Chill Republic

[Counter-Errorist]

 

[Berke2]

Here is a PDF copy of a Financial Times article -- "Mossad and the movies — how Israeli spies took over our screens"

JazakAllahu Khayr, I'll have a read.

 

[Khafee]

@CHI RULES have a look at Erdogan's hypocrisy, and his half a billion dollar plus, palace:

Erdogan presidential palace - in 60 seconds​

A controversial new 1,000-room palace built for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will cost about £385m ($615m) - nearly twice the previous estimate, Turkish officials say.
Known as Ak Saray (White Palace), it was built on a forested hilltop on the edge of the capital Ankara, on more than 150,000 sq m (1.6m sq ft) of land.
BBC News takes a quick look inside.
Video produced by Michael Hirst, with photographs from AP, AFP, Reuters and Getty Images
Published
6 November 2014


.

Luxury-loving tyrant with a palace 30 times the bigger than the White House: GUY ADAMS reveals the opulence of Erdogan's £500million official residence​

18 April 2017
Even before the result of this week’s referendum, Turkey’s autocratic President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan enjoyed the trappings and lifestyle of an aspiring dictator.

Take, for example, the lavish official residence he had built on the outskirts of Ankara, the capital, at the expense of his ever generous taxpayers.

Perched atop a hill overlooking the city and completed three years ago, the Ak Saray — White Palace — extends to an astonishing 1,100 rooms, some 250 of which are for the sole use of the moustachioed 63-year-old and his immediate family.

Decked out in every despot’s favourite style, with marble floors, gold fittings and acres of red carpet, it’s 30 times the size of the White House and is believed to be the largest palace built, anywhere in the world, for more than 100 years.

A reported £7 million went on those carpets and another £5 million on 400 pairs of 10 ft high double doors. Huge quantities of silk wallpaper were sourced at £2,000 a roll, while each drinking glass is said to have cost £250.

And there are so many spas, swimming pools, bathrooms and Turkish steam rooms in Erdogan’s quarters that the heating bill alone runs to £500,000 each winter.

And the cost of this vanity project? An estimated £500 million on construction alone.

That’s not bad going in a country where, according to Istanbul’s Bachesir University, two out of every three children live in abject poverty and more than two million people scrape by on less than £3 a day.

Set in ornamental gardens and floodlit at night, when it’s visible to most of Ankara’s 4.5 million residents, the White Palace sends a clear message: President Erdogan covets absolute, unquestioned power.

Indeed, when Turkey’s Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that this vulgar monstrosity was actually illegal — built in flagrant violation of environmental laws on the site of a protected forest, and despite multiple injunctions against it — Erdogan opted to continue with the project.

Today, he can do a lot more. For thanks to a narrow win in the highly disputed referendum, Turkey’s President can remain in office until 2029, and personally hire and fire both cabinet members and military commanders. He can also get rid of any judges who happen to upset him


His victory is not just a catastrophe for the West, and for Turkish democracy, but also for the thousands of journalists, opposition politicians, academics and ordinary citizens critical of his regime who are increasingly vulnerable to interrogation and imprisonment.

Like all textbook tyrants, this former semi-professional footballer, who entered politics in the mid-Nineties, has an extraordinarily short temper and a tragically thin skin.

We saw this recently in Germany, when he demanded that Angela Merkel’s government prosecute a satirical comedian called Jan Bohmermann, who, on an obscure TV show, called Erdogan a ‘goat-f****r with a small penis’.

Shamefully, the German authorities — hoping to persuade Turkey not to turf out its 2.7 million Syrian refugees, who might then head to Europe — agreed to play ball, dragging Bohmermann to court under defamation laws, only for the case to be thrown out.

Here in the UK, we’ve seen evidence of Erdogan’s intolerance of dissent when he hired a swanky London law firm in an attempt to silence newspapers that had published unflattering articles about his 61-year-old wife, Emine.


Among other things, the expensive lawyers took issue with widely reported suggestions that Turkey’s First Lady — mother of Erdogan’s four grown-up children — might have developed a shopping habit to rival that of another despot’s wife, Grace Mugabe.

It was, they said, entirely untrue for newspapers to report that Emine — who publicly claims to have strict Muslim values and to live a humble existence — might be fond of white tea costing £1,500 a kilo. Or that she would ever drink it from gold leaf glasses.

Nor, the law firm wrote, is it remotely accurate to say that Mrs Erdogan, who, according to Turkish state media, whiles away her days in the Palace kitchens humbly fermenting apples to make vinegar, ever shut down entire European shopping malls so she could buy designer clothes without rubbing shoulders with the great unwashed.

It was also, they wrote, incorrect to say that the First Lady — who made headlines after being photographed in a diamond-studded choker worth roughly the same as her husband’s annual salary (she said it was a freebie from a friendly jeweller) — once blew more than £37,000 while browsing in a Polish antiques bazaar.

Perhaps the law firm’s letter would have had more of an impact had they not also argued it was ‘defamatory’ and ‘inaccurate’ for British newspapers to report that criticism of Mr and Mrs Erdogan has led to people being imprisoned.

Try telling that to the 81 Turkish journalists who went to prison last year for displeasing the regime — a figure that accounts for almost one-third of the total number of reporters imprisoned worldwide.


Or the 2,000 Turkish citizens who, according to Germany’s respected Spiegel newspaper, have defamation cases pending against them for the ‘crime’ of insulting the President.

Today, 152 journalists are thought to be languishing in Erdogan’s prisons, with 2,500 having lost their jobs.

They are the victims of the President’s decision to shut down 180 independent media outlets — 28 TV channels, 66 newspapers, 19 magazines, 36 radio stations, 26 publishing houses and five news agencies — in the wake of a failed 2016 coup, which saw 71,000 people detained and 41,000 formally arrested.

Opposition reports claim that 6,000 academics have since lost their jobs, along with 4,000 judges and prosecutors, while 15 universities and 1,000 schools run by those who fail to toe the Erdogan party line have been closed.

Meanwhile, the moderate leader of a Left-leaning Kurdish party, Selahattin Demirtas, is in jail accused of inciting violence and, as of February, more than 5,000 of his supporters had been detained.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan began his journey to absolute power in modest circumstances. The son of a tugboat captain, he spent his early childhood in Rize, on the Black Sea coast.

He moved as a young teenager to a working-class district of Istanbul, where he earned pocket money selling simit — sesame bread rings — on the streets.

Academically gifted, he thrived at school and university, where he studied business administration, and became active in student politics. He spent his free time playing semi-professional football, though his strict Muslim parents persuaded him to turn down an approach from Fenerbahce, one of Turkey’s biggest clubs.

After graduating, Erdogan worked as an accountant, but devoted his free time to local politics, becoming a prominent activist in the Left-wing but socially conservative Islamist Welfare Party.

In 1994, he was elected as the fundamentalist party’s Mayor of Istanbul, the country’s largest city, where he oversaw popular measures to sort out the city’s chronic traffic congestion, and less popular ones to ban alcohol from cafes on religious grounds.


The pivotal event in his political career came in 1998, when his party, which adhered to fundamentalist principles, was declared unconstitutional under long-standing rules designed to preserve Turkey’s reputation for religious tolerance. Around the same time, Erdogan was handed a ten-month prison sentence for reading an Islamist poem at a party meeting.

The high-profile affair turned him from an obscure local politician into a hero of working-class Muslims, who, after his release, handed a landslide victory to his Justice and Development Party in the 2002 elections.

Cementing power with a mixture of hard-line policies that appeased his core voters — for example, overturning a ban on female civil servants wearing headscarves — and aggressive attacks on his opponents, who mostly hail from the urban, educated middle classes, Erdogan would go on to serve as prime minister until 2014, when he promptly became president.

This has not just turned him into one of the region’s most influential leaders, it has also made his family one of Turkey’s most wealthy dynasties, despite his official salary of just £50,000. Some reports, which he denies, put his net worth at more than £100 million.

Intriguingly, leaked intelligence cables released by Wikileaks in 2010 revealed that the U.S. suspected Erdogan of enriching himself via the privatisation of a state-owned oil refinery.

They also claimed that he controlled eight Swiss bank accounts and spent tens of thousands of pounds a year sending his children to top universities overseas. His daughter, Sumeyye, attended the London School of Economics.

Erdogan's son Bilal runs a shipping company, which in 2013 was accused of helping Islamic State smuggle oil from nearby Syria


‘Explanations that [the family’s] wealth comes from wedding presents that guests gave his son, and that a Turkish businessman is paying the educational expenses of all four Erdogans in the U.S. purely altruistically, are lame,’ Eric Edelman, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, wrote in one of those leaked cables.

Erdogan denies all corruption allegations. As does his 35-year-old son Bilal, who was recently investigated for money laundering by authorities in Italy, where he lives (the investigation was shelved at Christmas), and whose transport and infrastructure companies have flourished in recent years, helping him acquire a fortune estimated at £50 million.

Bilal runs a shipping company, which in 2013 was accused of helping Islamic State smuggle oil from nearby Syria — he has robustly denied the allegation, saying: ‘ISIS is an enemy of my country. ISIS is a disgrace.’

The affair blew up when independent-minded Turkish anti-corruption judges launched an inquiry into politicians and their families making fortunes from secret deals with the terror group.

During their investigation, tapes emerged of a phone call in which President Erdogan appeared to be ordering his son to ‘make vanish’ or ‘zero’ millions of dollars stashed at a family home.

The inquiry came to nothing. Erdogan, who claimed the tapes were part of a false smear campaign by political rivals, promptly ordered the sacking of 350 police involved in the corruption investigation. Several judges, lawyers and police were jailed.

At the time, his hard-line response caused a minor outcry.

Today, thanks to his disputed referendum victory, Recep Erdogan can rest easy in the world’s largest modern palace, knowing that by locking up hostile judges and criminalising dissent, he is merely enacting the will of the people.


Alhumdullilah he is doing everything. the Ottomans did, to cause their down fall.

 

[CHI RULES]

@CHI RULES have a look at Erdogan's hypocrisy, and his half a billion dollar plus, palace:

Erdogan presidential palace - in 60 seconds​

A controversial new 1,000-room palace built for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will cost about £385m ($615m) - nearly twice the previous estimate, Turkish officials say.
Known as Ak Saray (White Palace), it was built on a forested hilltop on the edge of the capital Ankara, on more than 150,000 sq m (1.6m sq ft) of land.
BBC News takes a quick look inside.
Video produced by Michael Hirst, with photographs from AP, AFP, Reuters and Getty Images
Published
6 November 2014


.

Luxury-loving tyrant with a palace 30 times the bigger than the White House: GUY ADAMS reveals the opulence of Erdogan's £500million official residence​

18 April 2017
Even before the result of this week’s referendum, Turkey’s autocratic President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan enjoyed the trappings and lifestyle of an aspiring dictator.

Take, for example, the lavish official residence he had built on the outskirts of Ankara, the capital, at the expense of his ever generous taxpayers.

Perched atop a hill overlooking the city and completed three years ago, the Ak Saray — White Palace — extends to an astonishing 1,100 rooms, some 250 of which are for the sole use of the moustachioed 63-year-old and his immediate family.

Decked out in every despot’s favourite style, with marble floors, gold fittings and acres of red carpet, it’s 30 times the size of the White House and is believed to be the largest palace built, anywhere in the world, for more than 100 years.

A reported £7 million went on those carpets and another £5 million on 400 pairs of 10 ft high double doors. Huge quantities of silk wallpaper were sourced at £2,000 a roll, while each drinking glass is said to have cost £250.

And there are so many spas, swimming pools, bathrooms and Turkish steam rooms in Erdogan’s quarters that the heating bill alone runs to £500,000 each winter.

And the cost of this vanity project? An estimated £500 million on construction alone.

That’s not bad going in a country where, according to Istanbul’s Bachesir University, two out of every three children live in abject poverty and more than two million people scrape by on less than £3 a day.

Set in ornamental gardens and floodlit at night, when it’s visible to most of Ankara’s 4.5 million residents, the White Palace sends a clear message: President Erdogan covets absolute, unquestioned power.

Indeed, when Turkey’s Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that this vulgar monstrosity was actually illegal — built in flagrant violation of environmental laws on the site of a protected forest, and despite multiple injunctions against it — Erdogan opted to continue with the project.

Today, he can do a lot more. For thanks to a narrow win in the highly disputed referendum, Turkey’s President can remain in office until 2029, and personally hire and fire both cabinet members and military commanders. He can also get rid of any judges who happen to upset him


His victory is not just a catastrophe for the West, and for Turkish democracy, but also for the thousands of journalists, opposition politicians, academics and ordinary citizens critical of his regime who are increasingly vulnerable to interrogation and imprisonment.

Like all textbook tyrants, this former semi-professional footballer, who entered politics in the mid-Nineties, has an extraordinarily short temper and a tragically thin skin.

We saw this recently in Germany, when he demanded that Angela Merkel’s government prosecute a satirical comedian called Jan Bohmermann, who, on an obscure TV show, called Erdogan a ‘goat-f****r with a small penis’.

Shamefully, the German authorities — hoping to persuade Turkey not to turf out its 2.7 million Syrian refugees, who might then head to Europe — agreed to play ball, dragging Bohmermann to court under defamation laws, only for the case to be thrown out.

Here in the UK, we’ve seen evidence of Erdogan’s intolerance of dissent when he hired a swanky London law firm in an attempt to silence newspapers that had published unflattering articles about his 61-year-old wife, Emine.


Among other things, the expensive lawyers took issue with widely reported suggestions that Turkey’s First Lady — mother of Erdogan’s four grown-up children — might have developed a shopping habit to rival that of another despot’s wife, Grace Mugabe.

It was, they said, entirely untrue for newspapers to report that Emine — who publicly claims to have strict Muslim values and to live a humble existence — might be fond of white tea costing £1,500 a kilo. Or that she would ever drink it from gold leaf glasses.

Nor, the law firm wrote, is it remotely accurate to say that Mrs Erdogan, who, according to Turkish state media, whiles away her days in the Palace kitchens humbly fermenting apples to make vinegar, ever shut down entire European shopping malls so she could buy designer clothes without rubbing shoulders with the great unwashed.

It was also, they wrote, incorrect to say that the First Lady — who made headlines after being photographed in a diamond-studded choker worth roughly the same as her husband’s annual salary (she said it was a freebie from a friendly jeweller) — once blew more than £37,000 while browsing in a Polish antiques bazaar.

Perhaps the law firm’s letter would have had more of an impact had they not also argued it was ‘defamatory’ and ‘inaccurate’ for British newspapers to report that criticism of Mr and Mrs Erdogan has led to people being imprisoned.

Try telling that to the 81 Turkish journalists who went to prison last year for displeasing the regime — a figure that accounts for almost one-third of the total number of reporters imprisoned worldwide.


Or the 2,000 Turkish citizens who, according to Germany’s respected Spiegel newspaper, have defamation cases pending against them for the ‘crime’ of insulting the President.

Today, 152 journalists are thought to be languishing in Erdogan’s prisons, with 2,500 having lost their jobs.

They are the victims of the President’s decision to shut down 180 independent media outlets — 28 TV channels, 66 newspapers, 19 magazines, 36 radio stations, 26 publishing houses and five news agencies — in the wake of a failed 2016 coup, which saw 71,000 people detained and 41,000 formally arrested.

Opposition reports claim that 6,000 academics have since lost their jobs, along with 4,000 judges and prosecutors, while 15 universities and 1,000 schools run by those who fail to toe the Erdogan party line have been closed.

Meanwhile, the moderate leader of a Left-leaning Kurdish party, Selahattin Demirtas, is in jail accused of inciting violence and, as of February, more than 5,000 of his supporters had been detained.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan began his journey to absolute power in modest circumstances. The son of a tugboat captain, he spent his early childhood in Rize, on the Black Sea coast.

He moved as a young teenager to a working-class district of Istanbul, where he earned pocket money selling simit — sesame bread rings — on the streets.

Academically gifted, he thrived at school and university, where he studied business administration, and became active in student politics. He spent his free time playing semi-professional football, though his strict Muslim parents persuaded him to turn down an approach from Fenerbahce, one of Turkey’s biggest clubs.

After graduating, Erdogan worked as an accountant, but devoted his free time to local politics, becoming a prominent activist in the Left-wing but socially conservative Islamist Welfare Party.

In 1994, he was elected as the fundamentalist party’s Mayor of Istanbul, the country’s largest city, where he oversaw popular measures to sort out the city’s chronic traffic congestion, and less popular ones to ban alcohol from cafes on religious grounds.


The pivotal event in his political career came in 1998, when his party, which adhered to fundamentalist principles, was declared unconstitutional under long-standing rules designed to preserve Turkey’s reputation for religious tolerance. Around the same time, Erdogan was handed a ten-month prison sentence for reading an Islamist poem at a party meeting.

The high-profile affair turned him from an obscure local politician into a hero of working-class Muslims, who, after his release, handed a landslide victory to his Justice and Development Party in the 2002 elections.

Cementing power with a mixture of hard-line policies that appeased his core voters — for example, overturning a ban on female civil servants wearing headscarves — and aggressive attacks on his opponents, who mostly hail from the urban, educated middle classes, Erdogan would go on to serve as prime minister until 2014, when he promptly became president.

This has not just turned him into one of the region’s most influential leaders, it has also made his family one of Turkey’s most wealthy dynasties, despite his official salary of just £50,000. Some reports, which he denies, put his net worth at more than £100 million.

Intriguingly, leaked intelligence cables released by Wikileaks in 2010 revealed that the U.S. suspected Erdogan of enriching himself via the privatisation of a state-owned oil refinery.

They also claimed that he controlled eight Swiss bank accounts and spent tens of thousands of pounds a year sending his children to top universities overseas. His daughter, Sumeyye, attended the London School of Economics.



View attachment 16708
Erdogan's son Bilal runs a shipping company, which in 2013 was accused of helping Islamic State smuggle oil from nearby Syria


‘Explanations that [the family’s] wealth comes from wedding presents that guests gave his son, and that a Turkish businessman is paying the educational expenses of all four Erdogans in the U.S. purely altruistically, are lame,’ Eric Edelman, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, wrote in one of those leaked cables.

Erdogan denies all corruption allegations. As does his 35-year-old son Bilal, who was recently investigated for money laundering by authorities in Italy, where he lives (the investigation was shelved at Christmas), and whose transport and infrastructure companies have flourished in recent years, helping him acquire a fortune estimated at £50 million.

Bilal runs a shipping company, which in 2013 was accused of helping Islamic State smuggle oil from nearby Syria — he has robustly denied the allegation, saying: ‘ISIS is an enemy of my country. ISIS is a disgrace.’

The affair blew up when independent-minded Turkish anti-corruption judges launched an inquiry into politicians and their families making fortunes from secret deals with the terror group.

During their investigation, tapes emerged of a phone call in which President Erdogan appeared to be ordering his son to ‘make vanish’ or ‘zero’ millions of dollars stashed at a family home.

The inquiry came to nothing. Erdogan, who claimed the tapes were part of a false smear campaign by political rivals, promptly ordered the sacking of 350 police involved in the corruption investigation. Several judges, lawyers and police were jailed.

At the time, his hard-line response caused a minor outcry.

Today, thanks to his disputed referendum victory, Recep Erdogan can rest easy in the world’s largest modern palace, knowing that by locking up hostile judges and criminalising dissent, he is merely enacting the will of the people.


Alhumdullilah he is doing everything. the Ottomans did, to cause their down fall.

Sir with respects I am feeling a bad end for Erdogan just like Mursi, only Almighty knows who is hypocrite as same western media on one day presents Saddam Hussain as liberator and on other day he becomes a monster.
Perhaps Muslims deserve the corrupt leaders as we are their blind followers.

To be honest and with no offence only Muslim King who showed some courage of past was Shah Faysal, for present every one knows who and what they are.

 

[Khafee]

Sir with respects I am feeling a bad end for Erdogan just like Mursi, only Almighty knows who is hypocrite as same western media on one day presents Saddam Hussain as liberator and on other day he becomes a monster.
Perhaps Muslims deserve the corrupt leaders as we are their blind followers.

To be honest and with no offence only Muslim King who showed some courage of past was Shah Faysal, for present every one knows who and what they are.

You think the press made this outrageous palace? Or allowed the Turkish state to run brothels? Pls google General houses aka genel evler.
I wont even bother talking about how he supported ISIS via being the landing point for all fighters, and how he facilitated the sale of ISIS's oil.

By your standards, the Saudis had King Faisal. After Gen Zia, can you name one that was not a sellout or an incompetent fool? It's very easy to point fingers at others it without even acknowledging how much they have progressed, while you have simply regressed.

 

[CHI RULES]

You think the press made this outrageous palace? Or allowed the Turkish state to run brothels? Pls google General houses aka genel evler.
I wont even bother talking about how he supported ISIS via being the landing point for all fighters, and how he facilitated the sale of ISIS's oil.

By your standards, the Saudis had King Faisal. After Gen Zia, can you name one that was not a sellout or an incompetent fool? It's very easy to point fingers at others it without even acknowledging how much they have progressed, while you have simply regressed.

Sir I understand and respect your views as have seen military culture closely. On other side ISIS or FSA were just puppets to counter Iranian threat. What has happened or happening in Syria/Iraq or Yemen is sorrowful even Libya, every where you can clearly look different Muslim blocks colliding with each other and filling pockets of either Russia or USA. I wonder why a well informed person like you is only willing to see only one side of coin.
No body other than Erdogan has raised slogan for Renaissance of Muslim Umma no matter how much hollow it is but in the end attractive just like once Baath party flourished in Arab world. For regress part the puppets imposed in Pakistan were responsible, however every Muslim has right to raise finger what ever happening in Arab world or going to happen. After few years I shall cordially inquire you about recent developments.
Hope the difference of opinion doesn't make me enemy of Arab world or friend of Iran/Turkey. If any Arab leader raises the flag and goes for sincere peace efforts in Muslim world he shall be welcomed by many just like current Turkish regime.
Some current exclusive steps by Turkey for Muslims

1-Start of negotiations between Palestine groups.
2-Clear support to Pakistan in Kashmir issue against India.
3-Full commitment to Azeri cause against Armenia despite sectarian difference.
4- Direct challenge to US and Greece.
5- Practical steps to create Muslim/Allied block for mutual benefits. May be Ottoman style


Questionable acts
1 Unnecessary inclusion in Syrian war,
2 Harsh anti Kurdish policies.
3 Authoritative decision making. ( resultant more opposition in country, especially opportunity for Western powers to plant unrest through youngsters from Unis.
4 No counter propaganda steps.

In the end Sir I have many relatives in UAE/Arab countries, the one good thing about UAE is that relatively Pakistanis enjoying better living mostly without any bias however in case of KSA there are many who have faced bitter treatment either due to cruel laws or by Kafeels. The consideration of Pakistanis as less human are quite common. Meanwhile the new and existing plans for so called tourism are shameful in whole Arab world in general and especially in KSA.

 

[CHI RULES]

You think the press made this outrageous palace? Or allowed the Turkish state to run brothels? Pls google General houses aka genel evler.
I wont even bother talking about how he supported ISIS via being the landing point for all fighters, and how he facilitated the sale of ISIS's oil.

By your standards, the Saudis had King Faisal. After Gen Zia, can you name one that was not a sellout or an incompetent fool? It's very easy to point fingers at others it without even acknowledging how much they have progressed, while you have simply regressed.

Sir I shall explain the main reason for palace as per below and can assure you that such buildings though not expensive like that are also present in Pakistan for security reasons and to run state affairs.

The compound consists of the main building and two support buildings to be used for meetings with visiting heads of state and dignitaries. It covers an area of 300,000 m2 (3,200,000 sq ft). Inspired by Seljuk architecture, the new Presidential Palace has at least 1,150 rooms,additional guesthouses, a botanical garden, a situation room with satellite and military communications systems, bunkers able to withstand biological, nuclear and chemical weapons attack, a park and a congress center. The complex employs high security measures with additional insulation against wiretapping. To prevent the planting of bugs, one of the offices in the palace has no electrical outlets

Construction of the new presidential compound has yet to be completed, including a new residence for the president's family with an estimated 250 rooms, a 4,000-person capacity mosque, and a culture center.

The Presidential Palace has a laboratory to detect nuclear, biological and chemical hazards which may be used as an attack against the President.

 

[Khafee]

Sir I shall explain the main reason for palace as per below and can assure you that such buildings though not expensive like that are also present in Pakistan for security reasons and to run state affairs.

The compound consists of the main building and two support buildings to be used for meetings with visiting heads of state and dignitaries. It covers an area of 300,000 m2 (3,200,000 sq ft). Inspired by Seljuk architecture, the new Presidential Palace has at least 1,150 rooms,additional guesthouses, a botanical garden, a situation room with satellite and military communications systems, bunkers able to withstand biological, nuclear and chemical weapons attack, a park and a congress center. The complex employs high security measures with additional insulation against wiretapping. To prevent the planting of bugs, one of the offices in the palace has no electrical outlets

Construction of the new presidential compound has yet to be completed, including a new residence for the president's family with an estimated 250 rooms, a 4,000-person capacity mosque, and a culture center.

The Presidential Palace has a laboratory to detect nuclear, biological and chemical hazards which may be used as an attack against the President.

And how is the half a billion+ US$ price tag for an "Islamist" justifiable?

 

[Khafee]

Sir I understand and respect your views as have seen military culture closely. On other side ISIS or FSA were just puppets to counter Iranian threat. What has happened or happening in Syria/Iraq or Yemen is sorrowful even Libya, every where you can clearly look different Muslim blocks colliding with each other and filling pockets of either Russia or USA. I wonder why a well informed person like you is only willing to see only one side of coin.
No body other than Erdogan has raised slogan for Renaissance of Muslim Umma no matter how much hollow it is but in the end attractive just like once Baath party flourished in Arab world. For regress part the puppets imposed in Pakistan were responsible, however every Muslim has right to raise finger what ever happening in Arab world or going to happen. After few years I shall cordially inquire you about recent developments.
Hope the difference of opinion doesn't make me enemy of Arab world or friend of Iran/Turkey. If any Arab leader raises the flag and goes for sincere peace efforts in Muslim world he shall be welcomed by many just like current Turkish regime.
Some current exclusive steps by Turkey for Muslims

1-Start of negotiations between Palestine groups.
2-Clear support to Pakistan in Kashmir issue against India.
3-Full commitment to Azeri cause against Armenia despite sectarian difference.
4- Direct challenge to US and Greece.
5- Practical steps to create Muslim/Allied block for mutual benefits. May be Ottoman style


Questionable acts
1 Unnecessary inclusion in Syrian war,
2 Harsh anti Kurdish policies.
3 Authoritative decision making. ( resultant more opposition in country, especially opportunity for Western powers to plant unrest through youngsters from Unis.
4 No counter propaganda steps.

In the end Sir I have many relatives in UAE/Arab countries, the one good thing about UAE is that relatively Pakistanis enjoying better living mostly without any bias however in case of KSA there are many who have faced bitter treatment either due to cruel laws or by Kafeels. The consideration of Pakistanis as less human are quite common. Meanwhile the new and existing plans for so called tourism are shameful in whole Arab world in general and especially in KSA.

Erdogan's slogans are just that. If you cant see him for the hypocrite he is, then you need to seriously re-visit this topic.
Secondly, you haven't answered my question about the Turkish state running brothels, and prostitution being legal in Turkey, nor about how LGBTQ's run around with impunity. Despite Erdogan being in power for nearly two decades, nothing much has changed. So much for the leader of the ummah!

Besides lip service there is no support for Kashmir. Can you tell me when Imran Khan was elected and he asked friends to help, why did Turkey increase tariffs on Pakistani goods? AND not a single dime to help the economy?

As to you dragging in KSA/UAE into this conversation, it was expected. Issues on a personal level do occur, but the laws are very clear, then why flout them, and get into trouble? Whatever the laws, they effect everyone, then why bother going to such a country? I'm sure Iran and Turkey would be more than happy to host 2.5m+ Pakistanis, shifting them en-mass is an excellent idea! Please do it today.

As to them being considered lesser humans, that is truly rich coming from someone in whose country the poor are abused and raped in broad daylight. When the majority of your brethren are uneducated, that is the impression they give of the rest of the populace. Sending educated ones, who understand and respect the law would really help you. Nonetheless, even the uneducated ones are appreciated, and respected compared to other nationalities, hence why 2.5m+ are there today. Please do tell me how many millions of Pakistanis in Turkey or Iran?

As to your comment on tourism, when you actually have whole localities as brothels like heera mandi etc, ever thought about fixing your own country first? BUT Please do explain, what is wrong with opening up a country for tourism, within the guidelines of the law, unlike elsewhere.

 

[TsAr]

Erdogan's intentions might be good (cant say for sure) but he is trying to bite off more then he could chew. Look what happened to Germans in world war 2 they were technologically superior and but opened to many fronts which resulted in defeat. Same mistake is being done by Erdogan, he is messing around with everyone including Russia, USA , EU and Arab countries. Eventually if he continues on this path he will be left all alone.

 

[CHI RULES]

Erdogan's slogans are just that. If you cant see him for the hypocrite he is, then you need to seriously re-visit this topic.
Secondly, you haven't answered my question about the Turkish state running brothels, and prostitution being legal in Turkey, nor about how LGBTQ's run around with impunity. Despite Erdogan being in power for nearly two decades, nothing much has changed. So much for the leader of the ummah!

Besides lip service there is no support for Kashmir. Can you tell me when Imran Khan was elected and he asked friends to help, why did Turkey increase tariffs on Pakistani goods? AND not a single dime to help the economy?

As to you dragging in KSA/UAE into this conversation, it was expected. Issues on a personal level do occur, but the laws are very clear, then why flout them, and get into trouble? Whatever the laws, they effect everyone, then why bother going to such a country? I'm sure Iran and Turkey would be more than happy to host 2.5m+ Pakistanis, shifting them en-mass is an excellent idea! Please do it today.

As to them being considered lesser humans, that is truly rich coming from someone in whose country the poor are abused and raped in broad daylight. When the majority of your brethren are uneducated, that is the impression they give of the rest of the populace. Sending educated ones, who understand and respect the law would really help you. Nonetheless, even the uneducated ones are appreciated, and respected compared to other nationalities, hence why 2.5m+ are there today. Please do tell me how many millions of Pakistanis in Turkey or Iran?

As to your comment on tourism, when you actually have whole localities as brothels like heera mandi etc, ever thought about fixing your own country first? BUT Please do explain, what is wrong with opening up a country for tourism, within the guidelines of the law, unlike elsewhere.

Sir don't know about Turkish state run brothels however Turkey was westernized by Mustafa Kamal Ata Turk and many of my literate mates have visited Turkey as per them change is happening, and at least bearded people or govt officials going to Mosques are not persecuted like past. At least for time being Erdogan may not face end like Mursi due to unwise and hasty decisions,

On lighter side I am not official representative of Erdogan nor have power to crumble Arab monarchs if Arabs are happy with their Kings I have no issues. I really feel pain and shame for night clubs constructed near Holly places in the name of tourism. As for Pakistani labour force facts can't be changed they are in majority being harshly treated in KSA despite Pakistani sentiments to shed their blood for Holly land, I wonder why you as a human not openly oppose the Kafil practice in KSA and how you can compare Turkey with KSA to justify the shameful developments their. The reason for many Pakistanis working in KSA, one reason is that they accept labor force from abroad as per their need and at least Pakistanis get some material benefits till their Kafil becomes more greedy and confiscates their passport. There are hundreds of such Pakistanis and I have no shame to say that our leaders mostly act like servants of KSA kings.

Why I haven't said anything in case of Pak people treatment in UAE, as they are treated well and least laws are not manipulated to make workers Ghulam.

Turkey is opening gates for Pakistanis and you shall hear much new developments soon as well as first time in Turkish history Pakistan getting credit line for naval war ships and attack hellis. Turkey even lost a big contract from India for Merchant ships due to support on Kashmir cause.
Iran is still on sectarian path believe me if they are ready to leave this policy you can observe sufficient Pakistanis working there.

 

[Khafee]

Sir don't know about Turkish state run brothels however Turkey was westernized by Mustafa Kamal Ata Turk and many of my literate mates have visited Turkey as per them change is happening, and at least bearded people or govt officials going to Mosques are not persecuted like past. At least for time being Erdogan may not face end like Mursi due to unwise and hasty decisions,

On lighter side I am not official representative of Erdogan nor have power to crumble Arab monarchs if Arabs are happy with their Kings I have no issues. I really feel pain and shame for night clubs constructed near Holly places in the name of tourism. As for Pakistani labour force facts can't be changed they are in majority being harshly treated in KSA despite Pakistani sentiments to shed their blood for Holly land, I wonder why you as a human not openly oppose the Kafil practice in KSA and how you can compare Turkey with KSA to justify the shameful developments their. The reason for many Pakistanis working in KSA, one reason is that they accept labor force from abroad as per their need and at least Pakistanis get some material benefits till their Kafil becomes more greedy and confiscates their passport. There are hundreds of such Pakistanis and I have no shame to say that our leaders mostly act like servants of KSA kings.

Why I haven't said anything in case of Pak people treatment in UAE, as they are treated well and least laws are not manipulated to make workers Ghulam.

Turkey is opening gates for Pakistanis and you shall hear much new developments soon as well as first time in Turkish history Pakistan getting credit line for naval war ships and attack hellis. Turkey even lost a big contract from India for Merchant ships due to support on Kashmir cause.
Iran is still on sectarian path believe me if they are ready to leave this policy you can observe sufficient Pakistanis working there.

1) What change? State still runs brothels and prostitution is still legal.

2) " I really feel pain and shame for night clubs constructed near Holly places in the name of tourism. " Saying this on this on the internet is just fine, dont say it loud in public, people will laugh at your naivety or knowing where you live, will most probably think you are nuts and stone you.

3) " As for Pakistani labour force facts can't be changed they are in majority being harshly treated in KSA " Like I said earlier, no one is forcing them to go to KSA, pls put a ban on them, that should resolve all your issues.

Nonetheless your argument is contradicted by the fact that 2.5m+ Pakistanis live there. So you need to dig more and come up with better propaganda.

3) " Turkey is opening gates for Pakistanis " When Turkey employs 5m+ Pakistani that GCC does, we will talk then. Until then give it a rest.

4) " Turkey even lost a big contract from India for Merchant ships due to support on Kashmir cause. " You mean this contract?
Turkey's TAIS contracted $2.3B deal to build ships for Indian Navy

5) "Iran is still on sectarian path believe me if they are ready to leave this policy you can observe sufficient Pakistanis working there." How come Pre-1979 this was not the case?

None of your arguments / grievances hold water, SERIOUSLY updating yourself, would really help!

 

[Scorpion]

Sir with respects I am feeling a bad end for Erdogan just like Mursi, only Almighty knows who is hypocrite as same western media on one day presents Saddam Hussain as liberator and on other day he becomes a monster.
Perhaps Muslims deserve the corrupt leaders as we are their blind followers.

To be honest and with no offence only Muslim King who showed some courage of past was Shah Faysal, for present every one knows who and what they are.

First you have to acknowledge that making parties (Hizbs) within Muslim states is no permissible in Islam. What was Mursi and what was his history? He was a member of the Muslim brotherhood, a party that destroyed Palestine and Egypt. They have issue with the core principles of Islam they can not reconcile. When they got expelled from Egypt during Jamal Abdul Nasser era, they demanded that they establish a political party in Saudi Arabia under the name Muslim Brotherhood. Why would they want to establish a political party in Saudi Arabia? The king told them we are all brothers in Islam no need to establish an Islamic brotherhood organization in an Islamic country that rules based on the Islamic law. Have you bothered to read the book of Sayyid Qutb? Egypt is the western gate of the Arabian Peninsula with over 100 million population and we will not allow it to fall into the hands ideologists that will destroy its military and economy and turn the whole country a theocracy based on like Iran based on their understanding of Islam. Iraq is gone, Syria is gone. The only country left is Egypt. Destroying Egypt means the gate to Arabian peninsula is wide open. This is from a strategical point of view is very important for the security of the region. A weak Egypt means a stronger Iran and stronger Israel on the expense of security of Saudi Arabia, the land of the two holy mosque. What was the first thing Mursi did? a letter to Israel and a visit to Iran. Here is a the letter Mursi sent to former president of Israel, "my great friend as he described in his letter".



Saddam Hussein was a ruthless leader. He was not seen as a liberator as you described it. He was part of the Baath (Socialist) party if you don't know what that is Google it. He picked a fight with Iran and we supported him and then he invaded Kuwait and shower Saudi Arabia with missiles. Who said he was a liberator? Invading a Muslim country and killing some of its people what is that called in Islam my dear Muslim friend? or our blood is cheap to you?

King Faisal was no different than his father and bothers. Just because he was vocal does not mean others were/are bad.

What Turkey did in Syria, Iraq, Libya and later in Yemen should not be taken with grain of slat. Your emotion and zeal should not make you blind to the autocracy of Erdogan. What are the Syrian mercenaries doing in Libya and who shipped them there? what are they doing in Azerbaijan and who took them there? who let ISIS pour into Syria and Iraq and who supported them? who buys oil from ISIS? Who is having relationship with Israel but at the same time wanted to free Palestine through Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan and Libya. Erdogan agenda is well known, he wants to destroy the Kurds and revive his delusional Ottoman Empire on the expense, misery and suffering of the Arabs. You come from outside the region and you do not understand the region's history and what its going through. Did you know that Turkey shipped weapons to the Houthies? the terrorists that launch missiles toward Makkah every once in a while? Just because Erdogan raises his voice in the media does not mean he is different than khamenei. If he is genuine he would have cut ties with Israel and stopped all Turkish companies doing business in Israel in settlements building and elsewhere. It is funny that he recalled the Turkish ambassador from UAE because of the UAE-Israel normalization but his own ambassador is serving in Tel Aviv and the Israeli ambassador is residing in Ankara. What a hypocrite. He took over Islamic organisations in Europe and assigned Imams to breach against Saudi Arabia the only country that truly serving Islam and supporting Islamic countries worldwide economically and politically. In your own house I swear you have a Quran that was printed and distributed by Saudi Arabia. Go to Madinah, Egypt and Morocco and see the numbers of Pakistani and other nationalities students on Saudi scholarships studying Islamic science while prostitution and sodomy are legal in Turkey. I do not know on what moral ground are you standing when taking the side of Turkey and bashing KSA! Go to Turkey and see the Sufis dancing inside the Masajid and tell me what Islam are they following.

Sir I understand and respect your views as have seen military culture closely. On other side ISIS or FSA were just puppets to counter Iranian threat. What has happened or happening in Syria/Iraq or Yemen is sorrowful even Libya, every where you can clearly look different Muslim blocks colliding with each other and filling pockets of either Russia or USA. I wonder why a well informed person like you is only willing to see only one side of coin.
No body other than Erdogan has raised slogan for Renaissance of Muslim Umma no matter how much hollow it is but in the end attractive just like once Baath party flourished in Arab world. For regress part the puppets imposed in Pakistan were responsible, however every Muslim has right to raise finger what ever happening in Arab world or going to happen. After few years I shall cordially inquire you about recent developments.
Hope the difference of opinion doesn't make me enemy of Arab world or friend of Iran/Turkey. If any Arab leader raises the flag and goes for sincere peace efforts in Muslim world he shall be welcomed by many just like current Turkish regime.
Some current exclusive steps by Turkey for Muslims

1-Start of negotiations between Palestine groups.
2-Clear support to Pakistan in Kashmir issue against India.
3-Full commitment to Azeri cause against Armenia despite sectarian difference.
4- Direct challenge to US and Greece.
5- Practical steps to create Muslim/Allied block for mutual benefits. May be Ottoman style


Questionable acts
1 Unnecessary inclusion in Syrian war,
2 Harsh anti Kurdish policies.
3 Authoritative decision making. ( resultant more opposition in country, especially opportunity for Western powers to plant unrest through youngsters from Unis.
4 No counter propaganda steps.

In the end Sir I have many relatives in UAE/Arab countries, the one good thing about UAE is that relatively Pakistanis enjoying better living mostly without any bias however in case of KSA there are many who have faced bitter treatment either due to cruel laws or by Kafeels. The consideration of Pakistanis as less human are quite common. Meanwhile the new and existing plans for so called tourism are shameful in whole Arab world in general and especially in KSA.

Lets take your point one by one, you said:

Some current exclusive steps by Turkey for Muslims

1-Start of negotiations between Palestine groups.

How is that so? Saudi Arabia and Eygpt has been they key players in negotiations between Palestine groups
1- Cairo agreement 2009 and 2011
2- Makkah Agreement 1980 and 2007
3- Doha agreement

Go look up and see who is the largest donors to Palestine. Turkey is not in the list. Not to mention Israel-Turkey economic relationship. Turkey even buys arms mainly UAVs from Israel. Hello

2-Clear support to Pakistan in Kashmir issue against India.

What kind of support? shouting in the media? I can do that.
Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arab world including Libya, Egypt and many others have been siding with Pakistan in all international gathering and have supported Pakistan since its establishment where Turkey did not come to the picture until a year ago shouting from far away. You should be ashamed of yourself giving credit to Turkey and bashing Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. Saudi Arabia was the only country that really supported Pakistan even during the 1971 war. Stood with Pakistan during the sanctions. We put ourselves under risk by defying international sanctions. We shipped oil, humanitarian aid, economic aid...etc. We fought for sanctions to be lifted. How many Pakistanis are working in GCC compare to those working in Turkey? How much money was put at Pakistan's disposal? To this date Pakistan is supported by Saudi Arabia where Turkey did not bother to send blankets to those living in mountainous area during the cold season. Only 2 years ago, $10bn refinery, petrochemicals complex in Gwadar and $1.5 billion in grant. I am not saying this to brag but to show what real supports means. Get your facts check, Kashmir case has seen Saudi and Arab support more than anything else. It is not an issue that can be resolved over night and its not an issue that you can use to twist the arms of your friends whenever you like. The issue is that, Pakistan has called for OIC meeting on high level but did not consult Saudi Arabia and its allies. Turkey took the chance to shout and now see Erdgoan as the true liberator! You should acknowledge that the current diplomacy of Imran Khan is failure. If you want to coordinate with your allies, you follow the diplomatic protocol, not to go on a TV bashing Saudi Arabia.

Here is a link to the OIC latest news on Kashmir

https://www.oic-oci.org/search/?x_key=Kashmir+&x_do=1&lan=en&x_where=news

3-Full commitment to Azeri cause against Armenia despite sectarian difference.

Again your seeing things from different angle. Turkey support to Azerbaijan because of the historical conflicts between Armani and Turkey and bury any movement for Kurds creating their own autonomous zone. This has nothing to do with supporting a Muslim country. Turkey is fighting in non stable Arab countries for what reason? to spread Islam?

4- Direct challenge to US and Greece.

How is that relevant? the US has a base in Turkey and there is historical conflict between Greece and Turkey. How is that a challenge? Turkey is also part of NATO. And why can not this be said about Arab/Israel conflict? Or Saudi stance against Obama plan in the region during Obama administration?

5- Practical steps to create Muslim/Allied block for mutual benefits. May be Ottoman style

You mean reviving the Sufi Ottoman empire that killed many Muslims especially in the Arabia peninsula and starved them particularly the people of Madinah? or the belonging of the prophet they stole and refused to return?

Muslim allied block was created by Saudi Arabia, the Arab and Islamic countries, those who fought the soviet and fought Israel 3 times and now created Islamic alliance

however in case of KSA there are many who have faced bitter treatment either due to cruel laws or by Kafeels. The consideration of Pakistanis as less human are quite common

Not true, there maybe a few cases here and there but to call all ~1.5 million Pakistanis mistreated is a generalization. The labor court is there open for anyone who feel wants to file a report. We are not in a jungle my friend. Pakistanis are as happy as everyone else living in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile the new and existing plans for so called tourism are shameful in whole Arab world in general and especially in KSA

And why is that not a good thing? We need to open up the country and invite people to come. Saudi Arabia is trying to move away from oil and we have a big country with many things to see. Why are you shaming Saudi Arabia for opening up the country?

If you want to hand your brain to Erdogan please be my guest.
Enjoy the Muslim caliphate

 

[Scorpion]

I really feel pain and shame for night clubs constructed near Holly places in the name of tourism

Where was that? Not sure if you are being serious here. What clubs!

I wonder why you as a human not openly oppose the Kafil practice in KSA and how you can compare Turkey with KSA to justify the shameful developments their. The reason for many Pakistanis working in KSA, one reason is that they accept labor force from abroad as per their need and at least Pakistanis get some material benefits till their Kafil becomes more greedy and confiscates their passport. There are hundreds of such Pakistanis and I have no shame to say that our leaders mostly act like servants of KSA kings.

My brother, you are over exaggerating. The Kafil system is not exclusive to Saudi Arabia. It has its won shortcomings but who does not it.
You are trying to paint a picture that its all bad and that 15 million non Saudis living in Saudi Arabia are treated badly. Also the passport confiscation thing is against the law in Saudi Arabia, not sure where get this idea from. Do not spread false news about the county.

 

[CHI RULES]

Where was that? Not sure if you are being serious here. What clubs!


My brother, you are over exaggerating. The Kafil system is not exclusive to Saudi Arabia. It has its won shortcomings but who does not it.
You are trying to paint a picture that its all bad and that 15 million non Saudis living in Saudi Arabia are treated badly. Also the passport confiscation thing is against the law in Saudi Arabia, not sure where get this idea from. Do not spread false news about the county.

Wit respects , due to shortage of time cannot do research work please do check Pakistan media reports of past, as for Kafil issue my cousins are also working as laborers in your country, I have raised an issue as many people from rural areas of Pakistan are working in both UAE and KSA. Off course they get better bread and butter there but it is not a charity on part of these countries as the labor force especially from Pakistan spends whole of their lives in hard work there and in the end the mistreatment in the name of accepting labor force is unacceptable, Un Islamic and unethical. As you have confessed yourself the shortcomings of Kafil system are there though these are minor as per your views.

I only raise voice for equal policy of forum if it is international forum and one criticizes Tayyab Erdogan then one should also accept criticism on Arab monarchs. However I have explained Mr Khafee about my aims to be on this forum and shall remain limited to them. But time and again shall challenge views as per my ideologies just like other members.

Please enlighten me dear brother about forum and laws of KSA protecting rights of lower level work force I shall be highly grateful to you.

On dance parties and night clubs in KSA youtube is full of such video evidence as Turkey still has not changed it's constitution to Islamic so one cannot compare the society dark areas to make excuse for similar acts in KSA.