in a statement.

The entrance to the mosque will be “provided in a controlled manner through the tunnel and entrance ramp where visitors will be transported to the gallery floor and exited via the ramp in the northeast direction,” the statement said.

“Tourists who come to the gallery section will be able to see the sanctuary floor of the mosque and the Ottoman Period annexes, pass through the heaven-hell gate, and examine the Byzantine Period mosaics in this section,” it added.

Security cameras, fire detection and emergency announcement systems were reportedly installed in the mosque along the tour route. Cleaning and conservation work on the marble coverings and wooden railings on the gallery floor of the mosque was also carried out by restorers and conservators.

Visitors will also have access to a headset guide with QR codes where information on the sight is available in 23 languages.

People visit the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 10, 2020. (Reuters)

Read more:

Ramadan prayers return to Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia mosque after 88 years

Turkey says UNESCO criticism of Hagia Sophia conversion ‘biased and political’

Erdogan names ex-environment minister as his party’s Istanbul mayor candidate

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Title:

Content: General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
After the breakup of relationships...
New developments in talks between Greece and Turkey
Greece announced on Sunday that its Foreign Minister George Gerapitritis will make a working visit to Turkey on September 5.
The Turkish daily Daily Sabah reported that Gerapetritis will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on bilateral relations and regional issues, according to the Greek Foreign Ministry.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said earlier that his government wants to take full advantage of the development of a positive political climate with neighboring Turkey in order to improve bilateral relations despite a series of decades-long differences.
Turkey and Greece remain at loggerheads over maritime borders in the eastern Mediterranean, a dispute that affects irregular migration to the EU, mineral rights and the projection of military power.
Mitsotakis said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed during the NATO summit in Vilnius to start new "lines of communication" and maintain a "period of calm".
High-level talks between the two countries are expected to take place in the Greek city of Thessaloniki later this year.
However, the Greek prime minister said Erdogan ’ s engagement with the EU could not come at the expense of efforts to address the ethnic divide in Cyprus for nearly half a century.

Title:

Content: • Source:
• Sergey Ignatov — specially for Sedmitsy.Ru
In the United States released a report on the situation of Christians in Turkey in connection with the murder of a parishioner in a Catholic church by the jihadists of ISIS
It notes bureaucratic oppression, public rejection, the growth of vandalism and violence.
WASHINGTON.
In the United States, a report was released on the situation of Christians in Turkey in connection with the murder of a parishioner in a Catholic church by the jihadists of ISIS - it notes bureaucratic oppression, public rejection, the growth of vandalism and violence in the country, reports catholicnewsagency.
During Sunday mass in Istanbul on January 28, terrorists broke into a Catholic church and killed a parishioner with a shot in the head during the consecration ceremony.
Soon the so-called Islamic State * took responsibility for this crime.
The attack almost coincided with the first anniversary of a powerful earthquake that killed thousands of people in Turkey and Syria in 2023.
The attack once again raised questions about the existing threats to the Christian faith in Turkey and about the real tolerance of the 99% Muslim majority for non-Muslims in this country.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has issued a report stating that “there has been a marked increase in incidents of vandalism and social intolerance and violence against religious minorities in Turkish society in recent years. ”
Despite the freedom of religion provisions that exist in Turkey on paper, Turkish Christians, according to the authors of the report, today suffer under the yoke of state bureaucracy, as well as from growing rejection in society.
“The government also continues to unjustifiably interfere in the internal affairs of religious communities, ” the USCIRF report states,“ Religious minorities in Turkey express concern about such rhetoric and policies of the authorities that contribute to an increasingly hostile environment and indirectly encourage acts of social aggression and violence. ”
In present Turkey there are about 12-16 thousand Jews, several thousand representatives of various other faiths and several hundred thousand Christians.
According to a 2022 report by the US State Department, about 25,000 of them are Catholics, most of them from Africa and the Philippines.
Unlike many other Muslim-majority countries (overwhelmingly in this case), Turkey ’ s constitution defines the country as a secular state.
The State Department explains that such a definition provides for freedom of conscience, religious belief, personal belief, freedom of speech (opinions), freedom of worship, and the prohibition of any discrimination on religious grounds.
However, Turkey is one of the 95 countries in the world that now have criminal liability for blasphemy, mainly against Islam, which is punishable by imprisonment for a period of six months to a year.
Christian rights organization Open Doors points out in its report that the country is experiencing an increasingly strong religious nationalism with an emphasis on Islamic values, encouraged by the current government of Turkey, which creates pressure on believers of other faiths and breeds intolerance towards them.
The government also maintains a list of officially recognized religions and registers the religious affiliation of citizens using an electronic chip (chip) on identity cards.
Although Christianity is widely recognized in the country, the current authorities are opposed to Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Christians and Greek Orthodox Christians, as well as Jews.
“Christians are seen as agents of negative Western influence on society, ” says the Open Doors report.“ Therefore, those who choose to follow the teachings of Jesus and abandon Islam, or even atheism and secularism, often face pressure and rejection in their native families and communities, prompting them to renounce their faith. ”
According to In Defense of Christians (IDC), religious communities of different faiths face restrictions on their rights to own and freely dispose of property, to train clergymen, and, in general, to religious education.
In particular, the Turkish government continues to interfere in the leadership of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church, as well as in the activities of the Armenian Patriarchate, in particular in the field of selection and appointment of the hierarchy, IDC reports.
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in many areas of Turkish society, favoritism towards Islam has become increasingly pronounced to the detriment of other religions.
In 2020, President Erdogan took a demonstrative step in favor of his religion when he issued a decree establishing mosques in the former Byzantine Hagia Sophia Cathedral (which served as a museum for many years) and another ancient Christian church in Istanbul.
Protestant congregations report a marked increase in bureaucratic pressure on them under the current government.
The State Department reports that the World Evangelical Alliance expresses concern about the situation of Evangelical Christians in the country, as many of them are subjected to deportations and entry bans on a variety of pretexts.
According to the State Department, since 2020, the government has expelled more than 60 foreign Christian missionaries and their families from the country.
And according to Open Doors, hostility toward Christians is increasingly felt in the interior rural areas of the country, where the influence of conservative Islam is stronger and intolerance towards non-believers is higher.
Most of the “non-traditional ” Christian communities (Baptist, Evangelical, Pentecostal, etc.) are hesitant to spread beyond the coastal cities in the west of the country, including Istanbul, because the population there is more tolerant of non-believers, relatively liberal and secular, the report says.
Turkey ’ s reputation as a country of persecution of Christians has long roots, despite the fact that it was in it that the first Christian communities were born and flourished.
In 1915, during the period of the so-called Armenian genocide, the authorities of the Ottoman Empire seized Armenian intellectuals and priests in Constantinople.
During the same period, the empire began a campaign of mass evictions of American Christians and other minorities, including Greek, Syrian and Chaldean Christians.
During these evictions there were heartbreaking scenes of separation of families, there were “death marches ” at the transit stages, the Gentiles died of hunger and many oppressions, to which the predominantly Christian Armenian population of the empire was subjected.
According to some estimates, 1.5 million Armenians were victims of the genocide during that terrible period of persecution, although Turkey continues to stubbornly deny the genocide for many years.
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Content: People 's Network > > International
After Turkey's tough response, the United States and the West have softened first.
October 26, 2021 18: 54 | Source: Xinhua Network
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Xinhua News Agency, ANKARA, October 25 (International observation) Western countries have softened after Turkey's tough response.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Shi Yang Zheng Siyuan
Turkey is at loggerheads with the West.
The United States, France and other 10 ambassadors to Turkey issued a joint statement on interference in Turkey's internal affairs, which was hit hard by the Turkish side.
On the 25th, the US Embassy in Turkey issued a statement on social media saying that the United States confirms that it adheres to the relevant provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and does not interfere in Turkey's internal affairs.
France, Germany and other countries in Turkey forwarded the US statement, or issued a similar statement.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would no longer list the ambassadors of the 10 countries as "personae non grata".
Analysts pointed out that relations between Turkey and Western countries have been tense in recent years.
The two sides exchanged views again, and this diplomatic crisis ended in the "soft" of the West, proving that the hegemonic acts of the United States and other Western countries interfering in other countries' domestic affairs will inevitably hit a series of walls.
Diplomatic storm
The embassies of the United States, France, Germany, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland and New Zealand issued a joint statement on the 18th, calling on Turkey to immediately release Turkish businessman Osman Kavala, who has been accused by Turkey of participating in the 2016 coup attempt.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry today summoned the ambassadors of the 10 countries to denounce them for interfering in the Turkish judicial system and politicizing the judicial process.
Turkish Foreign Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview on Monday that he had instructed the Turkish Foreign Ministry to declare the ambassadors of the 10 countries to be "persona non grata".
Erdogan said that the 10 ambassadors made a rude statement and that they "will have to leave on the day they cannot understand Turkey."
The remarks drew cheers from the crowd at the scene.
Turkish public opinion believes that the joint statement of the Western embassies is a gross interference in Turkey's internal affairs, which will worsen the already bad relations between Turkey and the United States, and the development of relations between Turkey and the European Union will become unpredictable.
Sercuk Cholakoğlu, director of the Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies, pointed out that Turkey already has contradictions with some NATO partners and EU member states, and this diplomatic incident will lead to an escalation of contradictions and increased rifts between the two sides.
Avoid escalation
In recent years, Turkey has been at odds with many Western countries.
For example, Turkey's purchase of Russian-made air defense systems has led to the deterioration of relations between Turkey and the United States and its European allies within NATO.
In addition, Turkey and France have tit-for-tat disputes over sovereignty in the eastern Mediterranean, the civil war in Libya and the conflict in Syria, and many European countries have sided with France in the escalation of tensions over the killing of a teacher in Paris last October.
Some analysts pointed out that listing the ambassador as "persona non grata" in diplomatic relations can be understood as a step forward in the declaration of war.
In a statement issued by a number of Western countries on the 25th, Erdogan welcomed the same day.
This means that the crisis between Turkey and the West has temporarily subsided.
Turkey ’ s former ambassador to Israel, Oğuz Çelikol, said the statement from the Western embassies meant they would not interfere in Turkey ’ s internal affairs in the future, and the latest statement showed that all sides did not want the matter to escalate.
Analysts believe that with Turkey ’ s tough response, Western countries sent a signal of détente, which prevented the crisis from sliding to the worst.
Interference failure.
The United States and some other Western countries, accustomed to bullying and frequently interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, have encountered this "hard nail" in the diplomatic turmoil.
He said Turkey has the right to fight back against hegemonic interference by the United States and other Western countries.
Turkish Foreign Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a televised address after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, capital of Turkey, that the statement issued by the United States and 10 other countries on Tuesday on the Kavala incident is directed against Turkey's jurisdiction and sovereignty.
He stressed that Turkey cannot tolerate the 10 ambassadors' questioning of the Turkish legal institutions and has the responsibility to respond to such disrespectful interference.
Earlier, Turkish Vice President Fouad Octaei said that Turkey is an independent country and that the independence of the Turkish judiciary should not be desecrated.
Turkish Minister of Justice Abdelhamit Gül also pointed out in a social media post that the interference of Western ambassadors in the judicial independence of Turkey is a serious "cross-border", and they should respect the laws of the host country.
On the one hand, as a member of NATO, Turkey has a special strategic position, especially in the Middle East, which is of strategic importance to the United States, and the United States and other Western countries do not want to tear their faces with Turkey.
On the other hand, for Turkey, Russia and other countries cannot replace the markets of the United States and Europe, and the Turkish economy, which has been hit hard by the epidemic, is also in urgent need of investment from the United States and Europe.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Western countries that have hit the nail will actually stop and how they will develop their relations with Turkey.
(Editor: Cui Yue, Yang Mu)
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Reports said that the region of northern and eastern Syria is facing a humanitarian crisis that is deepening every day due to the closure of the crossings and drought in addition to the constant Turkish threats and attacks, while relations between Turkey and the West are heading to further deterioration.
The international newspapers published today touched on the deepening of human suffering in northeastern Syria after the drought, Turkish violations and the closure of humanitarian crossings overlooking it, in addition to the deterioration of Turkish-Western relations.
The suffering in northeast Syria must end before it is too late.
The Independent newspaper said in a report: “Northeast Syria has been devastated by multiple wars, an economic crisis, and recently drought and pollution. ”
Now that ISIS has been largely defeated geographically, and a ceasefire is often violated with Turkey, the region seems to be somewhat forgotten despite the fact that the humanitarian and environmental crisis is deepening every day.
This year, the UN Food and Agriculture Agency warned of drought in the region due to climate change as well as war.
The tributaries of the Euphrates River dried up, crops were spoiled, and the farmers I spoke to said they feared plowing and planting their seeds for next year, as they were likely to spoil again.
Just last week, Save the Children said millions of lives were on hold due to low water levels in major rivers and the destruction of water infrastructure.
She urged world leaders to address the climate crisis before meeting at the 26th United Nations summit in Cuba, which begins in Glasgow next week.
They also called for increased humanitarian funding.
The growing pressure on the region is also a global epidemic and lack of medical supplies, while Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned last week that northeast Syria is breaking records in terms of daily COVID-19 cases.
Vaccination rates are very low.
One contributing factor is that in 2020, the only cross-border international aid delivery point into northeast Syria was closed.
The lingering specter of war also remains, with tensions rising in the border areas with Turkey, which the Autonomous Administration accuses of continuing drone strikes and shelling of its towns.
Erdogan threatens to expel 10 Western ambassadors, including U.S. envoy
On the Turkish-European tension, the Wall Street Journal said: "Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to expel the US ambassador and senior envoys of nine other Western countries who called for the release of Osman Kavala, in a move that could further strain relations between the allies in the North Atlantic."
Speaking at a rally on Saturday in the western Turkish city of Eskisir, Erdogan said: “These 10 ambassadors must be declared persona non grata immediately.
I gave the order to our foreign minister and I said what to do. ”
If implemented, the move would mark a sharp deterioration in relations between Turkey and the West, where many countries are Ankara ’ s NATO allies.
Relations have worsened in recent years against the backdrop of Erdogan ’ s rapprochement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkey ’ s purchase of a Russian anti-aircraft system.
Last week, the ambassadors of the United States, Canada, New Zealand and several European countries signed a joint statement on the fourth anniversary of Kavala ’ s arrest asking Ankara to release him, in line with the December 2019 decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled in his favor and demanded that Turkey release him.
"Delays and other irregularities cast a shadow over respect for democracy, the rule of law and transparency in the Turkish justice system," the statement said.
Tough relations between Ankara and Washington have not improved under the Biden administration.
The Turkish president was also infuriated last month when President Biden did not meet him on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
In a move widely seen as a disdain for the White House, Erdogan met shortly thereafter with Putin on Russia ’ s Black Sea coast.
Erdogan says Turkey can form partnerships with whoever it wants because he is working to strengthen the country ’ s position in the Middle East.
A foreign ministry spokesman said it was aware of the reports and was seeking clarification from the Turkish foreign ministry.
Libyan election candidates to begin registration in November
On the Libyan issue, The National newspaper said: “The head of the country ’ s High National Elections Commission, Imad al-Sayeh, said that candidates for the general elections in Libya can register in the first half of November after the completion of preparations.
Sayeh said in a press conference held in the capital Tripoli that the first round of the presidential elections will be held on December 24, and a second round will be held in conjunction with the parliamentary elections at a later date.
"We want to emphasize our esteemed judicial system, of which we are proud.
This is what we need to do to build the rule of law. ”
"It is a message to Libyans that the Commission will not renege on its promise to hold free and fair elections," he said.
The elections are seen as a major step towards ending the conflicts that followed the fall of former Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
On Thursday, Tripoli hosted the Libya Stability Conference, attended by ministers from France, Egypt, Italy, Russia, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
(MU)
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Content: General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
Church representatives: The participation of the Sheikh of Al-Azhar and the Pope of the Vatican in the Bahrain Forum is a translation of the Document of Human Fraternity..
The pain and suffering of the Middle East is a deep wound shared by humanity.
Bahrain Forum for Dialogue
Representatives of the Churches: The participation of the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Chairman of the Council of Muslim Elders, and the Pope of the Vatican in the Bahrain Forum is a translation of the document
Cardinal Bechara Al-Rahi: Human coexistence requires international commitment to end extremism and intolerance
WCC: The pain and suffering of the Middle East is a deep wound shared by all humanity
The Bahrain Dialogue Forum continued the sessions of its first day of East-West Dialogue with the participation of the Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, and Pope Francis, who will conclude his activities tomorrow.
Under the patronage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and with the participation of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Council of Muslim Elders, His Holiness Pope Francis, and some 200 prominent figures, leaders and representatives of religions around the world. The Muslim Council of Elders, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the King Hamad International Center for Peaceful Coexistence.
Interfaith dialogue is achieved through friendship and the sharing of values
Patriarch of the Maronite Church, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, stressed that human coexistence requires international, regional and internal commitment, East and West, by putting an end to dangerous situations such as religious and national extremism and intolerance, which have produced what we can call the signs of a “Third World War ” on different parts of the world, and which are beginning to reveal its ugly face in many places. To be exact – the number of those left behind including dead, widows, bereaved and orphans.
During his speech at the Bahrain Dialogue Forum, Cardinal Al-Rai warned that other places around the world are being prepared for further explosion, stockpiling of weapons and ammunition, in a global situation dominated by uncertainty, disappointment and fear of the future, and controlled by narrow material interests, in addition to grinding political crises, injustice and lack of justice in the distribution of natural wealth – which is monopolized by a few and denied by the vast majority of the peoples of the earth. It has produced huge numbers of sick, destitute and dead, and deadly crises in many countries. ”
He stressed that dialogue among followers of religions in order to ensure a healthy human coexistence is achieved not only through diplomacy and tolerance, but also through friendship, peace, sharing of moral and spiritual values and practices in the spirit of truth and love, and openness to universal brotherhood. The most influential cause of crisis in the contemporary world.
The Cardinal expressed the importance of the participation of His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican, and His Eminence the Grand Imam, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, in the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue, and that this participation is a translation and proof of the link of this forum to the document "Human Fraternity", which they signed together on February 4, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, for world peace and coexistence. It is within the framework of the academies, wishing the full success of the forum and success to all participants.
Concerted Efforts to Achieve Coexistence
Archbishop Hiromonk Grigory Matrosov, head of the Patriarchal Council for Communication with Muslims in Russia, said that there are many successful examples around the world of how to find common ground and live in peace despite differences, but unfortunately we have to admit that the world, for one reason or another, is on the verge of a catastrophe closer than ever in history.
He stressed during his speech at the main session of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue « East and West » that time does not allow to spend in identifying the wrongdoer to blame, but everyone must unite efforts to find a way out of the current situation and work to fill the gaps in our common ship, pointing out that the intellectual, scientific, cultural and other experiences accumulated over thousands of years, which allowed humanity to achieve the highest goals of human life, are not a guarantee of peace. Unfortunately, there are external parties that do not believe in peace and coexistence and do not want the peace and prosperity of peoples.
He pointed out that the number of Muslims and Christians is half of the world's population, about 4 billion people, so finding points of agreement and communication between these two great religions is the most important task in the history of the whole world, and this is not new, but to achieve and implement it in practice is still difficult to achieve and remains a task of fundamental priority.
During his speech, the Russian bishop outlined the foundations of peaceful coexistence, saying that these foundations came from the womb of the teachings of Christianity and Islam, reviewing the texts of Islam and Christianity that indicate that the most important value should be shared and proved by religions, namely that without worshiping God and placing him at the center of human life, happiness and well-being cannot be achieved. It is aimed at destroying the traditional family and corrupting the traditional relationship between men and women.
Despite diplomatic efforts that tend to silence such manifestations, religious discrimination still exists and is widespread, and ignorance and deliberate suppression of the principles of these two religions will only lead to extremism and hatred.
In conclusion, the President of the Patriarchal Council for Communication with Muslims in Russia stressed the importance of establishing points of contact between Islam and Christianity in various fields, and the need for continued interaction and cooperation in humanitarian and cultural fields as it is an absolute priority. Global security and support for the continuation of human history.
A living example of coexistence and the embodiment of the meanings of human fraternity
Reverend Dr. Ewan Soka, Acting Secretary General of the World Council of Churches, said that the holding of the Bahrain Dialogue Forum “East and West for Human Coexistence ” is an important opportunity to exchange ideas and visions and put forward discussions, which makes it a living example to promote global coexistence and embody the meanings of human fraternity.
During his speech at the main session of the Bahrain Dialogue Forum, he pointed out that God created all human beings in all their forms and diversity in order to know and respect each other, and thus God made coexistence a divine thing and not just a human experience, adding that the World Council of Churches, as a universal unit of belonging among churches, places this message at the heart of its vision and mission.
To this end, at its 11th meeting, held recently in Karlsruhe, the World Council of Churches (WCC) called on all people of goodwill to work together for reconciliation and unity, as the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of the times have confirmed that our world is in urgent need of reconciliation and unity more than ever.
Soka reviewed the WCC ’ s experiences in promoting coexistence with followers of other religions based on shared values and responding to the challenges of the times, such as climate justice by working and coordinating with churches around the world to protect and heal the planet and plan for a common future.

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Content: Entrance to the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul will be paid for foreign tourists
Entrance to the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul from January 15 will be paid for foreign tourists.
This is reported by RIA Novosti.
According to the agency, such a measure will be taken three and a half years after the transformation of the museum into a religious object.
It is noted that a ticket to Hagia Sophia will cost €25.
For Turkish citizens, the entrance will be free.
In 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree changing the status of Hagia Sophia to a mosque.
He later stated that changing the status of Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia) in Istanbul is a step towards greater Turkey.
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Content: 00: 00
Expo 2020 Dubai Today
Celebrating the “Day of Human Fraternity ” today.
UAE promotes tolerance and promotes coexistence and brotherhood
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Today, the UAE joins the world in celebrating the International Day of Human Fraternity, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly after an initiative by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, with the aim of making February 4 an annual occasion to encourage solidarity and unity among human beings and spread the values of tolerance and acceptance of the other.
The event is an international recognition and appreciation of the UAE and its tireless efforts over the years in spreading the values and concepts of coexistence and brotherhood among human beings and activating dialogue between different religions and peoples to achieve a world of tolerance. Coexistence, which aims to draw a road map towards the mechanisms of translating tolerance as a national value, is launched from the UAE to the world.
Globally, the 4th of February marks the birth anniversary of the most important document in modern human history, which was signed by two of the most important religious symbols in the world, the virtue of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, in Abu Dhabi, the capital of human fraternity.
The document called for many initiatives that promote tolerance and coexistence among all religions, most notably the Abrahamic Family House project on Saadiyat Island in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, which will include a church, mosque and church under one roof, forming for the first time a common community in which the exchange of dialogue and ideas between followers of religions will be promoted.
The UAE ’ s efforts and role in promoting the values of tolerance at the international level were highlighted through a range of activities and initiatives such as the annual Forum for International Efforts for Tolerance, which discusses the outlines of an international strategy to promote tolerance globally, raise awareness and promote the concepts of peaceful coexistence and international cooperation, while rejecting violence, extremism and hatred.
On an annual basis, the UAE hosts the Global Forum "Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies", which is one of the most important forums in the Islamic world, which discusses the humanitarian problems and issues surrounding human beings in today's world, which resulted from intellectual and sectarian conflicts in Muslim societies.
The Forum launched a number of initiatives aimed at promoting peace and the spirit of human brotherhood in the world, most notably the initiative of the Interfaith Curiosity Alliance, which is based on the awareness of the need to resort to basic mechanisms that ensure the involvement of the largest number of clerics - Muslims, Christians and Jews - in practical steps to promote peace and adopt a conciliatory approach that allows them to educate their followers and overcome animosities and hatred of all kinds. Beha.
The UAE hosted the World Conference on Human Fraternity, with the aim of activating dialogue on coexistence and brotherhood among human beings and ways to promote it globally, to confront intellectual extremism and its negative aspects, and to strengthen human relations, and to establish new rules for them among people of multiple religions and beliefs, based on respect for difference.
The conference resulted in the “Document on Human Fraternity ” for World Peace and Coexistence, signed by the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar and the Pope of the Catholic Church.
The Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity, announced in 2019 as one of the fruits of the signing of the “Human Fraternity Document ”, aims to celebrate people or institutions that work to consolidate peace and coexistence, build bridges of cultural and humanitarian communication, and put forward practical initiatives that are successful and influential, to bring communities closer together in the long term.
The award seeks to continue building on the rich humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the values to which he dedicated his life.
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Content: Point of view
Au Hao-chi, Chen Ning-sheng
Au Haochi, Chen Ning-sheng: Ecological Tourism Trend from South Lantau Planning
[Ming Pao article] The new policy address mentions that the Government will provide ecological and recreational facilities in South Lantau (South Lantau), involving about 300 hectares of "Green Belt". It is expected that the related public participation activities will be completed in the first half of next year, and detailed design work will begin immediately.
In fact, as early as a month before the policy address was issued, the authorities had already planned ahead of schedule in the surrounding areas to start the statutory planning process, and rezoned some of the existing "coastal protection areas" in South Lantau to "recreational" areas, in line with the policy intention of developing eco-tourism.
As a policy researcher living in South Lantau, I am not only concerned about the potential impact of future tourism and recreational activities on the living community, but also believe that the development of eco-tourism in South Lantau has a great opportunity to play a key role in the design of Hong Kong ’ s overall urban conservation strategy, which deserves more attention and discussion.
South Lantau Planning Status and Variables
The general public ’ s impression of Lantau should be broadly in line with the overall principle of the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint released by the Government in 2017, that is, “North Development, South Conservation ”.
Broadly understood, apart from densely populated and economically productive locations such as the airport, Tung Chung, Discovery Bay and Disney, the rural and wilderness areas on Lantau Island are generally regarded as South Lantau, with about 18,000 people living here in recent years.
Subsequently, the "Lantau Conservation and Recreation Master Plan", released in 2020, further focused on the characteristics of ecological and cultural resources in the sub-regions of South Lantau, and summarized some potential ecological tourism directions. In particular, the "South Lantau Ecological Recreation Corridor" is proposed to be built in Pui O, Chi Wan, Cheung Sha, Shui Hau and Shek Pik Pik.
The corridor ’ s scope involves ecologically rich wetlands and sandy habitats, which are also of concern to local communities and communities.
In the past, there was a lot of controversy about the government's conservation measures in South Lantau, and there was a situation where it was impossible to regulate development that did not meet the conservation planning intention.
Amendments to the Town Planning Ordinance were passed in July, allowing part of the South Lantau Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) to become a "regulated area", closing a loophole that had previously been unenforceable. The OZP then began the rezoning process in September to revise the land originally designated as a "Coastal Protection Area" to a "Conservation Area" and "Recreation Area" according to the results of the "The former makes the planning intention of wetland conservation more clear and reasonable, but the latter has caused concern to the environmental protection community. In particular, the frequent permitted uses of the" Recreation "zone, including luxury camping facilities such as holiday camps, tent camps, barbecue sites and recreational and cultural venues, may cause potential pollution to the surrounding areas." Nature Conservation Area ".
To-Do list of ecotourism
In theory, tourism is a “smoke-free industry ” that can bring substantial economic benefits and should play a positive role in the conservation of nature that needs funding, but only if both practitioners and tourists consciously link tourism and conservation to understand that they are enjoying the ecosystem services provided by nature to obtain clean and adequate water and food, as well as a healthy and comfortable climate and environment. To pay for this and be responsible, this is also the key to the development of ecotourism.
Therefore, if there is no mechanism to ensure that a “real ” eco-tourism industry can be developed in the future, even if tourism practitioners may gain some economic benefits in the short term, in the long run, after the environmental characteristics are destroyed and the attraction is lost, not only will tourists have no reason to return, but the local living environment and quality will also suffer.
Therefore, the author believes that a sustainable mechanism that takes into account both "damage prevention" and "coordinated development" is the key to promoting the development of eco-tourism in southern Yantai and even in Hong Kong.
When part of South Lantau became a "regulated area", although the authority has been strengthened, there is no use of the authority without additional means or resources to detect illegal activities in a timely manner, and the role of the primary supervisor seems to fall on the local residents who are not trained in professional knowledge and have no absolute incentive to act.
In addition, even if residents want to report suspected illegal activities, they do not know to whom and how to report them. From another perspective, there is no clear channel for local residents and tourism practitioners to propose constructive guidelines for coordinating different development projects in the community to enhance development effectiveness.
In order to prevent the environmental damage caused by tourism development, the establishment of relevant local community organizations can play a positive role.
For example, in Shirakawa-go, a famous tourist town in Japan, local residents have set up community organizations to formulate landscape protection regulations to protect the natural environment and preserve “co-built ” historical buildings. They will also support old buildings to be converted into new uses such as B & B, shops or museums while preserving their characteristics, and help organize traditional festivals to vigorously promote the development of local eco-tourism.
At present, no similar organization has been set up in Yuanan, and there are insufficient resources and support to facilitate the operation of such organizations. Therefore, the author believes that the local ecological tourism has not yet entered a "ready" state.
In South Lantau, such organizations can play the role of environmental supervisor, maintaining regular contact with the major supervisory departments such as the District Council, Planning Department, Lands Department and Environmental Protection Department, and acting as facilitators, responsible for organising and coordinating the style of different tourism projects and service providers in the area, as well as assisting in the work and accommodation of external conservation project staff.
At the same time, the government needs to continue to invest resources to strengthen the local sewage, drainage and livelihood infrastructure to fully enhance the environmental capacity and reception capacity, as well as to deal with the safety hazards caused by extreme weather.
How can the authorities make good use of different tools, such as town planning, infrastructure planning and conservation funds, to play the role of industry and conservation supporters?
Under the guidance of local community organizations, what will the future of eco-tourism in Lantau actually look like? What innovative mechanism can break through the existing framework and encourage and promote the diverse community of nearly 18,000 people in Lantau to independently explore different potential possibilities, thus creating some unique eco-tourism characteristics and effective conservation actions from the bottom up?
I believe these are the key points that we must break through before Lantau becomes an eco-tourism landmark in Hong Kong.
Author Au Hao-chi is a Research Fellow of United Hong Kong Foundation, and Chen Ning-sheng is the Vice President of Lantau Historical and Cultural Association
(Criticism of current affairs articles published by this website is aimed at pointing out errors or deficiencies in relevant systems, policies or measures, with the aim of correcting or eliminating such errors or deficiencies, and improving them through lawful means, with no intention of inciting hatred, dissatisfaction or hostility towards the Government or other communities)
[Au Haochi, Chen Ning-sheng]
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Content: Call for Unesco to give verdict on Ironbridge housing plan

A heritage watchdog says plans to convert a historic foundry into homes should not go ahead unless an international body gives its blessing.

The International Council on Monuments & Sites UK (Icomos) has raised concerns over proposals from Shropshire Homes to redevelop the former Aga Foundry in Coalbrookdale.

It was revealed last week that Icomos had objected to the proposal, and now the details of its concerns have been made public, with the group suggesting that world heritage watchdog Unesco should be consulted on the plans before any decision is taken.

In a letter to Telford & Wrekin Council, which will decide on the proposals, Icomos says that is it worried the development could have a "potentially highly negative impact on outstanding universal value" on Ironbridge's valued world heritage status.

Earlier this year another major UK world heritage site, Liverpool's waterfront, was stripped of its status after Unesco said it's heritage value had been diminished by new buildings.

Shropshire Homes wants to build 101 homes on the Coalbrookdale site, which closed in 2017.

In its letter Icomos, which advises Unesco, says it should have been alerted earlier to the proposals.

The organisation questions why Telford & Wrekin Council had not contacted it about the plans, despite recommendations to do so.

It also outlines its concerns about the impact of the development.

The letter, from Peter Marsden, chairman of the Icomos-UK World Heritage Committee, says: "As an industrial landscape the site was also ‘the focus of international attention from artists, engineers, and writers’ who came to view the new technologies.

"In sustaining outstanding universal value, it is thus essential that the idea of an industrial landscape is perpetuated, that all aspects connected with Abraham Derby and his production processes are conserved, and that the way this industrial landscape attracted artists and writers as well as engineers can still be appreciated."

He raises concerns that the "lower reaches of Coalbrookdale will be transformed from an industrial landscape into a dense, high-rise housing estate", and that 'the remnants of structures related to Abraham Darby, now overlain by waste materials, will not be preserved'.

He adds: "The views of the Dale from a network of paths and viewpoints will be highly compromised and thus their ability to promote understanding of industrial processes and their attraction for 18th century writers and artists."

A spokesperson for Telford and Wrekin Council said: “The planning applications for the former Aga casting works in Coalbrookdale are live and yet to be determined.

“The local planning authority (LPA) Telford and Wrekin Council does not comment on live applications. Should there be a resolution, it will be made available through the planning committee in due course.

“The LPA is following process and all necessary requirements to consult statutory consultees.”

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Content: Russia-Ukraine crisis: Is Turkey reorienting its compass westward?
Russia-Ukraine crisis: Is Turkey reorienting its compass westward?
Despite Turkey ’ s keenness since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis to play a neutral role in mediation between the two sides, it was not difficult to notice the growth of Turkish-Russian relations during that crisis at all diplomatic, military and economic levels, in contrast to the tension of Turkish-American relations and the faltering attempts to join the European Union.
But what has become remarkable is that there is a change in Ankara ’ s policy towards the parties to the crisis, which raises many questions about whether we are already in the process of a new era of Turkish foreign policy, or are they just measures to balance Russia and the West, and gain new pressure and negotiation cards to ensure Turkey gains from both sides of the conflict, especially as Ankara is the main player in solving the world ’ s energy and food crises. This makes it difficult to abandon their partnership, or to antagonize them.
Many indicators
Turkey recently adopted a set of measures that were seen as abandoning its policy of neutrality towards both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, and siding with the Western camp, which supports Ukraine in its war against Russia, which can be reviewed as follows:
1- Developing channels of communication with Ukraine: For the first time since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky went to Istanbul on July 7, 2023, to meet his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at the official invitation of the latter, to discuss a number of issues and thorny issues between the two sides, including: the fate of the grain deal that ended on July 17, 2023. Ukraine has joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Although this visit is ostensibly a traditional diplomatic procedure between two countries that share a number of important political and economic issues, especially in light of Turkey ’ s role as the main mediator in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis since its outbreak, the timing and outcome of the visit made it appear to be a Turkish bias towards the Ukrainian side at a very sensitive and important time for Russia.
The visit came after the rebellion of Wagner ’ s forces against Russian President Vladimir Putin, which had negative repercussions on the cohesion of the Russian military establishment.
The NATO summit was held in Lithuania on July 11-12, 2023, during which it was scheduled to discuss expanding the alliance ’ s base by including Sweden, with the consent of Turkey, and Ukraine, the issue of which is still disputed among the alliance ’ s member states.
In terms of the outcome of the visit, the Turkish president stressed Ukraine ’ s entitlement to join NATO, which is considered a direct threat to Russia, because Ukraine ’ s accession to the Atlantic is a military escalation against Russia by the NATO countries, where the Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Russian Federal Council Viktor Bondarev described Turkey ’ s call on Ukraine to join NATO as “turning into an unfriendly country after taking a series of provocative decisions. ” [1]
Erdogan also stressed his country's readiness for joint bilateral cooperation in the reconstruction of Ukraine, and the readiness of Turkish companies to invest and work in this framework.
In addition, the two sides signed agreements to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense, including the construction of a military complex to manufacture Turkish parades “Bayraktar ” in Ukraine, which is one of the most important weapons used by the latter in its war against Russia.
Violation of the “prisoner exchange ” agreement with Russia: The return of Zelensky with five commanders from the Ukrainian“ Azov ” battalion, which Russia classifies as a terrorist organization, without prior notification to Moscow of this step, was considered a direct violation of the prisoner exchange agreement concluded by Russia, Ukraine and Turkey in September 2022.
Under the terms of the agreement, Russia received 56 prisoners, while Ukraine received 215, including the five commanders of the Azov battalion, who would remain in Turkey until the war ended.
This battalion is of particular historical importance to the Russian side, especially since it first fought alongside the Ukrainian army in the east of the country in 2014 against pro-Russian separatists, and then became part of the Ukrainian National Guard, having succeeded in retaking the city of Mariupol and its strategic port from pro-Russian forces. There is violence and genocide against Russians in eastern Ukraine, where Putin has declared on more than one occasion since the outbreak of the war that Russia is fighting terrorists and working to root out neo-Nazis from Ukraine.
Turkey ’ s approval of Sweden ’ s accession to NATO: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on July 11, 2023, the acceptance of Sweden as a member of the alliance, after Turkey gave the green light to Sweden and agreed to join NATO, by withdrawing its veto, and referring the accession protocols to the parliament for ratification.
This remarkable shift in the Turkish position comes as a step considered by some as a courtship to the Western camp, and others considered it a deal to try to get some political, economic and military gains, especially as this approval came in the context of demanding the reopening of Turkey ’ s accession file to the European Union, and obtaining US support in this regard.
Expected gains.
Turkey ’ s pro-Western moves, which are not only unsatisfactory to the Russian side, but also provocative to it, cannot be considered merely absurd or uncalculated.
In fact, Erdogan seeks by adopting policies different from those adopted over recent years, and rearranging his foreign policy papers to expand and diversify his circle of partners, to reap more gains during the next phase, in order to support his new mandate in Turkey, and increase his country ’ s military and security influence in the region, which can be reviewed in the light of several files as follows:
1- Modernization of the Turkish military force: Turkey ’ s approval of Sweden ’ s accession to NATO, as a step that will contribute to strengthening the military strength of the alliance, was welcomed by the United States, and made the American tone more positive with Turkey regarding the F-16 deal, where the statements of US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, stressing that Biden plans to move forward with the transfer of new F-16 aircraft to Turkey in consultation with Congress [5].
The chairman of the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee also revealed his intention to back down his objection to the continuation of the fighter deal with Turkey.
On the other hand, the settlement between Turkey and Sweden led to the abolition of all restrictions and barriers between the two sides, the opening of the file of cooperation in the field of military relations and support for defense industries, and the agreement to further promote rapprochement by lifting the embargo on the supply of military equipment to Turkey.
Although it is difficult for Erdogan to obtain the approval of the European Union on the issue of his country ’ s accession to the Union, for political, cultural and historical reasons, Turkey ’ s approval of Sweden ’ s accession to NATO, including Finland, as well as support for Ukraine ’ s right to join the alliance, would – at the very least – reopen some outstanding files between the two sides, such as updating the customs union agreement between Turkey and the EU. States of the Union.
The Kurds: Within the framework of Sweden ’ s amendment to its constitution and changing its laws on counter-terrorism efforts, the Swedish government issued a package of security decisions to stop supporting the Kurdish Protection Units (YPG) militia in Syria, affiliated with the Democratic Union Party (PYD) within the Swedish borders, as a political and military extension of the Kurdistan Workers ’ Party (PKK), which Turkey classifies as a terrorist organization.
This is in addition to pledging to stop supporting elements of the Turkish opposition movement Fetullah Gulen, which Turkey classifies as a terrorist movement and accuses of being behind the coup attempt in 2016.
4- Economic gains: Through rapprochement with the West, Erdogan seeks to obtain economic and investment gains, by strengthening trade relations with the West, and stimulating foreign investment paths and opportunities, in the face of the economic recession in the country, which was largely due to the strained relations between Turkey and the West and the withdrawal of many Western investors from the Turkish market, which contributed to stopping foreign investment flows to the country.
In particular, it is not in Europe ’ s interest for the Turkish economy to deteriorate, thus threatening the fate of energy and food deals, in which Turkey plays a pivotal role, and which contribute to mitigating the economic consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Finally, it can be said that the repercussions of the recent measures adopted by Erdogan, whether with regard to Zelensky ’ s visit and its outputs, or with regard to the approval of Sweden ’ s accession to NATO, will be directly on Turkish-Russian relations, without denying that the common interests between the two parties in some other files, such as the Syrian file, will put limits on the tension that can impose itself relations between the two sides during the next phase.
Al-Ahram Center for Studies

Title:

Content: The first Friday prayer in the old church of Istanbul that has been converted into a mosque - Sunrise Gate
Friday 10 May 2024 9: 23 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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First Friday prayers held in the old Istanbul church that has been converted into a mosque
Istanbul - (DPA)
Published on: Friday 10 May 2024 - 7: 21 PM | Last updated on Friday 10 May 2024 - 7: 21 PM
Muslims held Friday prayers at the historic ancient church of Chora, one of Istanbul ’ s most famous Byzantine era monuments, for the first time since it was converted into a mosque, state broadcaster TRT reported.
The Chora Church, formerly a museum, was officially converted into a mosque in 2020.
After lengthy restoration work, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated the UNESCO World Heritage Site as a mosque on Monday.
It is noteworthy that in 2020, the famous Hagia Sophia church in Istanbul was converted into a mosque after a decree issued by Erdogan.
The two churches were converted into mosques after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1435.
The Hagia Sophia became a museum in 1935 and Chora in 1945, and the conversion of the two churches was met with international criticism.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis criticized the transformation of Chora as "an act that offends Istanbul's rich history" ahead of his planned meeting with Erdogan on May 13 in Turkey.
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Content: Turkey...
Religious education infuriates secularists
Turkey...
Religious education infuriates secularists
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this month introduced a new school curriculum, saying it “strengthens family cohesion and morality, ” despite protests by teachers ’ unions accusing him of“ Islamizing education. ”
Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for more than two decades, said: “The ultimate goal of these efforts is to raise our children to be moral, courageous, strong-willed, productive, compassionate, patriotic, critical, competent, virtuous, spiritually upright, heart and body. ”
Erdogan said: “We will not allow anyone to stand between the children of this country and religious values.
The period when children faced discrimination simply because they prayed and wore the hijab is over, ” he said, referring to his repeal of the headscarf ban in schools and public institutions in the 2000s.
The Turkish president rejected criticism of Turkey ’ s new curriculum and vowed to prioritize “national values ” in the face of fears that the scientific and secular foundations of schools will be eroded by curriculum changes.
National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin said the new curriculum was developed by the government with sufficient democratic participation.
Secular concerns center on a program called Gedis, which the education ministry says aims to encourage children to adopt “national, moral, human, spiritual and cultural values, ” but opponents say those values are essentially Islamic.
Turkey ’ s moves to spread traditional moral values among students, increase Islamic religious lessons and open prayer rooms in schools are raising concerns among the country ’ s secularists and showing differences over the role religion should play in education.
The measures, which will be implemented next school year, will also raise tensions over an already fraught topic as Turkey celebrates the centenary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ’ s founding of the secular republic.
Secular concern centers on a program called Gedis that the Education Ministry says aims to encourage children to adopt “national, moral, human, spiritual and cultural values, ” but opponents say these values are essentially Islamic.
They complain that under the scheme hundreds of Islamic preachers or imams and other religious officials are sent to schools.
The Education Ministry says no such “spiritual counsellors ” have been appointed to schools, as they are only involved in activities outside the school.
The Center for Children ’ s Rights of the Istanbul Bar Association said that while the curriculum in many of its subjects addresses religious and national elements, “no space is given to national values such as Ataturk, secularism and republicanism, ” referring to the founder of modern secular Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Kazem Ozbay, president of ITEM Eish, a union of education and science workers, said the new curriculum was designed to raise “soulless robot generations who don ’ t think, question, criticize, object, explain, ” adding that“ it is clear that they want to develop a religious and national curriculum, ” noting that his union is preparing to file a case against the curriculum.
Under Erdogan ’ s supervision, Turkey has opened many Islamic Imam Khatib schools in line with his goal of creating a “pious generation. ”
The number of Imam Khatib schools, founded to educate preachers and preachers, has increased to about 1,700 from 450 in 2002 when the AKP first came to power.
Its student population has increased sixfold to more than half a million.
This development of religious education in Turkey contrasted with the Ataturk style of the state.
The AKP did not begin to change Turkey from above through the constitution and laws, or through the imposition of their authoritarian policies by force and coercion, but through changes in social and economic structures.
Their successful economic reforms on the one hand and the semi-conservative social reforms on the other hand before 2011 produced an impressive popularity for the AKP, which enabled it to win all parliamentary, municipal and presidential elections from 2002 to today.
The ruling party then increased the rate of Islamization of the Turkish state and society after the military lost its political and popular power and subjugated it to the authority of the Islamist-oriented government.
The simple Islamization of the state and society before 2011 turned into a clear and deep Islamization after that date, especially since popular support for it was at its peak during that period.
As the AKP came to power, a special understanding of secularism emerged in Turkey: it was not repealed from the constitution but emptied of its content after the party provided a special understanding of it, and pursued successive policies that restored religious concepts and symbols in society and the state.Although the ruling party ’ s policies became more conservative after 2011, it brought Islam back into the Turkish public sphere by often profound social changes and laws. Rents as a response to the demands of the citizens, in contrast to the “Ataturk ” which imposed secularism on the Turks.
Turkish Studies Unit
Rawabet Center for Research and Strategic Studies

Title:

Content: Father Manuel Musallam: Pioneer of Christian-Muslim Relations.
Ahmed Youssef
Friday 26th August 2022 02: 42 pm / Jerusalem time + 2GMT
Like other Palestinian intellectuals and intellectuals, I always wondered: Why does Father Manuel Musallam, a Palestinian Christian, seem to be an exceptional man in his personality and attitudes?
What is the background of his boldness and courage when he utters a strong voice in the face of the Israeli occupation, denouncing its aggressive violations and arbitrary measures, or in denouncing the authority and its policies, which do not seem strong enough in their rejection of the rogue practices of the occupying Power?
I was impressed by the character of the man and his distinctive political and militant positions, and wrote three books about him, after navigating his biography and path as a religious man and a virtuous educational man, in addition to his distinctive pages as a politician in the national movement, where I discovered that we are facing a unique national situation in the religious and political contexts, and that he is truly an exceptional Palestinian Christian figure.
They say that “understanding something is part of his perception, ” so if Christians are mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind for many Muslims is that they are descendants of the Crusaders invading the Islamic East, while the most fair true image of them is that they are followers of Jesus (peace be upon him), and that their roots extend to the depths of this land that God has blessed for the world.
Unfortunately, many Palestinian Christians do not appear to have a role in the struggle and national context as effectively as most of their Muslim brothers, although there are among them priests and politicians who have provided distinctive models in the fight against the usurping Israeli occupation, such as Archbishop Capucci, Comrade George Habash and others.
Father Manuel was probably one of the leaders of the contemporary Christian scene at the level of speech, literature and culture of struggle, and his positions and statements against the occupation and the manifestations of Israeli aggression are the strongest and most present, especially towards the settlers ’ violations and targeting of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Judaization policies of the Islamic and Christian heritage in Jerusalem and its cultural shepherds. In this way, he represents an exceptional Christian voice, reflecting the strength of the national presence and the depth of belonging to the Palestinian land, which he grew up on, and nurtured the frankincense of the militant identity, so he dealt with his people in a way that does not differentiate between Christian and Muslim, and opened many schools in the village of Zabababdeh and Gaza City to receive the children of Palestine, regardless of their religious background. The Palestinian identity, which, from the point of view of Father Manuel, is the essence and the basis, and his measurement was based primarily on the methodology of not differentiating between his people, since everyone in the struggle and national context is the same, and they are all the pillars of our revolutionary movement and the pillars of our project of liberation and return.
These attitudes and policies followed by Father Manuel towards his people did not go unchallenged, as some members of his community have always denounced his patriotic behavior!!
Father Manuel ’ s stances and policies did not stop at this limit of national belonging, as his words to the Palestinians of his Muslim brothers were to raise the call to prayer in their churches if necessary and the occupation destroyed their mosques, and his manly stance was beside the resistance and support for armed action against the occupation.
He also addressed all those who objected to the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque in Istanbul, reminding the Christian world that the “Hagia Sophia ”, which is holy to the Orthodox Church, was trampled with disrespect and disrespect, and that today it is restored to its purity by turning it into a place of worship again.
Father Manuel addressed a speech to the Christians of the world in which the pages of history were half, when he reminded them that the mosques of Muslims after the fall of Andalusia were converted most of them into churches and museums, and that the defeat of the Ottomans in World War II emboldened Christians in Europe to convert many Muslim mosques in the Balkans, Greece and Bulgaria into stables and places where vice is practiced!!
There is no doubt that Father Manuel hoped that “Hagia Sophia ” would return as a church as it was before the Ottoman conquest, so we found him initiating an initiative for reconciliation between East and West under which the Muslims of Spain would restore the mosque of Cordoba, which became a church and a tourist landmark, in exchange for“ Hagia Sophia ” a church as it was before the fall of the Byzantine Empire 1453. Manoel is a Muslim.
Of course, these attitudes have not satisfied the most extreme Christians in much of the Western world, some of whom have launched campaigns of incitement and defamation against them.
What I learned about the character of Father Manuel during his stay for nearly a decade and a half in Gaza is that he had a close relationship with his Palestinian brothers, the government and the people, and worked with all as sons of the same homeland, and shared with the poor of the Gaza Strip a living, and much of what he received from international aid.
His attitude towards Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa and his calls for all Muslims and Christians of the world to act in support of the people of Jerusalem are impressive to everyone who knew Father Manuel.
Such calls and statements to the rescue of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa confirm the strength of belonging to the identity and the land, which Father Manuel documented in his historical books and political literature, some of which I compiled in a book entitled “Father Manuel is Muslim.
from home. ”
In fact, Father Manuel is a national icon and a reliable model for the exceptional Palestinian Christian, who has placed Palestine, the land and identity, as the title of his personality and as the teacher of what should be the fraternal relationship in its intimate and intimate relationship between Muslims and Christians.
And finally...
If the positions of men present them and give them the forefront of the scene, Father Manuel ’ s heroic and supportive positions of the Palestinian resistance, supporting both Hamas and its leaders and its political fronts, and condemning all forms of Israeli occupation and aggression of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, confirm that we are facing a man whose positions, words and biography were an exceptional person, a model and an example. Every Palestinian Christian should follow his example and look at him through the wealth he has placed in their hands and minds in the field of thought, politics and literature, which calls on all who have read it or lived it – and the man is still alive among us – to say in full:
That ’ s the approach and the impact. ”
Father Manuel, who has Yemeni roots, landed in Jordan, and from there was forced by revenge to move to Palestine and settle there.
Father Manuel is indeed the pioneer of Christian-Islamic relations, you can hardly find a religious or social occasion without the sight of his presence apparent from Ramadan iftars or positions that combine him with Sheikh Ekrema Sabri in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque or with Dr. Ekrema Sabri.
Nasser al-Shaer stands in solidarity with him in the hospital after a despicable attempt on his life.
In short...
Father Manuel is one of the materials of the beautiful times, which combined originality and modernity, and gave the Christians and Muslims of Palestine a unique human and cultural value.
2.

Title:

Content: Can Europe Make It?: Opinion

Why Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention is a global problem

Far-Right populists might claim to be protecting local traditions, but the backlash against women’s rights demands an international response

Özlem Altan-Olcay Bertil Emrah Oder
2 June 2021, 12.00am

On 20 March, Turkey’s Official Gazette announced a presidential decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe’s treaty on preventing violence against women and domestic violence. While the announcement was sudden, it was not a complete surprise, given that the Convention has been a focus of the backlash against women’s rights in countries with right-wing populist governments.

Alongside the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women (Bélem do Para), the Istanbul Convention is the world’s leading international human rights treaty that specifically targets gender-based violence. After two years of preparation and negotiation, the treaty was opened to signature in 2011 in Istanbul, with the Turkish foreign minister being the first signatory. The Turkish parliament then approved the ratification unanimously, stressing its full support for eradicating violence against women. On 8 March 2012, in a symbolic display of political support to mark International Women’s Day, the parliament passed Law No. 6284 on gender-based violence and officially ratified the Istanbul Convention.

Turkish participation in the Convention stems from a history of feminist mobilisation in Turkey, which has successfully demanded progressive changes in state structures and legislation over several decades. For example, feminist groups pushed for Turkey’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1985 and successfully pressured the government to lift its reservations in 1999. In addition, alliances across women’s organisations helped push for a new civil code in 2001, which recognised the full equality of women and men in marriage, and a new penal code in 2004, with progressive changes in punishing femicides (or so-called “honour crimes”), rape in marriage, sexual harassment, child abuse, and other sex crimes that perpetuate women’s inferior status. Feminist advocacy has made Turkey’s legal system significantly more gender-responsive by building coalitions across women’s networks (platforms) and negotiating with state actors through institutional channels such as parliamentary committees and ministries.

Since then, feminist groups have campaigned to make visible the horrific extent of violence against women in Turkey and the way in which it has intensified in recent years. They used the Council of Europe’s first Group of Experts report on the Convention in 2018 to highlight how the judiciary finds ways to undermine legal clauses or misinterpret them to enable victim blaming. They also raised concerns about secondary victimisation, which occurs when police fail to implement protective measures, as well as prosecutorial ignorance and violations of victims’ rights. In contrast to right-wing populists, who claim that violence against women has increased because of the Convention, women’s NGOs have proved that the problem is a lack of implementation.

The gathering backlash

Despite the progressive legal framework, populists on the far Right have become more unabashed in recent years. There are increasing attempts to remove the problem of gender inequality from political discussion by claiming that there is a natural division of labour between men and women in families, and that we should try to protect families and Turkish culture.

For example, perpetrators’ strategies of victim-blaming have been increasingly successful before criminal courts, which themselves abuse the legal clauses regarding unjust provocation or good behaviour. Lower courts have unsuccessfully challenged the existing legislation to prevent gender-based violence in Turkey’s constitutional court. In 2016, a bill was proposed that would have deferred punishment for the sexual assault of minors. Supporters of the bill, which advocacy groups referred to as “the marry your rapist bill” or “the statutory rape bill”, claimed to be protecting families where men, punished for sexual assaults on minors, had married their victims with the consent of both parties. After massive protests and criticism from civil society, including representatives of conservative women’s groups, the government withdrew the bill.

These moves coincided with growing attacks from the Right on the ‘dangers’ of the Istanbul Convention. In response, We Will Stop Femicide Platform (Kadın Cinayetlerini Durduracağız Platformu) organised a social media campaign in 2019 called “The Istanbul Convention Keeps us Alive”. This campaign was picked up by civil society organisations, political parties and local authorities. In 2020, Turkish feminists initiated the #Challenge Accepted campaign by posting black-and-white pictures of themselves, indicating that they do not want to end up among the pictures of domestic violence victims that mourners pin to their collars at funerals. The campaign was picked up internationally and became a trending topic on Instagram within days. Turkish feminist organisations came together in August 2020 to establish a platform called Women’s Platform for Equality (Eşitlik için Kadın Platformu) to fight collectively against far-Right demands to withdraw from the Convention. The platform is also part of a transnational advocacy network with organisations from various countries where women’s rights are under similar attack.

Meanwhile, polls in Turkey show a significant decrease (from 45% to 21% in the last ten years) in public support for namus, the belief that women’s behaviour and public presence should be controlled in order to protect ‘family honour’. Similarly, acceptance of domestic violence is falling (from 20% to 6% in the last five years). Among people who know what the Istanbul Convention is, 84% were against a potential withdrawal in September 2020. Even within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), many defended the Convention after far-Right actors began denouncing it.

As societal norms become more progressive, thanks in part to a strong tradition of feminist advocacy, there is also a vociferous right-wing backlash. The situation in Turkey, therefore, is complex.

Withdrawal and democratic resistance

The level of social mobilisation against the presidential decree throws its legitimacy into question. After 20 March, government leaders claimed that the decision was irrevocable. Nevertheless, people poured onto the streets to protest despite the risks of police violence and the Covid-19 pandemic. Resistance has not been limited to demonstrations, either. Individuals and associations have used strategic litigation in a manner unprecedented in Turkey’s political history: Women’s platforms, ordinary citizens, and 77 bar associations have filed thousands of lawsuits before the Conseil d’Etat, the highest administrative court, calling for the decision to be annulled. The opposition parties, CHP, IYI Party, DEVA, and HDP, have also voiced their objections and joined the litigation campaign while TUSIAD, the Turkish Industry and Business Association, which represents Turkey’s largest companies, has issued a declaration against the withdrawal.

Recently, some right-wing commentators have explained the backlash against the Convention as a reaction against top-down policy measures linked to globalisation and Europeanisation. They claim that the pro-women policies themselves reflect a significant democratic deficit because they lack popular support in Turkey. Accordingly, any action to promote gender equality in Turkey results from international commitments and the work of “submissive governments” and the “bureaucratic elite”. In this explanation, therefore, the backlash is presented as a case of citizens voicing their concerns about the lack of democratic oversight, and demanding participation in public policy making.

However, this argument is not just implausible but also highly problematic given the unanimous parliamentary approval of the Istanbul Convention in 2012, as well as the recent polls showing high public support for the Convention, not to mention widespread protests and declarations against the withdrawal, and divisions inside the AKP itself. A better explanation might be that marginal and ultra-conservative groups have captured critical positions in the government and are attempting to retain them through a politics of polarisation.

The far Right claims pro-women policies reflect a significant democratic deficit because they lack popular support in Turkey

The support of Turkey’s bar associations for the litigation campaign against the withdrawal decision is also significant. In fact, it is not possible to unilaterally withdraw from an international convention based on a presidential decision. The government has tried to justify this by reference to a recent and highly controversial decree giving the president opaque authority to dissolve international agreements unilaterally. However, a presidential decision is a simple administrative order for implementing statutory legislation rather than replacing it. Thus, the withdrawal violates the institutional balance of powers and associated normative hierarchy laid down in article 90 of the Turkish constitution.

Although Turkey moved to a presidential system of government in 2017, the constitution still gives parliament exclusive power over both international agreements and civil rights. Moreover, the constitution recognises that international human rights treaties have primacy over statutory legislation. Therefore, this move can hardly be considered to carry legitimacy even within the confines of Turkish law.

Democratic backsliding

The withdrawal also has important implications for the wider political context in Turkey. In particular, the government’s increasing tendency to take controversial decisions without following the regular institutional procedures is undermining democracy.

For example, the government forced the repeat of two recent elections after losing: the general election in 2015 and Istanbul’s mayoral election in 2019. Meanwhile, the European Court of Human Rigthts and the Council of Europe Commissioner of Human Rights have identified numerous attacks and smear campaigns by the ruling elite against civil society, individual human rights defenders, journalists, and other dissenters. The government’s extensive use of criminal law, particularly anti-terrorism legislation, against Turkey’s independent media means that Turkey has the most detained journalists among Council of Europe countries. In contrast, organised crime leaders have become prominent figures who threaten the political opposition. An ongoing economic and financial crisis in Turkey has also reduced the government’s popularity, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, with increasing numbers questioning the shift to the presidential system.

Given these developments, the swift withdrawal from the Convention appears to be another government attempt to consolidate a shrinking political base, much like its sudden, well-publicised conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque. In other words, the tactical moves aim to gain support from Turkey’s far Right and to divide the opposition bloc by attracting the voters of minority political parties on the Right that the AKP needs to win upcoming presidential elections.

These sudden moves may also relate to the government’s call for a new constitution. Although the 2017 constitutional amendments increased the president’s executive power and accelerated democratic backsliding, Turkey has so far avoided a complete institutional dismantlement and collapse of civic oversight, as parliamentary opposition and civil society remain vibrant. The government’s sudden and arbitrary actions may be aimed at disempowering parliament and further eroding democratic oversight. Shutting down the possibilities for open public debate may be part of a wider project to introduce a more regressive constitution down the road.

The recent polls show high public support for the Convention, not to mention widespread protests and declarations against the withdrawal

The transnational context

The government’s withdrawal decision has been accompanied by intensified references to “our culture” and “our traditions”. Ironically, of course, such references to authenticity and cultural difference are common among far-Right opponents of gender equality and women’s rights everywhere. In other words, the backlash is transnational, even though it is based on claims of unique, homogenous community identities. For example, the Turkish government has tried to legitimise its decision by referring to other countries, such as the call by Poland’s ultra-conservative groups to protect the country’s ‘traditional’ values against LGBTQ+ rights, and the hesitancy of the governments of Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic to ratify the Convention.

Turkey’s notification of withdrawal sets a precedent for other illiberal governments in Europe to suddenly abandon their international commitments. There is a risk that ultra-conservative forces in other contexts use Turkey’s withdrawal as a validation of their own claims that the Istanbul Convention reinforces unwelcome ‘gender ideology’ and ‘undermines the family’. The next stages will be crucial, not only for Turkey, but for the future of the European post-war order, which has gradually created a framework of human rights and the rule of law.

Gender equality is central to public discussion and policy formation transnationally, precisely because attempts at democratic erosion often target it in regressive political contexts. The right-wing backlash against gender equality makes it a vital theme and a matter of grassroots politics, but also shows that egalitarian achievements face a critical moment. We should not consider the sudden withdrawal by Turkey’s socially conservative government as a country-specific response; rather, we must follow it carefully for its transnational impact. Its effects can easily spread by encouraging other right-wing populist governments and transnational anti-gender networks. If this in fact happens, a powerful backlash may even threaten the hard-won gains in women’s human rights through other international commitments like the Beijing Platform of Action and Agenda 2030.

We must also consider the implications of these developments for how to situate rights with respect to cultural difference. Popular critical discussions currently tend to reject a Eurocentric perspective in favor of recognising cultural diversity. But they pay less attention than they could to feminists and rights advocates living under regressive regimes. A simplistic understanding of multiculturalism can be dangerous if it only recognises purported differences between societies and ignores differences within a society, as well as the fact that no cultural claim is fixed or uncontested.

Such a simplistic argument about cultural diversity can hide the fact that some people can have disproportionate power to define hegemonic cultural practices in each society. The inadvertent effect of not recognising this is that women demanding what right-wing voices refer to as ‘Western’ rights are heard less and must take greater risks to voice their demands whereas those with disproportionate power can become more brazen in promoting the one ‘authentic’ culture of that society.

An understanding of multiculturalism can be dangerous if it recognises differences between societies but ignores differences within a society

It is essential to remember that people who use arguments of cultural difference and tradition may themselves be part of transnational forces that use similar rhetoric to prevent oppressed groups from demanding their rights.

We have outlined how progressive forces in Turkish civil society, particularly feminist groups, have resisted the government’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention and the backlash against its provisions. These developments show the need to listen more attentively to people living under regressive regimes who say they don’t want their rights to be eclipsed by ideas of cultural difference and tradition. The people making these demands are neither Westernised nor elites; rather, they are clear evidence that millions around the world demand democracy and gender equality. Their experiences also show the real dangers of confusing celebration of diverse cultural practices with ignoring demands for rights and opposition to regressive discourses and practices in specific societies.

International Day of the Disappeared

Amid increased disappearances of rights defenders, we explore the remarkable efforts of women land rights activists in Mexico and the journalists reporting their stories.

While marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, we will discuss the safety of individual defenders across the globe and rampant impunity for crimes against them. The panel is framed around our latest film about the shared threats that women human rights defenders and the journalists who cover their stories face in Mexico.

Join us at 5pm UK time (6pm CET) on Thursday 2 September for this free live event.

Simultaneous translation channels for English and Spanish will be available.

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In ATOR called an insignificant amount of €25 for the entrance to the mosque of Hagia Sophia
In ATOR warned tourists about the rise in price of tickets to the palace-museums of Istanbul
A rise in prices for tourist services in Istanbul is inevitable due to the weak position of the local currency - the lira.
This was stated in an interview with Gazeta.Ru Vice President of ATOR Arthur Muradyan, commenting on the decision of the authorities to make a visit to the Hagia Sophia mosque for foreigners paid.
From January 15, the entrance will cost €25.
“From the point of view of tourists, the amount of 25 euros, and for a family of two or four people it is 50-100 euros, can not be called some significant expenditure.
On the other hand, of course, some tourists will think about spending money on visiting this attraction.
Of course, it is a landmark for Istanbul, and I think that the Turkish authorities have approached carefully to determine the amount of fees for visiting this architectural monument, ” Muradian said.
In his opinion, following the Hagia Sophia mosque, the authorities can raise prices for entrance tickets to other museums.
“The rise in prices for tourist services is inevitable to some extent due to the not very good fate of the lira, which we have seen in the last few years.
And, of course, tourists should be ready to increase the cost of services related to the use of the tourism infrastructure of Istanbul, ” said ATOR Vice President.
On January 12, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey reported that the entrance to the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul for foreign citizens from January 15, 2024 will cost €25.
The ministry explained that when setting the fee for visiting the mosque, they were guided by the recommendations of UNESCO.
Hagia Sophia, which is now called the Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia, was erected in the 6th century under the emperor Justinian and for more than a thousand years remained the largest Christian temple in the world.
In 1453, after the capture of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks, Saint Sophia was converted into a mosque.
In 1934, the temple was given the status of a museum, it retained both Christian and Muslim decoration.
In July 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the resumption of Muslim worship in Hagia Sophia.
Entrance to the mosque was free for all visitors, including tourists.
Earlier it became known about the destruction of a mosque in Gaza after Israeli shelling.
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Content: 16 +
Opinions
Anti-Turkish Franco-Greek Union and Russia
What will change dramatically in the Eastern Mediterranean
09: 37, 16 October 2021
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The idea of creating a European army on the basis of Franco-British nuclear guarantees has been discussed by the best minds since the early eighties.
Then this idea was warmly supported by experts of the French magazine “Defence nationale ” (National Defense).
Thirty years have passed, but it is France that raises this issue more often than others.
Especially now, when six months before the presidential election, the struggle of potential candidates for the Elysee Palace begins, and the “hexagon ” itself cannot move away from the shock of the Australian contract and the ostentatious cunning of seemingly loyal allies.
And here is the unexpected move of Emmanuel Macron, who recently said that NATO “rotted brain ”.
He successfully sold to Greece under the formula 3 + 1 combat frigates Belhara, possessing a long-range air defense system and means of countering submarines.
It is believed that the systems of these frigates can interact with the Rafale fighters previously supplied by France.
The fact that the French since Charles de Gaulle widely traded arms, supporting their own independent military industry, is not surprising.
But the report of a mutual support pact between France and Greece, in case of a threat to the security and territorial integrity of one of the countries, looks like a real sensation.
Computer model of the frigate Belharadmitryshulgin.com
It is clear that in this way the French will finally stall the Greek arms market for themselves.
But the addressee of such an alliance within the framework of the North Atlantic Alliance is understandable.
Naturally, this is Turkey, which has historical tensions and mutual claims with Greece.
And relations between Emmanuel Macron and Recep Erdogan after a series of mutual insults have long been close to freezing point.
Of course, the announced agreement has, above all, political significance, demonstrating on whose side one of the great powers is.
And it is hardly possible to assume an open conflict between two NATO neighboring countries.
But every political decision always has its far-reaching consequences.
Moreover, the appearance on the French political horizon of the far-right Eric Zummer, who speaks from ardent anti-Islamic positions and is already considered one of the favorites of the upcoming presidential elections, clearly does not contribute to the improvement of relations between Paris and Ankara.
On the one hand, the new context strengthens the position of Washington, which receives additional levers of influence on all participants in the non-love triangle in the Eastern Mediterranean.
It is clear that both Erdogan and the Greek authorities will strongly appeal to the American guarantors on this occasion, proving their own rightness.
Suffice it to recall that the inclusion of Greece and Turkey in NATO was intended not only to “stop ” the Greek Communists, but also to exclude a direct armed conflict between the Greeks and the Turks.
However, France is ready to use its demarche for additional trade with the United States.
Since the practice of military, as it were, “subcontracting ” relations within NATO becomes a reality.
Recep Tayyip ErdoganDepo Photos / Keystone Press Agency / Global Look Press
But the Eastern Mediterranean is also becoming a zone of active Russian actions after its decisive intervention in the situation in Syria and obtaining stable military bases in the region.
And the additionally formalized appearance of France there requires reflection by our experts.
Of course, the stuffing in the Turkish press of the proposal for mutual recognition of the Republic of Northern Cyprus and Crimea as part of Russia was clearly testing.
But the introductions are getting bigger.
The most interesting - in our channel Yandex.Zen
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Content: The Undersecretary of Al-Azhar, Dr. Mohammed Al-Dowaini, stressed Al-Azhar ’ s keenness to enhance cooperation with all regional and international religious communities and institutions in order to promote the values of citizenship and humanity and consolidate the paths of peace, tolerance and love by activating dialogue among followers of religions to spread the values of peace and renounce forms of violence and hatred. Islamic and Christian values  , and focus on the common denominators of the whole, and work to activate them.
During his meeting on Thursday with the delegation of the Church of Jesus Christ, headed by Randy Funk, representative of the General Assembly of the Church, to discuss ways to strengthen joint cooperation between Al-Azhar and the Church in the field of interfaith dialogue and combating violence and hatred, Al-Azhar Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, made great efforts to preserve and develop the experience of the Egyptian family home. From local to global through the signing of the "Document on Human Fraternity" with His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church.
For his part, Randy Funk expressed his appreciation for the efforts exerted by Al-Azhar and its Grand Imam to consolidate the values of world peace, brotherhood and coexistence, expressing his admiration for the model of the Egyptian family house as a positive model for achieving peaceful coexistence, tolerance and dialogue, and stressing the keenness of the Church of Jesus Christ to cooperate with Al-Azhar to promote the values of coexistence and acceptance of others.
Randy Funk explained that the Church of Jesus Christ is always keen to communicate with Islamic clerics in the United States and around the world to achieve rapprochement and coexistence in practice, pointing out that they have worked during the past period to translate many books that talk about Islam and submit them to the church community to learn about Islam and its values   that call for tolerance and peace.
At the end of the meeting, the Vice President of Al-Azhar presented to Funk the Shield of Al-Azhar and a copy of the document on human fraternity in English. Funk also presented to the Vice President of Al-Azhar a model of one of the books that the Church has translated to achieve rapprochement and the definition of Islam in America.

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Content: OPINION

A recontextualization risk for Greek-Turkish relations

Greek-Turkish relations, as well as the Cyprus question, might be under a recontextualization risk in 2022. Such a recontextualization will perhaps entail their submission to developments that will take place in the sphere of relations between the US – and consequently the West in general (if we accept that the West is a strategic entity) – and Turkey.

Even this difficult relationship between NATO member-states will be fundamentally affected by the curve drawn by relations with the US and the EU on the one hand and the Russian Federation on the other, mainly due to developments in Ukraine. Obviously, the strategic positioning that the US and China are pursuing in their relations with each other are placed in the background of all this. In this dipole, the US would obviously want a friendly or at least a neutral Russia.

The thread running through these successive and interconnected levels is the test of strategic choices that tend toward stabilization (this has not yet happened though) and the effort of all critical players to form favorable power relations and to position themselves within the new correlation in the safest and most advantageous way.

Entities subject to the internal constraints of a liberal democracy, such as the US and the EU, and entities that have total control over their internal political processes without democratic sensibilities and rule of law adherences, such as China and Russia (although the two are not constitutionally similar) clearly coexist in such a scheme. In the broader context, Turkey knows that its relationship with the West majorly depends on the respect of even the basic elements of a liberal democracy. The deep economic crisis it is going through is the element that will determine the political behavior of a complexly stratified society, which, no matter how influenced it is by nationalist outbursts, is concerned about its standard of living and its purchasing power. If this institutional framework is overturned, then it will be likely that the very framework of the West-Turkey relations will be overturned. Turkey, under pressure of necessity, might choose to normalize its relationship with the US and consequently with the EU instead of continuing on the path of exceptionalism and tensions. Even under the version of an internal political change, nothing in the Turkish opposition foreshadows a change of attitude on the issues that are decisive for Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus question.

Nevertheless, Turkey’s degrees of strategic flexibility and distancing from the West depend on the alternatives offered by its contradictory relationship with Russia (cooperation and conflict on various fronts, from Syria and Libya to the Caucasus and Ukraine). At the present stage, however, Russia itself is moving on the difficult chessboard of strategic repositioning of its relationship with the West. For the purposes of this repositioning Russia has deployed its most important weapon, which is its energy resources, especially natural gas, while the tension with Ukraine has reached an extreme point.

At the same time, Russia’s energy blackmail, which is directed at the US (although Europe is its victim) and “strategic trenches” fights between the US and Russia in Ukraine, brings the EU to the limits of its own strategic identity and independency.

Greece is not a mere observer of this complex, contradictory and fragile picture. It participates in it as a member of NATO, as a strategic partner of the US, as an EU member-state, as a trading partner of Gazprom, as part of multilateral cooperation schemes in the Mediterranean, as a neighbor of Turkey, with which it is called upon to coexist in the region without a delimitation of the maritime zones of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone and with the Cyprus issue remaining unsolved.

In such a setting of multilevel strategic uncertainty that starts from the global and reaches the regional scale, with all the critical players facing crucial dilemmas, while several of them face great internal pressures, Greek-Turkish relations seem to be losing their degree of criticality. This is an illusion, however. The inclusion of Greek-Turkish relations, but also of the Cyprus problem in this multilevel pattern of strategic uncertainty and the search for new positioning by all actors, seems to make the problems or at least their contexts even more complex, but at the same time discourages initiatives on the part of the directly concerned parties.

Besides, in Greek-Turkish relations, as in the Cyprus issue, there is a rich experience from the Cold War era that reminds us of the way in which international correlations influence regional problems and the way in which a regional crisis is encouraged or the way the regional momentum for overcoming it appears through the fluctuation of correlations at a higher level. When the US is called upon to face challenges to its own security, it only makes sense to seek the broadest possible alliances and partnerships, and thus it becomes much more tolerant of divergent regional behavior. In this attitude, they are practically dragging their European partners along with them. We should never forget these simple action sequences.

The two-and-a-half-year period of almost constant tensions in Greek-Turkish relations, spanning from the summer of 2019 to the present and the hole that seems to have formed regarding the Cyprus issue following the talks at Crans-Montana, force us now, at the beginning of 2022, to make a serious, calm and realistic assessment of the landscape that has become more complex and more fragile. In so doing, we need to always keep all channels of communication open, such as exploratory talks with Turkey, as well as respond seriously to all initiatives of the UN secretary-general on the Cyprus issue. A fundamental prerequisite of seriousness is to have a clear sense of what we really want, on all issues. The first thing we should want is to prevent the downgrading of Greco-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem to issues we watch as spectators. Obviously everything is influenced by international and regional correlations, but if an issue takes on secondary status, it can lose touch with historical time, as there is the illusion that it is following the evolution of issues of greater importance, when in truth it is simply frozen while historical time keeps passing.

Evangelos Venizelos has formerly served as Greece’s deputy prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, minister of national defense and president of the PASOK party.

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Content: Foreign tourists will pay for entrance to Hagia Sophia
Society
Photo: [© RIA Novosti / Pavel Bednyakov]
From January 15, the entrance to the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul will be paid for foreign tourists, Turkish Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy said.
For Turkish citizens visiting the mosque for worship, admission will remain free.
The first church on the site of the current temple was built under Emperor Constantine.
In the sixth century, it burned down, and the emperor Justinian ordered the construction of a new temple, which remained the largest Christian cathedral until the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome.
After the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans, the Christian shrine was turned into a mosque.
In 1932, Hagia Sophia became a museum, and the entrance to it was paid, until recently it was 72 liras (about 500 rubles).
In 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned the temple to the status of a mosque, and it could be visited for free.

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Content: Erdogan's road is paved...
power forever.
19-09-2023
Erdogan's road is paved...
power forever.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has begun preparations for the municipal elections to be held next year, by mobilizing all the capabilities of the state and the media loyal to him to repeat the victory of May, by winning in the major municipalities won by the Republican People ’ s Party in the 2019 elections, the most important of which is Istanbul and Ankara, which were ruled by the Justice and Development Party for 25 years.
The leader of the “good ” party, Meral Aksener, helped the Turkish president by deciding not to ally with the“ Republican People ” in the upcoming elections, to help, as Erdogan prepares for a greater goal of changing the constitution, as he announced days ago.
The information speaks of the possibility of Aksener endorsing Erdogan ’ s new project as part of a political deal, which he did with the parties he won by his side in the last elections, as long as they are all “right-wing, conservative, religious, nationalist and sometimes racist. ”
Its leaders have been Erdogan ’ s worst enemies in the past, as has Aksener, whom Erdogan has threatened and threatened on more than one occasion.
Some expect such a deal to be repeated if it is achieved between Erdogan and Ali Babacan and Ahmet Davutoglu, who have defected from the AKP, rebelled against Erdogan and said against each other what is not said in politics, sociology and psychology.
In all cases, whether or not these deals materialize, what Erdogan is seeking is to change the entire constitution and rewrite it according to his own mood, as is the case in most countries of the Middle East and the Islamic world so that state organs serve only the agendas and goals of the leader.
President Erdogan took advantage of the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, after expelling hundreds of thousands of followers of Fethullah Gulen and his supporters from all state institutions and organs, and then referred a series of constitutional amendments to the popular referendum in emergency circumstances, which helped him pass these amendments that changed the political system from parliamentary to presidential to become the absolute ruler of the country.
The High Electoral Commission also did not pay attention to the opposition parties' objection to the counting process, after the electoral commissions adopted about 2.5 million ballot papers not stamped by the Commission, all of which were in favor of the amendment, which received the support of 52.5% of the citizens' votes.
The commission also rejected opposition objections to President Erdogan's approval to run for the third time in the last election, which is barred by the constitution, which limits the presidential term only twice.
The Commission is also indifferent to the opposition and citizens ’ objection to Erdogan ’ s election as president as he does not have a university degree, which is also required by the constitution.
All these developments seem to encourage President Erdogan in his biggest and most important project to change the entire constitution, this time to ensure that he remains in power forever as long as he lives.
The opposition points to President Erdogan ’ s efforts to reconcile with his arch-foe, Sisi, and his personal relationship with President Putin, and says he seeks to benefit from their experiences in changing the constitution, which Sisi and Putin have done to stay in power until 2034 and 2036.
The opposition adds that what Erdogan is seeking is re-election in the 2028 elections for two new terms, each five years, but not counting the previous three periods to remain in power until 2038, when he will be 84 years old, of course, if health conditions allow him to do so.
As these conversations continue at the political and popular levels, some quarters do not neglect to bet on the name of the candidate to succeed Erdogan, and may be his son-in-law Seljuk Bayraktar, the husband of his daughter Sumaya, who is nominated by some to succeed her father.
Without all this meaning that staying in power is President Erdogan ’ s only goal, there are other agendas in his calculations, the most important of which is to get rid of the dogmatic ideology of the secular republic founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and which is preparing to celebrate its centenary on October 29.
The talk of religious circles close to and loyal to Erdogan came daily through the media and social networks about the need to establish a religious system based on Islamic law to pave the way for President Erdogan to put his ideas for discussion during the preparation of the new constitution, to get rid of the first four articles, the most important of which are those that confirm the secularism of the Turkish state.
This contradicts Erdogan ’ s policies abroad, as he promised Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE to stay away from Arab and non-Arab Islamic movements (which he did not do in Syria and Libya) while unleashing the sheikhs and religious angles to support him in his efforts to Islamize the nation and the religious state, without neglecting the Turkish national side of these efforts, in order to fuel the nationalist sentiment of his supporters and followers in every foreign elections or during any internal and crisis. Just like he did in the last election.
The bet remains on the position of the Turkish people, who do not know whether and how (Turkish and Ottoman history as a whole did not witness any popular revolution) will confront Erdogan ’ s projects not only to stay in power but to get rid of the secular regime.
Everyone knows that without this system, Turkey will find itself in a political, social, intellectual, ideological, national and religious conflict that will create many difficult problems for it, which will undoubtedly be in Erdogan ’ s favor in the absence of political and popular opposition, after Erdogan tightened his control over all state institutions, facilities and organs, most importantly the army, which was the weapon of secularists and is now in Erdogan ’ s service.
Al-Mayadeen Net

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Content: Contenuto disponibile in Italiano

Visit of Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States: “Dialogue is the most effective means to address any challenge”

Visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States. Twelve days and a tight schedule of meetings and receptions in his honour from October 23 to November 3. Religious freedom, the hope for increased environmental justice ahead of the UN Climate Conference, universal access to COVID-19 vaccines, the difficult situation of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa, along with the delicate relations with Turkey. These issues are the focus of meetings with US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Turkish Ambassador Hasan Murat Mercan and members of the Ecumenical Council of Churches

“Dialogue” as the means to address “any challenge of the present or the future”, needed “in a world that is often heated by rhetoric and ideologies.” This is the heart of the message that Ecumenical Patriarch is conveying in his meetings at institutional and religious forums in the United States. Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to the United States began on October 23 and will end on November 3. He has been attending numerous meetings and receptions in his honour since his arrival. Welcomed into the White House Oval Office by US President Joe Biden, Bartholomew touched on key issues such as world peace, religious freedom, the hope for increased environmental justice in view of the UN Climate Conference, as well as universal access to COVID-19 vaccines. He also discussed the sensitive issue of the Halki seminary, the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s school of theology, which was “forcibly closed fifty years ago”, in 1971, by decision of the Turkish government, expressing to Biden his “hope that it will be reopened”. “Our efforts for promoting Christian unity and interfaith understanding and cooperation have but one principle – dialogue”, he told the press as he left the White House.

“We consider dialogue as the most effective means to address any challenge of the present or the future.”

The Patriarch addressed President Biden as “man of faith and man of vision, and we know  – he added “that he will offer to this wonderful country and to the world, the best leadership and direction.” Immediately after, the Ecumenical Patriarch and his staff met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the James Monroe Conference Room of the State Department.  In the course of the meeting the Ecumenical Patriarch raised concerns about “the plight of Christians in the Middle East and Northern Africa, expressing his hope for stability and religious freedom in the region.” The Patriarch was also welcomed by the ambassador of Turkey to the United States, Hasan Murat Mercan. However, the content of the meeting was reported only by the news outlet “Orthodoxtimes”. The Ecumenical Patriarchate – spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which as a whole comprises 90 million faithful worldwide – has its historical seat at the Phanar in Istanbul. It therefore has an enduring presence within the Republic of Turkey, with which it shares “a history of great complexity and depth, and it constantly presents new opportunities and challenges.” Speaking to the Turkish ambassador, the Ecumenical Patriarch reiterated the importance of “understanding and mutual respect”, that are “the foundation of all true diplomatic labours”, “needed now more than ever, in a world that is often heated by rhetoric and ideologies that lead to extremes.”

For the Ecumenical Patriarchate “Turkey can be – not only an inclusive society, but a bridge-builder between East and West, a much needed role in the world today.”

“Today, the ecumenical movement is at a crossroads”, he said in his remarks to members of the Ecumenical Council of Churches. “If we do not place the issue of unity and communion at the centre of our commitment, we will lose the authenticity of our relationships and the common goal that brings us together. We have excellent and very talented theologians working on various aspects of our doctrine.” But dialogue today “needs symbols, actions and encounters that embody our desire for unity.” In this regard, Bartholomew gave as an example the appeal for the future of the planet issued “for the first time in the history of Christianity” together with Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Patriarch stressed once again: “We need to open our hearts to the language of dialogue. This is the ultimate condition for the restoration of unity among Christians.” And while “the 20th century was a time for growing restoration of relationships”, the “21st century should become the century of the restoration of unity.”

“The path to Christian unity has been neither peaceful nor painless. Unity is a task that remains difficult to fulfill. But the bonds of friendship among divided churches and the bridges by which we can overcome our divisions are indispensable, now more than ever.”

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Content: The topics of publications of the Vatican media, Catholic dioceses and organizations during the week of June 5 – 11 were: Pope Francis instructed young astronomers; the abolition of the Pan-Orthodox Council will hit the image of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople; jihadists in Syria and Iraq are waiting for retaliation from the Shiites; in Poland, they offer to establish a currency Intermarium; Cardinal Parolin goes to Ukraine and other.
Pope Francis received young astronomers in the Vatican, reports Radio Vatican (Vatican).
The Pope met with an international group of teachers and students participating in the 15th Summer Astronomical School at the Vatican Observatory.
Addressing astronomers, Francis said: “The desire to understand the universe created by God and our place in it is common to people from a wide variety of cultural and religious contexts. ”
The inhabitants of the planet are united by the desire to learn the truth about the principles of this wonderful Universe, “getting closer and closer to their Creator. ”
The current course of the Summer Astronomical School is devoted to the study of water in the solar system, and, according to the Pope, this choice of theme is providential: “From the smallest snowflakes to the largest waterfalls, from rivers and lakes to the endless oceans, water fascinates us with its strength and at the same time its humility.
Great civilizations originated from rivers, and access to drinking water today is a matter of justice for the human race, for the rich and the poor.
Pope Leo XIII founded the Vatican Observatory 125 years ago in order to affirm that “the Church is a friend of genuine and thorough science, both human and divine. ”
Over the years, Francis noted, the Vatican Observatory has sought to achieve this goal, using new tools, as well as through dialogue with other research centers.
More generally, the work of a scientist requires a lot of effort, which can be long and difficult, however, stressed the pontiff, “I wish you the ability to maintain this joy that animates your scientific work: it is the presence of joy that is the reason that you cannot but share it with your friends, families, your peoples, the international scientific community with which you work.
I hope that you will always experience the joy of research and share their fruits in a brotherly and humbled way. ”
The pope promised to pray for young astronomers that scientific research, sometimes long and tedious, would be a source of deep joy for them.
The Catholic press continues to closely follow the vicissitudes of the convocation of the Pan-Orthodox Council, which is scheduled for June 16-27 in Crete.
His discovery, writes L'Osservatore Romano (Vatican), looks increasingly uncertain.
A number of Holy Synods or Episcopal Assemblies ask to postpone the date of the Council in order to have time to amend the draft documents planned for adoption.
For this reason and for others, some Orthodox churches have already stated that they will not come to Crete, which will negatively affect the status of the Council, since its decisions require the unanimous consent of the invited Churches.
To date, in addition to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, only the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Jerusalem and Romania, as well as the autocephalous Churches of Cyprus and Albania, have confirmed their arrival.
It is likely that the Russian Orthodox Church, which has repeatedly stressed the need for a unanimous decision of the Churches, will offer a postponement.
The ROC will express its opinion on Monday, June 13, during an extraordinary session of the Synod.
As for Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, these Churches have not yet guaranteed their participation.
The difficulties encountered give rise to three brief observations.
It is noteworthy that the public expression of claims sounded too late.
It should also be noted that the Moscow Patriarchate is not the driving force behind their manifestation, as some might think.
The signal was given by Bulgaria, and then by the patriarchates of Antioch and Serbia, who are not known for their principled hostility to the idea of convening a Council.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that, in addition to claims to the draft documents, a number of Churches (Antiochian and, to a lesser extent, Serbian) hoped that during the meeting of the Council they would be able to resolve their differences with other Churches.
Now all this is in question.
Vatican insider (Turin, Italy) draws attention to the statement of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, in which he tried to smooth out the claims made against him.
On the one hand, Phanar stated that after “an unexpected and surprising expression of the positions and views of the fraternal Orthodox Churches, it confirms that no institutional structure can revise the conciliar process that has already begun. ”
On the other hand, the Patriarchate of Constantinople promises to consider whether amendments, corrections or additions could be made to the texts agreed in advance, but it is “in the course of the work of the Pan-Orthodox Council. ”
The publication believes that, having begun its work, the Council could confirm that unity in Christ is not produced mechanically, but blossoms as a gift of the Holy Spirit, if one proceeds by adjusting the conciliar texts and statements, resorting to compromises to allay the fears of those Churches that express them.
Churches that have withdrawn their repeated promises to participate in the Pan-Orthodox Council threaten the unity of Orthodoxy, said Archbishop Chrysostom II, Primate of the Cyprus Orthodox Church.
According to KATHPRESS (Vienna, Austria), the Metropolitan laid “responsibility on those who themselves contribute to the unintended schism. ”
The publication also analyzes the position of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which refused to travel to Cyprus, and recalls that in the spring of this year, following a meeting of bishops from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia, the Romanian Patriarchate was accused of interfering in the internal affairs of Serbian Orthodoxy.
In the end, the opening of the Council ’ s work will depend mainly on the reactions of the patriarchates of Moscow and Constantinople.
If the ROC remains at home, the Council will “fail ”, even if it is not officially canceled.
And this will hit the rating of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the main initiator of the convocation of the Pan-Orthodox Council.
Armenians in Turkey live in fear after the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Bundestag, the Armenian saint expresses “solidarity ” with Erdogan, and the flock of the archbishop meanwhile fears revenge and violence, tells AsiaNews (Rome, Italy).
Ethnic Armenians in Turkey, some 100,000, have been caught in a country gripped by resentment and are anxiously awaiting reprisals from ultranationalist groups that may benefit from the support of Turkish authorities, intelligence agencies and the military.
This is a reaction to the furious speeches of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In his speech, he said that he could expel Armenians from the country, both with Turkish citizenship and immigrants.
Turkish Armenians, who spoke with the publication, note the emergence of an “atmosphere of fear ”.
The information policy of the government has become so “Armenian-hateful ” that the most unexpected consequences are possible.
A former Armenian teacher says Armenians in Turkey feel “hostages. ”
According to him, Turkey cannot accept the fact that Germany recognized its own responsibility for the destruction of the Armenian people, thereby depriving Ankara of the opportunity to deny its share of guilt.
In an attempt to reduce tensions, the viceroy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, who would like to become a future patriarch with the support of Erdogan, sent a long letter to the Turkish president.
In it, he writes that the resolution adopted by the Bundestag “caused deep regret among the Armenian people. ”
The viceroy simply repeated what Erdogan said when the president criticized Germany with words that Chancellor Merkel described as “unacceptable. ”
Nevertheless, the position of the archbishop is understandable.
As a future patriarch in Istanbul, he must protect his flock from the backlash of Turkish nationalists and Erdogan ’ s Islamist extremism.
The Armenian press, however, was less tolerant of the words of the viceroy.
Diaspora Armenians call on Ateshyan to act “as the true head of the Church of Christ ” and learn from Pope Francis the meaning of the word“ courage ”, referring to the pontiff ’ s statement on the Armenian Genocide made on April 12, 2015 in St. Peter ’ s Basilica.
Berlin was restrained in the situation with the beginning of the reading of Muslim prayers in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, notes KATHPRESS.
A foreign ministry spokesman said Ankara ’ s move was an internal matter for Turkey.
However, he added, it is desirable that the use of the World Heritage Building take place “without prejudice ” to its status.
In turn, some Turkish politicians, using as a pretext the discussion about the Armenian Genocide, called for no longer to take into account the position of Western Christians and proposed that the former Christian Cathedral of Hagia Sophia again make a mosque.
Agenzia Fides (Vatican) talks about the sprouts of peaceful life in Syria.
In Hasaka, work is underway to repair the hospital, which promises to be the largest and best equipped in the north-eastern part of the country.
Its opening is scheduled for January 1, 2017.
“This is a sign of hope and our determination to move forward despite the tragedy in which we are doomed to live, ” said the Syro-Catholic Archbishop of Al-Hasakah, Jacques Behnam Hindo.
With the beginning of the civil war, the hospital turned into the material and technical base of the Kurdish militia.
After difficult negotiations, the archbishop said, “we signed a final agreement ” and began rebuilding the building.
According to him, the opening of the largest hospital in the region with an area of 6,000 square meters, with laboratories and departments for the treatment of cancer and cardiac diseases, will show that Christians responsible for the restoration work can and will create infrastructure for the common good.
Daesh (ISIS – a structure banned in Russia) found itself in a difficult situation in Syria and Iraq.
Whether to expect the jihadists that the Shiite militias will give them a "dish of revenge", asks L'Agenzia Servizio Informazione Religiosa (Rome, Italy).
According to the publication, such a scenario is quite possible.
It is confirmed by the Director of the Italian Center for Peace in the Middle East (CIPMO) Janiki Cingoli.
He says that the parties to the conflict have accumulated tremendous hatred, the jihadists have brought grief to many families and therefore the risk of an inevitable vendetta cannot be ignored.
Daesh did not fall from the sky, explains French political scientist Olivier Roy, it is the “tip of the spear ” of Sunnis who wanted to stop the so-called“ Shiite expansionism ”.
At the same time, the Western coalition and Iran are now militarily in control of the situation, so they are trying to stop the wave of retaliation in order to avoid reputational damage.
Polonia Christiana (Krakow, Poland) is considering whether, in view of the imminent death of the euro, it is worth establishing the Intermarium currency.
The prospects for the European Union are dubious.
Poland has to decide where to go next.
There is a natural (historical, cultural, geographical) region for economic and political integration known as the Intermarium.
And it seems to be a suitable basis for building an alternative future for the Polish movement forward – political, economic and monetary.
If the common currency area extends to countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, the Baltic republics and the Balkans, Belarus, it will be a large union with more than one hundred million people, and Poland plays the role of the largest and most competitive economy, like Germany in the euro zone.
The advantages of the common market for Poland and other participants of this region with a single currency are obvious, the presence of weak economies in it (for example, Ukrainian or Romanian) will lead to the weakening of the single currency of the Intermarium, which will make Polish products competitive in foreign markets.
This is if not economic power, then at least the prosperity of Warsaw for many years.
It is a way to bring back to the country millions of Polish emigrants who fled their homes after the uprisings in the 19th century.
There's no other way out.
Staying in any economic paradigm with Germany – especially monetary one – will put Poland in the position of a child, the differences in economic potential will not decrease, but, on the contrary, deepen.
Similarly, there is no effective economic paradigm between Poland and Russia.
Russia, due to its geography and ethnic diversity, will remain at least authoritarian and will not have a free market.
That is why economic relations with Moscow will always be fraught with political interests.
At the same time, as we know, for several centuries, Russia perceived Poland through a vision of it as a near abroad, which cannot be accepted.
Attention should be paid to Ukraine and Belarus, due to economic integration with them, Poland has a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
Of course, the idea of a single currency of the Intermarium is fraught with many conditions.
It would mean the collapse of Germany ’ s economic policy.
Similarly, Russia will oppose it.
The main problem is in Ukraine itself, which is the key to the implementation of this project.
We are not talking about Volyn and the monument to Bandera in Lviv.
The events of recent years show that people of non-Ukrainian origin are beginning to play a leading role in the state institutions of Ukraine.
A significant part of the Ukrainian establishment headed by the Prime Minister is of Jewish origin, as well as most of the Ukrainian oligarchs (however, there is also a Tatar there).
The chairman of the Odessa Regional State Administration is pro-American Georgian Mikhail Saakashvili.
The Minister of Finance was Natalia Jaresko, a US citizen.
The mayor of Kiev is no less famous in Berlin than in Ukraine, Vitaly Klitschko.
Negotiations with international creditors are handled by the Pole Balcerowicz.
In other words, it is alarming that the share of Ukrainians in their own state apparatus is melting, it seems that their own state is slipping out of the hands of Ukrainians.
Perhaps this is just a symptom of transition.
Time will tell.
But there is no doubt that a strong alliance with the virtual state can not be built.
Pope Francis has established a special Committee for the distribution of donations for residents of Ukraine affected by the fighting in the east of the country, reports Radio Vatican.
Speaking to reporters, Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Hall, stressed that the funds will be distributed regardless of the religion or ethnic origin of the victims.
The official representatives of the project will be the Vatican Secretariat of State and the Pontifical Council Cor Unum through the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine.
In order to effectively distribute the funds raised, Pope Francis decided to establish an appropriate “technical ” committee consisting of a chairman and four assistants.
It will be headed by Monsignor Jan Sobilo, Auxiliary Bishop of the Kharkiv-Zaporozhye Diocese.
The main office of the new committee will be located in the curia of the Kharkiv-Zaporozhye diocese, volunteers will act on its behalf to guarantee the actual delivery of the collected funds to the affected population.
In a letter addressed to Sobilo on the occasion of the establishment of the committee, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, points out that in order to determine individual cases of assistance, the committee will primarily be guided by proposals “from interreligious or interfaith bodies from individual regions, from individual bishops, including non-Catholic ”, as well as other organizations.
Well, Parolin himself, according to Katolitsky Oglyadach (Lviv, Ukraine), on June 17 will lead the holy mass in the cathedral church of St. Alexander in Kiev.
On June 15 – 20, the Secretary of State will pay an official visit to Ukraine to express the solidarity of Pope Francis with the people who are suffering from the war.
The representative of the pontiff will visit Zaporozhye, where the action “Pope for Ukraine ” officially starts, as well as Kiev and Lviv.
The cardinal will meet with the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, representatives of state and local authorities, hierarchs of the Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Greek Catholic churches, internally displaced persons.
The review uses materials from the official Vatican media Radio Vaticana and L ’ Osservatore Romano; the Vatican ’ s missionary news agency, the units of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Agenzia Fides; the news agency of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions AsiaNews; the publications of the Federation of Italian Catholic weeklies L ’ Agenzia Servizio Informazione Religii osa; the portal of the Italian publishing house "Guardians of the Holy Land" Terrasanta.net; the Vatican edition of the Italian newspaper La Stampa Vatican insider; the North American Catholic newspaper National Catholic Reporter; the North American Catholic News Agency Catholic News Agency; the North American Catholic newspaper National Catholic Register; the portal of the Catholic newspaper of England and Wales Catholic Herald; Austrian Catholic news agency Kath.net; Austrian Catholic news agency KATHPRESS; French Catholic newspaper La Croix; Polish Catholic news agency Katolicka Agencja Informacyjna; Polish Catholic daily newspaper Nasz dziennik; Polish Christian Culture Association magazine Polonia Christiana; Milites Christi Imperatoris news website The Peer Lookout.

Title:

Content: ANKARA, May 24 — PRIME.
Turkey may benefit from the diversion from Russia of part of the production capacity of European companies, said senior vice president of international rating agency Moody ’ s Catherine Mülbronner.
“Turkey can benefit from the redirection (from Russia) of part of the production capacity of European companies.
Europe is Turkey ’ s largest trading partner.
(European) companies are fully committed to their suppliers.
Turkey can take advantage of this situation, ” Mülbronner told Anadolu news agency.
According to her, Turkish banks are the most important factor in ensuring a sustainable recovery of the country ’ s economy.
“The Turkish economy has always been sustainable.
Turkey ’ s economy is large and diversified, ” Mülbronner said.
According to the vice president, Moody ’ s is still “relatively optimistic ” about the growth of the Turkish economy, as the depreciation of the Turkish lira has a positive impact on exports.
Mühlbronner also noted the support from the Turkish government to exporters and investors.
With its support, the government is trying to protect the poorest part of the population from inflation, said a senior vice president of the rating agency.
"The situation in the field of tourism (in the near future) may not be bad.
We expect that Turkey ’ s GDP will grow by about 3% (by the end of the year).
In fact, by the end of this year, the growth may be even slightly higher, ” said Mühlbronner.
Although Turkey ’ s economic growth slowed last year, its growth rates are still higher than those in many other countries, she added.

Title:

Content: Turkish Realism or Geopolitics?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan abruptly reversed expectations about the course of Sweden ’ s NATO membership crisis when he struck a deal with Stockholm just hours before the NATO summit in Vilnius.
Under the deal, Erdogan pledged to submit Sweden ’ s accession protocol to NATO to the Turkish parliament for ratification in exchange for Sweden and NATO pledging to work closely with Ankara to address its legitimate security concerns over terrorism, remove NATO restrictions on arms sales to Turkey, and Stockholm ’ s pledge to support efforts to reinvigorate Turkey ’ s EU accession process, including modernizing the EU-Turkey customs union and visa liberalization for Turks.
In addition to the deal, the administration of US President Joe Biden pledged to work on the completion of the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey and the modernization of its air fleet.
These pledges give the impression that Erdogan has succeeded in the cause of NATO expansion by extracting more gains from the West than had been expected.
Although new U.S. pledges to Turkey to complete this deal have played a key catalytic role for Ankara to conclude the latest deal with Sweden, the completion of the deal is far from certain.
With the exception of the clause on Turkish-European relations, which is still unclear how it will be dealt with, because the EU was not originally a party to this deal, the other clauses are clearer in terms of their parties and ways of implementing them.
In the fight against terrorism, for example, Turkey and Sweden agreed to form a bilateral security mechanism that would present at its first meeting a roadmap to intensify its fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including refraining from providing any support to the Kurdish People ’ s Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian arm of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers ’ Party (PKK), and the Gulen Organization, which Turkey designates as a terrorist organization.
This clause indicates that Ankara will wait for concrete Swedish steps in the fight against terrorism before proceeding with the membership ratification process.
With regard to the provision on the removal of restrictions on arms trade between allies, the fact that this pledge was issued by NATO is binding on all NATO countries, especially those that impose sanctions and restrictions on arms sales to Turkey, such as the United States and Canada.
Sweden and Finland have already lifted bans on some arms sales to Turkey, while Canada still imposes a similar ban, but has promised to resume talks with Ankara on removing the restrictions.
U.S. restrictions and sanctions on Turkey in the areas of defense appear more complex in nature and political circumstances, and a major shift is unlikely to occur under the deal.
Washington continues to impose sanctions on Turkey ’ s defense industry after Turkey bought the S-400 from Russia in 2019 and took Ankara out of the F-35 Joint Manufacturing Project.
But the administration of US President Joe Biden has for some time sought to find a way out of the crisis with Turkey on this issue by showing its willingness to sell Turkey a batch of F-16 fighter jets and spare equipment to modernize its air fleet.
Given that Washington is still mortgaging the end of sanctions to Turkey ’ s abandonment of the S-400 ′, and given that the latter rejects this condition, the F-16 deal seemed like a temporary compromise between Ankara and Washington.
Although new U.S. pledges to Turkey to complete this deal have played a key catalytic role for Ankara to conclude the latest deal with Sweden, the completion of the deal is far from certain.
The Biden administration will have to convince lawmakers in Congress to pass the deal, but given that lawmakers opposed to it are subject to approval by Turkey ’ s parliament of Sweden ’ s NATO membership, it is unlikely that Turkey will do so until it has clear guarantees from Washington that the deal will be completed.
The fact that Erdogan avoided presenting a specific timetable for ratifying Sweden ’ s membership in the deal creates new room for him to maneuver and retreat if the parties involved in the deal do not meet their commitments.
If the deal has set a clear course for most other commitments such as Sweden ’ s tightening in the fight against terrorism and the lifting of restrictions on arms trade between allies, the provision on Turkish-European relations lacks clear mechanisms for how to implement it.
In theory, the deal did not include a commitment from the European Union to relaunch the process of Turkey ’ s accession to it, modernize the customs union agreement with it and lift the visa for Turks to enter its countries, but Erdogan ’ s adherence to these demands in return for completing the ratification of Sweden makes it difficult for the EU to ignore doing something. to re-energize Turkish-European relations.
While the deal has raised many questions about whether Turkey has embarked on a new geopolitical positioning by rapprochement with the West and distancing itself from Russia, which cannot be certain, not only because the deal ’ s success is uncertain, but because Ankara remains keen to maintain its vital partnership with Moscow, the deal reveals Erdogan ’ s desire to achieve three key goals.
First, to force the West to adopt a consistent approach in the fight against terrorism.
Second, remove restrictions on Western arms exports to Turkey.
• Third, to obtain economic gains from the revitalization of trade relations between Turkey and Western countries, the modernization of the customs union agreement with the European Union and the liberalization of the visa.
Taken together, these three clear objectives will benefit Ankara and the West, but will not necessarily lead to a profound shift in the course of Turkish-Western relations.
Some major differences will remain between the two sides, such as U.S. support for Kurdish units, the Cyprus issue, and chronic Turkish-Greek disputes.
However, recalibrating relations with Erdogan helps Erdogan create the right conditions for the success of his new economic policy and a real balance in relations with the West and Russia.
In this sense, rapprochement with the West embodies Erdogan ’ s foreign-policy realism and does not reflect a geopolitical shift toward the West.

Title:

Content: UNESCO supports the agenda of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana
KATHAN / PARIS / October 2 – Kazakhstan ’ s Permanent Mission to UNESCO recently presented Kazakhstan ’ s excellent experience in the field of intercultural dialogue at its headquarters in Paris.
Notable among them is the Sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, to be held in Astana from 10 to 11 October.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Angela Melo, Director of the Department of Ethics and Youth Policy of UNESCO, attended and spoke at the event, which was jointly organized by the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Melo noted that the topics to be discussed are of global importance and will focus on the intercultural dialogue between representatives of UNESCO ’ s religious conferences and other intercultural dialogues.
In addition, the organization will provide active support to all Governments and civil society in their activities in this field.
"In line with the concept of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022) proposed by Kazakhstan and led by UNESCO, we should continue to support the building of bridges of dialogue between cultures and religions," Melo said.
It is worth mentioning that the initiative of President Nazarbayev was supported by UNESCO and adopted by the UN General Assembly Resolution 67 / 104 in December 2012.
During the seminar, UNESCO, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the French Ministry of Education, the Permanent Representatives of the countries represented to UNESCO, as well as representatives of research centres and civil society organizations, discussed the experience of government agencies, international and non-governmental organizations in the field of prevention of religious extremism.
In addition, Ashar Abdrakhmanov, Deputy Representative of the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to UNESCO, gave a presentation on the main agenda of the upcoming Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The main objective of the conference is to maximize the joint efforts of religious groups, politicians and civil society through stable dialogue and the promotion of human values, and to promote peaceful coexistence among peoples.
Finally, the senior analyst of the International Turkic Institute, Timur Kuzreyev, pointed to concrete examples of cooperation between Kazakhstan and other Turkic-speaking countries in promoting intercultural dialogue.
【 Compilation ： Iceberg 】
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Title:

Content: The “Save Our Sacred Sites” Initiative: A Beacon of Hope for Buffalo’s Historic Churches

In Buffalo, New York, a movement is underway to preserve the cultural and historical heritage embodied in the city’s Catholic churches. With a number of churches facing closure as announced by the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, community leaders are not standing idly by. Spearheaded by Buffalo City Council Member Mitch Nowakowski and Preservation Buffalo Niagara Executive Director Bernice Radel, the “Save Our Sacred Sites” initiative aims to secure historic landmark status for these sacred spaces. These closures impact Broadway-Fillmore with the proposal close both St. John Kanty and St. Adalbert Basilica (more info on that click here).

The initiative reflects a broader concern for preserving the architectural and historical significance of these structures, which are not merely places of worship but also repositories of community history and identity. The focus is currently on churches within the city limits, with aspirations to extend this protective status throughout Western New York. The challenge, however, lies in the varying preservation laws across different communities, which necessitates a tailored approach to each location.

The City of Buffalo boasts robust local landmarking tools and zoning codes that encourage the adaptive reuse of church buildings, presenting a model for other communities. The goal is to explore every avenue to save as many churches as possible, recognizing the rapid pace at which these changes are occurring.

The Diocese has expressed openness to discussions about preserving the churches, albeit with stipulations on future use to ensure they remain in line with the church’s values. Restrictions would likely preclude commercial activities, especially those deemed inappropriate, reflecting the Diocese’s desire to maintain the sanctity of these sites.

This preservation effort is a testament to the community’s dedication to its historical landmarks. It underscores the importance of proactive measures to safeguard the legacy of Buffalo’s Catholic churches, ensuring they continue to serve as touchstones of heritage and history for generations to come. The dialogue between the Diocese and preservationists will be crucial in shaping the future of these sacred sites, balancing respect for religious traditions with the imperative of cultural conservation.

For more information on the effort and how you can help, visit https://preservationbuffaloniagara.org/special-projects/saveoursacredsites.

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Title:

Content: Erdogan invited the leaders of Muslim states to the first prayer in Hagia Sophia
13: 26 22 July Kiev, Ukraine
According to the plan, on July 24, the first prayer will be held in Hagia Sophia in Turkey, after it was decided to convert the building of the Orthodox church into a mosque.
The leaders of many Muslim countries are invited to take part in it.
Erdogan ’ s invitation came from Qatar and Azerbaijan.
The remaining heads of state have not yet responded to the Turkish president.
Remind me!
The Turkish government decided to change the status of the architectural monument and the Orthodox Church of St. Sophia and convert the room into a mosque.
The Pope said that this situation causes him grief.
The Patriarch of Ecumenical and Constantinople, who recently received a great number of churches on the territory of Ukraine, and did not demand the transfer of the museum to the Diocese of Constantinople in a timely manner, said that the creation of a mosque in the museum building can be negatively met in the Orthodox world.
It is expected that the first prayer in the new mosque will be attended by about 1000-1500 people.
All quarantine conditions will be met, participants in prayer will be given masks, and disinfectants will be placed everywhere in the cathedral so that people can treat their hands and their prayer mats.
During the prayer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also be present in the cathedral, along with Turkish ministers, leaders of the ruling Justice and Development Party.
As previously reported, all the frescoes and mosaics at the time of prayer will be covered with curtains.
On July 10, a Turkish court ruled that the decision to convert the mosque into a museum in 1934 was illegal.
Erdogan immediately signed a decree on assigning Hagia Sophia the status of a mosque.
The move has sparked international criticism and concern, including from Greece, the United States and Russia, as well as UNESCO and Pope Francis.
Turkey insists that the status of the architectural monument is its internal affair.

Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

Title:

Content: A video from the Austrian Parliament.
A tribute to the efforts of the Kingdom and the march of "Bin Muammar" at the Center for Interfaith Dialogue
Al-Rawi praised Saudi support for Vienna in the file of heritage and historical heritage at the UNESCO Conference
The Austrian Member of Parliament in Vienna, Omar Al-Rawi, praised the efforts of Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar, former Secretary General of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, and his activities during the 12 years spent in the Austrian capital, during his tenure as Secretary General of the Center, noting that he was the ambassador to Austria in Saudi Arabia.
During the session of the Austrian Parliament, Al-Rawi praised the support of the Kingdom and the assistance of Vienna in the file of heritage and historical heritage at the UNESCO Conference, held in Riyadh recently, during which the delegation of the Austrian Parliament visited the King Abdulaziz Public Library, which included Christoph Tun Holinschnine, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for Cultural Affairs, the Austrian Ambassador to the Kingdom, Oscar Westinger, and Omar Al-Rawi. Ambassador Peter Brzewski, Head of the UNESCO Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Regina Wegel, Ambassador of Austria to UNESCO in Paris, and Rudolf Zunke, Commissioner of the City of Vienna to manage the file of the cultural heritage of UNESCO.
The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICID) is an international organization founded in 2012 by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Spain, along with the Vatican as a founding observer member.
Based in Lisbon, Portugal, the Center seeks to promote dialogue and understanding among followers of multiple religions and cultures, and work to promote a culture of respect for diversity and establish the rules of justice and peace among nations and peoples. Working to promote a culture of dialogue and living together, the Board of Directors of the Center consists of different religious leaders and from many countries.
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Title:

Content: Turkey election: Erdogan re-elected, country continues to divide
Paul Kirby and Ece Goksedef
• BBC reporter from Ankara
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power for years, won another five-year term, and his supporters celebrated all night.
“All 85 million people in the country have won, ” he told cheering crowds at his huge residence on the edge of Ankara.
But his call for unity appears hollow as he mocks his opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, and targets jailed Kurdish leaders and LGBT (gay, bisexual and transgender) support policies.
The opposition leader did not publicly concede defeat.
Kirida Oru called it "the most unfair election in recent years" and said the president's party had used all the power of the government against him.
According to unofficial statistics close to the count, Erdoğan won just over 52% of the vote — nearly half of voters in a deeply polarized country who did not support his authoritarian vision for Turkey.
In the end, Krida Oru could not match the well-trained Erdogan campaign, even though he has pulled the current president into the runoff stage for the second round – the first since the Turkish president adopted direct elections in 2014.
But he failed to reverse his opponent's lead in the first round, with a gap of more than two million votes.
The Turkish president, for his part, proclaimed his victory to the greatest extent possible.
He spoke to crowds on a bus in Istanbul, the largest city, and then on the balcony of his official residence after dark, where some 320,000 people gathered in support of him.
“It ’ s not just us who won, it ’ s Turkey as a whole, ” he said, calling it one of the most important elections in Turkey ’ s history.
He taunted his defeated opponent: "Bye, Kemal." — a phrase echoed by supporters in Ankara.
He also denounced his rival allies for supporting LGBT policies, saying that he was at odds with his own family-centered principles.
Although the final result of the election was not confirmed, the Supreme Electoral Council said that the victory was no longer in doubt.
Erdoğan supporters everywhere in Ankara took to the streets to celebrate the victory, with some calling out the slogans of Islam and some laying the Turkish flag on the lawn to pray.
While some supporters say they believe Erdoğan will do better in the next five years, the president himself has acknowledged that Turkey ’ s high inflation rate is the most pressing problem at the moment – the country ’ s annual inflation rate is already close to 44%, affecting the lives of every citizen.
And the economy is not the biggest concern of Erdoğan ’ s supporters at the moment, who say they are proud of Erdoğan ’ s strong position in the world and his toughness in fighting “terrorists, ” by which they mean the Kurdish armed forces.
Despite the euphoria of supporters, the idea of unity in this torn country seems to be as far away as ever.
After the failed coup in 2016, Erdoğan had abolished the post of prime minister, with a high concentration of power, which opponents described as a step backwards.
Turkey ’ s opposition now has to regroup in order to prepare for the 2024 local elections.
A strong leader for 20 years.
From humble beginnings, Erdoğan is a giant in Turkish politics and has led the country for 20 years and is the most influential figure in the country since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding father of the modern republic.
Despite a series of crises, he won the 2023 election and remained in power.
It was his most precarious position in years, and his opponents believed he could defeat him.
Critics have accused his unruly economic policies of exacerbating the cost of living crisis in Turkey.
Moreover, as a combative leader who set a record in Turkey ’ s modernization, he seemed to be slow to respond to the earthquake that claimed 50,000 lives in February.
After escaping a coup d'état in 2016, he transformed the presidency into an executive role of supreme power and suppressed opponents and dissidents.
Beginning in 2003, first as prime minister and then as president by direct election since 2014, Turkey under Erdoğan ’ s leadership has been “flexing its muscles ” as a regional power, pursuing the Islamist cause and quickly overpowering its political rivals.
Although the head of a NATO member state, he placed himself in the position of mediator in the Russo-Ukrainian War, and made Sweden wait a bit longer to join the Western defense alliance.
His hard-line diplomacy angered Europe and beyond.
Erdoğan polarized his country, but he was a victorious general in the election.
His supporters refer to him as a "leader."
He accused opponents of contempt for Turkish voters and unpopular: "85 million people, we will protect our votes, our will and our future."
On the throne of power.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was born in February 1954 on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, the son of a member of the Coast Guard. At the age of 13, his father decided to move to Istanbul, hoping for a better environment for his five children.
Young Erdoğan used to make extra money selling lemonade and sesame packets.
He attended an Islamic school and later earned a degree in management from Marmara University in Istanbul – and was a professional footballer.
In the 1970s and 1980s, he was active in Islamic circles, joining the pro-Islamic Welfare Party of Necmettin Erbakan. As the party gained popularity in the 1990s, Erdoğan was elected mayor of Istanbul in 1994, leading Turkey ’ s largest city for the next four years.
But his tenure came to an abrupt end when he was accused of openly reading nationalist poetry inciting hatred, which included phrases such as: “Mosques are our barracks, domes are our helmets, minarets are our bayonets, believers are our soldiers. ”
After a few months in prison, he returned to politics.
But his party has been banned for violating the strict secular rules of the modern Turkish government.
In 2001, he formed a new party with his ally Abdullah Gul. In 2002, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won a parliamentary majority, and Erdoğan was appointed prime minister the following year.
To this day, he is the chairman of the AKP.
First 10 years in power
Since 2003, he has been Prime Minister for three terms, leading a period of steady economic growth and earning international recognition as a reformer.
At a time when Erdoğan prioritized modernizing Turkey with large infrastructure projects, the middle class expanded and millions lifted out of poverty.
But critics also warn that he is becoming more authoritarian.
Protesters took to the streets in 2013, partly because of his government ’ s plan to transform a popular park in central Istanbul, but also because the population was challenging increasingly authoritarian rule.
The Prime Minister accused the protesters of being a nuisance, and people in the streets would beat pots every night at 9 o'clock to show resistance.
The sons of three cabinet allies have also been indicted on corruption charges.
The Gezi Park protests became a black and white spot for his rule.
To his critics, he acted more like an Ottoman monarch than a democratic leader.
Erdoğan also had a feud with Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic scholar based in the United States whose social and cultural movements helped Erdoğan win three consecutive elections and contributed to the military ’ s secession from politics.
The incident has caused a fierce reaction in Turkish society.
Muslim Revival
After a decade in power, Erdoğan ’ s party also worked to lift the ban on women wearing headscarves from public service imposed after the 1980 military coup.
The ban was eventually lifted, allowing women to join the police, the military and the judiciary.
Critics say he dug the walls of the secular state in Ataturk. Although Erdogan himself is a believer, he has always denied that he wants to impose Islamic values on viewers, insisting that he supports the right of Turks to express their religious beliefs openly.
However, he has repeatedly supported the criminalization of adultery.
As the father of four, he said that “no Muslim family ” should consider birth control or family planning.
“We will expand our descendants, ” he said in May 2016.
He extolled motherhood, denounced feminists, and argued that men and women could not be treated equally.
Erdoğan has long championed the cause of Islam — he is known to raise four fingers in a salute gesture to Egypt ’ s oppressed Muslim Brotherhood.
In July 2020, under his auspices, Istanbul ’ s historic Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque, infuriating many Christians.
Built 1500 years ago, the cathedral was turned into a mosque by the Ottoman Turks, but Ataturk turned it into a museum – a symbol of the new secular state.
It is not a coincidence that, just hours after the start of the 2023 elections, the president spoke to supporters during an evening prayer.
Enhanced control
After being barred from running for prime minister, he ran for president in his first direct election in 2014, when it was a symbolic office.
He has a plan to reform this office, to create a new constitution that benefits all Turks and places their country among the top 10 economies in the world.
But in the early days of his presidency, he twice faced a shake-up in his position of power.
His party lost its parliamentary majority in a vote in 2015, and a few months later in 2016, Turkey witnessed its first violent coup attempt in decades.
The rebels almost captured the president, who was vacationing at the seaside resort, but he was safely rescued by plane. In the early hours of 16 July, he appeared victorious at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, greeted by cheers from supporters.
They blocked the advance of the conspirators, and nearly 300 civilians were killed.
The president appeared on national television and met with supporters in Istanbul, declaring himself "commander in chief".
But the situation was also clearly tense, and he openly wept as he spoke at the funeral of a close friend who was shot dead by the rebels.
Some 150,000 civil servants were fired and more than 50,000 detained, including soldiers, journalists, lawyers, police officers, academics and Kurdish politicians.
The crackdown on critics has raised alarm abroad and soured Turkey ’ s relationship with the EU: Turkey ’ s attempts to join the EU have gone years without progress.
The controversy over the influx of migrants into Greece has also fuelled hostility.
But in his 1,000-room gleaming palace overlooking Ankara from Aksalai, President Erdoğan ’ s position seems more secure than ever.
His victory in a 2017 referendum gave the president sweeping powers, including the ability to impose a state of emergency, appoint top officials and interfere with the legal system.
A year later, he won the first presidential election.
His core votes came from small towns and rural conservative districts in Anatolia. In 2019, his party lost in three of the largest cities – Istanbul, the capital Ankara and Izmir.
In the Istanbul mayoral election, the party narrowly lost to the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ekrem Imamoglu, a bitter defeat for Erdoğan, who was mayor of the city in the 1990s.
He never accepted the result.
Before Imamoglu was barred from the May elections, he was ahead of the president in opinion polls.
The president and his allies have been accused of using the courts to disqualify the popular mayor.
Turkey ’ s third-largest party, the People ’ s Democratic Party of New Kurdistan (HDP), was similarly fearful of being barred from voting in parliament because of alleged links to Kurdish forces, but instead decided to run under a different name.
Like Turkish leaders in the past, Erdoğan has imposed a strong crackdown on the outlawed Kurdish Workers ’ Party (PKK).
While Turkey has accepted more than 3.5 million refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war, Ankara has also launched several operations against Kurdish forces on the other side of the border, crowding out Kurds in Turkey.
Erdogan has long had close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has also tried to play an important mediator role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Although a NATO member, he bought Russia ’ s anti-missile defense system and chose Russia to build Turkey ’ s first nuclear reactor.
Before the 2023 election, he tried to win the trust of nationalists and conservative voters by accusing the West of targeting him.
“My country is going to smash this conspiracy, ” he asserted, describing it as a flashpoint.
He ended his 2023 campaign by visiting the tomb of Adnan Menderes, Turkey ’ s first democratically elected prime minister, who was executed after a military coup in 1961.
He wanted people to know: "The era of coups and warlords is over."
* Reporting by Istanbul journalist Cagil Kasapoglu

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Content: Will Erdogan ’ s possible departure from power trigger geopolitical shifts in Europe?
Will Erdogan ’ s possible departure from power trigger geopolitical shifts in Europe?
Turkish presidential elections have rarely received so much regional and international attention.
On the previous two occasions, the election result was far from surprising given President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s dominance of the political scene in his country for more than 20 years and the fragmentation of the opposition.
However, the latter, who is seeking a third presidential term, this time faces a united opposition, and a serious and balanced candidate, who succeeded in imposing himself as a statesman with a solid political and economic program, and promises to find solutions to the problems facing Turkey today, especially economic and financial problems, inflation, and the collapse of the lira.
Despite Erdogan ’ s turns abroad and his efforts to exploit the war in Ukraine to return strongly to the forefront of the international scene and impose himself as the sole interlocutor of the Russian president from the heart of NATO, it is clear today that the West will not shed tears in the event of his electoral defeat and the victory of his rival Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
Didier Bion, an expert on Turkish affairs and author of Ayrol ’ s recent book Turkey: The Compulsory Partner, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Turkey “needs some kind of renewal because the factor of wear and tear exists and plays against the current president who has always used the factor of internal polarization to establish his power. ”
One of the cards playing against him is that he is “not a friend of public and private freedoms, including freedom of the press, ” which has alienated liberals.
In contrast, the personality of his main rival is characterized by calm, sobriety and fortitude, all of which contradict Erdogan ’ s polarizing personality, according to the French researcher.
The Turks have created two qualities for the 74-year-old opposition candidate: first, he is the “quiet power ” and second, he is the“ Gandhi of Turkey ” after the Indian leader who refused to resort to violence to enable India to gain independence.
There are many voices who believe that Erdogan ’ s exit from the Turkish political scene today will be considered at the European and Western levels, in general, as a “positive shift ”; some statements and positions in previous years led to incalculable enmities with the Europeans and with the United States.
The last thing to be taken of Erdogan unanimously at the Western level is his refusal to date to ratify Sweden ’ s accession to NATO.
Turkey is the only NATO member whose parliament has not approved Sweden ’ s accession, having recently accepted Finland ’ s accession despite European and US pressure.
Ankara, despite denouncing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is not enforcing European and US sanctions.
It is clear that Erdogan is aware of the need of Westerners for him, and his country is the southern flank of NATO, so the criticism against him remains in narrow and limited circles.
The war in Ukraine did not prevent Erdogan and Putin from remotely participating in the inauguration of the first Turkish nuclear plants located in the south of Turkey and near the Mediterranean waters, which were built by the Russian side and funded for the most part.
Mark Biarini, a former ambassador to Ankara and a researcher at the Carnegie Europe Institute, told Le Monde on Friday that “Erdogan ’ s victory would mean a victory for Putin ” and that his defeat would be a“ gift ” to Westerners.
The big challenge for Europeans and Westerners in general is the quality of Turkey ’ s future relationship with NATO, given its existing relationship with Russia.
To date, Europeans have not forgotten Erdogan ’ s style of attacking Western leaders.
In 2017, the Turkish president, who was running in the previous presidential election, did not hesitate to accuse former German Chancellor Angela Merkel of “Nazi practices ” because she banned pro-him rallies in a number of German cities.
In October 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron called him a “psychopath ” and advised him to seek treatment from psychiatrists for promoting a bill to fight what he called“ Islamic separatism ” in his country.
Macron has previously harshly criticized the Turkish navy ’ s conduct in the Mediterranean waters and off Libyan shores, when a French military vessel operating under the Atlantic banner sought to search a Turkish ship believed to be carrying smuggled weapons to Libya.
Macron called the alliance a “clinical death. ”
Erdogan has also found himself face to face with Westerners in Syria, where Westerners have been supporting the Kurdish People ’ s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that have fought Islamic State militias, while Erdogan considers terrorist units linked to the Kurdistan Workers ’ Party (PKK) and seeks to uproot them from northern and northwest Syria.
Finally, Erdogan caused a headache for Europeans because of his activities in gas and oil exploration in the territorial waters of Greece and Cyprus, which created tension in the Mediterranean, in parallel with his use of the Syrian refugee card on his territory whenever he wanted to pressure the European Union.
Then there are many criticisms against Erdogan, who is accused of tilting the judiciary in his favor, curtailing freedoms and corruption that is ravaging Turkish society and economy.
To complete the picture, it is necessary to mention his disagreement with the United States, which prompted him to conclude an agreement with Russia to obtain the S-400 missile system, which led Washington to remove him from the F-35 fighter plane program, but later accepted, and with the outbreak of the Russian war on Ukraine, was equipped with modern F-16 aircraft.
Existing challenges
The aforementioned elements are good reasons for Westerners to prefer Erdogan ’ s defeat and his rival ’ s victory.
This wish is hidden, however, because Erdogan, if made public, would use it as a weapon in his election campaign to accuse the West of meddling in Turkey ’ s internal affairs.
Arncha Gonzalez, dean of the Institute of International Affairs at the Institute of Political Science in Paris, said: “If the Turks can oust Erdogan, it would be a major geopolitical shift. ”
Unlike the current president, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has stressed more than once since his candidacy that he seeks to “normalize ” his relations with Westerners and non-Westerners, reminiscent of former Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who called for“ zero problems ” with the outside.
It should be noted that the latter is a member of the six-party alliance that supports the opposition candidate, and if he wins, he will be the closest to returning to the Foreign Ministry.
There is an outstanding issue between Turkey and the European Union entitled Ankara ’ s desire to join the European club; for this purpose, negotiations between the two sides have been held for 15 years, and even today there are still chapters that have not been discussed, while the European public opinion has overcome the tendency to reject the accession of Turkey, which has a population of 85 million people.
According to the founding laws of the Union, the approval of a new member must pass in the parliaments of the 27 members, which means in practice that Turkey has no chances of joining.
Analysts believe that Kılıçdaroğlu ’ s victory will not magically solve outstanding problems with the EU, but that Ankara ’ s relations with Brussels could turn into “normal ” relations, which is an important change in the prevailing atmosphere between the two sides.
This is how the European and American challenges inherent in the Turkish elections stand out, especially their geopolitical implications and implications for the future of the ancient continent.
Middle East

Title:

Content: Tuesday, 6 September, 2022
The expert spoke about the position of Turkey against the threats of the West because of the partnership with Russia
Media reports about Western discontent with the growing trade of Russia and Turkey will remain a “verbal intervention ”.
Radically on trade relations between Moscow and Ankara sanctions threats will not affect.
This was stated in an interview with Izvestia by the director of the Russian-Turkish Business Council (RTDS) Alexei Egarmin.
Earlier, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkey (TUSIAD) said that it received a letter from the US Treasury with a warning about the consequences of cooperation with Russia and threats of sanctions.
According to the Financial Times, Ankara ’ s growing trade with Russia is also causing discontent among the EU.
Read more in the exclusive material "Izvestia": "Problems with the calculation of the card" Mir "in Turkey, the Russians do not have"

Title:

Content: Global News
World Today - Erdogan does not see "unsolvable problems" with Greece
You are now following the news of Erdogan does not see "unsolvable problems" with Greece from the World News section and now we leave you with the full details
MOHAMMAD, Abu Dhabi, May 13, 2024 10: 21 PM - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at talks in Ankara on Monday that there are no "unsolvable problems" between the two countries.
Turkey and Greece have long been at odds on a number of issues, including maritime borders, energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, flights over the Aegean Sea, as well as the Cyprus issue.
After years of tension that has brought the two countries to the brink of conflict, Ankara and Athens have begun taking important steps to improve relations in recent years, especially last year after elections left their leaders in office.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Mitsotakis, Erdogan said: “Despite the differences, we are focusing on a positive agenda by keeping the channels of dialogue open. ”
Mitsotakis said the meetings between the two leaders in recent months "have proved that we are neighbors capable of establishing an approach to mutual understanding, not as an exception but as a fruitful natural state."
"We showed today that in addition to our existing differences, we can draw a parallel page of agreements."
Erdogan visited Athens in December and the two countries signed the "Athens Declaration" aimed at laying the groundwork for a road map to revive ties.
The two countries agreed to promote trade, keep channels of communication open, implement military confidence-building measures to reduce tension, and work to resolve existing problems between them.
Erdogan reiterated his view that Hamas is a "resistance movement" and said he was saddened by the Greek view, which he shares with a number of other Western countries, that it is a terrorist organization.
Mitsotakis replied: "Let us agree not to disagree."
"Unprecedented peaks"
Mitsotakis told the Turkish daily Milliyet on Sunday that his visit to Ankara, the first in five years, is an opportunity to take stock of the progress of the past few months and to reaffirm Athens ’ commitment to improving relations.
• Speaking to the Greek daily Kathimerini on Sunday, Erdogan said the main goal was to “elevate our bilateral relations to unprecedented peaks, ” adding that the two neighbors had many issues to agree on while searching for solutions to their problems.
• The two NATO members remain at odds on a few issues involving jurisdiction over maritime areas.
Greece ’ s plan to set up a marine reserve in the Aegean Sea, which Athens says has ecological purposes, has angered Turkey and soured Athens by Ankara ’ s decision to turn the ancient church of Chora, once a museum for decades, into a mosque.
We hope that we have succeeded in conveying the full details of Erdogan ’ s news that he does not see “unsolvable problems ” with Greece.
In God ’ s care and protection.
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Content: News of Saransk, Russia and the World
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Space for culture: how the Art-zavod cluster is created in Saransk
For several decades, the problem of the outflow of young people has been quite acute in Saransk.
Many citizens, after completing their studies, prefer to leave their hometown in search of opportunities for self-realization.
Among the reasons for leaving, young people are often cited as low wages, lack of a suitable job, as well as boring provincial life.
The main paradox is connected with the last point: in the city, where only about 17 thousand students study at Moscow State University named after N.P. Ogarev, there are actually no cultural objects that would correspond to the interests, needs and requests of this category of residents.
In addition, in the capital of Mordovia there are no spaces in which the young creative generation could communicate, develop and express themselves.
The acute shortage of such “points of attraction ” deprives the young population of the opportunity to discover talents, and significantly slows the development of the creative industry in the region.
It also deprives the republic of access to rapidly developing new markets for creative products.
In other regions, to solve this problem, special "points of attraction" are created for young people - art clusters.
This term implies a creative space designed for free expression, creative activity and interaction of people.
Today, art clusters are considered almost the most lively places in cities, including in Moscow.
Here lectures, seminars, exhibitions, concerts and film screenings are held, various creative studios, unusual bars and shops work.
Having an office in a creative center today means being in trend.
The first art cluster in Russia appeared in 2004, when the Moscow plant “Red Rose ” was repurposed into Artplay.
Since then, several dozen such spaces have appeared in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Recently, they have been successfully operating in other regions, including Siberia and the Far East.
There is also such an object in the PFC.
This is the Center for Contemporary Culture “Smena ”, which is located in Kazan.
It is located in the center of the city in a historic building, previously used as a hayhouse and warehouse.
And before the opening of “Smena ”, a point of attraction for those who are interested in modern culture, there was no in the city.
The fact that Saransk needs such a point of attraction, the entrepreneur and a member of the expert club "My Mordovia" Gennady Butarev first spoke.
Substantial work on this project began after a suitable place was found - a complex of buildings of a wine warehouse, located on Mokshanskaya Street.
Gennady Butarev spoke about the complex process of creating the "Art Factory", the importance of developing modern youth culture and preserving the cultural heritage of the city in an interview with our portal.
- Gennady, you and the expert club "My Mordovia" are engaged in the project.
Can you tell me what kind of club this is?
— I am the initiator of the project and head the team for the “Art Factory ”, consisting of members of the expert club“ My Mordovia ”.
This club is the result of a large-scale personnel project, which was carried out on behalf of Artem Zdunov in the period from March to June 2021.
40 people who successfully passed four qualifying stages are included in the regional personnel reserve, as well as included in the expert council.
The main task of “My Mordovia ” is to evaluate and study projects for the development of the region, as well as to solve existing problems.
— How did the idea of creating this project come about in Saransk?
What pushed you?
— Six years ago, I visited the Flacon art cluster.
This is a creative space organized on the site of a former glass factory.
After that, I decided that it would be great to create such a place in Saransk.
Now in the city, places of cultural leisure for young people are limited to shopping centers, bars, clubs.
And the space where you can develop creatively, in fact, there is no.
The lack of sufficient opportunities for the disclosure and development of the talents of the inhabitants of Mordovia affects the problem of the outflow of the young population.
“Art-zavod ” will become a point of attraction for groups of people united by creative interests.
The audience of the cluster can be the widest.
But the main direction is the creative industry.
"Art-zavod" will become a new space of the city, a place of power for young, talented people.
What is the concept of the project?
What will enter it?
“The Art-Plant project is not just redevelopment.
The cluster will bring together creative people.
It will become a platform for the exchange of experience, training and communication.
The plans are to create a lecture hall, an exhibition hall, a carpentry, a textile, an art, and photo workshops.
The art factory will become a single space for self-expression of young people and creative realization of cultural and art workers.
The overall concept is a city within a city.
This quarter will be all like a small city of culture for masters, artists, artists, musicians, dancers.
Not only the premises will be involved, but also the street space.
It is planned to place an amphitheater, food courts, an alley of art objects, an open-air cinema.
— Why is the wine warehouse chosen as the site?
There are almost no historical buildings in Saransk.
The complex of buildings of the wine warehouse, located on Mokshanskaya Street, is the only object in the city, whose appearance has been preserved since the 19th century.
But now it is in a dilapidated and abandoned state, despite the fact that it is of interest to the historical and cultural heritage of Mordovia and the country as a whole.
Redevelopment of the complex of buildings of the wine warehouse will make it possible to preserve and draw attention to the historical memory of the region simultaneously with the change of functional purpose and use for the needs of the modern cultural community.
The preservation of the complex of buildings of the wine warehouse is interesting from the point of view of tourism.
Visitors from other countries and regions will be able to see firsthand what Saransk looked like 120-150 years ago.
I think it will help to popularize Mordovian and Russian culture.
What is needed to implement this project?
And what has already been done?
— In July of this year, the project team met with the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov and the head of Mordovia Artem Zdunov.
Within the framework of the event, the idea of creating a creative cluster was presented.
The project was approved.
Now work is underway to transfer the complex of buildings of the wine warehouse to the ownership of the republic.
The project affects various areas of the region, so various ministries and departments have joined it.
The issue of funding is also being addressed.
Investors are being sought, as well as funds, grants and government programs.
An application was also submitted to the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, the project successfully passed to the final of the selection.
Now the application for the second stage of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives is being submitted.
In order for the Art Factory to really be in demand and bring benefits to the region, meetings are periodically held with focus groups, the participants of which are representatives of creative professions.
Meetings are held with them, the concept of the future art cluster is being worked out.
— How is it planned to bring the complex of buildings of the wine warehouse in the desired condition?
— Our team has developed a step-by-step plan to restore these objects.
We propose to preserve six buildings with the status of monuments of architectural heritage.
There is another building, now it is used as a residential building.
However, the authorities of the region plan to relocate it.
It is important to prevent its demolition and return to the original appearance of the entire complex.
Of course, there are a lot of organizational aspects and factors.
The status of the object of cultural heritage of regional significance also carries with it a number of difficulties in terms of restoration works.
But all this is solved gradually.
The most important thing is to preserve this historical pearl of the city.
And breathe new life into it.
— What will Art-zavod give to Saransk and Mordovia in general?
– Residents and guests of the “Art Factory ” will be able not only to realize their creative requests, but also to gain knowledge about the history of the region, to absorb national values.
Local self-identification of the inhabitants of the region will be built through folklore, works of art and folk crafts.
And the annual ethnic festivals and exhibitions will attract the attention of not only residents and creative intelligentsia, but also the general public.
This is an opportunity for the region to reach a new level of cultural and, at the same time, economic development.
"Art-zavod" will help to form a creative economy, create new jobs.
In addition, new creative enterprises and collaborations will begin to form in Mordovia.
— Will the art cluster affect the problem of the outflow of young people?
– The outflow of young people is a problem of many cities.
In Saransk, it is also quite acute.
Of course, the art cluster will not be the main factor that will fix everything, but it will be a link in the chain that will help resolve the situation.

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Content: Hagia Sophia must once again become a place of Christian worship, demands the American Council for the Liberation of Hagia Sophia.
For a start, according to the organization, it is possible to allow liturgies in Hagia Sophia, preserving its museum status.
Although Christians still perceive this cathedral captured together with Constantinople in 1453 as one of the most important shrines.
In case of refusal, the “Council ” intends to appeal to the ECHR.
However, the situation around Hagia Sophia is much more complicated; the observer of IA REGNUM Stanislav Stremidlovsky analyzes the recent events around the former main temple of Byzantium.
Erhan Elaldı – Anadolu Agency
The 564th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople was celebrated by the Hagia Sophia as a museum.
What is the 565th anniversary?
The head of the “Council ”, American politician Chris Spirou, has already been declared a provocateur by the Turkish authorities.
Today, when Erdogan is increasingly moving away from “his overseas partners ” at least in terms of the desired image of the president, and the new owner of the White House pays much more attention to Middle Eastern Christians than Obama, the situation is clearly changing.
There are already hints that Hagia Sophia from the museum will become a mosque.
At the same time, Erdogan ’ s victory in the last referendum made the president a debtor of domestic Anatolia (at least she believes so), who gave him their votes.
The Anatolian Youth Association strongly opposes any manifestations of non-Muslim faith in Turkish society.
For three years now, they have been trying to make Hagia Sophia a mosque.
And although Erdogan is in no hurry to meet, the Association expects decisive measures from him.
Where the Turkish president is inclined and what Hagia Sophia, cathedral or mosque can become, read here: Internal Anatolia, who supported Erdogan, demands to make Hagia Sophia a mosque
Read other articles by Stanislav Stremidlovsky on the relationship of world religions.

Title:

Content: Turkey officially opens the Byzantine church and museum "Khora" as a mosque (PHOTOS)
World News
"Kari Mosque" in the Museum and Monastery of "Khora"
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / xhpk
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday officially opened the Kari Mosque in Istanbul ’ s Byzantine Museum and Monastery of Khora, four years after the church dedicated a mosque to Muslims.
On Monday, Erdogan oversaw the official remote opening of the Khora mosque and a number of restored sites from the conference hall of his residence in Ankara.
Erdogan said during the opening ceremony, which was broadcast on Turkish television, "May it be a good start."
One of the first worshipers at the mosque told Anadolu Agency: “I have been waiting for its opening for four years, and I have been honored to pray in such a place. ”
Anadolu quoted another serum as saying: “Thank God for showing us these days, I hope we come here from time to time and do our prayers. ”
The site near the walls of the old city of Istanbul is famous for its fine mosaics and frescoes.
The church dates back to the 4th century, although the edifice took its present form during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Greece has criticized the Turkish government ’ s decision to return it to use as a mosque, accusing Ankara of “personal insult ” to another World Heritage site, saying the decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and Khora back into mosques are steps aimed at strengthening the support base of conservatives and the religious trend of Erdogan ’ s ruling party amid an economic downturn.
The museum was built "Khora" monastery, in 534, the building was converted into "Kari Mosque" at the beginning of the 16th century, it was used as a mosque for more than four centuries and was converted into a museum in 1945 by a Turkish ministerial decision.
In August 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Kari Museum, known as a “bottomless church ” in Turkish, into mosques.
The conversion of the two churches into mosques was praised by Muslims, but drew criticism from Greece and other countries that urged Turkey to protect important Byzantine monuments, both of which have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.
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Content: General Supervision
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General Supervision
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From London to Astana...
Intensive activity of the Muslim Elders to promote the culture of tolerance, coexistence and peace during 2023
The year 2023 witnessed intensive efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, headed by His Eminence the Grand Imam A.D.
Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, has participated in many international forums, forums and conferences in order to spread the culture of peace and justice, promote the values of dialogue and peaceful coexistence, and embody the tolerant teachings of Islam in accepting and respecting the other, in light of the conflicts and divisions in the world that require spreading the values of human brotherhood and combating all forms of violence, intolerance, hatred and discrimination.
Intensive activity for Muslim sages to promote a culture of tolerance and coexistence
One of the most prominent efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders on the international and global arena; the participation of His Eminence the Grand Imam A.D.
Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, in a high-level session organized by the UN Security Council under the title: "The importance of human fraternity values in promoting and maintaining peace", stressed the need for concerted efforts to uphold the values of human fraternity to face the challenges facing humanity in the current era. Aim to put an end to the absurd wars that have erupted in recent decades and continue to break out in our region and in our world until this moment, and the tragedies, pains and sorrows that have left them.
On the Palestinian issue, His Eminence the Grand Imam said: "I am talking about my sanctities and sanctities in Palestine, and the arrogance of power and the cruelty of the despot, and I deeply regret the silence of the international community on the rights of this proud people," calling on the Security Council and the international community to speed up today before tomorrow to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. of the violations they are subjected to day after day.
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, participated alongside a number of religious and community leaders and political figures in the International Peace Conference, which was held this year in the German capital Berlin from 10 to 12 September, to discuss ways to promote the values of peace and human brotherhood, combat the increasing pace of Islamophobia in Europe, and discuss ways to counter the abuse of religious sanctities. The logic that decides that the whole will be delivered only if the part is delivered determines equally that there will be no peace in Europe without the peace of the Middle East, in particular: peace in Palestine, peace in Asia without peace in Africa, and peace in North America without peace in South America. ”
Astana International Forum.
Towards cooperation, development and progress
In the same context, 2023 also witnessed the participation of the Muslim Council of Elders in this year ’ s Astana International Forum entitled “Meeting Challenges through Dialogue: Towards Cooperation, Development and Progress ”, which was attended by more than 1000 participants from about 70 countries, including leaders, heads of state, government officials, directors of international and multinational organizations, and included more than 40 panel discussions and events. The Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, His Excellency Counselor Mohamed Abdul Salam, participated in the 21st meeting of the General Secretariat of the Conference of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, where he stressed that interfaith dialogue is always an important solution and a key factor in addressing the common humanitarian challenges facing us today.
During its participation in the Euro-Middle East and North Africa Dialogue on Inclusive Citizenship and Freedom of Religion and Belief, held in London, the Muslim Council of Elders stressed that the world urgently needs religious leaders and their symbols to promote and harmonize the values of inclusive citizenship and freedom of religion and belief. and public rights.
In the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, during the World Policy Conference, the Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders stressed the importance of initiatives based on the universality of religious values while preserving diversity, and the need to invest the spiritual power of religions in dealing with current human questions and common world challenges. 2019, which included a set of determinants, principles and principles governing the coexistence of all human beings in their diversity and diversity.
In continuation of its efforts to spread and promote the values of tolerance and human coexistence, the Muslim Council of Elders, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence of the United Arab Emirates, organized this year ’ s World Summit for Tolerance and Human Fraternity under the theme “United in Our Common Humanity ”. The conference aims to strengthen international efforts for humanity regionally and globally through four main axes: faith, peace, planet, and diversity. It also carries clear messages to the international community about the UAE ’ s efforts to promote the values of tolerance, coexistence and human brotherhood locally and globally in cooperation with all brothers and friends around the world.
The Council also held a number of cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding with a number of stakeholders and joint activities: the most prominent of which was a memorandum of cooperation with the Interfaith Department of the Vatican, which aimed to form a permanent joint committee for Islamic-Christian dialogue between the Council of Elders and the Interfaith Department of the Vatican. An understanding with the COP28 Presidency, which focused on establishing an ongoing close partnership on the theme of religions and environmental sustainability, and strengthening the role of religions in addressing the impacts of climate change.
As part of the Muslim Council of Elders ’ response to the current global challenges, especially the climate issue, which is affecting the humanitarian situation and threatening crises and disasters on the planet, the Council also organized a number of activities and conferences that received a remarkable turnout and international welcome, including the Conference on Religions and Climate Change in Southeast Asia, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, attended by about 150 representatives of different religions in the region. Southeast Asia, along with scientists, thinkers and young people interested in climate change issues, sent a message of hope to the World Summit of Interfaith Leaders for Climate and the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) calling for positive outcomes that contribute to effective solutions to climate change for a better future for humanity.
The conference was the starting point for the World Summit of Interfaith Leaders for Climate, which brought together representatives of 18 religions and 30 faiths from around the world, together with a large number of scientists, academics, environmental experts, and community representatives, including youth, women and indigenous peoples, to exchange views, experiences and perspectives on how best to address the climate crisis in order to develop a shared vision among religious leaders and symbols. A concrete and effective response to the crisis of climate change.
This summit witnessed the launch of the Call of Conscience Abu Dhabi Statement for the Climate signed by His Eminence Grand Imam A.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar and His Holiness Pope Francis, along with 28 religious leaders and symbols, called for the need to accelerate the pace of a rapid and fair transformation and the adoption of clean and renewable energy sources, and to call on governments to overcome the linear growth model and move to the circular model, and achieve justice and inclusiveness in climate change in order to address the losses and damage caused by climate change, especially in the most regions. Weakness.
These efforts culminated in the organization by the Muslim Council of Elders of the COP28 Interfaith Pavilion, the first of its kind in the history of the COP28 Conferences of the Parties. The pavilion hosted more than 65 panel discussions and 350 speakers in various fields focusing on the importance of the world ’ s recognition of the moral responsibility to preserve the environment and to protect the Earth as a sacred duty and a shared responsibility. It is the responsibility of humanity and the need to promote sustainable lifestyles that are in line with the principles of moderation advocated by various religions.

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Content: Roundup of news from December 30, 2021
Erdogan the Conqueror
The Turkish president compared the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Constantinople.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to try on the kaftan of Sultan Mehmed II, whose troops captured Constantinople in 1453.
In this regard, he, summing up the year, compared the transformation of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Tsargrad, reports the UOJ with reference to the publication “Vima Ortodoksiya ”.
According to the head of Turkey, the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is “as important ” for the Turks as the fall of the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
However, at the same time, many pay attention to the fact that the Turkish lira in the outgoing year fell strongly against the dollar, and this seriously hit the Turkish economy.
Responding to the criticism, Erdogan said he would “lead his people to what they deserve ” and stressed that he would“ apply the laws of Islam. ”
Thus, the Turkish authorities seek to distract their citizens from economic problems by proclaiming the Islamization of Turkey to the detriment of its secular status.
The economy of Turkey is not in the best condition, but Erdogan was again able to win the Hagia Sophia.
This is what officials in Ankara are thinking.
Russian line
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Content: Revitalising the heritage

Raul Llobell on the new Calle Colon Credit: Teulada Council, Facebook

On March 11, the mayor of Teulada-Moraira, Raul Llobell, walked down the renovated Calle Colon, alongside local residents, to enjoy new urban developments.

The Calle Colon has been relocated to the historic centre of Teulada in a redeveloped appearance to mark the importance of the municipality´s heritage and attract new visitors.

The Councilor for Urban Planning, Toni Reig, stated that this redevelopment “represents an important step in our commitment to the preservation of the historical heritage of Teulada.”

The remodelling was financed by the Provincial Council of Alicante and the Teulada City Council, to modernise the surface furniture, improve urban infrastructure and develop telecommunication, as well as electric and gas supply networks.

The president of the Alicante Provincial Council, Toni Perez, joined the town in the local gathering and expressed his impression of the new design: “With works like this, Teulada Moraira becomes an international tourism destination that takes care of every detail to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable.”

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Content: Tourism against the background of the war in Ukraine: will Poles and Germans go to Turkey in the summer? | Europe and Europeans: news and analytics | DW | 16.05.2022
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Tourism against the background of the war in Ukraine: will the Poles and Germans go to Turkey in the summer?
At the Turkish resorts earlier, tourists from Russia and Ukraine mainly rested.
There is a war going on between these countries.
What does this mean for the tourism industry of Turkey, and who will replace the Russians and Ukrainians?
Tourists in one of the hotels in Antalya
Tourism is one of the first areas that suffers the most if there is a war.
Moreover, it suffers losses not only in countries that are directly involved in the conflict, but throughout the world.
After all, in wartime, the desire to travel few arise.
Turkey is not involved in the war between Russia and Ukraine, but its consequences on its tourism industry are felt very strongly.
And this is already evident, despite the fact that the tourist season has not yet begun.
Turkish resorts are a popular holiday destination for tourists from all over the world.
But most of them were Russians.
Last year, the number reached 4.7 million.
In second place is Germany with almost 3 million tourists.
And the third was Ukraine - about 2 million Ukrainians spent their holidays in Turkey.
But what will happen this year because of the war, will Russian and Ukrainian tourists come?
And yes, and no.
The consequences of the war between Russia and Ukraine for Turkish tourism
The fears in the tourism sector of Turkey are very great.
“Hotel owners were particularly affected by the war, ” says Firat Solak, owner of a travel agency in Antalya.
But this year there are no requests from Russia, no one is booking hotels. "
This is primarily due to Western sanctions against Russia.
Because many Russian air carriers used aircraft leased from Western companies.
Because of the sanctions, there is now a threat that if such an aircraft lands abroad, it can be confiscated.
"Therefore, the biggest problem is air travel, - explains Murat Yalchin, head of the association of travel agencies of Antalya. - Previously, tourists flew to Antalya by charter flights, but now this is not.
We will try to solve this problem.
Before, 5,000 to 9,000 tourists arrived daily, but now in May we expect only about 500 people. "
The problem is how to bring Russian tourists back to the country.
Deniz Ugur, head of the travel agency Bentour, says that the Turkish government is trying to take tourists out of Russia on its planes.
So Ankara wants to save its tourism industry.
“Previously, the profit (from the delivery of tourists. – Ed.) was mainly Russian, now it is Turkish.
This model strengthens Turkey and makes Russia weaker, "Ugur said, commenting on the impact of Western sanctions against Russia.
How to bring Russian tourists and what will they pay?
In addition to the problem of delivering Russian tourists to Turkey, there is another problem - what will they pay?
Mastercard and Visa are blocked in Russia.
Therefore, the credit cards issued by them in the Russian Federation abroad do not work.
Russia ’ s largest bank, Sberbank, said it was switching to Mir cards, the Russian national payment system that will operate in Turkey and a number of other countries.
Tourists from the Russian Federation will pay in Turkey either in cash or with a Mir card.
After all, Mastercard, Visa and other means of payment do not function, ” said Samed Kizgin, an expert in the field of travel security, cooperating with A3M Global Monitoring, which assesses the situation in the world for representatives of the travel industry.
Owners of hotels and restaurants will have to restructure, he said.
Kizgin also notes that "despite all efforts, in March, Turkey came to half as many tourists from Russia than in previous years."
In turn, the head of the company Bentour Deniz Ugur says that now Turkey plans to visit from 1.5 to 1.7 million Russian tourists.
But this is only a third of the number of tourists from Russia who visited Turkey in previous years.
As for Ukrainian tourists, Turkey proceeds from the fact that there will be a large outflow of them.
After 2 million, you can expect now hardly 100 thousand people.
After all, men from 18 to 60 cannot leave Ukraine, and millions of women, children and the elderly are refugees in other countries.
Who will replace the Russians and Ukrainians?
Can tourists from other countries, for example from Germany, replace Russians and Ukrainians?
"The number of bookings in Turkey has increased this summer," said Torsten Schäfer, a spokeswoman for the German Tourist Association.
The Mediterranean Sea - first of all, Turkey and Greece - is much more popular now than the traditional German other direction - Spain.
Kumhur Sefer, head of Turkey ’ s COOP TRR Int.
AG, does not believe that it will be possible to make up for the loss of Russian and Ukrainian tourists in Turkish resorts.
"Tourists from Germany will not be able to fill this gap.
If you count on the fact that it will be tourists from Germany, then they should be twice as many.
That is impossible, ” he said.
Deniz Ugur believes that the number of tourists from Germany will increase by 40 percent, the number of visitors from the UK will increase by 50 percent and from Poland by 60 percent.
But, perhaps, the share of tourists from those countries that used to be in the minority will increase.
Samad Kizin, for example, points out that in March 2022, most of the tourists – about 13 percent – were Iranians, who previously ranked only fifth on the list of foreigners who spend holidays in Turkey.
Despite the expected increase in the number of tourists from other countries, as well as all the efforts made by Turkey, experts do not believe that against the background of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the departure of tourists from these countries from Turkish resorts is unlikely to be replenished.
See also:
Watch the video 05: 12
Rising prices and social unrest - what awaits the world because of the war in Ukraine (09.03.2022)
Audio and video files on the topic

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Content: Thursday 28 July 2022 Abu Dhabi UAE
Prayer times
News Highlights
Today 's Issue
Today 's Issue
United Arab Emirates
Emirates in the era of Khalifa..
A global beacon of tolerance
Emirates in the era of Khalifa..
A global beacon of tolerance
July 28, 2022 00: 51
Taha Hassib (Abu Dhabi)
Under the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2004-2022), the UAE has established itself as a state sponsor of coexistence, tolerance and peace. It has become a pioneer in creating a unique human model that believes in cultural pluralism and respects religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity.
During the reign of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE, where nearly 200 nationalities live and work, has succeeded in translating its tolerant visions into institutions, initiatives and laws, so that words become deeds, within a wider global horizon that exceeds the challenges of living together for the good of man in the UAE, the region and the whole world.
On July 19, 2014, the Muslim Council of Elders was inaugurated as an independent international body, aiming to promote peace and consolidate the values of dialogue and tolerance under the chairmanship of His Eminence Grand Imam Sheikh Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.
The launch of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies in 2014, which has been named since December 2021 (Abu Dhabi Peace Forum), was an important step to consolidate all the contents of our religion from the meanings of peace, security, safety and openness to the other, confirming the UAE ’ s active role in presenting a positive image of the Islamic world.
The forum is hosted by Abu Dhabi every year, and has become one of the most important forums in the Islamic world, as it discusses the humanitarian problems and issues surrounding human beings in the world today.
The formation of the Cabinet in February 2016 included a significant step, as the post of Minister of Tolerance was created for the first time in the UAE and the region.
On May 9, 2018, the World Council of Muslim Communities was established as a global initiative that promotes the role of Muslims and their practices within their communities as well as international forums, in order to promote tolerance and dialogue among followers of religions and cultures.
Deep-rooted tolerance
The coexistence of religions on the land of the United Arab Emirates is an established approach in the history of the country, and the country has more than 40 houses of worship for non-Muslims.
The archaeological discovery in 1992 of a Christian monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, dating back to the seventh and eighth centuries AD, provides strong evidence of the tolerance of the people of the UAE since ancient times and their awareness of the importance of places of worship for non-Muslims.
In accordance with the principle of religious tolerance and freedom of worship adopted by the United Arab Emirates towards different religions, a non-Muslim cemetery was inaugurated in 2011 in Al Foah area in Al Ain at a cost of more than 16 million dirhams to serve all non-Muslim communities.
Under the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi issued Law No. 14 of 2021 on the Personal Status of Non-Muslim Foreigners, in order to regulate personal status cases and provide a flexible and sophisticated judicial mechanism to adjudicate personal status disputes between non-Muslims.
The Act contained 20 articles relating to civil marriage, divorce, joint custody of children and inheritance.
A vision to connect with the world
The UAE ’ s development plans and unlimited aspirations for progress in all fields require cooperation with the world for common interests and challenges. During the reign of the late Sheikh Khalifa, the UAE developed its cooperation with the world in humanitarian aid, as well as in combating epidemics and extending a helping hand to people affected by natural disasters and crises, according to a tolerant vision that does not distinguish between color, race, religion or language.
Humanitarian cooperation was the most prominent feature of the policy of the late Sheikh Khalifa, as part of a vision embodied on the ground through the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Affairs, launched by Law No. 20 in July 2007, and its various assistance reached more than 87 countries.
Reading is a window to tolerance.
If reading is the first window from which the individual views the world through science, literature and arts, it makes the individual more acceptable to the other, more tolerant and in harmony with his surroundings, so came the initiative of the Year of Reading in 2016 launched by the late Sheikh Khalifa in December 2015 (to consolidate the culture of reading, science and knowledge in the hearts of citizens and residents in the UAE, and prepare an integrated national framework to produce a reading generation. It can be considered as an important step to promote intercultural communication and raise generations capable of understanding and interacting with their world in a way that ensures coexistence and tolerance.
The 2015 Year of Innovation was also a reason to connect with the world through international research partnerships that seek to develop local sectors in promising areas such as renewable energy and technology, health, transport, education, space, and water.
From Abu Dhabi to Global
The late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared 2019 the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, in a move that renewed the approach of the founding leader of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and reminded the world of the great humanitarian values adopted by the UAE, for communication, coexistence, dialogue and acceptance of the other. The UAE has been consolidating and spreading it from the moment it was founded until now.
The themes of the Year of Tolerance were clear and motivated to deepen the values of openness to cultures and peoples, consolidate the UAE ’ s position as a global capital for tolerance through a range of major initiatives and projects, including research contributions, social studies, cultural tolerance through community initiatives, legislation and policies aimed at promoting cultural, religious and social tolerance, and promoting tolerance through targeted media initiatives.
years for humanity.
The “Year of Giving 2017 ” initiative, announced by the late Sheikh Khalifa in December 2016, aims to consolidate the UAE ’ s position as a regional and global capital for humanitarian work inside and outside the country through the culture of goodness in society.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan ’ s declaration of 2018 as the Year of Zayed was a major step in recalling the values and achievements of the founding leader who inaugurated the UAE on tolerance, love and communication with science.
Document of Human Fraternity
In the first days of February 2019, Abu Dhabi was the focus of the world ’ s attention. The World Conference on Human Fraternity was held in the UAE capital on 3 and 4 February 2019 in the presence of a group of religious leaders from all over the world and from all religions, with the participation of a group of intellectuals and media, to cooperate with peace advocates in order to achieve what the world needs of human fraternity stemming from common values.
The 4th of February 2019 was a historic moment, represented by the issuance of the Document of Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi, signed by Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church and His Eminence the Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. During the reign of the late Sheikh Khalifa, the UAE achieved a humanitarian success that the world eagerly monitored and convinced of its goals.
On May 14, 2020, the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, which emanates from the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Coexistence, launched the Prayer for Humanity initiative, in order to “pray with one voice, each individual in his place and according to his religion, belief and creed, united by absolute certainty in God ’ s ability, kindness and mercy to save humanity and lift the new Coronavirus epidemic ”. »).
The United Nations chose February 4 of each year as the International Day of Human Fraternity, in recognition of the UAE ’ s efforts to spread the culture of tolerance throughout the world.
Inspirational Invitation
The “Prayer for Humanity ” initiative, launched by the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, which emanates from the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Coexistence, represents an inspiring call for all humanity whose cultural scene will remain preserved in the memory of world human history for eternity.
I find in the text that concludes the document of human fraternity richness in content and density in content that is full of a lofty and sustainable human message suitable for every time and generation, and its reading leads to hope in the soul, and stimulate cooperation for love and peace among human beings: (Let this document be a call for reconciliation and fraternity among all believers in religions, but between believers and non-believers) and all people of good will, let our document be an appeal to every living conscience that renounces hateful violence and blind extremism, and to every lover of the principles of tolerance and brotherhood that religions call for and encourage. We are a witness to the greatness of faith in God, which unites divided hearts and is called man, to be a symbol of the embrace between east and west, north and south, and among all who believe that God created us to know, cooperate and cooperate. This is what we hope for and seek to achieve, in order to achieve a world peace that everyone in this life will enjoy.
Cultural tolerance that preserves human heritage
The UAE ’ s respect for religious diversity and tolerance for cultures was clearly demonstrated in October 2019. In the Year of Tolerance, the UAE led the reconstruction of a number of destroyed cultural sites in the Iraqi city of Mosul, namely the Al-Tahira Church and the Clock Church, as part of an agreement signed between the UAE and the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.
Commenting on the agreement, Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, said: “By rebuilding part of the history of this ancient city, we will contribute to shaping a better future and building a more tolerant and open society, values that have always characterized Mosul throughout its history. ”
During the era of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE has spared no effort in promoting the rapprochement between peoples and cultures, and the most powerful step in this field was the inauguration of the Louvre Abu Dhabi and its opening to the public on November 11, 2017, to serve as a link between Eastern and Western art.
A law that protects tolerance
History will record the great role of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in promoting coexistence and combating hatred, when he established a legal framework that preserves tolerance within society. In July 2015, he issued Decree Law No. 2 of 2015 on combating discrimination and hatred, which included clear visions and frameworks to enrich the culture of global tolerance and confront manifestations of discrimination and racism, whatever their nature, ethnic, religious or cultural.
The law prohibits discrimination between individuals or groups on the basis of religion, creed, creed, sect, caste, race, colour or origin.
The law provides for the criminalization of acts related to contempt of religions and their sanctities, combating all forms of discrimination, rejecting hate speech through various means and methods of expression, and putting an end to the invocation of freedom of opinion and expression to justify any speech or action that would incite contempt or prejudice to religions, in violation of the provisions of this Decree-Law.
The law also criminalizes any speech or action that would provoke discord or strife, or discrimination between individuals or groups through its publication on the information network, websites, industrial materials, information technology means, or any means of reading, audio or visual means, in various ways of expression such as saying, writing, or drawing.
Victory for man everywhere.
The UAE ’ s efforts to provide aid to those affected by natural disasters and epidemics without any regard to religion, language or region have established its global position as a beacon of giving and tolerance. This was evident during the UAE ’ s participation in the evacuation of Arab students residing in China during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. Providing 15 tons of medical and food assistance to those affected by the Corona epidemic in the Republic of Peru, as part of 40 tons of aid allocated for this purpose.
The enduring value of tolerance for the UAE has been evident in efforts to reunite a Jewish family from Yemen with the rest of its London-based, UK residents to come together in the UAE after 15 years of separation.
Principles of 50
During the era of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the principles of the fifty came to shape the country over the next five decades. The analysis of the content of the ten principles shows that the last three (eighth, ninth and tenth) explicitly focused on clear terms such as tolerance, openness, respect for cultures, humanitarian fraternity, humanitarian aid, and calling for peace, negotiations and dialogue to resolve all differences as the basis of UAE foreign policy.
For example, the eighth principle talks about “the value system in the UAE will continue to be based on openness and tolerance, the preservation of rights and the consolidation of the state of justice, the preservation of human dignity, respect for cultures, the consolidation of human fraternity and respect for national identity. ”
Through its foreign policy, the State will continue to support all international initiatives, commitments and organizations calling for peace, openness and human fraternity.
All rights reserved to Al Ittihad Newspaper 2022 ©

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“We know that God is one ”: the issues of Islam and Orthodoxy were discussed at the forum in Moscow
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The issues of interaction between the world ’ s leading religions, the destruction of moral guidelines, Russian and international experience in this area were the topic of discussion of the international conference “Orthodoxy and Islam – Interfaith Dialogue in Achieving Global Peace ”, which was held on November 15 at the Center of the Imperial Palestinian Orthodox Society in the capital of the Russian Federation.
The event is one of the key events in the work of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group to support dialogue between religious, intellectual and cultural organizations.
The main goal of the event was to unite the efforts of state, religious, public, educational and scientific structures in the development of interfaith dialogue.
The conference was organized by the GSV together with the Imperial Palestinian Orthodox Society, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The Russian Orthodox Church and the spiritual directorates of Muslims of Russia also supported the event.
The conference in online and offline format was attended by public, political and religious figures from Russia and foreign countries.
A total of 19 reports were read out.
The experts noted the challenges facing the modern world and the role of dialogue between representatives of the two faiths.
The participants also spoke about the importance of education in the development of interreligious dialogue.
The event began with the greeting of the President of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Group Rustam Minnikhanov, which was read out by the Deputy Chairman of the GSV "Russia - Islamic World" Farit Mukhametshin.
Minnikhanov noted that the conference takes place in the memorable year of the 110th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria, which, according to him, largely determines the interfaith and interethnic vector of development.
“In Russia, much attention is paid to the interfaith experience of strengthening interethnic harmony, ” the President of the Republic of Tatarstan noted.
Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Council Committee, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, stressed that the modern world is constantly facing challenges that threaten the security of the world, and this conference is aimed at preserving the spiritual moral pillars of humanity.
“Achieving peace through interfaith dialogue in this context is very important, ” he added.
Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society Sergei Stepashin noted that today there is not a dialogue, but a conversation between Islam and Orthodoxy about common goals in the fight against common evil.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov conveyed to the conference participants an appeal by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which noted the importance of traditional values.
We are convinced that universal human solidarity must be based on enduring traditional values common to major faiths and cultures.
Russian diplomacy will continue to promote this topic at various international platforms and contribute to building up a broad inter-civilizational and inter-religious partnership. ”
The politician noted that the conference will contribute to the common efforts to strengthen friendship and trust between peoples and will make it possible to develop practical recommendations that are in demand.
The Supreme Mufti of Russia Talgat Hazrat Tajuddin said that Islam and Orthodoxy are religions of one God, and the dialogue between them lasts for centuries.
Talgat Hazrat noted that the relationship between the two faiths should be based on the Quranic commandment: “Help one another in piety and godly fear, but do not help one another in sin and enmity. ”
Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan told the conference participants about God-fearing as the basis of any religion and dialogue between them.
How Orthodox and Muslims defend our fatherland in such a difficult time said the hero of the Russian Federation, the hero of the LPR, candidate of political Sciences, major General of the police
Apti Alaudinov, who is now on the front line in the Donbass.
He noted that Muslims and Christians should unite, and this is stated in the Holy Scriptures.
There will come a time when Muslims and Christians will unite.
Each of us can call God whatever he wants, but we know that God is one, ” Alaudinov said.
Alaudinov stressed that Islam and Orthodoxy are the two closest religions, and Muslim citizens of the Russian Federation accept the obligations imposed on them and, along with the Orthodox, stand up for the protection of God ’ s values and the Motherland.
“If we cannot unite and do, then the cause for which we are called, we will be criminals, ” he said.
Most experts noted that the common values of Islam and Orthodoxy contribute to the preservation of morality and are the strongest tool for combating the destruction of society and universal evil.
As a result of the conference, specific goals were set, including the spiritual and moral education of young people, the development of social projects and religious education and the strengthening of interreligious dialogue.
Based on the reports of the international conference, the final information and analytical material will be published in three languages: Russian, English, Arabic.
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Content: If we talk about the history of Turkey in general, then probably none of the events that happened in 2023, does not compare with the fact that the country celebrated its 100th anniversary.
It's a long time.
Given that the very preservation of the current borders was in doubt because of the Treaty of Sèvres, even the supporters of Panosmanism should be satisfied with 780 thousand square kilometers.
Ivan Shilov IA Regnum
The outgoing year for Turkey was largely built around three pillars: the election of the president and parliament, the financial crisis and the stabilization of ties with the outside world.
Relations with the West are stable
Unlike the previous elections, the 2023 elections proved to be very difficult for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP).
After all, not only traditional opposition members from the Republican People ’ s Party (CHP), but also former associates Ahmet Davutoglu and Ali Babacan opposed him in May.
In parliament, the AKP and its junior partner, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), were opposed by a six-party coalition.
But Erdogan survived, although the victory was given to him only in the second round.
The success of his party coalition was even more assured.
Erdogan ’ s triumph was won against all odds.
Contrary to the financial crisis, the fall of the lira and double-digit inflation.
Despite the largest earthquake in the 21st century in the east, which claimed the lives of 30 thousand citizens.
And, of course, against foreign pressure.
Western media and politicians did not hide their desire for the victory of the secular opposition, which will save the West from the constant blackmail of Erdogan on issues of migration and NATO expansion.
What can I say, even Joe Biden in his election campaign announced the goal to remove the Turkish president by means of elections.
Turkey is too strong to ignore, much less isolate.
Having understood these realities, the West was forced to accept and recognize Erdogan ’ s victory.
American credit institutions raised Turkey ’ s rating, the economy began to breathe again.
Turkey ’ s GDP looked quite decent due to the growth of exports.
Its rise in the third quarter accelerated to 5.9% and turned out to be better than forecast.
This is partly the role of the West.
After all, at the July NATO summit, Erdogan unexpectedly supported Sweden's membership in NATO and called even Ukraine there - even Biden and Olaf Scholz did not dare to do the latter.
Well-known journalist Seymour Hersh reported that “for Sweden ” Biden promised Turkey 11-13 billion dollars.
The information is confidential, but what is known for sure is Biden ’ s agreement to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ankara.
However, both issues — the transfer of the F-16 and Sweden ’ s accession to NATO — are still blocked by the American and Turkish parliaments.
For the sake of the economy, Erdogan made another concession to the globalists - he allowed his Central Bank to raise the key rate.
As a result, inflation in the country has fallen from 80 per cent to less than 40 per cent.
Relations with Russia on the rise
Turkey ’ s relationship with Russia has been as pragmatic this year as it has been in recent years.
Trade grew and reached a record $60 billion.
The Akkuyu NPP project is being successfully implemented - the first reactor is ready for launch.
On September 5, the long-awaited meeting between Vladimir Putin and Erdogan took place in Sochi, an important moment given that Putin has not seen many foreign leaders in the past two years.
Erdogan showed understanding and came to Russia himself.
Some “chill ” in relations appeared after the NATO summit.
In addition, in addition to agreeing to the expansion of the Alliance, Turkey gave Ukraine “Azov ” (“ Azov ” – an organization recognized in Russia as a terrorist).
But joint projects – trade, the new nuclear power plant in Snope, the gas hub, the “reconciliation of hours ” in the Caucasus and the Middle East – maintain the partnership level.
True, Russia refused to extend the grain deal, which Erdogan strongly insisted.
But at the same time, in March, for the sake of his victory in the elections, Russia has already extended the deal for 60 days.
Due to the concentration on domestic problems, the recovery from the earthquake and efforts to rehabilitate the economy, Turkey has had less and less strength for an active foreign policy this year.
If at the initial stage of the SVO it was Ankara that intercepted the initiative in mediation from everyone, now it has serious competitors.
The Saudis held their summit in Jeddah, Xi Jinping proposed a 12-point formula, with peace initiatives from African countries, India and Brazil.
Relations in the region have been successful
Where Erdogan ’ s success is most convincing is in the Middle East.
This year, relations with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have been shaken due to the events in Syria and Libya, finally recovered.
Immediately after winning the election, Erdogan went to Abu Dhabi.
UAE President Emir Mohammed bin Zayed warmly received his colleague and concluded a deal worth more than $50 billion with him.
As part of that tour, the Turkish president visited Saudi Arabia, which contributed $5 billion to the Central Bank of Turkey.
Relations with Egypt are also being restored.
In November, against the backdrop of the events in Gaza, Erdogan again met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
With Egypt, Erdogan ’ s relations were even more strained than with the UAE and the KSA, as the Turkish leader supported direct opponents of al-Sisi in the face of the “Muslim Brotherhood ” (the organization is banned in Russia).
Attitudes towards Hamas in the KSA, the UAE and Egypt, although not as positive as those of Erdogan ’ s party, yet the tragedy and the death of thousands of Palestinians creates a kind of Muslim unity, which further brings Turkey closer to its former rivals.
The return to the policy of “zero problems ” with neighbors went on other fronts.
Erdogan recently visited Athens, the second visit of the Turkish president to Greece in 70 years.
The two countries have been on the brink of war in recent years over disputed islands in the Aegean, geological exploration in the Mediterranean and Cyprus.
But the leaders found the strength to go to peace.
A certain positive can be observed this year in relations with Iran.
Tehran has softened its tone towards Ankara ’ s ally, Baku.
Although in early 2023, the northern borders of Iran smelled of conflict after the attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran.
Iran accepted the defeat of Armenia and the complete transfer of control over Karabakh to Azerbaijan.
Tehran and Baku have agreed to establish their “Zangezur corridor ”.
In October, a meeting was held in Tehran at the level of foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
After the creation of the 3 + 3 format, fears about Iran ’ s isolation in the region have been dispelled.
Iran also disliked the fact that Turkey was restoring ties with Damascus through Moscow ’ s mediation.
But there is progress here as well.
In May, Moscow hosted foreign ministers from four countries, including Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Abdollahiyan.
Against the background of the crisis in Gaza, Turkey and Iran have become closer, as they are more actively supporting Hamas than others.
However, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi cancelled his visit to Ankara.
According to rumors, because of its demands on the Turkish side to more actively support Palestine.
The resolution of the Karabakh issue contributes to the rapprochement of Turkey and Armenia.
In June, Erdogan confirmed that he would continue efforts to normalize bilateral relations.
If it were not for the war in Gaza, there would not be a single country with which Turkey would not find a common language this year.
However, Erdogan could not look at the deaths of more than 20,000 Palestinians in Gaza and the defeat of his ideological ally in the face of Hamas.
He canceled his visit to Israel, declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal, and assembled an army of international lawyers to bring the leaders of the Jewish state to justice.
Thus, according to the results of the outgoing year, the economic crisis in Turkey is partly under control.
At the same time, Turkey needs to spend half of its GDP on eliminating the consequences of the earthquake and other natural disasters
Relations with the West have stabilized somewhat, with Russia they are progressing, and neighboring countries, with the exception of Israel, no longer sharpen their teeth at Erdogan.
The main domestic political result of the year is Erdogan ’ s confident retention of power.

Title:

Content: Events
Entrance to Hagia Sophia will again be paid, but not for everyone
Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that visiting the Ayia Sophia mosque for foreign citizens from January 15 will be paid.
Ersoy, who held a press conference at the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM), said that according to the first 9 months of tourism, the total number of visitors, which last year amounted to 40.2 million people, increased to 45.2 million at the end of September.
Noting that Ayia Sophia and Sultanahmet Square are included in the UNESCO permanent heritage list, Ersoy said that they listened to the advice and opinions of UNESCO and implemented the decisions on the restoration of the Ayia Sophia Mosque.
Minister Ersoy stressed that from January 15, 2024, they will move to the management plan of the visitors of Agia Sofya on the recommendation of UNESCO, and said:
“In this management plan, the quality of visits and safety will be improved.
Density will be regulated by distributing it along different routes.
Again, our precious mosque will be incorporated into a very ideal ecosystem focused on protecting and promoting the "Common Heritage of Humanity".
According to Ersoy, the entrance for worshippers will remain the same, but the tourist entrance will change, so that these two streams will not change. that information about Hagia Sophia will be provided in 16 languages through an application with a QR code and headphones.
Ersoy added: “From now on, visitors will be able to complete the process by receiving detailed information about the entire history and iconography of Hagia Sophia in a quiet environment without disturbing the faithful. ”
Noting that from January 15, 2024, foreign tourists visiting the mosque will be charged a ticket fee, Ersoy said: “Visits by our Turkish citizens for the purpose of worship will be free as before.
This practice also exists in many countries. "
In general, judging by the words of Ersoy, the Hagia Sophia mosque will partially return to the function of a museum.
The most important question that may concern us now is whether the mosque will become accessible to believers from other countries?
Ersoy said that free entrance will remain only for Turkish citizens, but perhaps here he was simply referring to those who come to the mosque for the purpose of prayer, since it is obvious that the absolute majority of those praying are Turks.
In any case, we hope for this, because if passports are checked at the entrance to the mosque, and the descendants of Bosniaks or Albanians are asked to pay money so that they can pray in the mosque that their ancestors conquered in the army of Sultan Fatih Mehmed, any neo-Ottomanism can be put a bold end to.
Author: Jakub Hadžić
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Content: “Historical Caria. ”
Farid Mosque with Christian inscriptions (Video)
The historic Karya Mosque in Istanbul officially opened its doors to worshipers, a building that was a church built in the Byzantine era, then became a mosque after the conquest of Constantinople, and then a museum in the middle of the last century.
In August 2020, the Turkish president issued a decree to reopen it for prayer, handing over the building in the Fatih area of Istanbul to the Presidency of Religious Affairs and re-opening it for worship.
Al Jazeera Mubasher entered the unique mosque of its kind, and toured the building that turned into a mosque without obliterating its Christian features, as its walls are still decorated with bright inscriptions dating back to the Byzantine era, and now held Islamic prayers, and visited by tourists of various religions.
As you walk through the historic building, the details, though contradictory, are dazzling. On your way to the mihrab, you will find Christian inscriptions adorning the walls on both sides.
One of the worshipers of Al Jazeera Mubasher expressed his gratitude for the reopening of the Karya Mosque: “These historical monuments and buildings are a trust that was put in the interest of the nation when Istanbul was opened, and they have great historical and cultural significance and we are grateful that in our time they have been restored to their original function of worship.
We thank everyone who tried this. ”
He added: “Our ancestors had special prayers for endowments, they were calling for a curse on everyone who uses these endowments other than the purpose for which they were stopped, and the main prayer was to invoke the mercy of God, angels, prophets and believers on those who served these endowments, and I hope that the restoration of Hagia Sophia and the Mosque of Karia, to their original status, will lift this curse from the shoulders of this nation. ”
A place for everyone.
Another worshipper added: “I felt the same way when I opened the Hagia Sophia Mosque, this mosque has been closed from worship for 79 years.
I've been waiting for this day.
I learned that the restoration work had been going on for four or five years, ” he said, stressing his spiritual importance to him.
He described the mosque saying: "It has small rooms, decorated with art drawings, there are remnants of Christian monuments as well, it is a mixture of religions.
From this perspective, I think it can be a common place for everyone, one that can be visited by people of other religions as well. ”
The historical Karya building was a church known as the Church of the Shura and the Church of the Holy Savior, built in 534 AD in the time of the Byzantines, and about 50 years after the Muslims opened Constantinople, Atik Ali Pasha, the minister of Sultan Bayezid II, ordered the building to be converted into a mosque, and in August 1945, the Turkish government decided to allocate the mosque to the Ministry of Education.
“It is very sad for us that Karia in Istanbul is opening a mosque of worship, ” the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that it“ poses a challenge to the international community, as it corrupts and insults the UNESCO character of the building ’ s cultural heritage. ”
Source: Al Jazeera Direct

Title:

Content: World News
Al-Assoumi renews call for establishing a global parliamentary platform for interfaith dialogue
President of the Arab Parliament Adel bin Abdulrahman al-Assoumi renewed the call for the initiative he called for during his participation in the G20 Forum for Interfaith Dialogue, hosted by the Italian city of Bologna in September 2021, to establish a global parliamentary platform for interfaith dialogue, which includes programs and activities to qualify and build the capacities of parliamentarians in this field. They are strengthening relations between different peoples.
This came in the speech delivered by the Speaker of the Arab Parliament during the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue held in Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco, under the title "Working together for our common future", in the presence of Marachid Talbi Alami, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco, Naam Mayara, Speaker of the House of Councillors of the Kingdom of Morocco, Duarte Pacheco, Martin Schoung, A number of international institutions concerned with the promotion of interfaith dialogue from different countries of the world, praising the hosting and organization of this global event by the Kingdom of Morocco.
He stressed that the patronage of King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco for this conference and the contents of His Majesty ’ s speech at its opening, reflects the firm approach of the Kingdom of Morocco in promoting Arab and international efforts in the field of promoting interfaith dialogue.
In his speech, the Speaker of the Arab Parliament stressed that the culture of dialogue and tolerance does not in any way mean accepting the abuse of religions and their sacred symbols.
The Arab Parliament reiterated its rejection of the irresponsible actions of some extremists in a number of European countries in which they offended the Islamic religion by burning copies of the Holy Quran under the flag of the authorities of these countries, saying: "As much as we call for tolerance and coexistence between religions, we emphasize the imperative not to offend sacred symbols and beliefs, under the pretext of freedom of opinion and expression."
He added that the issue of promoting interfaith dialogue has become of great interest to the peoples and leaders of the Arab countries, which have, during the past few years, many international initiatives and institutions concerned with promoting interfaith dialogue, such as the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the initiative to establish the Center for Interfaith Dialogue in Cairo, and the Document of Human Fraternity signed by His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed the Grand Imam. Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and His Holiness Pope Francis, in the United Arab Emirates, adding that these institutions and initiatives constitute a wide space to enhance the role of parliamentarians towards the issue of interfaith dialogue.
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Content: Monday 05 June 2023
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editorial Board
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
Coptic Gate
June 13th.
Coptic Evangelical Commission Cultures Forum Organizes Arab-European Dialogue
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The Forum for Intercultural Dialogue of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services organizes an international conference for Arab-European dialogue "Religion and Society.
How can people of different faiths live together in peace? ”, which will run from 13 to 17 June 2023, at the Coptic Evangelical Commission for Social Services.
A large number of senior state leaders, political leaders, civil society leaders, leaders of religious institutions, and a number of international institutions specialized in the field of dialogue are scheduled to participate, most notably: Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Awqaf, Dar Al-Ifta, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICID), Adyan Foundation, and a number of other international institutions and bodies.
Rev. Andrei Zaki, head of the Evangelical Community, said in his previous media statements regarding the Arab-European Dialogue that no one can deny that the dialogue of civilizations at the local level in Egypt or the level of international dialogue contributed significantly to the creation of a space of understanding of common things and began to identify areas of difference.
Within the framework of this dialogue, the call was renewed to broaden the common ground and to respect and accept the spaces of difference.
At the global level, there have been many programs and dialogue meetings, whether local or international, and government agencies, all focused on the concepts of coexistence and acceptance of the other.
It is worth mentioning here the local and international efforts of the Forum for Dialogue of Cultures of the Coptic Evangelical Commission for Social Services, in this field, and aims to promote communication and serious community dialogue between cultural, academic and religious leaders from Europe and the Arab world, and the participating countries, Germany, Sweden, Greece, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine and Egypt.