Santa Drops Gifts Through The Chimney

Source: Vakit, Turkey, December 28, 2007

Radical Islamist Vakit continues to attack new year celebrations for being Christian. Under today’s front-page headliner that read “Rebellion, treason, waste”, Vakit wrote, “Celebrating new year which is a Christian custom is rebellion to Allah, betrayal of our martyrs, and a consumption craze and waste”.

Vakit criticized the decorations in shopping centers, colorful store windows that incite people to shop and waste, adding that the most popular products were alcoholic beverages banned in Islam. It also lashed at Turkey’s mainstream, secular media for criticizing the practice of sacrificing animals during the Muslim holiday but not saying much about the murder of pine trees used in decorating.

Chairman of the Islamist Happiness Party [SP] Recai Kutan told Vakit that new year celebrations were against Muslim Turks’ customs and traditions and that they should all be cancelled.

Chairman of the ultranationalist-Islamist Alperen Association Eyup Gokhan Ozekin said that he found it unacceptable that many institutions are organizing entertainment and celebrations, despite repeated statements by Islamic authorities’ that say celebrating new year is Christian belief, and ways it is celebrated are based on customs and traditions of Christians.

Source: Vakit, Turkey, December 28, 2007

Omer Kaya (33) who lives in the U.S. sued his parents in Turkey when he learned that his 13 year-old-sister Zehra was taken out of elementary school when she was in second grade to be send to Koran classes instead, and she was forced to wear carsaf [bourqa]. Omer Kaya was lied to and was shown fake school report cards during his visits to Turkey.

Kaya filed a criminal complaint with Istanbul Prosecutor, claiming that his sister’s right to education was taken away. Kaya is seeking legal custody of Zehra whose diary revealed her depression and lack of will to live, due to family pressures, and being deprived of love and attention.

It is reported that the parents have left for an unknown destination, with their daughter.

Source: Vatan, Milliyet, Cumhuriyet, Turkey, December 27-28, 2007

Fethullah Gulen affiliated Turkish daily Bugun reported that a new initiative for the foundation of a new TV channel which would broadcast in Arabic, Persian and Kurdish languages for neighboring countries, primarily for Iraq and Iran, is being launched upon the request of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Erdoğan told his aides, “Many countries try to have a stake in the region and direct the population of the region on the basis of their views. We have to initiate new policies as the most powerful state in the region. We should work on the establishment of a TV channel which would broadcast in Arabic, Persian and Kurdish languages”.

Bugun wrote that the channel will cover a wide range of topics and include music, entertainment programs, cultural programs, sports and news, according to information obtained from sources close to the Prime Minister’s office. Turkey will also be able to convey its culture and its perspective about the developments in the region, same sources said.

It is not yet clear whether the new channel will be formed within the body of Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) or not, but it is believed that a new independent channel and organization will be established for this purpose.

Source: Bugun, Turkey, December 26, 2007

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received a delegation of visiting congressmen from the US House of Representatives. After the meeting, Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel told reporters that this was his first visit to Turkey, adding that their talks with Erdogan had been beneficial.

Stating that they had concentrated on Turkish-US relations, Engel said that Turkey and the U.S. are allies sharing similar views and interests. He added that Washington is supporting Ankara’s fight against terrorism.

Source: Türkiye, Turkey, December 27, 2007

Historian/writer Cezmi Yurtsever who investigated the family trees of some well-known personalities in Turkey – among them the Islamist former PM Erbakan – claimed that the Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani is a Jew and that his grandfather was a rabbi in Mousul in 1850.

Speaking at his geneology exhibition in Istanbul he said that Barzani is not even a Kurd and that Barzanis had joined forces with the Armenians and hit Turkish soldiers in 1915. He added that Massoud Barzani does not serve the Kurds but rather works for foreign powers with the aim of weakening Turkey.

A history teacher Mehmet Erkocak backed Yurtsever’s claims and said, “Barzani is a Jew. He entered the region through Islamist Naqshibandi sect, by hiding his true identity. Now, he claims that he is a Kurd but serves the interests of foreign [i.e. U.S.] powers”.

Source: Vatan, Turkey, December 26, 2007

The radical Islamist Turkish daily Vakit reported that AKP MP and member of parliamentary committee for human rights Murat Yildirim said, “I call upon the world governments to say ‘stop’ at once to the despotic policies of Israel”.

Yildirim spoke after three AKP MPs - Murat Yildirim, Cemal Yilmaz and Fatih Arikan - had returned from a visit to Gaza, that was organized by the Islamist human rights organization [IHH] for the Muslim holiday of Sacrifice (Eid).

Source: Vakit, Turkey, December 27, 2007

Mainstream Turkish dailies Hurriyet and Cumhuriyet reported today that Israel will soon deliver 10 Heron unmanned spy planes to Turkey, in advance of the scheduled delivery. According to the 190 million dollar purchase agreement, Israel will also provide training and technical support for the planes.

Last summer Turkish Armed Forces had rented three Herons that are currently used in the military operations against the PKK, until the purchased 10 planes are delivered.

Source: Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet, Turkey, December 28, 2007

Cumhuriyet reported that the Ministry of National Education pays half of the total budget for Turkey’s 2,839 high schools to 455 Imam Hatip Islamist schools. While these Islamist schools cannot find where to spend a surplus of 44% of the allocated funds, other high schools are unable to buy fuel to heat their classrooms where teaching is done in freezing cold conditions.

Source: Cumhuriyet, Turkey, December 28, 2007

"The [Turkish] Government plans for imams to convince [PKK] terrorists to come down from the mountains"

Imam: "C'mon, come join us too..."

Source: Milliyet, Turkey, December 26, 2007