The Turkish Government has closed two newspapers, Zaman and Zaman Today, the largest circulating newspapers in Turkey. The closures came after the police used tear gas and water cannons to shut down the dailies. The government believes that the newspapers are associated with the Cemaat movement which it believes to be a terrorist organization. Cemaat is led by the U.S.-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who was once an ally of President Erdogan but who is now opposed to the President. The move is just the latest in a series of attempts to stifle opposition in Turkey, further alienating the country from the US and Europe.
Protests in Turkey
The “cessation of hostilities” in Syria has been somewhat working since it started last week. Fighting is sporadic and limited, and humanitarian agencies have been able to deliver some supplies. The UN is seeking an extension of the lull, and the Europeans are taking the lead on negotiating with Russia to create favorable conditions for its extension. The cease-fire has unquestionably aided the forces of President Assad. Thus, there are strategic losses associated with it, but perhaps a degree of stability will allow compromises to emerge.
The refugee crisis is currently bottled up in Greece, as Macedonia and other countries to the north of Greece have closed their borders. The refugee camps in Greece are completely full and are scenes of abject misery. Unless the European Union can come up with an acceptable policy (the continent could handle 2-3 million more people given that its total population now is about 500 million), it is likely that the Union may disintegrate. Spiegel assesses the situation in this way:
Were Europe in agreement, it would be unproblematic to accommodate 2-3 million refugees, given the Continent’s population of a half billion people. From such a perspective, the current spat actually seems somewhat ridiculous. But in the run up to next week’s EU summit, Europe is gripped by strife. Europe’s greatest achievement, the opening of its borders through the Schengen agreement, is at stake, and the increasingly toxic atmosphere between countries has reached alarming dimensions.
The crisis is perhaps the most serious ever in the history of the Union.
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