Free Republic

Asharq al-awsat reports that Muslim Brotherhood media platforms that broadcast from Turkey are facing obstacles after the website of the el-Sharq channel was shut down. Observers said the site was closed while no explanations were provided. However, experts in fundamentalist movements in Egypt suggested that the reason for the closure is criticisms directed at Cairo, despite Ankara's warnings, amid efforts to normalize relations between the two countries. Ayman Nour, the channel owner, announced that the channel's website had been suddenly closed, accusing "unidentified people and piracy companies" of closing the site and hacking his phone. According to an expert on...

As Lira Implodes, Turkey Proposes Huge Fines For “Hoarding” On one hand Turkey’s currency is crashing because the country’s ruthless despot refuses to allow higher interest rates (in hopes the ensuing hyperinflationary collapse will cover his pillaging of Turkey’s wealth as he will simply blame “foreign financial terrorists” for what has been the biggest heist of Turkey’s wealth in modern history). And sure enough, the TRY fell another 2.75% today to a fresh all time low ahead of tomorrow’s insane rate cut by the Turkish central bank which will send the lira plunging even more in the coming days and...

VIDEO: Lebanese Journalist Calls on Arab Countries to Oppose Hezbollah, Iranians in Lebanon MEMRI - Middle East Research Institute 06:30 14 minutes ago NEWSRAEL - Why this matters? Because of the crisis in Lebanon, we are hearing more and more open talk about the threat of Iran and its proxies - most notably (but not only) being Hezbollah. Though for the most, Israel's name is never mentioned, it is obvious that Israel with its strong arm - the IDF - and the Abraham Accords - are the major cog in the Middle East, allowing to take care of a problem...

Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar criticised a statement by Syria's so-called People's Assembly that claimed Turkey's Hatay province as Syrian territory.Akar’s remarks came during military inspections together with top commanders of navy, ground and air forces in the southern Hatay province.Turkey has dismissed as "meaningless" a statement by Syria's so-called People's Assembly, which claimed the Turkish province of Hatay as belonging to Damascus.“We hear some reckless and meaningless statements about our province of Hatay,” Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday.Akar’s remarks came during military inspections together with top commanders of navy, ground and air forces in the southern Hatay...

Turkey’s central bank cut interest rates for the second succesive month on Thursday in what economists interpreted as confirmation of its loss of independence from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The bank cut its policy rate to 16 from 18 percent despite soaring inflation and a depreciating currency. The lira extended its fall into record-low territory against the dollar and euro after the announcement. Erdogan has been pushing the policy-setting bank to cut interests rates in order to boost lending and promote investment and economic growth. This expansionist policy has helped Turkey’s economy grow throughout the coronavirus pandemic and perform far...

What happens next may look like Greece during its financial collapse – meaning Turkey’s economy could shrink by 10%-20% The Turkish central bank managed to halt the free-fall of the country’s currency last week with a sharp rise in interest rates. But the move failed to stop the free-fall of Turkey’s equity market and – far more dangerous – the collapse of the credit quality of Turkey’s banks. Only last October, the euro-denominated 10-year bond of Turkey’s largest private lender, Garanti Bank, yielded just 3%. Now it yields more than 7%, and the dollar value of the bond has fallen...

Gauging the value of the Turkish lira against the US dollar has required the power of divination so far this year. Anxiety is high as Turks wait to see whether the lira will tumble more and reach the once-unimaginable level of 4 lira per $1. snip- Now, 4 lira to a dollar is entirely possible and is seen as a harbinger of the big financial crisis to come. snip- The data indicates Turkey will be facing an inevitable financial collapse or at least a severe economic crisis this year. Such a crisis will worsen the security situation in Turkey, which...

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees the Turkish lira collapsing before his eyes. So what does he do? That's right: the same thing he always does. Blames others (unnamed "terrorists") for his problems: [EMBEDDED TWEET] "Everyone already sees and knows the attacks that Turkey has been subjected to also have an economic aspect. There is no difference between a terrorist who has a weapon or bomb in his hand and a terrorist who has dollars, euros and interest in terms of aim," Erdogan said. Of course it's not clear which terrorists with dollars and euros he's referring to, but apparently,...

Turkish businessman Tekin Acar had contracts to open branches of his leading cosmetics chain in ten new shopping malls this year. A few days ago he canceled nine of them after sharp falls in the lira meant he would struggle to afford the rents. Turkey's currency has lost around a quarter of its value since the middle of last year, causing havoc for retailers selling imported goods or paying rent pegged to the U.S. dollar. Many were already suffering from a sharp economic slowdown and dwindling tourism numbers after a spate of deadly bombings.

October-December, 2021 (Mixed cities: Lod, Acre, etc.) Oct-Dec 2021: Epidemic of racist Arab Islamic anti-Jewish attacks inside Israel: marking Jews' homes, swastikas, arson, rock throwing, beatings... Israeli security too overwhelmed w violence from Arab-Muslim sector against Jews - less time left to its racist motives. _______"Police not at the incident": Knesset discusses violent crime against Jews Knesset members from right and left discussed escalation in violence, incitement and protection against Jews since the Guardian of Walls riots By Atara German --- 08/12/2021 ... The conference was attended by many Knesset members from right and left, including Bezalel Smutrich and Shlomo...

Anti-migrant protesters have attacked houses, shops and cars owned by Syrians in Turkey's capital after tensions flared over the alleged killing of a local teenager. The violence erupted on Wednesday night following reports that a Syrian refugee had stabbed two Turkish men in a fight. Hundreds of locals descended on an area of Ankara where a community of Syria migrants and refugees live. Videos online showed groups of men overturning cars and vandalising shops. Anti-migrant sentiment in Turkey has been rising in recent years, with a number of politicians campaigning for harsher restrictions. Tensions have flared recently with the arrival...

Turkish media: "A bomb designed to explode at Erdogan's speech festival is in southern Turkey today." The local media also reported that according to Turkish intelligence,

SARAJEVO, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Turkey has evacuated all troops and civilians from Afghanistan aside from a small "technical group" left behind, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, adding that a battle of "terrorist organizations" had taken hold in the country. "We did what we were responsible for and as of tonight, all our personnel there has been withdrawn," Erdogan said at a press conference in Sarajevo, alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina leaders. "There will only be a small technical group left."

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to save the country's shores from "sea snot" building up in its waters. A thick, slimy layer of the mucus-like matter is spreading along the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, damaging marine life and the fishing industry. President Erdogan blamed untreated sewage being dumped into the sea, as well as rising temperatures, and urged officials to investigate. "My fear is, if this expands to Black Sea... the trouble will be enormous. We need to take this step without delay," he said. Boats travelling through the Sea of Marmara have to navigate the grey...

In a complete reversal of his incessant attacks against the Egyptian government since the 2013 revolution and coup, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a massive media and diplomatic campaign to mend ties with Egypt.Talks scheduled for this week could open the door to closer relations, and help end a battle for control in Libya, where Egypt and Turkey have backed opposing forces.Erdogan’s ruling AKP party recently proposed a parliamentary friendship group with Egypt. But Erdogan finds himself increasingly isolated and facing a severe economic crisis at home. The already weak Turkish Lira approached an all-time low versus the...

When a country's leader is in deperate need of a history lesson. Erdogan addressed the opening of the Turkish Parliament on October 1 with a ringing declaration that “Jerusalem Has Been Our City For Thousands of Years.” The “our” in “our city” seemed to refer now to the Turks, and now to the “Palestinian people.” The story is here. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday implied that Jerusalem belongs to Turkey, referring to the Ottoman Empire’s control over the city for much of the modern era. In this city that we had to leave in tears during the First World...

Fears have grown of a possible military conflict between the two countries as both navies made a show of force in the fiercely contested waters between Cyprus and Crete. It comes amidst an extended diplomatic row after Turkey sent their Oruc Reis research vessel into disputed waters to survey the seabed for gas and oil on August 10, accompanied by Turkish warships. But this sparked the ire of Athens, who responded by dispatching navy ships and announcing military exercises south of Turkey and on the Greek island of Kastellerizo - just one mile south of the Turkish coast. Athens claims...

The “Great Mosque” – as Hagia Sophia is now called by Turkey – will be open 24 hours a day. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave that order a day after the first Muslim prayer that took place inside the historic monument. “As of today, the president ordered us to open Hagia Sophia 24 hours a day for prayer. The Hagia Sophia ‘Mosque’ will be open all the time, that is 24 hours a day. We express our gratitude to our president,” posted the governor of Constantinople, Ali Yerlikaya, on Twitter. At the same time, ongoing works will be carried...

In a desperate attempt to remain in power, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dealt the Turkish republic's democratic structure a symbolic, historical insult so divisive it has the potential for serious, systemic political damage. In so doing, the man derisively nicknamed Sultan Recep once again exposed his intense jealousy for Kemal Ataturk, the soldier-statesman and political genius who founded the modern Turkish state. Understand Erdogan's government faces multiple and mounting problems. Here's a sampling: the COVID-19/Wuhan virus pandemic, wars in Syria and Libya, a domestic debt crisis and fraying domestic political alliances. Recent polls show Erdogan's Justice and Development...

Turkey’s contribution to the F-35 fighter jets’ supply chain was suspended following its receipt of parts of the S-400 surface-to-air defense system last July. But the system has not yet been made operational, although Turkey has also refused to give up the S-400 completely. It even tested its radar system in Ankara against some of its air force’s US-made F-16 fighter jets last November. However, the activation of the S-400 missile system that was scheduled for April is still delayed. Turkey has also been banned by the US from ordering F-35s for its air force. The only condition for Ankara...