The West's Hypocrisy on Kurdistan, Turkey's Continued Support for Jihad

суббота, 16 августа 2025 г.

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View on web  |  Read what you missed The West's Hypocrisy on Kurdistan By Ahnaf Kalam ● Aug 16, 2025 Smart Brevity® count: 4 mins...1108 words This edition of the Dispatch begins with the story of Cuba's detention and deportation of writing fellow Amine Ayoub during a stop in Havana en route to the U.S., highlighting the regime's targeting of pro-Israel voices through harsh interrogation as well as its alliances with Palestinian militants and Iranian theocrats. Loqman Radpey urges the United Kingdom, Canada, and France to recognize Kurdistan's statehood, exposing Western double standards that dismiss the Kurds' century-long self-determination efforts, their defeat of ISIS, and progressive governance in Rojava amid threats from Turkey and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Finally, Abdullah Bozkurt uncovers an FBI affidavit exposing Turkey as a hub for ISIS financing through intermediaries, even as Syria releases jihadists, and details how Hizb ut-Tahrir, supported by Turkish radicals, defies President Erdoğan with protests demanding cuts to Israel and NATO ties, underscoring the perils of his extremism tolerance that now erodes his authority and national stability. Press Release: Middle East Forum Condemns Cuba's Detention of Fellow Amine Ayoub News from the Middle East Forum The Middle East Forum (MEF) condemns the Cuban authorities for detaining and deporting MEF writing fellow Amine Ayoub during a routine transit through Havana en route to the United States to visit his brother. Why it matters: This incident highlights Cuba's systematic targeting of pro-Israel voices, aligning with its historical support for Palestinian militant groups and Iranian theocrats. Amine Ayoub, a Moroccan journalist, was detained for 32 hours without food or water, interrogated about Israeli stamps in his passport, and deported without explanation. The big picture: Cuba's actions reflect its ongoing alliance with anti-Israel entities, as it continues to support groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and condemns Israel's self-defense measures. To read the full press release, click here. The United Kingdom, Canada, and France Must Recognize Kurdistan's Statehood By: Loqman Radpey Canada and France plan to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, while ignoring the Kurds' century-long self-determination quest. Why it matters: The international community's silence on Kurdish statehood is a glaring double standard that undermines the moral and legal principles it claims to champion. Kurdish struggles dismissed: Despite meeting benchmarks for sovereignty, Kurdistan's demand for statehood is ignored and brushed aside by Western democracies. The Kurdistan Regional Government has operated as a quasi-state since 1992, yet lacks international recognition. Ignoring Kurdish achievements: Kurdish-led government in Syria, Rojava, offers progressive governance but faces threats from the new Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) government, Turkish invasion, and Western indifference. Kurds have fought and defeated ISIS, yet their calls for self-governance are dismissed as "unacceptable." Hypocrisy exposed: Western nations hail Kurdish fighters but overlook their right to peace and statehood. This selective application of international norms must be confronted. A call for justice: The West should reward peace and progressivism, not terrorism and extremism. Kurds have sacrificed much, yet remain stateless. It's time to pay attention to their cause and support their right to sovereignty. To read the full article, click here. MEF Action Alert: Stop Turkey's F-35 Purchase Turkey is pushing to rejoin the F-35 program despite owning Russia's S-400 missile system, which threatens U.S. aircraft and risks exposing sensitive F-35 technology to Russian intelligence. In response, member of Congress are circulating a Dear Colleague letter that calls on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deny an F-35 arms deal with Turkey under the 2017 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which formally removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019. This is a critical moment. Allowing Turkey back without removing its S-400s endangers U.S. national security, undermines our defense industry, and compromises Israel's Qualitative Military Edge. We must not reward Turkey, which continues to host Hamas leadership, attack U.S. allies in Syria, and threaten the territorial integrity of Greece and Armenia. The F-35 is vital for U.S. aerial superiority and global defense partnerships. Act Now! Urge your House Representative to sign the letter to Secretary Rubio demanding the White House reject Turkey's F-35 bid and uphold CAATSA sanctions. Time is short—Turkey's actions threaten U.S. interests and must not be rewarded. Sign up now to protect our military secrets and defense leadership! Click here to sign up for our letter-writing campaign to demand Congress reject Turkey's F-35 bid and uphold CAATSA sanctions. FBI Affidavit Reveals Turkey as Conduit for ISIS Financing while Syria Frees ISIS Captives By: Abdullah Bozkurt A U.S. federal complaint unveils ISIS's sustained funding through Turkey, highlighting Syria's interim government's release of convicted ISIS members. Why it matters: Despite losing its caliphate, ISIS's transnational financial network remains resilient, with Turkey serving as a key hub for moving funds and resources into Syria. Unraveling the network: The FBI's arrest of Mark Lorenzo Villanueva exposes the intricate web of financial transactions aiding ISIS fighters. Villanueva sent over $1,600 to ISIS operatives via intermediaries in Turkey and Lebanon, exemplifying ISIS's tactic to avoid direct cross-border scrutiny. Turkey's critical role: While Turkey officially claims to oppose ISIS, its territory is regularly used to provide financial and logistical support to ISIS jihadists. Intelligence reports confirm the presence of ISIS couriers operating in Turkish cities along the southern border. A call to vigilance: The Villanueva case emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance and international condemnation of Turkey in order to disrupt ISIS's financial lifelines. Continued monitoring and action against state-sponsors of terrorism like Turkey are crucial to dismantling these networks and preventing future threats. To read the full article, click here. Hizb Ut-Tahrir, Backed by Turkish Jihadist Groups, Challenges President Erdoğan By: Abdullah Bozkurt Radical jihadist groups, emboldened by Turkey's Islamist leadership, demand action against Israel outside President Erdoğan's palace. Why it matters: The rally, led by Hizb ut-Tahrir, highlights a growing challenge to Erdoğan's authority from within his own Islamist base. A dangerous precedent: Despite being banned, Hizb ut-Tahrir operates openly, exploiting Erdoğan's tolerance to rally jihadist factions. The group demands cutting ties with Israel and NATO, revealing tensions between Erdoğan's political ambitions and jihadist expectations. Erdoğan's dilemma: The protest highlights the risk of fostering extremist elements for political gain. Hizb ut-Tahrir's growth in Turkey is symptomatic of the Erdoğan government's indifference and unwillingness to crack down on dangerous jihadist organizations. A call for containment: Turkey must address the radicalization within its borders before it spirals out of control. Erdoğan's flirtation with extremism across multiple fronts, both domestically and regionally, has spawned a force that now challenges his very rule as well as Turkey's foundational ideals. To read the full article, click here. We appreciate your continued support for the Middle East Forum as we deliver critical analyses on Middle Eastern affairs. If you found this edition of the Dispatch useful, please share it with others in your network and don't hesitate to provide your thoughts on our coverage via the comments feature. Sincerely, Ahnaf Kalam Digital Media Specialist Middle East Forum Was this edition useful? Your email will be recorded and shared with the sender MEF, an activist think tank, deals with the Middle East, Islamism, U.S. foreign policy, and related topics, urging bold measures to protect Americans and their allies. 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