From a new perspective

It must be confusing for a foreigner to watch Turkey from the outside these days. The heavy atmosphere surrounding regional elections, legislative changes, power struggles within the state...

Still, this confusion can be overcome by keeping track and taking a closer look. There are, however, cases that become difficult to comprehend when followed through certain news outlets. The Turkish government's relationship with al-Qaeda and Iran is one such example. There is a body in Turkey, obsessed with the idea that the AK Party government is fully committed to Iran.

They hold racist views based on certain clashes in Islamic history and see Iran as the source of all evil and the root of all problems in the region. Since the Shia belief is considered "unorthodox" by the Sunni Muslims, they go beyond themselves in anger at the mention of Iran. That's not all. One conspiracy theory follows another, with allegations that the prime ministry is full of Iranian agents, that Iran has put a spell on Prime Minister Erdoğan, giving them authority in Ankara, presented as "political analyses."

Surely, these speculations are geared towards the Turkish public, because none of these arguments will make much sense to a foreigner; especially since recently U.S. President Barack Obama is more than eager to improve relations with Iran. Assuming that by provoking the people of Turkey into adopting a hostile position towards Iran as the "historic enemy" also has a trump for the world public, which is the argument that the Turkish government allies with al-Qaeda. This is a highly influential argument, too, with room for pretty much everything.

Noting that "the Turkish government is getting close with Iran" is significant to the outside world, as it denotes ties with al-Qaeda. English articles focus on this, tweets are posted with this idea in mind and news are fabricated...

Some even go as far as to say that Iran is feeding and fostering al-Qaeda. This way, they equate the two, whereby building a relationship with one, would automatically associate with the other. News articles along the lines of "Government builds relationships with Iran and its puppet al-Qaeda" are making international relations theorists go mad! The worst thing for a foreigner following Turkey from abroad would be to begin evaluating the country based on such contradictory articles. Subjecting political analysis to these obsessions and fixations is the worst thing one can do to a reader.

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Daily Sabah is initiating its future in publication by distancing itself from these obsessions and prejudices, and by trying to portray a clear picture of the region and Turkey. Once a week, I will write in this column, and do my best in sharing insights particularly from the Middle East.

Wishing you a pleasant read!