Several Western countries have begun reviewing and amending their immigration and naturalization policies, following the growing threat of jihadi activity committed by homegrown terrorists.
By THE MEDIA LINERussian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attend a news conference following their meeting in St. Petersburg on August 9(photo credit: REUTERS)TURKEY’S RAPPROCHEMENT WITH RUSSIA Al-Sharq al-Awsat, London, August 13Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came under heavy criticism for his recent decision to warm his country’s ties with Russia. Relations between the two countries have been at an all-time low ever since the downing of a Russian fighter jet over Turkish airspace in November. Finally, Erdogan broke the ice by traveling to Moscow last week, where he met with President Vladimir Putin for the first time since the incident. While pundits around the world explained that Erdogan’s rapprochement stems from a fear of an eminent Russian attack on Turkey, these predictions are nothing but daydreams. Turkey is a member of NATO, and as such, enjoys a full defense treaty with its member countries. Russia will not be stupid enough to attack. What stands at the core of this reconciliation is something else: Turkey’s economy.The Russian tourist ban imposed on Turkey following the jet incident, the deteriorating security situation in the country, and the failed coup attempt, have all driven foreigners out of Turkey. The value of the Turkish Lira, once a stable currency, plunged. Meanwhile, the Islamic State has spread and reached Turkish borders, managing to carry out several attacks on Turkish soil. Erdogan realizes that all of these factors are dangerous for Turkey. He knows that the administration in Washington is set to change in just a few months, likely affecting the situation in Syria. Therefore, he decided to make a courageous decision and set his country’s ties with its neighbors straight. He reached out to the leaders of Russia, Israel, Greece, and even Iran in order to reset ties with them. Instead of criticizing Erdogan, we should all learn from him. He is a living example of pragmatism, and the understanding that even enemies can be partners when their greater interests are aligned.– Abd al-Rahman al-Rashed ISLAM IN EUROPE: BETWEEN EXTREMISM AND INTEGRATIONAl-Bayan, Dubai, August 10Right-wing politicians are gaining ever-growing popularity in Europe. Each additional terror attack taking place on European soil immediately ignites the conservative right wing’s craving for anti-Muslim sentiment and rhetoric, and the media joyfully obliges.Polls have shown that in both Germany and France, right-wing parties have gained incredible support in recent months. The attacks in Nice and in Munich, as well as the influx of Syrian refugees, have only enhanced their popularity. Recently, the French interior minister announced that dozens of mosques throughout the country would be closed for propagating radical ideas. Mob attacks against Muslims have taken place in several European capitals. What is ironic in all of this is that Muslims are being turned into enemies, when it is Muslims who are, after all, the real victims of radicalization.France’s Muslim community dates back to the 19th century. Even before the First World War, the country’s Muslim population was considerable in size.Out of France’s several thousand mosques, only a handful are believed to harbor extremist preachers. Why is it, then, that Muslims are blamed as a whole? Why is it that Europeans don’t stand by their Muslim brethren in the fight against radicalization? There is no doubt that European politicians must address the problem of radicalization.At the same time, Muslim citizens of Europe cannot be stripped of their basic civil rights. They cannot be victims of hate crimes and incitement. Radicalization is fueled when integration stops. By shunning away Muslims from mainstream society simply for being Muslim, Europeans are only exacerbating the problem at hand. Europe will remain an enlightened continent only if it learns to embrace the minorities within it. Right-wing conservatives are doing everything in their power to prevent this from happening. The losers will be not only Muslims, but Europeans as a whole – regardless of religion.– Turki al-Dakhil TERRORISM AND THE DEMISE OF CITIZENSHIPAl-Itihad, Abu Dhabi, August 7 Several Western countries have begun reviewing and amending their immigration and naturalization policies, following the growing threat of jihadi activity committed by homegrown terrorists. The German government, which has settled nearly one million refugees to date, began implementing several procedures and laws that tighten control over who may or may not become a German citizen. Chancellor Angela Merkel and her close advisers developed a comprehensive plan consisting of nine main points to combat terrorism, including a ban on wearing niqabs in public, the abolition of dual citizenship status, tighter controls over external funding for Islamic societies, and the deportations of Imams who preach against the country. These measures come as a direct result of the misuse and abuse of certain freedoms by immigrants who became radicalized and turned to jihadist activity. Western countries are simply dumbfounded. Unlike Arab states, they have accepted thousands of refugees and brought them into their societies. In return, they got terror and crime. Now they are asking themselves why they deserve it. There is no doubt that this harmed the reputation of millions of Arabs and Muslims living in Europe, who are now looked at with suspicion and distrust on the streets. The real question now is, where will this go next? Will these measures be enough to deter future terrorists? The likely answer is no. Instead, the real victims of these developments will be innocent Muslim citizens living in Europe, who simply want to start anew. What is even more important is that they have been completely neglected by Arab states, which have closed their doors to all refugees, and left them to deal with growing uncertainty in a new continent.– Shamlan Yousef Al-Essawww.themedialine.org/
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store