An American-Egyptian couple who had been held in Egyptian prison were released recently: Last weekend, Egyptian-American aid worker Aya Hijazi, who had become an international symbol of Sisi’s harsh crackdown on aid groups, was cleared of child-abuse and human-trafficking charges … Continue reading →
Yesterday there was a referendum in Turkey that used a democratic process to give Erdogan dictatorial powers. The pro-Erdogan forces didn’t call the powers the referendum would confer “dictatorial,” of course. But that’s what they were. Erdogan has declared victory: … Continue reading →
After the Syrian gas attack, President Trump had a choice: do nothing or do something. It’s a choice all presidents face, because sooner or later they will be tested—usually sooner, and not just once but many times and in many … Continue reading →
President Trump has proposed a temporary suspension of immigration from seven countries and some new rules for the admission of immigrants to the US: Donald Trump has outlined a new screening process for would-be immigrants designed to exclude Islamic extremists … Continue reading →
As part of his enormous purge of the opposition in Turkey, Erdogan has now formally requested that the US turn over the man Erdogan alleges is behind the supposed coup attempt, Fethullah Gulen: Justice Ministry officials told Anadolu the written … Continue reading →
…the purge continues: Turkey on Friday detained dozens of academics suspected of backing Fethullah Gulen, the alleged mastermind of last month’s failed coup, while pressing ahead with raids on businesses linked to the US-based Muslim preacher. Turkish prosecutors have issued … Continue reading →
The purge in Turkey continues: Turkey’s authorities have issued detention warrants for 42 journalists, local media say, as part of an inquiry into the failed coup on 15 July. Prominent commentator Nazli Ilicak is said to be on the list. … Continue reading →
In one of my first posts on the coup attempt in Turkey, I mentioned that Daniel Pipes had written a 2015 article asserting that Erdogan’s 2014 electoral victory was bogus. Many people in the west who have championed Erdogan against … Continue reading →
Now they’ve come for the teachers. It’s purge time. Yes, that coup certainly was fortuitous for (or staged by) our Turkish democracy champ, Erdogan: Turkey’s post-coup crackdown took a more sinister turn on Tuesday after tens of thousands of teachers … Continue reading →
Here’s an Erdogan quote on democracy, made in the 1990s when Erdogan was the mayor of Istanbul: “Democracy is like a train: when you reach your destination, you get off.” Well, can’t say he didn’t warn us. And Turkey may … Continue reading →
What a sad sad day. As commenter “Yancey Ward” writes: I think it possible, even likely, that Erdogan staged the coup himself, or knew it was coming in advance and allowed the plotter so openly hang themselves. Literally, Erdogan couldn’t … Continue reading →
Here’s Matt Yglesias: Picture Donald Trump on a series of calls with advisors and heads of government from around the region, and inside the NATO alliance, devising a constructive response to a coup attempt in Turkey. Good luck… …[T]o be … Continue reading →