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Category Archives: Middle East
Why arm cannibal rebels in Syria, Putin asks
Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Alexei Anishchuk (source 
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Amman/London: Russian President Vladimir Putin, arriving in Britain ahead of an international summit set to be dominated by disagreement over the US decision to send weapons to Syria’s rebels, said the West must not arm fighters who eat human flesh. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ask why the West is arming rebels who eat the organs out of dead solidiers. Photo: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov “One does not … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Global issues, Middle East, North America, Russia
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Turkey’s agony – how Erdogan turned a peaceful protest into a violent nightmare
Claire Berlinski (source )
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The view from Taksim Square – By now, everyone has heard of the brutal suppression of protests all over Turkey, which began with a peaceful sit-in in Istanbul to protect a hapless apology for a park from demolition. Comments Right by the city’s unofficial centre, Taksim Square, Gezi Park had been slated to become yet another one of the ruling AKP’s signature Ottoman-cum-Disneyland construction projects. … Continue reading
Posted in Middle East, Politics, Protest
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Moderate cleric Rowhani wins Iran presidential election
Editorial (source )
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Moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani has won Iran’s presidential election, the interior minister announced today, ending eight years of conservative grip on the nation’s executive. Iranian moderate presidential candidate, Hassan Rowhani casts his vote at a polling station in Tehran on June 14 during the first round of the presidential election. AFP photo Minister Mohammad Mostafa Najjar said Rowhani won outright with 18.6 million votes, or … Continue reading
Posted in Elections, Leadership, Middle East
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America’s Dark View of Turkish Premier Erdogan
Maximilian Popp (source )
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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, has surrounded himself with “an iron ring of sycophantic (but contemptuous) advisors,” according to US diplomatic cables. The US is concerned about its NATO ally Turkey. Embassy dispatches portray Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a power-hungry Islamist surrounded by corrupt and incompetent ministers. Washington no longer believes that the country will ever join the European Union. Turkish … Continue reading
Posted in Diplomacy, Europe, Leadership, Middle East, North America, Politics
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The Megalomania of Erdoğan the Magnificent
Stanley A. Weiss (source )
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LONDON -It was the first time young Turks would march on the streets of Istanbul, when it was still known as Constantinople. On a hot spring night 105 years ago, a movement of student activists, nationalists and secularists rose up against the autocratic rule of Sultan Abdulhamid II, who was the 99th caliph (or, religious leader) of Islam and 34th sultan of the 600 year-old … Continue reading
Posted in Features, Leadership, Middle East, Opinion
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I don’t recognize European Parliament decision, Turkish PM Erdoğan says
Editorial (source )
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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he did not recognize “decisions made by the European Parliament” in response to the Parliament’s session on Turkey on June 12. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures while addressing lawmakers and supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party at Parliament, on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. AP Photo The prime minister said the body’s decisions were not binding for … Continue reading
Posted in Diplomacy, Europe, Leadership, Middle East, Politics, Protest, Reconciliation, Society
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Erdoğan’s reaction to Turkey protests reveals ominous Putin parallels
Luke Harding (source )
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Leader is used to having things his own way but, civil society movement can no longer be suppressed, says Luke Harding. A protester is hit by a water cannon during clashes with riot police in Istanblu’s Taksim Square. Photograph: Gurcan Ozturk/AFP/Getty Images The assault was as brutal as it was predictable. On Friday and Saturday Erdoğan had hosted a European Union meeting in Istanbul. Rumour … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Middle East, Politics, Protest, Religion, Russia, Society
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A queen’s message to girls: More than tiaras and cupcakes
Editorial (source )
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Editor’s note: Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah is queen of Jordan and has been an advocate for children’s education for years in her country, across the region and around the world, working with such groups as UNICEF. This open letter to the girls of the world is part of the “Girl Rising” project. CNN Films’ “Girl Rising” documents extraordinary girls and the power of … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Educational, Global issues, Humanity, Leadership, Letters, Middle East, Society, Young generation
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Twitter lies deadlier than car bombs: Ruling party official
Göksel Bozkurt (source )
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Social media, the supreme arsenal of the demonstrators at the Gezi Park protests, is now being targeted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for working against society’s “serenity and peace,” and the government is now seeking ways to restrict it. ‘Social media must be brought under order. A draft law could be considered,’ Ali Şahin, the AKP’s vice press head, has said. DHA … Continue reading
