Turkey's Armenians are in a Crisis over their Patriarchate

How does an ancient church chose its Patriarch in modern times.

This issue is at the root of a deep split among Turkey's Armenian Christians.

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Seven trends in the Middle East are going to worsen an already complicated situation

Observers note SEVEN trends in the Middle East. These are going to worsen an already complicated situation.

First: Democracy is like a plant with no
water - it's withering in Egypt, Turkey, Iraq and doesn't even exist in Syria. Israel's democracy is perfect, but in an arid region it needs watering.

Shifting mideast sands

Second: Russian influence is likely to increase. The Russian military supports Syria. Russia has interests in Iran. Russia needs Turkish exports, especially food and Turkey needs gas flowing from Russia. Russian bankers enjoy the warm climate in Cyprus, even if the banks have put a chill on the inflow of money from Moscow.

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Third: The Shia / Sunni division is widening, not finding a path to reconciliation. The impact of Syria's three year war is causing a fissure to turn into a gulf. Talking about the Gulf, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar, the latter's  support for the Brotherhood being only the most recent of irritants.

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For example, Turkey, with a predominantly Sunni population, is not invited to Egypt for a major conference on Islam. Qatar is also excluded. Has such an event ever happened in the Islamic world before? “The Ministry of Waqfs will not resume contacts with Turkey until the Turkish government apologizes to Egypt and to his eminence Imam of Al Azhar, and changes its policy towards Cairo,” Jumaa reportedly said.

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Fourth: The United States of America is tired out, exhausted from two long wars in the Middle East. Iraq, which was supposed to be a "picnic" (Remember President Bush stating 'The War is over") followed by Afghanistan has turned into a mega-discouragement. Who has the courage to confront Syria in any meaningful way?

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Fifth: The presence of radical Muslim groups in Syria has given pause on the part of those who thought military opposition to the regime in Damascus would produce a "quick democratic solution". Three borders of Israel are threatened:  new tunnels from Gaza into Israel; missiles taken off a ship coming from Iran; and el Qaeda groups in Syria.

Sixth: Questions are being asked for the first time, such as "Are these still 'states' in the modern concept of statehood, or are Lebanon, Syria and Iraq fracturing to a such a degree that they are in danger of becoming 'failed-states'?

Will Lebanon be able to pay its bills?

Seventh: Given the massive dislocation of Syrians throughout Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, and the unbelievable destruction of Syrian infrastructure (cities, roads, buildings, bridges) will Lebanon - sooner - and Syria - later on, face possible bankruptcy?

Turmoil in Turkey - What's Going to Happen Next?

Turkey depends on tourism: What will happen tomorrow?

Considerable turmoil in Turkey has observers worried about the future direction of the Prime Minister.

Following the disturbances in central Istanbul, known as the Gezi Marches in summer, 2013, police charged four government ministers with corruption on December 17. The pieces pointed to instructions coming from the highest sources.

Since then, almost daily revelations have produced increasing evidence that the Prime Minister is going back on his commitments to fulfill the requirements the EU demands of Turkey before it can join the EU.

The international press is buzzing with the developments.

Turkey's Forthcoming Elections

Turkey Widens Internet Censorship

Erdogan lost his twitter battle-very badly

With fears of an end, Turkish PM takes blunter steps


 

Is Russia Warming up to Egypt? Is Egypt Warming Up to Russia?

Diplomatic developments between Russia and Egypt suggest that Russia is becoming much more involved in Egypt,

at the same time that the USA is cutting its support to Egypt.

Together with the very difficult situation in Ukraine, this is a hard time for diplomats from every country in the Middle East.

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15 Insults World Leaders Usually don't Make in Public

Turkey's Black Sea Coastline

Usually  insults like these are only made in closed conversations, around back-room tables or in emails that one doesn't expect to have become public.

However, these insults are being made publically, on the stump, as the leader of a country is aiming to keep his government strong in Turkey, wanting to win the next municipal elections.

Such a beautiful country doesn't need ugly epithets; words like these only alienate and cause despair.

Many observers point out that using these insults not only generate hard feelings, they are also making it more difficult for both foreigners and Turks to envision participatory democracy in the future.

Samples of the insults: (First five)

Perverts
Atheists,
Terrorists,
Blood-sucking vampires,
Journalists with dog-collars

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What about Reports that Muslims are Turning to Christ? A Wind in the House of Islam

There are reports of Muslims turning to Jesus Christ in many parts of the Islamic world.

What is causing such an unprecedented event?

Is the research accurate?

What are the consequences for a person who, belonging to a Muslim family, turns to a different faith?

The article states there are 82 communities that are being profoundly affected by the love of God in Jesus Christ. In this definition, a 'community' is a group of at least 2,000 people who have been baptized and have made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, the Messiah of God. ('Community is not used in the sense of "Move in now to these new houses - a brand new community where last year there were only farms")

This article will provide very different reactions and responses.

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Islam's Second Crisis is upon us, says Mark Durie

Mark Durie traces the historical points along which Islam has developed.

He makes the point that Islam gradually shrank in geographical and political power over hundreds of years. Islam was built on a theology of success, but the loss of power of the Ottoman Empire implied that the "Christian West"
was gaining in strength. This caused a profound challenge to the supposition that Islam would conquer the world.

Fatwas began to appear in an attempt to control the rising power of Christians and Jews, bringing about five different forms of radical Islam. They are revivalist movements aimed at restoring the superiority of Islam, he says. The Iranian Revolution and the success in Afghanistan of throwing out the Russian occupiers provided a temporary sense of exhilaration, but western superiority in technology and science, and the crumbling of social, economic and political systems is deeply worrying to Muslim theologians and philosophers.

The lack of success of the "revivalist" dream of Islam reasserting itself is bringing about a deep challenge, Mark Durie believes. There will be new attempts to recast Islam in a modern, more humble form, less triumphalist and more geared to the needs of humble citizens. This, he says, is what is behind the intellectual movement in Egypt under the military, under General Sisi. Many people see him not only as the savior of Egypt, but also a "savior" of Islam.

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Which way is the "Demographic Time Bomb" working in Israel?

Jewish men at the Wailing Wall

David Goldman comments on changes taken place in Israel and offers a different view on the possibility of change. Until now, many observers have come to believe that Israel will gradually turn into a more democratic state as the Arab population grows more quickly than that of Jewish families.

However, David Goldman looks at the same social situation and arrives at a completely different conclusion. His article is entitled, "Israel at a Point of No Return - in
a Right Direction". He says that Israel is turning into the world's most religious country, principally because of the growth of those identifying with Orthodox beliefs, or willing to get along with Orthodox teachings.

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"Something is Rotten in Turkey" Turkish journalist's comments

Something is deeply concerning the public in Turkey.

The latest pastime occupation seems to be going on line at home, once a person is home from work, and going on You Tube. The latest scandal may be about those accused of corruption, or money hidden away in rich people's houses, or unauthorized telephone taps.

Mustafa Aykol, a respected journalist, thinks that "something is rotten in Turkey". These days, the most exciting leisure activity for millions of Turks is to get on the Internet every night and wait for the next scandalous “tape” to go online. Because almost every night, a new alleged wiretapped phone conversation between the most powerful men in Turkey, such as Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan, is exposed. Every audio file goes viral instantly and leads to heated discussions and angry protests on social media. Some even go out on the streets to voice their dismay – before getting water cannoned or gassed by the police. 

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At the same time, the Prime Minister's speeches are being critized as "hate speeches", "Slanders", and "insults" "Erdoğan raises new arguments against the movement in political rallies and speaks exclusively with newspapers and in group meetings of his party, and refers to a movement he had formerly praised as a parallel state, assassins, an illegal organization and a virus. He does not deny recorded phone conversations implicating corruption, bribery, tender-rigging and media interference, and stresses that they have adopted new bills effecting changes to the judiciary, bureaucracy, intelligence agency and Internet to combat the so-called parallel structure."

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Al-Monitor - A Newspaper that takes in the whole of the Middle East

The best source of news at the moment on the Middle East can be found here.

VIENNA, Feb 26, 2014 -- Al-Monitor, an edgy news and commentary site launched in the aftermath of the Arab Spring that brands itself as “the pulse of the Middle East”, is the recipient of this year’s International Press Institute (IPI) Free Media Pioneer Award, IPI announced today.

The award is given annually to a media or press freedom organisation that distinguishes itself in the fight for free and independent news. The awards' nominators said that Al-Monitor stands out as a model for independent coverage of the region through its news, features, analysis and commentary at a time of political upheaval.

“Al-Monitor’s unrivalled reporting and analysis exemplify the invaluable role that innovative and vigorously independent media can play in times of change and upheaval,” IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie said. “Al-Monitor’s editors and contributors produce a must-read daily overview of a complex region in a coherent, introspective and independent way. Its team includes some of the best minds and analysts from around the world who cut through the daily chaff and give readers an insightful summary of what is happening.”

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Are Christians the most Persecuted People in the World?

Are Christians the most persecuted people in the world?

This write thinks so and gives three reasons for his answer.

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