Please read this whole article. David Herst is a man of courage. Here are some extracts:
To defeat the coup, the Turkish president used his iPhone. Mosques used their loudspeakers, broadcasting the call to prayer hours before dawn. Political leaders of all creeds, some staunch opponents of the president, called unambiguously for the coup to be defeated. Policemen arrested soldiers.
Unarmed people recaptured CNN Turk and the bridges across the Bosphorus, braving gunfire to recapture democracy for their country.
This was unambiguously a military coup. And yet the US Embassy in Ankara in its emergency message to US citizens called it an “uprising”.
Geopolitical Futures released an analysis saying the coup was successful. BBC Arabic, Sky News Arabic, El Arabiya TV, the ITN diplomatic editor, the US networks were all running commentaries saying Erdogan was finished, or had fled to Germany.
The Guardian ran a piece whose first headline (it was later amended) said everything about an author unable to contain his glee at the demise of a man he qualified as authoritarian islamist: “How Recep Tayyip Erdogan inflamed tensions in Turkey”.
As the people of Turkey battled for their future, there was a crashing silence from Western leaders whose brand image is democracy. The French consulate had closed two days earlier. Did it know something Turkey did not?
In his initial statement, US Secretary of State John Kerry used every word except the dreaded “d” one. He hoped for “stability and peace and continuity” within Turkey.
Nothing about supporting a legitimately elected president and a legitimately elected parliament. Only when it was already obvious that the coup was failing did President Barack Obama and Kerry issue a statement unambiguously backing Erdogan.
If you want to know why Europe and the US are a busted flush in the Middle East, why they have lost all moral authority, indeed any authority at all, and why they are no longer the candle bearers of democratic change, look no further than the three hours of silence as they waited to see which way the wind was blowing in Istanbul and Ankara.
The Saudis waited 15 hours before issuing a statement supporting Erdogan. The Emiratis and the media they controlled spread the message that Erdogan had fled the country.
The exact opposite was the truth. Erdogan showed bravery getting into a plane and heading for Istanbul knowing F16s were in the air and that the runway at Ataturk airport could have been closed.
Only three countries in the world clearly supported Erdogan from the start – Morocco, Qatar, and Sudan.
What was particularly impressive were the statements of Turkish politicians who had every reason to want Erdogan to go, and who had themselves been displaced by him. To his credit, the leader of Turkey’s largest party, Kemal Kalicdaroglu of the centre-left People’s Republican Party (CHP), came out immediately against the coup in a series of tweets, saying the country has “suffered a lot” in past military takeovers.
Two AK Party leaders from the liberal wing, who had been displaced or recently sacked by Erdogan supported him. Former president Abdullah Gul told CNN Turk that “Turkey is not a Latin America country … I’m calling those who attempt to overthrow the government [they] should go back to their barracks.”
What you should know about Turkey’s President, Recap Tayyip Erdogan:
1. The Turkish economy between 2002 and 2012 caused a growth of 64% in real GDP and a 43% increase in GDP per capita.
2. Erdoğan inherited a debt of $23.5 billion to the IMF, which was reduced to $0.9 billion in 2012. He decided not to sign a new deal. Turkey’s debt to the IMF was thus declared to be completely paid and he announced that the IMF could borrow from Turkey.
3. In 2010, five-year credit default swaps for Turkey’s sovereign debt were trading at a record low of 1.17%, below those of nine EU member countries and Russia.
4. In 2002, the Turkish Central Bank had $26.5 billion in reserves. This amount reached $92.2 billion in 2011. During Erdoğan’s leadership. Inflation fell from 32% to 9.0% in 2004.
5. Under Erdoğan’s government, the number of airports in Turkey increased from 26 to 50.
6. Between 2002 and 2011, another 13500 km of expressway were built.
7. For the first time in Turkish history, high speed railway lines were constructed, and the country’s high-speed train service began in 2009. In 8 years, 1076 km of railway were built and 5449 km of railway renewed.
8. Erdogan put greater investments into the healthcare system than any predecessor. As part of the reforms, the “Green Card” program, which provides free health benefits to the poor.
9. Erdoğan increased Education spending from 7.5 billion lira in 2002 to 34 billion lira in 2011, the highest share of the national budget given to one ministry and number of universities in Turkey nearly doubled, from 98 in 2002 to 186 in October 2012.
10. In 1996 1$=222 Lira and in 2016 1$=2.94 Lira, even after the recent turmoil.
Today it seems that the Turks are the only people who have the potential to lead the Ummah. The Arabs have disintegrated. The Indian subcontinentals were never leaders of the Ummah in any case. Just local despots who had no global impact.
The encouraging thing in this whole drama was that even the opposition, including Kurdish leaders, came out in support of Erdogan. The Western media campaign is seeking to malign him once again by talking about his so-called autocratic nature because he stands up to them. Predictably they have no comments about the criminal Sisi and all the various Oil Tankers who are among the worst totalitarian psychopaths in the world. But since they are all subservient to them, they are silent about them and shamelessly give them military aid so that they can kill their people better and more efficiently. They are silent about the fact that these people routinely practice torture on prisoners and also outsource their own torture customers to them so that they can tell the world that torture on their soil is illegal and they are pure as driven snow. All the while their lackeys – all Muslims mind you – torture their prisoners – also all Muslim – on their behalf. WE STINK AND OUR LEADERS STINK HIGHEST.
Erdogan must be hated and maligned because he is the only one who threw off the IMF yoke. And forced Israel to allow aid into Gaza. The Ottomans first beat the hell out of Europe and then ruled it for 400 years and left an indelible mark. That is what the white man can’t stomach. So they hate him. They want lackeys who make Sujood to them instead of to Allahﷻ.
When people come out in response to the Adhaan and when they pray Fajr despite the chaos of a military uprising – they prayed Fajr on their flag as the musalla – then the help of Allahﷻ is إن شاء اللهُ assured. We all saw the results.
Keep making dua. There is no power except the power of Allahﷻ and no help except the help of Allahﷻ. And as long as we are faithful to Him He will not deny us.
HasbunaAllah waniimal wakeel. The west will continue be embarrassed.
Interesting way of analysing Turkey.
I'm a Sri Lankan was in my Mussalla for thahajuth prayers. it was 4.00am when I received the message. I'm sure our duas didn't go without answered. Alhamdulillah.
May Allah SWT help and protect them from all evils plan and action. lets keep remembering them in prayers and others duas
Alhamdulilah the enemies energy and hope lost and lost. Allah is always in charge and control all the affairs of every nation and person. Oh Allah SWT we thank you and praises you alone for restoring peace and stability in our Turkey. Keep enriching its servant leadership for benefit of humanity and Islam. May Allah protect them from evils plan and action
Brother,well said. Such analysis is necessary. May Allah bless you.
may Allah save Turky from war mongers who quench their thirst with Muslims blood
may Allah swt keep Turky safe from war mongers like US & from European evil,who quench their thirst with Muslims blood
Nice write-up on Erdogan's work. It's need to write such articles in English more and more. Erdogan gave a lot to people, so he got also from them. May Allah strengthen us to work on cause.
Excellent Article!
Well written especially from leadership perspective.
Great. I would not have understood that, had you not forwarded this information
Great post and spot on
The role of Fatehullah Gulen is not clear. Erdogan has indicated him being responsible for the coup attempt. Allah knows best.
What a lovely synopsis. Mashallah. You have really gone to the root of the reactions, the leadership shown by Erdogan, and the response to his call by the masses. These are the real ingredients of a nation, that is destined to receive divine help from the Creator Himself. Belief and the power of the ordinary masses, when evoked with sincerity of purpose. On another post I read that "Orders were given to recite the adhan, salawat and takbir from the minarets all throughout the night until dawn. This failed coup was likened to when the Turkish enemies tried to take… Read more »
Yes it is a Miracle of Allah in response to duas of many. Turkey has set a recent example of how Allah's help can be achieved. We should also realise our real enimies and get rid of them. May Allah bless and help the Muslims