Disturbing facts about Erdogan

Ahmet Bayrakdar

Rabi' al-Awwal 20, 1437 2016-01-01

Letters To The Editor

by Ahmet Bayrakdar (Letters To The Editor, Crescent International Vol. 44, No. 11, Rabi' al-Awwal, 1437)

Reader Ahmet Bayrakdar expresses deep concerns about Erdogan’s policies in Turkey.

It is sad that Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan should be acting in such an erratic manner. His support of terrorists in Syria is not only ill advised but will ultimately prove disastrous for Turkey as well. The terrorists are nobody’s friends; they are consumed by extreme hatred of anybody that does not conform to their narrow and distorted interpretations of Islam.

Erdogan has to decide whether he supports these totally distorted interpretations or he wants to follow the true message of Islam that is about compassion, mercy, and understanding. Turkey is a predominantly Sufi-oriented country with a long tradition of tolerance of others. As far as the takfiri terrorists are concerned, they consider the Sufis as heretics. In the unlikely event of the takfiris succeeding in Syria, they will also target the people of Turkey.

Other acts of Erdogan are equally irrational. For instance, prior to elections, he whipped up anti-Kurdish sentiment. It gave him electoral victory but Turkey will pay the price in the long run. His destruction of the Russian plane was equally shortsighted and dangerous. Picking a fight with Russia will not benefit Turkey at all. Erdogan must change course before it is too late. The people of Turkey deserve better than that from their leaders.

Ahmet Bayrakdar
Keego Harbor, MI, US