[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Turkey and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Turkey Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to turkey@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
English
Fall of Mosul and Turkey’s Hostage Crisis
Sunni Radicals Seize Turkey's Mosul Consulate Turkey’s Mosul consulate has been seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham and all its personnel have been kidnapped, Tülin Daloğlu reports.
Turkey Ignored Direct Warnings of ISIS Attack on Mosul The AKP government faces another political crisis over the hostage crisis and its Syria and Iraq policies, Amberin Zaman points out.
Fall of Mosul (1)-(2)-(3)-(4)“Was the Turkish government betrayed in Iraq and Syria?” asks Murat Yetkin.
Why Is Turkey Becoming a Target for the Jihadists? Orhan Kemal Cengiz is afraid that the “kidnappings may only be the beginning of the nightmare Turkey has been dragged into.”
Turkey Paying Price for Jihadist Highway on Border Kadri Gursel writes that the hostage crisis in Mosul is the boomerang effect of Ankara’s policy of opening its borders to jihadists.
Turkey's Failures in Iraq, Syria Linked to Davutoğlu Cengiz Çandar holds Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu responsible for the advance of ISIS forces and the hostage crisis in Mosul.
As Mosul Falls; The Middle East Invoice… (1)-(2) According to Ali Bayramoğlu, declaring Turkish foreign policy and Davutoğlu as solely responsible for what is happening in Iraq and Syria is the easiest thing to do nowadays.
It's Not ISIL, It's the New "Sunni Arabic State" Project…İbrahim Karagül, the editor-in-chief of pro-government daily Yeni Şafak, claims that the fall of Mosul is actually a Sunni Arabic revolt.
Turkey’s Iraq Challenge Taha Özhan holds the US responsible for ISIS and the fall of Mosul.
The Theology of Sykes Picot Akif Emre argues that the “ISIS movement turned into an anger blowup of the Sunni Arabs against the Baghdad ruling.”
Turkey Wakes up to "Jihadist" Terror For Mustafa Akyol, “it is frustrating to see that certain Islamist writers in Turkey still miss the point.”
ISIS Threat Puts Ankara on Alert After the ISIS take over of Mosul, Asli Aydintasbas argues that “Ankara needs to develop new strategies, including alliances with the Kurds.”
Forget About ISIL, It's the Kurds That Matter According to Joost Lagendijk, “the present obsession with ISIL tends to disregard a much more lasting and structural shift: the rise of the Kurds as a decisive player.”
Kurds Realize Dream as Baghdad Loses Grip on North Iraq“Sunni insurgents have allowed Kurds to take the historic capital they regard as their Jerusalem,” Reuters reports.
Kurds Step up as Iraqi Military Pulls Back“As security forces in northern Iraq crumble, the autonomous Kurdistan region is rapidly laying the groundwork to become an independent state,” writes Ben Van Heuvelen.
PKK Set to Fight against Islamists in IraqÖzgür Korkmaz points to the announcement of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) regarding the fall of Mosul.
Syrian Kurds Continue to Blame Turkey for Backing ISIS Militants The People’s Protection Units (YPG) accuses Turkey of providing arms and sanctuary to ISIS, Amberin Zaman reports.
Turkey Hostage to Crisis in Iraq According to Henri Barkey, the blowback from the ISIS attack in Iraq will force even more Turks to question their country’s Syria and Iraq policies.
The ISIS Operation in Mosul and the Implications for Turkish Foreign Policy Aaron Stein’s initial analysis of the implications of the ISIS operation in Mosul for Turkish foreign/security policy.
Podcast: The Crisis in Iraq Aaron Stein and Michael Stephens discuss the ISIS take over of Mosul, Ayatollah Sistani’s Fatwah, Kurdistan, and the possibility of a sectarian civil war.
The Occupation of Mosul (1)-(2)“To view ISIL as a terrorist group is not enough to explain anything,” Orhan Miroğlu argues.
Different Salafi Movements and the Growth of ISIL According to Kerim Balcı, “Turkish intellectuals are largely ignorant about the new threat that is bordering Turkey.”
Once Worth Supporting, Now a Foe: ISIL“Once again,” Doğu Erbil argues, “brotherhood among Muslims has proved to be politically problematic.”
Why Is Jabhat al-Nusra No Longer Useful to Turkey? (1)-(2) Semih Idiz writes that al-Nusra is no longer useful for Turkey, and asks whether Turkey and Iran will find common ground in Iraq.
Al-Qaeda Offshoot on NATO Border Threatens Turkish Rally The best bond rally in major emerging markets is faltering as Turkey comes under pressure from ISIL, Benjamin Harvey and Taylan Bilgiç reports.
Killings in Lice, the Flag Crisis, and the Future of the Peace Process
Turkey-PKK Peace Process Unravels in Lice“After the violence in Lice, are Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on a path to resumed violence?” asks Cengiz Çandar.
Peace Raised Hopes of Families But Not Much Changed for Kids An interview with Nüket Sirman on the Kurdish question, the peace process, and its reflections on the life of kids.
The Peace Process Is Dead. Long Live the Peace Process! Fréderike Geerdink writes that “the peace process continues because Abdullah Öcalan says so.”
Kurdish Issue Can't Be Resolved Without Democratization Murat Aksoy holds “those who look at politics and the solution process with a pragmatic eye” are responsible for the killings in Lice.
Erdoğan’s Kurdish Dilemma“The recent violent developments in Diyarbakır’s Lice district, show that there is still much work to be done for the Kurdish opening to ultimately succeed,” writes Semih İdiz.
They Are Having a Panic Attack Yalçın Akdoğan, Erdoğan’s chief political advisor, claims that the “Lice provocation is a panic attack produced by the fear of resolution.”
Flag Crisis Is Just a Symptom (1)-(2)“A kid took down the Turkish flag at a military compound in Lice, and indeed, he took Turkey's political agenda hostage,” Orhan Kemal Cengiz points out.
Beyond the Flag Crisis, a Flawed Process “It is Turkey's vortex: A country where all the unresolved matters cause vicious circles of confrontation,” writes Yavuz Baydar.
Kurdish Problem at Turkish Flag Test Murat Yetkin points out that the tension in the Kurdish peace process reached its height when a Turkish flag was taken down in one of the main Air Force base in Diyarbakır.
What's Happening from Lice to Istanbul? (1)-(2) Ali Bayramoğlu comments on rising tensions in the ongoing Kurdish peace process.
"Vultures" of the Resolution Process“I have no respect for the ‘vultures’ who rejoice when blood is shed at Lice and that the flag is lowered from its mast,” writes İsmet Berkan.
Turkey's Kurds Key to Erdoğan's Presidency Bid Kadri Gursel argues that “the Kurdish movement, uneasy with the stalling of the peace process, may have a card to play in the presidential elections.”
Uncertainty“Never has such vast uncertainty dominated Turkey's domestic and external policy in history,” writes Cafer Solgun.
Turkey’s Kurdish Lifeline?“In its quest to break its dependence on Iranian and Russian hydrocarbons, Turkey gambles on Kurdistan,” writes Yerevan Saeed.
Kurdish Oil and a Value Vacuum Chris Cook claims that “few observers have picked up on the importance of the dispatch in late May from Ceyhan.”
Islam, Democracy, and the AKP
Clash of Pragmatisms It seems to Nuray Mert that “the pragmatism of Islamists” has defeated “the Western pragmatism” at the end of the day.
We Can't Go on Like This Levent Gültekin criticizes the current situation under a religious government, and says this was not in line with what the Islamists promised the people.
Which Islamism? Ali Bulaç classifies the Islamist movements in modern times as “official Islam” and “civilian Islam.”
First Anniversary of the Gezi Uprising
Adding Injustice to Injury: One Year On From the Gezi Park Protests in Turkey Amnesty International’s report on the Gezi events.
Gezi Park Breaths A blog, called Gezi Park Breaths, is collecting the news published about Gezi Park lost lives, pursuing their judicial processes.
Rouhani’s Visit To Ankara
Turkey, Iran Seek Better Ties The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called his visit to Ankara a turning point in relations, Joe Parkinson reports.
Rouhani Visit to Ankara Was Timely and Important, Turkish MP Says The Tehran Times’ interview with Osman Faruk Logoglu, the vice chairman of the CHP, on Rouhani’s visit to Ankara.
Syrian Elections
What Can We Learn from Assad's Victory? The overwhelming support Assad received in recent elections shows that it is necessary to reconsider solutions involving him, Sami Kohen argues.
Arm Syria’s Opposition Robert S. Ford, the US ambassador to Syria from 2010 to 2014, argues for ramping up Syria’s opposition by US partner countries such as Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals Overturns Life Sentence for Sociologist Pınar Selek In her first comments after the ruling, Selek expressed her relief, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
Shadows and Doubts: The Turkish Local Elections of March 30, 2014 The Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC) report on the Turkish local elections.
Turkish
Fall of Mosul and Turkey’s Hostage Crisis
Erdoğan’ın Suriye politikası Musul’da bir kez daha iflas etti! (1)-(2)-(3) Hasan Cemal wrties that Erdoğan’s Syria policy failed one more time in Mosul.
IŞİD ve Türkiye, Irak, Suriye, Nusra … Muhammed Cihad Ebrari examines the nature of ISIS and its relations with Turkey, Iraq, and Syria.
Türkiye’nin 11 Eylül’ü (1)-(2) Sezin Öney calls ISIS’s seizure of Mosul “Turkey’s 9/11”.
Ahmakça hayallerin getirdiği felaket (1)-(2) Ceyda Karan argues that the dreams of the government have brought about a disaster in Mosul.
Kapımızdaki El Kaide (1)-(2)-(3)-(4) Ruşen Çakır analyzes how Turkey and other states, including the US, Iraq, and Iran, allowed the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) to grow and operate in Mosul.
Musul: İflas eden dış politikanın resmi Murat Aksoy defines ISIS’s seizure of Mosul as a reflection of Turkey’s failed foreign policy.
Bir medeniyet kenti düşerken! (1)-(2)-(3)-(4) Fehim Taştekin comments on the future of Mosul in the hands of ISIS.
Musul'un düşüşü ve 'ciddi' sonuçları (1)-(2)-(3) Cengiz Çandar writes on the fall of Mosul and its consequences.
Değişen dengeler ve öncelikler Yalçın Akdoğan, Erdoğan’s chief political advisor, argues that Turkey’s priority now is to ensure the lives and safety of Turkish citizens and Turkmenians in Mosul.
Washington’un Ankara’ya borcu giderek artıyor“Washington, as an ally, is increasingly becoming indebted to Ankara,” claims Mustafa Karaalioğlu.
Türkiye IŞİD ilişkileri ve Musul’un saf değiştirmesi (1)-(2) Hüseyin Ali argues that Turkey has explicit relations with ISIS that is known for its Kurdish-phobia.
Postmodern harici öfke Ali Bulac points out that both al-Nusra and ISIS are related to al-Qaida.
Ortadoğu’da İslam devletine çarpmak Ayhan Bilgen argues that the only way for Turkey to solve the ISIS crisis is to develop good relations with Kurds.
'Türkiye düşünsün; PYD IŞİD'e yenilirse veya IŞİD ile anlaşırsa ne olur?' An interview with Salih Muslim, the leader of the Democratic Union Party in Syria, about ISIS, latest developments in Rojava, and regional politics.
Killings in Lice, Flag Crisis and Future of Peace Process
Öcalan: Müzakerede hile olmaz Abdullah Öcalan’s statements on the importance of an independent Monitoring Committee for the transparency of the peace process.
KCK eylem biçimlerini değiştirmeye çağırdı KCK’s call for changing protest forms while it still finds it legitimate to protest against fortress-like security outposts under construction.
Çözüm Süreci'nde kavşağa dikkat Cevat Öneş argues that despite seeming contradictions between Öcalan and the PKK/KCK, Öcalan’s statement after Lice is in line with the statements of the PKK and KCK.
Seçim döneminde çözüm süreci çalıştayı“The government hasn’t defined the ‘peace process’ for years. And now, it does not explain its ‘road map,’” writes Tarhan Erdem.
Lice: İki AK Parti, iki çözüm (1)-(2) Murat Aksoy argues that two civilians’ deaths during protests against fortress-like security outposts reveal that the AKP has moved away from the peace process on the basis of democratic and equal citizenship.
Akbabalara rağmen çözüm ve barış... (1)-(2)“People in Lice protest against fortress-like security outposts not because they are against the peace process but because they embrace it,” argues Ruşen Çakır.
Lice: Ne değişti? Mehveş Evin points out that it is crucial to recall the history of state violence in Lice in order to understand why Lice’s inhabitants are against military outposts today.
Öcalan’ı izleyelim… Delil Karakoçan suggests “follow[ing] Öcalan.”
1990′lı yılların olağanüstü hal rejimi ve savaş: Kürdistan yerellerinde şiddet ve direniş Adnan Çelik examines the state of emergency of the 1990s, violence, and resistance in Kurdistan.
Gençler neden dağa çıkar? Why do Kurdish youngsters join the guerillas? asks Adil Bayram.
Öcalan 'yeni aşama' dediğinde her sey unutulacak mı? An interview with Emine Uçak Erdoğan on Kurdish youth who join the PKK and the peace process.
İnsansız 'barış' araçları Pınar Öğünç finds it contradictory to organize a peace and resolution workshop in Diyarbakır and to build security outposts in Lice at the same time.
Anarşist seviciler Yalçın Akdoğan, Erdoğan’s chief political advisor, calls protests in Lice anarchy and those who support the protests “anarchist-philes.”
Devletleşen AKP Commenting on the bloody incidents in Lice, Erol Katırcıoğlu asks whether Erdogğan and the AKP really want to solve the Kurdish question.
Lice'den İstanbul'a neler oluyor? (1)-(2)-(3) Ali Bayramoğlu comments on security outposts protests in Lice, the flag crisis in Diyarbakır, and the peace process.
Çocuklar, dağ ve zindan Criticizing Erdoğan’s rhetoric about children who are allegedly kidnapped by the PKK, Cuma Çicek draws attention to children who are born and raised in prisons.
Karanlık tarafa geçiş hızı Yetvart Danzikyan argues that it is not healthy to forget the aim of the peace process.
Barışta kafalar karışık Mete Çubukcu points out that the peace process is characterized by a lack of transparency and trust between parties.
Bayrak yarışı, milliyetçilik yarışı! Hasan Cemal condemns political leaders who started a “nationalism race” after the flag crisis.
Barış süreci böyle olmak zorunda mı Mücahit Bilici criticizes the fragile nature of the peace process.
'Taraflar savaşa mı hazırlanıyor?' (1)-(2) Interviews with the members of Women’s Initiative for Peace after their visits to Lice and Diyarbakır.
Böyle bir kalekolu ancak işgal kuvvetleri yapar! Ergun Bahaban argues that fortress-like security outposts in Lice resemble spaces built by the US in Afghanistan and Iraq.
‘Yeni Türkiye’nin Açılan Kilidi’ Gençay Gürsoy criticizes the military’s violent response to civil disobedience protests in Lice.
Şehirler 'dağlaşırken' Sezgin Tanrıkulu, deputy of the Republican People's Party (CHP), pays attention to growing violence in cities that “turn them into mountains.”
Islam, Democracy, and the AKP
Durmak zorundayız, bu yola devam edemeyiz“We, Muslims, became the source of social unrest,” writes Levent Gültekin.
Siyasal İslam In line with Levent Gültekin’s article, Hayko Bağdat criticizes political Islam in Turkey.
İslâm siyasal tasavvuru çoğulculuk ve demokrasiyle bağdaşamaz mı? Unlike Hayrettin Karaman, the AKP's Islamic jurist of choice, Şükrü Hanioğlu argues that Islam is compatible with pluralism and democracy.
İhtilalin açtığı yolda (1)-(2) Etyen Mahçupyan claims that Turkey is going through a passive revolution, in which the society is trying to get rid of the official ideology of elitist cadres.
Keşke Gezi zekâlı bir başbakanımız olsaydı… Oya Baydar points out that the AKP’s developmentalist ideology carries out brutal, harmful, and unsustainable urban projects.
İkizdere, Amasya, Okmeydanı.. According to Yetvart Danzikyan, the AKP’s unlawful, authoritarian, exclusionary, and violent character goes in tandem with its anti-environmentalist, destructive urban projects.
Other Pertinent Pieces
Çağlar Keyder’e göre “yeni orta sınıf” Cağlar Keyder’s talk and question and answer session about the historical, sociological, and theoretical background of “the new middle class” in Turkey.
Yaralar acik, adalet hala yok Amnesty International’s report about developments in the wake of the Gezi uprisings.
“Vefa ile arzu ettiğimiz militan sosyal bilimcilik pratiğini yeniden düşünmek” An interview with Emrah Goker on the Gezi uprisings and debates in the social sciences and the academy.
Cumhuriyet’in Ermeni fişlemesi ilk kez gün ışığında Nevzat Onaran’s research in the Prime Ministry Archives reveal the Turkish Republic’s discriminatory citizenship policies against Armenians.
Published on Jadaliyya
International Arts Censorship by the Turkish Embassy: The Case of 'Here Together Now' in Madrid
On Perpetual State Violence in Lice
After Ugur Kurt’s Murder in Okmeydani—A Conversation with Ayfer Karakaya-Stump