Video - Terrorist group IS’ Turkish branch gathered for Eid prayers yesterday, in Istanbul, thanks to Erdo's AKP.

Declaration of allegiance to the "caliph" of Mosul, at a bayram celebration - in İstanbul. http://t.co/zYz9SsgWmz
— Lucas Thorpe (@lucasthorpe) July 29, 2014

[GoogleTranslate]. Tawhid Journal of Isidor said to be close to the environment, by organizing jihad holy ceremony in Istanbul made. ISID will go to Syria at the ceremony militants were also allegedly found.

Isidor Tawhid magazine known for its proximity to the surroundings in Istanbul "holy" was organized. In shared photos from the ceremony, including Syria, to be sent to Rojava ISID has been hypothesized that the militants.

Istanbul Omerli made in the picnic area "holy" ceremony, speeches were made obeisance to Isidor leader Baghdadi. El Nusra also "copycat referred to as" jihad found in his speech to the Muslim. He said to the holy ceremony reflected images

 Update: Claims of allocation of camps to ISIL in Istanbul sparks debate.


Tanrıkulu also asked whether it is true that the group “declared jihad in Turkey on July 28,” and whether the field in the footage was being used by the group for military training.

• “Did the organization ask for permission, arranged in the name of holiday celebrations? 
• Which authorities granted the group official permission? 
• Why weren’t these people directed to mosques for Eid prayer, but were let to organize a holiday celebration in a field? 
• What were the Istanbul Provincial Police Department and Provincial Gendarmerie Command doing during the hours when the group, which is the extension of the ISIL terrorist organization, was calling for jihad in Istanbul? 
• Is it true that Istanbul Provincial Police Department and Gendarmerie Command were ordered not to interfere when the group, the extension of a terrorist organization, was calling for jihad in Istanbul? 
• Who gave these orders?” Tanrıkulu asked.

‘Armenian genocide’ bill passes U.S. Senate Committee by bipartisan vote.

Erdogan: "We did not commit a crime, therefore we do not need to apologize." - on the Armenian genocide. Source


‘Armenian genocide’ bill passes U.S. Senate Committee by bipartisan vote. (HD).

An “Armenian genocide” resolution has passed the U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations Committee on April 10 by bipartisan voice.

Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, and Mark Kirk, a Republican from Illinois, had presented the bill last week.

“Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, during which 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turkey ... To honor the survivors and the memory of those lost, and to lead globally on human rights, the United States should finally join the European Union and 11 of our NATO allies in officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide,” Kirk had said.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in 1915 and 1916 by the forces of Ottoman Empire.

Turkey disputes the figure, arguing that only 500,000 died, and denies this was genocide, ascribing the toll to fighting and starvation during World War I.

“This resolution reaffirms in the strongest terms that we will always remember this tragedy and honor the memory of innocent Armenian men, women and children who were killed and expelled from their homeland. The Armenian Genocide must be taught, recognized, and commemorated to prevent the re-occurrence of similar atrocities from ever happening again,” Menendez had argued.

Having passed the 18-member committee with 12 ayes and 5 nays, the bill will now come to a 100-member floor vote. The first article of the bill calls "to remember and observe the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2014."

Although U.S. President Barack Obama is against the passage of such a bill, an expert on Turkey told daily Hürriyet that the recent turbulence in Washington-Ankara bilateral relations might affect the administration's expected efforts to stop the bill.More on the Armenian Genocide can be read here.

Turkish FM : “Armenian genocide” claims not to affect Turkey-U.S. relations

Erdogan: "We did not commit a crime, therefore we do not need to apologize." - on the Armenian genocide. Source 

Turkish FM : “Armenian genocide” claims not to affect Turkey-U.S. relations

R410, Armenian Genocide Res will be voted today at the Senate Foreign Rltns Comt.

The draft bill, which is considered the beginning of the events of April 24 'commemoration and remembrance day' to be accepted as recommended. The bill also President Obama's' equal, constructive, stable and constant for the formation of Armenia-Turkey relations, Turkey's Republic to recognize the reality of the Armenian Genocide "is recommended for the study.

Suggestions of further U.S. foreign policy of President Obama's "human rights of the Armenian Genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and genocide of records regarding the foundry in the United States' suggests

Senator Kirk is one of the authors of the bill, said that, next year is the 100th anniversary of 1915, recalling, "1.5 million Armenians were killed in Ottoman Turkey," he said.

ANCA, one of the most powerful Armenian lobby in the capital yesterday, and during the whole week, members of the American-Armenian community, with some calling for the passage of the bill presented to the Senate today, in their constituency wants to put pressure on senators.

ANCA, as well as other Armenian-American lobby and Hellenic Greek and Greek Cypriot Leaders close to the lobby groups is calling for a vote.

Done in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday placed on the agenda for the ballot, the proposal is expected to vote No. 410.

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Daniel Richotte in the Posta212'Y, according to the rating committee, U.S. Eastern time 2 pm (9 pm Turkey time) to do.

The Committee of the U.S. Congress will be held in the main building, the Capitol and the 'business meeting', defined as a direct voting session will be held.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on April 9 with respect to the subject of the call is known that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. After this telephone conversation, Davutoglu told reporters regarding the bill 'We do not have a negative expectation' had explained.Hmmmm......Lett me guess the 'Essence' of the calll "The future does not belong to those who slander......."

S.Res.410 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)

Expresses the sense of the Senate: (1) in remembrance of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2014; (2) that the President should work toward an Armenian-Turkish relationship that includes Turkey's full acknowledgment of the facts about the Armenian Genocide; and (3) that the President should ensure that U.S. foreign policy reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the U.S. record relating to the Armenian Genocide.

Video - Syria: Militants now Equipped with US-Made TOW Missiles.

Video - Syria: Militants now Equipped with US-Made TOW Missiles.(Fars).


Sources in Syria revealed that the US has supplied its state-of-the-art anti-tank missiles to the militants fighting against the Damascus government.

Different Internet websites, including AlHadathnews, have released photos and videos of the US supplied BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) anti-tank missiles now being used by the militants.

The missiles have been seen at the hands of Hazem militants, who are loyal to former head of the military council of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) Salim Idris, in Idlib countryside in Northwestern Syria.

The web site "Liveleak" video showed a new kind of weapons arsenal exists within the armed opposition in Syria, the missiles "BGM-71 TOW" anti-tank. 

According to the site, has used these missiles near Alheih in Idlib province. In the information, interpretations and one about the source of the rockets, as stated the site it could be Saudi Arabia provided to the Syrian fighters after taking permission from the United States, or the oldest foreign source to support the fighters these missiles, U.S. sources confirmed that if he tipped the second possibility , it must be this process has been after or authorized by the U.S. administration

Erdogan's former classmate: "Turkey's PM used to walk around school with a copy of Hitler's 'Mein Kampf.'"

Erdogan's former classmate: "Turkey's PM used to walk around school with a copy of Hitler's 'Mein Kampf.'"(YNet).

Avraham Krispin from Tel Aviv, a former classmate of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, gets irritated every Wednesday evening at 8 pm when he sits in front of the television and watches the TRT channel, Turkey's national public broadcaster.

The channel, which is broadcast in Israel by the HOT cable company, airs a popular series called "Kizil Elma" ("Red Apple"), which contains anti-Semitic messages that remind Krispin of the most annoying boy in class – Recep.

"I see how director and producer Osman Sinav, who carries a history of Israel hatred and Holocaust denial, leads to an anti-Semitic development in the plot," Krispin says angrily. "The story, which was meant to glorify Turkey and Erdogan, takes a negative turn against us, as the Jewish and Israeli identification marks appear on the screen."


Krispin was born in Istanbul and immigrated to Israel in 1974. His classmate from the first to the fifth grade was none other than the current Turkish prime minister, who is not known as a big fan of Israel.


"I remember him very well: He came from a simple family and was an indrawn boy who would get angry very fast. He would walk around with a copy of Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf,'" Krispin recalls.

"Over the years I learned that he hates us and is afraid of us. He believes we have bionic powers and are capable of destroying everything he builds, even from far away."


Indeed, the "Red Apple" series, which has become a tremendous success among millions of viewers in Turkey and around the world, devoutly presents the ruler's worldview.

The anti-Semitic series is broadcast every evening on channel 158 on HOT. Any connection to reality is purely coincidental, isn't it?Read the full story here.

Armenians Protest At Turkish Consulate of Toronto.

Armenians Protest At Turkish Consulate of Toronto.(AINA).

The Armenian Youth Federation of Canada (AYF Canada) organized a demonstration at the Consulate of Turkey in Toronto on Thursday, April 3. Hundreds of Armenian-Canadians from across southern Ontario held a demonstration voicing their concern over Turkey's role in the destruction of the northwestern Syrian town of Kessab, whose predominantly civilian Armenian population was forced to evacuate to avoid slaughter earlier this weekend.

Located in the northwestern corner of Syria, near the border with Turkey, Kessab had, until very recently, avoided major battles in the Syrian conflict. The historically Armenian populated town had also served as a safe-haven for Armenians fleeing from the war-torn cities of Yacubiye, Rakka and Aleppo.

On the morning of March 21, extremist foreign fighters launched a vicious attack on Kessab civilians, forcing them to flee to neighboring Latakia and Bassit. Subsequent attacks occurred on March 22 and 23 and included the mass looting of local residences and the desecration of Armenian Churches in the area.

Around 700 Christian families have been displaced, while a few, who were too elderly to leave, have been left behind in their homes, with some eye-witness reports claiming that they are being held hostage by the rebels.

Local sources confirmed that the onslaught on Kessab was launched from Turkey by foreign fighters affiliated with an extremist wing of the al-Qaeda terrorist group. Some witnesses reported that attackers wounded during fighting were taken back across the Turkish border for medical treatment.

The protestors called upon Turkey to take all steps necessary to secure its border and prevent any incursions into Syrian territory. They demanded Turkey to explicitly disavow its support of all al Qaeda affiliated groups in the region and to ensure that these groups are expelled from its territory immediately.

AYF Canada Central Executive member, Harout Kassabian delivered a strong message to the Government of Turkey:

"Turkey, a member of NATO, has and continues to aid and abet extremist terrorist organizations.
The official Al-Qaeda organization of Syria has freely entered the country through the Turkish border. Wounded attackers use Turkey as a revolving door to seek medical attention. This is a clear indication of Turkey's involvement with an organization, which is recognized as a terrorist group by the US State Department. Are these the type of actions Canada, the US, or other NATO nations would like to be associated with? This is unacceptable to us Canadians, and should be to the world powers as well!"

Roubina Sarkissian, whose parents were born in Kessab proclaimed in her speech, "What is happening right now isn't just a crime against the people of Kessab. This is a crime against humanity. As a Christian, it angers me to know that a group of people can lead 2,000 innocent civilians out of their homes. It is time to gather our voices and stand up to our governments and demand justice."

Roubina's relatives living in Kessab were part of the thousands who were displaced this past week. In her speech she made it clear to the Turkish embassy that Armenians and human rights activists worldwide will not stay silent as Turkey facilitates the destruction of Kessab.

She remembered her childhood memories of Kessab describing how, "Kessab is more than just a collection of houses and gardens set upon the Mediterranean Sea. Our beautiful Kessab, our safe haven, is the outcome of hundreds of years of our grandparents' and great-grandparents' blood, sweat and tears! The spirit of our ancestors dwells in our mountains and our valleys."

The Armenian Youth Federation of Canada is appalled at the violence committed against innocent citizens living in Kessab and in others cities and towns in Syria and demands Turkey to stop facilitating the attacks by extremist foreign fighters.

Female suicide bomber killed in Istanbul Turkey.

Female suicide bomber killed in Istanbul Turkey.(Taz).

A kamikaze woman was killed in Istanbul as a result of the special operation, Haber7 TV channel reported on April 5.

The kamikaze was a foreign citizen, but it was not reported about her citizenship, according to the TV channel.
The investigation is underway.

‘Turkey likely knew about Syrian rebel siege of Christian town’

‘Turkey likely knew about Syrian rebel siege of Christian town’. (RT).

Reportedly, on March 21, extremist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda crossed into Syria from Turkey and seized the predominantly Christian town after clashes with Syrian government troops and local self-defense squads. 

The attack caused hundreds of ethnic Armenians to flee and created an international outcry, with Armenia accusing Turkey of supporting extremists.

Kessab – located in Syria’s Latakia province, near the border with Turkey – fell to rebels, sparking a fierce battle in the media as conflicting reports are coming in about the events in the town which is home to over 2,000 ethnic Armenians.

RT: Armenians are sure Turkey was directly involved into the assault. Why would Ankara be interested in one tiny Armenian village?

Daoud Khairallah: Ankara has been supporting the jihadi fundamentalists in this war against Syrian regime from the very beginning. It has opened its borders for the fundamentalists coming from all over the world. So to say that now what they did in Kessab is not much different from what it has been doing all along. Now it is very difficult to think that this has happened against Kessab - overwhelmingly majority Armenian - without the knowledge of the Turkish government. It is a border town and it knows that Armenians had been there. And the Armenians had been traumatized by the Turks - there is a long history, probably it was the first genocide in the 20th century, the genocide against the Armenians, as historians say.
Turkey has a long history of helping the armed people coming from all over the world against the Syrian regime and facilitating their entrance into Syria, training them. For Turkey to say we didn’t know or we couldn’t stop it is a little bit ridiculous.

RT: A recent leak suggested Turkey could be planning to stage a provocation inside Syria, and later put the blame on Assad. What was the final goal for Turkey?

DK: Turkey has decided from the beginning to interfere in the internal affairs of Syria and change the Syrian regime. And Mr. Erdogan and his government have never changed their opinion on this. All that [is] in violation of international law - interfering in the internal affairs of a different country is against the law. And the only authority that can tell whether Mr. Assad or his government is legitimate or not is the Syrian people. The Turkish government has taken a position from the very beginning of events in Syria that is not justifiable in international law, international practice.

RT: How will the international community react?

DK: I don’t think we can expect much from the international community. The international community has been divided; and the international community has disregarded international law from the very beginning with respect to the Syrian crisis. Some countries have let their borders open. They have helped outsiders come into Syria without any justification internationally.

If the international community would act, it would act through the Security Council. We know where the US stands: it has a veto power. And I doubt that the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, is acting in conformity with international law and this crisis from the very beginning.

Kidnapped Syrian Bishops' Case Complicated -- Lebanon's Security Director

Kidnapped Syrian Bishops' Case Complicated -- Lebanon's Security Director. Daily Star, Lebanon

Beirut -- The case of the bishops kidnapped in Syria for almost a year is complicated, Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, director-general of Lebanon's General Security, said in comments published Sunday, adding, however, that efforts to release them are "on the right track."

"The case of the two abducted bishops in Aleppo, Boulos Yazigi and Yohanna Ibrahim, is more complicated than the case of the Maaloula nuns, but it is on the right track," Abbas told the Al-Raya Qatari newspaper.

"I would rather keep the information out of the public so as not to spoil the efforts being exerted in that regard, but I assure [the public] that all efforts are being exerted to resolve this humanitarian case," he said.

Aleppo's Greek Orthodox Archbishop, Paul Yazigi, and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim were abducted on April 23, 2013 by gunmen while returning to the northern Syrian city from the Turkish border.

Ibrahim also praised the role played by Qatar in the release of the Lebanese pilgrims, who were held in Syria's Aazaz, and a group of nuns abducted from the Syrian town of Maaloula.

Ibrahim, who helped secure the release of the Maaloula nuns earlier this month, as well as the Lebanese hostages last year, has also been following up on the case of the bishops.Hmmm....you would think Turkey having such 'good' relations with terrorists would help? 

Al-Qaeda’s ‘peace envoy’ explodes among rivals in Aleppo

Al-Qaeda’s ‘peace envoy’ explodes among rivals in Aleppo.(Alalam).

An al-Qaeda ‘peace envoy’ in Syria has blown himself up among a rival militant group, killing 16 of them including two commanders, a new report says.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday a militant from al-Qaeda’s Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) was sent to a group of rival militants, in al-Raei town in Aleppo, as a ‘peace envoy’ for negotiations.

It was the second time the envoy was sent for talks, but this time he turned out to be a suicide bomber who killed 16 people and wounded 20 others.

The ISIL militants also detonated a car bomb in front of the targeted group’s base as the bomber pulled the trigger on his suicide vest.

ISIL and al-Nusra Front, two main affiliates of al-Qaeda in Syria are among the most feared militant groups with extremist-marked behaviors that have been involved in countless atrocities against Syrian people and army soldiers.

There are many amateur videos showing public executions, many of them summary-style, and violent punishments done by these groups in different parts of Syria.

As Syrian people are dealing with horrifying threat of al-Qaeda extremist who are fighting for the western-backed Syrian opposition, the United States and its allies refuse to drop their support to the armed groups leading the nearly three-year war in Syria.

The opposition even refused to sign a declaration condemning brutal acts of terrorism in Syria, prepared by the Syrian government and proposed in recent talks held on the Syrian crisis in Switzerland.
The peace talks ended in Geneva on Friday with no concrete results that would stop the deadly fighting in Syria.

"L'etat C'est Moi" - Judicial bill will pass if no consensus reached on Constitution, Turkish justice minister says.

"L'etat C'est Moi" - Judicial bill will pass if no consensus reached on Constitution, Turkish justice minister says. (HD).

A controversial draft bill, criticized for increasing the government’s power on the justice system, will pass at the General Assembly and become law if the four political parties in Parliament fail to reach a consensus over the Constitutional amendment.

The amendment is expected to include changes in the draft bill, according to the justice minister.

“If no consensus is reached, then we are prone to take steps in line with the consensus. If no consensus is reached over the Constitution’s 159th Article, then we are planning to enforce this [bill on justice system] as law before Parliament enters into break,” Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ told reporters before the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting Jan. 28.

Article 159 states the HSYK must be established and exercise its functions in accordance with the principles of the independence of courts and the security of tenure of judges.

On Jan. 24, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said they will freeze some articles of the controversial bill to reshape the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), also adding the government had no intention of entirely withdrawing the bill.

Bozdağ, however, said yesterday that the bill will pass from the General Assembly with some changes.
“Will it pass the way it is now? This depends on the General Assembly’s decision but I guess there will be some changes [to the bill]. There may be significant changes. Some articles might be removed,” said Bozdağ Jan.. 28.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had suggested constitutional changes as an alternative to a new law that would tighten government control over the judiciary, which he believes is using the corruption investigation to undermine him. However, the effect may ultimately have been similar, though the process would take longer.

The HSYK is the bull’s eye in Erdoğan’s campaign against the judiciary, as he has strongly maintained the HSYK has been infiltrated by followers of the reclusive U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, thus creating a “parallel state” apparatus in Turkey. The prime minister has claimed his action serves to restore judicial independence.Hmmmm....Just like His BFF Obama ruling as an 'Emperor'

Turkish PYD'nin leader Salih Muslim: "Al Qaeda militants are trained in Turkey's Bolu Mountains"

Turkish PYD'nin leader Salih Muslim: "Al Qaeda militants are trained in Turkye's Bolu Mountains"(tgrthaber).GoogleTranslate a.k.a. Ghoulish.

PYD'nin leader Salih Muslim, from Turkey to Syria has given striking comments about the truck.

From Turkey to Syria, saying that the weapons in trucks Muslim , "So far, Turkey was the way weapons. instance, Qatar 's sent weapons coming out of Turkey. And Turkey 's weapons that he has sent. "he said. Salih Muslim, "which was established by the Kurds in Rojava YPG clashing of forces" who responded to the question as follows: "They are changing. Regime forces had previously know. In July 2012 we were all the way out regime forces. In Aleppo, Kobani'de, had some conflicts in Qamishli. They got rid of.

Then in October of 2012 Serekani attack began. Attacking all came from inside Turkey. "

" How do you know Turkey have come from that? "to the question if the Muslim replied:"
A little detail will be, but ... Ceylanpıınar a restaurant in 1500 people prepare meals that you will order given. Even if the attackers set meals in advance. Then they began to decline in food orders when you die. Up to 50 people fell from the dishes. "

Muslims Highlights from the interview are as follows:

as alleged by the opposition in Syria in recent weeks about to pass in the Turkish truck stopped there really a gun? We can talk about two types of weapons. So far, Turkey was the way of weapons. For example, Qatar sent weapons coming out of Turkey. Turkey itself has also sent a weapon. Turkmen can not do anything with that truck in Syria, the Turkmen government to send humanitarian aid, he says. (Laughing), Turkmens us, are taking part in ypg'n. They do not have to come up with something. Some recently, 'We've been lied to,' they said. Our recently Turkmen rapprochement between us have very serious. We have no enemies that already.

TURKEY from QATAR TO EXPLAIN HOW MUCH MONEY YOU TOOK get me a part of the war, Turkey? Of course, inevitably so. Do not go with their soldiers, but they are coming from. Road opens, giving weapons. Qatar, 'I sent $ 3 billion for Syria' he says. Turkey has benefited from this how? At least you have taken up arms sales? Turkey's eight-year Iran-Iraq war during the selling weapons to both sides how much is known. Perhaps Turkey at the time of the economic crisis output that war debt.

Jihadists 'Bolu Mountains trained at've' SAYS Prime Minister in Brussels last week on the way to his statement, during the 'We El Nusr, with the PYD and are struggling, "he said. In the same category were counted. troubled tell a full-referenced to protect himself. For example, a 'regime of Al-Qaeda has suffered,' he says.

These men themselves had come from Turkey, saying that there is training.Where they're Training? I Bolu Mountains on the side. There are camps like this one Sarikamish.Say it and fought from there, I do not say

Syria FM at Peace Talks Calls Opposition 'Traitors', singles out Erdogan as main player

Syria FM at Peace Talks Calls Opposition 'Traitors', singles out Erdogan as main player.(AA).

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem dubbed the country's opposition "traitors" and foreign "agents" as a peace conference opened in Switzerland on Wednesday.

"They claim to represent the Syrian people. If you want to speak in the name of the Syrian people, you should not be traitors to the Syrian people, agents in the pay of enemies of the Syrian people," Muallem said in a strongly-worded speech as the meeting got under way in the lakeside city of Montreux.

He fired a broadside at the reform-shy Gulf monarchies which back the revolt against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, which began after a crackdown on peaceful Arab Spring-inspired protests in 2011 and has morphed into a sectarian war.

"It is regrettable to me and to the people of Syria that representatives of states in this room are sitting with us today, while blood is on their hands -- countries that have sent weapons ... encouraged and financed terrorism," Muallem said.

"They have not looked at their own glass houses before throwing stones," he said.

"The mask has fallen and we can see the real face of what they want -- to destabilize Syria .. by exporting terrorism -- to hide their barbaric behavior," he thundered.

Syria slams the role of foreign Sunni Islamist fighters who have flocked to the war-torn country -- though Assad is backed by Shiite Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah -- and says it is locked in a "war on terror".

"Who told you that Syria wants to go back 1,000 years," he said, warning against extreme Islamism.

"It will not stop in Syria," he said.

He singled out Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for backing the opposition.

"All of this would not have happened if it had not been for Erdogan -- they did not know that magic would turn against the magician one day -- terrorism has no religion," he said.

Muallem also rebuked U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who told the conference there would be no place for Assad in a future government.

"No one in the world has the right to confer or withdraw the legitimacy of a president, a constitution or a law, except for the Syrians themselves," Muallem said.

Muallem also locked horns with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the conference chairman, who had asked delegations not to trade barbs and to respect time limits imposed on all speeches. ‘You live in NY, I live in Syria; let me tell our version of story’ he said.

Turkish anti-terrorist police raid IHH 'aid agency' near Syrian border.

Turkish anti-terrorist police raid IHH 'aid agency' near Syrian border.(Reuters).

Turkish anti-terrorist police raided the offices of an aid agency on the border with Syria on Tuesday, in part of what local media said was an operation in six cities against individuals suspected of links to al Qaeda.

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) said police had raided its offices in the southern Turkish city of Kilis, which borders Syria, and detained one person.

The IHH came to prominence in May 2010 when Israeli marines stormed its Mavi Marmara ship to enforce a naval blockade of the Palestinian-run Gaza Strip and killed nine Turks in clashes with activists.

"IHH aid is delivered to Syrian babies, children and those who freeze in the cold ... This is an operation to change perceptions (about IHH) and stop aid from being delivered insideSyria," the group said in a statement.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly denied Turkey is providing shelter or backing to al Qaeda-linked groups in Syria.Hmmmm.....The IHH has a long history of 'contacts' remember the Mavi Marvara.More here.

Related:

Weapons bound for Syria transported by 'Humanitarian org' IHH seized in Turkey, Released by written order of governor. 

Weapons bound for Syria transported by 'Humanitarian org' IHH seized in Turkey, Released by written order of governor.

Weapons bound for Syria transported by 'Humanitarian org' IHH seized in Turkey, Released by written order of governor.(newsnow).

Turkish authorities seized a truck en route to Syria that was carrying weapons Thursday and three people were arrested in the incident, according to Agence France-Presse.

The truck was stopped in Turkey's southern province Hatay that shares a border with Syria.

The drivers said they were "carrying aid on behalf of the pro-Islamic Humanitarian Relief Foundation, IHH." IHH, however, has called the incident "slanderous" and said that it has nothing to do with the case.

Turkish media say that approximately 47 tons of weapons have been sent to Syrian rebels via Turkey since June.

Turkish government authorities have denied sending weapons directly from the government to the rebels despite their open support of the opposition.

Update: Truck released upon Gov order.

A truck laden with weapons bound for Syria have been seized near Syria border and three people including a Syrian arrested, local media reported on Thursday.

Acting on a tipoff, security forces on Wednesday stopped the truck in the southern province of Hatay on the Syrian border, DHA reported.

A significant quantity of ammunition and weapons were discovered in the truck, whose drivers claimed they were carrying aid on behalf of the pro-Islamic Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH). But IHH dismissed the allegations as “slanderous”.“Our organization has nothing to do with this case,” a spokesman for the relief group told AFP.

In December, local media reported that Turkey had shipped 47 tons of weapons to the militants since June. But Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz denied weapons of war had been sent to Syria, saying only hunting rifles had been exported.

Latest reports.

Latest Reports say that the IHH’s Arm Truck Bound for Syria freed even without being investigated by written order of governor. The security forces were not allowed to search and count the arms by MIT officer claiming that they have secret government permission.

Interior Minister’s Order.


The truck claimed to head to Kilis (Syria Neighborhood province) by the written order of the Hatay Governor depending on Interior Ministry although it is an obvious crime of arms smuggling. Hmmmm.....The IHH has a long history of 'contacts' remember the Mavi Marvara.

Update More from HD:  Turkish governor blocks police search on Syria-bound truck reportedly carrying weapons

Hatay lawmakers from the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) were among the few politicians who witnessed the seizure and the release of the truck late Jan. 1.

“I talked both to officials and the local gendarmerie commander. The prosecutor came to the scene and instructed them to search the cargo. But law enforcement bodies did not implement [the order] because they received a written instruction from the governor,” CHP Hatay MP Hasan Akgöl told reporters. “Weapons and ammunitions are being sent to Syria under the control of the government and MİT and no one is stopping it.”

Refik Eryılmaz, another CHP Hatay deputy, said weapons and ammunition were being transferred to both al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army on a daily basis within the knowledge of government officials.

The conflicting reports about the truck and its cargo pushed the CHP to take the issue to Parliament. Both Umut Oran and Sezgin Tanrıkulu, deputy leaders of the CHP, issued parliamentary questions on the developments, asking the prime minister about the truck’s cargo and destination. “Is it true that MİT personnel were also on the truck?” asked Oran.

An official document posted on the Radikal’s website showed that the truck and its personnel were on a MİT mission and that laws prevented other law enforcement bodies from taking any sort of action without first obtaining consent from the Prime Minister’s Office.

According to the document, Lekesiz’s written instruction warned law enforcement officials that legal action could be taken against them if they stopped MİT personnel in an irregular way. There are claims that police officers who followed the truck and stopped it were removed from their positions after the development. Hmmmmm.....'State sponsor of terrorism'?

Yasin al-Qadi “US Specially Designated Global Terrorist” escorted by Obama's BFF PM Erdogan's security detail.

Yasin al-Qadi “US Specially Designated Global Terrorist” escorted by Obama's BFF PM Erdogan's security detail.(TZ).

  Saudi Arabian businessman Yasin al - qadi who is on the US Treasury Department's “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list, has entered Turkey multiple times escorted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's protective squad.

Turkey may be placed in a difficult position in the international arena as Yasin al-Qadi, a Saudi Arabian businessman who is on the US Treasury Department's “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list, has entered Turkey multiple times escorted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's protective detail and without a passport or visa, the Taraf daily reported on Monday.

Taraf's report gave details of the investigation of prosecutor Muammer Akkaş, who was removed from the ongoing corruption operation on Dec. 26 after he attempted to launch a second phase of the investigation, allegedly involving prominent business and political figures.

The first part of the police operation was on Dec. 17, when the sons of two Cabinet ministers, state-run Halkbank General Manager Süleyman Aslan and Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab were arrested along with 20 other suspects.

According to the report, Saudi businessman al-Qadi illegally entered Turkey four times between February 2012 and October 2012. Although his entry into the country was banned by a Cabinet decision, it is reported that the prime minister's protective detail escorted him during his time in Turkey, and allegedly there are photos of this in the investigation file.

Usama Qutb, another name being investigated by prosecutors, reportedly escorted al-Qadi during his visits to Turkey.

According to the investigation, al-Qadi attended some meetings with boards of directors from certain companies including Bosphorus 360, and he allegedly met with Mustafa Latif Topbaş, a partner of Turkish discount retailer BİM.

When al-Qadi visited Turkey, the prime minister's security detail, police officer İbrahim Yıldız, allegedly welcomed him at the airport. Al-Qadi took care of his business through his son, Muaz Kadıoğlu, according to Taraf.

According to the investigation, Bosphorus 360 was about to buy land belonging to a police school in İstanbul's Etiler neighborhood for $460 million, which is below the land's real value, without opening the plot to bidding. The total loss to the public would reportedly have been $540 million.

Another allegation is that al-Qadi entered and left Turkey by means of Topbaş's private jet. According to Taraf, when al-Qadi arrived, the airport's security cameras were covered and he was allowed to enter illegally through the VIP section with no official procedure, passport or visa.

After al-Qadi's entering Turkey was banned, he reportedly came to Turkey on June 14, 2012, and attended a meeting of BİM's board of directors.

After attending the meeting at BİM headquarters, two bags of money inside boxes were put into al-Qadi's car, and then he left in a plane with this money.

The United Nations enforced sanctions against al-Qadi in 1999 and 2000 to freeze his assets around the world after a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution named him as a suspected associate of Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, al-Qaeda.

The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ordered al-Qadi's US assets to be frozen in October 2001. The EU also agreed sanctions on al-Qadi. His listing as a terrorist was overturned by several European courts, and his name was removed from blacklists by Switzerland, the European Union and the United Kingdom. However, his name remains on the “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list under US law. The UNSC committee monitoring sanctions against al-Qaeda accepted al-Qadi's petition to be removed from its blacklist in October 2012.

After 9/11, al-Qadi reportedly moved his operations to Turkey and Switzerland from Saudi Arabia. Forbes magazine reported that al-Qadi is a friend of Erdoğan, claiming that through this friendship he was able to avoid the sanctions against him. Erdoğan has been quoted as saying: “I know al-Qadi. I believe in him as I believe in myself. For al-Qadi to associate with a terrorist organization, or support one, is impossible.”

“These are all crimes,” says Dr. Mehmet Altan, an academic and writer, who spoke to Today's Zaman on the Taraf report.

“It is becoming clear why this investigation on corruption is being covered up. The seriousness of the allegations and the documents is being seen in all its horror. There have been court decisions both in the first investigation, in which people were detained, and the second investigation in which those detentions are being prevented. It is a crime to prevent a judicial process when there is a court decision,” said Altan.

“It is in the court where everything will be cleared. They [the government] cannot avoid court by creating noise and talking in every square. Even if they go and talk street by street, house by house, it is not possible to prevent this judicial process through political claims,” he added.

“There are many documents against the person you are trying to protect. When you try to whitewash this person and disregard the rule of law, then this process smears you too,” said Altan.

Altan stressed that the way to acquit oneself in corruption allegations is not by paralyzing the judiciary but by clearing the way for the judiciary. He said the government is trying to paralyze the judiciary with fear, and that it isn't only Turkey but the whole world that is watching.

“You are protecting criminals. You are in a relationship with Iran, of which the world system does not approve. You welcome someone who is a suspect and wanted as though he were a state official.
Thinking that you can solve this problem outside the rule of law, without paying the price, is gross negligence,” said Altan. He added: “Unfortunately, the government is not only challenging the Turkish judiciary but it is trying to deceive the world. It is not possible to make this work. Persisting with this mistake will be the end of the regime in the country.”

“The allegation about protecting someone who is being sought by the international system is a very serious allegation. It is a troubling image for Turkey's reputation. Violating the international rule of law and disregarding international agreements are not mistakes for a democratic country which respects the rule of law,” Turgut Özal University's terrorism and security expert Dr. Mahmut Akpınar told Today's Zaman.

“It is unacceptable to take a position in which you are protecting a person who is being sought. According to the media, this person has entered Turkey four times in eight months. Normally, law enforcement officials should have caught him. Quite the contrary, he is under the protection of the prime minister's security detail. This is scandalous. Paralyzing the judiciary is making this scandal even bigger,” he added.

İstanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş has rejected claims that the vacant grounds of the Etiler Police Academy, the only empty plot in Etiler, with a value of $1 billion, were sold to a company for $460 million with no public bidding.

According to the allegations, the state sustained a financial loss of $600 million in this sale. Including planned construction on the site, the financial loss to the state may have reached several billion dollars, experts say.

However, a week after these allegations were reported in the media, Topbaş held a press conference in which he displayed an ownership certificate showing that the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality owns that land.

According to the allegations, the same company waited only one month for a mining license in a forested area of Paşaköy in İstanbul's Sultanbeyli district, although the Ministry of Forestry had denied all such permission in that area for some time previously. In return for the mining license, which had a value of $10 billion, one of the suspects became a 50 percent partner in the business without paying the company's owner. After a period of time, the owner left the partnership and the company was taken over by the other partner, who allegedly paid nothing.Hmmmm......Can we now speak of 'State sponsor of Terrorism'?

Report: Al Qaeda suspects flee after Obama's BFF Erdogan's Turkish gov't blocks raid.

Report: Al Qaeda suspects flee after Obama's BFF Erdogan's Turkish gov't blocks raid.(TZ).

Al Qaeda-linked Yusuf Al Qadi and Osama Khoutub, who are among suspects in a major graft probe, has reportedly fled Turkey after the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) blokced a police raid on Wednesday as İstanbul police didn't comply with orders of prosecutors to detain several suspects in the second leg of the investigation.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has ordered the detention of 30 suspects, including a number of deputies and businessmen. The İstanbul Police Department, which saw an extensive purge of its top officers over the last week, has not complied with the order, however.News reports suggest that when the list of 30 suspects leaked to media on Wednesday, some of the suspects took precautionary measures to avoid any allegation in case of a police raid to their houses and offices.

And some suspects fled Turkey, including al Qaeda's Turkey operatives Yusuf Al Qadi and Osama Khoutub after government blocked the investigation through newly appointed police chiefs who didn't comply with court decision.

Prosecutor Muammer Akkaş who was leading the second round of the probe was taken away from the case. “All my colleagues and the public should know that as a public prosecutor I was prevented from carrying out the investigation,” the prosecutor said in a statement on Thursday, adding that pressure had clearly been placed on the judiciary both from the Public Prosecutor's Office and the police, allowing an opportunity for suspects to destroy the evidence.

Akkaş said although he issued detention and search warrants for the suspects and relayed these to the İstanbul Police Department on Wednesday morning, the police department had not complied with his orders."By not implementing the court decisions, police chiefs committed a crime. An opportunity was given to suspects to take measures, escape or mitigate the evidence," he said.

Saudi businessman Al Qadi's assests was frozen in Turkey after he was named as financer of terrorism in international community. News reports point out that the al Qaeda suspect is allowed to enter Turkey freely and has access to high-level diplomats and security officials, including the Undersecretary of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Hakan Fidan.

According to claims, former Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, who left his post on Wednesday in a major Cabinet reshuffle, asked İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor to close the case.

West to Syrian Opposition: Assad to Stay following Peace Conference.

West to Syrian Opposition: Assad to Stay following Peace Conference.(Jpost).

The Western countries have signaled to the foreign-backed Syrian opposition that President Bashar al-Assad may stay in power following the international conference aimed at ending the Syri”Friends of Syria” meeting in Londonan conflict, a report said.

Reuters news agency reported that a message was delivered to senior members of the Syrian National Coalition at a meeting of the so-called Friends of Syria alliance in London last week.

Sources told the agency that this message was prompted by rise of al Qaeda and other militant groups, and their takeover of a border crossing and arms depots near Turkey belonging to the ‘moderate’ Free Syrian Army.

“Our Western friends made it clear in London that Assad cannot be allowed to go now because they think chaos and an Islamist militant takeover would ensue,” Reuters quoted one senior member of the Coalition who is close to officials from Saudi Arabia as saying.

Noting the possibility of Assad holding a presidential election when his term formally ends next year, the Coalition member added: “Some do not even seem to mind if he runs again next year.”

The agency said that such shift in the western stance, particularly the United States and Britain, is causing divisions within international powers backing the armed groups and widening gap in approach with militants’ backers in the region. However this change could narrow Western differences with Russia.

“Saudi Arabia and Turkey, however, believe that tackling militants is less of a priority,” Reuters said, noting that Riyadh is furious at what it considers US “appeasement” of Assad and Iran. Riyadh sent only a junior diplomat to the “Friends of Syria” meeting in London, the agency added.

Meanwhile, a declaration by the 11 leading Western and Middle East countries opposed to the Syrian government blamed Damascus military operation for the rise of extremists.

However the Friends of Syria statement said that extremists are posing threat to the Syrian and international security, Reuters reported.


Islamists “undermine the Geneva … process and threaten Syria’s territorial integrity as well as international and regional security,” the “Friends of Syria” said in a statement.Hmmmm.....Now Turkey will harvest all the terrorism it has sow.

International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation(ICSR): "Up to 11,000 Foreign Fighters in Syria, Steep Rise Among Europeans."

International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation(ICSR): "Up to 11,000 Foreign Fighters in Syria, Steep Rise Among Europeans."HT: ICSR.

The International Centre for the Study of Radicalization offered its latest assessment of how many foreigners are fighting in Syria, which countries they hail from, and other key data.

Since ICSR published its first estimate in April, the issue of foreign fighters in Syria has become a major concern for Western governments. More reports have emerged since, though few have accurately gauged the full extent and evolution of the phenomenon.

This ICSR Insight provided an update of our April estimate, offering the most comprehensive and richly resourced account of the Syrian foreign fighter phenomenon from open sources.
Based on more than 1,500 sources, the center estimated that up to 11,000 individuals from 74 nations have become opposition fighters in Syria – nearly double our previous estimate.

Among Western Europeans, the number has more than tripled from up to 600 in April to 1,900 now.
The studies estimated that — from late 2011 to 10 December 2013 — between 3,300 and 11,000 individuals have gone to Syria to fight there. These figures include those who are currently present as well as those who have since returned home, been arrested or killed.

Based on the credibility of various sources, the center believed the “true” figure to be above 8,500. This would mean that the numbers have nearly doubled since April, with a particularly steep increase among non-Arabs, especially Westerners.

While Arabs and Europeans continue to represent the bulk of foreign fighters (up to 80 per cent), the numbers have identified individuals from Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, and non-Arab Africa. Overall, we believe that residents and citizens from at least 74 countries have joined militant opposition groups in Syria.

The number of fighters from Western Europe ranged from 396 to 1,937.Compared to April, this represented a threefold increase.

Belgian syrian fighter 

The French and Danish governments have doubled their estimates since the spring, while the figures provided by the Belgian, British and German governments have quadrupled.

Western Europeans now represent up to 18 per cent of the foreign fighter population in Syria, with most recruits coming from France (63-412), Britain (43-366), Germany, (34-240), Belgium (76-296), and the Netherlands (29-152).

Adjusting for population size, the most heavily affected countries are Belgium (up to 27 foreign fighters per million), Denmark (15), the Netherlands (9), Sweden (9), Norway (8), and Austria (7).
Individuals from Middle Eastern countries continue to represent the majority of foreign fighters (around 70 per cent). Up to 6,774 non-Syrian Arabs and an additional 523 non-Arabs from the (wider) region have gone to Syria.

The five countries with the largest numbers of foreign fighters in Syria are all part of the Middle East: Jordan is the single biggest contributor (up to 2,089), followed by Saudi Arabia (1,016), Tunisia (970), Lebanon (890), and Libya (556).


The most important regions for foreign fighter recruitment outside Western Europe and the Middle East are the Balkans and the countries of the former Soviet Union.

In the Balkans, the largest contributors of foreign fighters are Kosovo (4-150), Albania (9-140), and Bosnia (18-60), with smaller numbers coming from Macedonia (3-20), Serbia (3), and Bulgaria (1).

Among the former Soviet countries, the most significant are Russia (9-423 excluding Chechnya; 36-186 for Chechnya), Kazakhstan (14-150), Ukraine (50), and Kyrgyzstan (9-30), with all others providing a dozen or less.


The most prominent non-European Western countries are Australia (23-205), Canada (9-100), and the United States (17-60). Other notable countries of origin are Pakistan (7-330), China (6-100), Somalia (5-68), and Afghanistan (12-23).

Syria Conflict: Foreign 'British' Jihadists Using Turkey Safe Houses..... we are all Al-Qaeda.

Syria Conflict: Foreign 'British' Jihadists Using Turkey Safe Houses .....we are all Al-Qaeda.(Fars).

Foreign jihadist fighters are using safe houses in Southern Turkey to cross into Syria to fight against government forces, reports said.

A man running one such house near the border town of Reyhanli said more than 150 people - including up to 20 Britons - had used it in the past three months, BBC reported.

The route through Turkey used by Al-Qaeda-linked foreign jihadists is now becoming increasingly organized.

The man in charge of the safe house near Reyhanli told the BBC's Richard Galpin that "more than 150 people stayed at the house" in the past 90 days."Between 15 and 20 were British. It's all done through invitations from friends".

He added that jihadists usually "stay for a day or two before crossing into Syria and stay on the way back when they are waiting for flights back to their home countries".

One such fighter from France told the correspondent that "there are thousands of us, literally from every corner of the world"."And we are all Al-Qaeda," he added.

The jihadist, a former student in France, said he had joined a brigade which had 8,000 men.

He added that the brigade had recently pledged allegiance to the radical Islamist organizations called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Over the past year, thousands of foreign fighters - including about 300 British nationals - have poured into Syria to fight President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

But Syria's original armed opposition say the jihadists are not just fighting the government but are also systematically targeting Free Syrian Army fighters.

A former FSA commander said he had to flee to Turkey after his unit had been captured by jihadists.

"They told us we were not true Muslims," the commander said.

"I saw how they beat my friends with iron bars, smashed their faces with ammunition boxes and then killed them. The floor was covered with blood."

We made the insurgency for "freedom and equality" but the "jihadists don't want this. They've come to destroy Syria", he said.The commander added that he was one of the few men from the unit to survive.