If I were to put aside my rational side of myself and speak out of emotions and feelings, I would say that Erdoğan – the Muslim politician with a special charisma, was somehow special. He seemed to be that man whose political performance and posture, with often a heroic appearance, quenched the thirst of millions of young Muslims around the world for true leadership.
Many referred to him as the caliph of the Ummah. Others nicknamed him as Sultan. Indeed, Erdoğan’s public presence would fill a void in the devastated Muslim Ummah. Sometimes his public stance on matters related to the Ummah, but especially Palestine, would become the talk and the discussion among Muslims. Yes, he inspired. He gave hope to the Ummah regardless of his political shortcomings and some fatal mistakes, especially related to the big betrayal of the Muslims in Syria.
Erdoğan today is dead – I mean politically. His career is finished. His political accomplishments are something of the past, which history will judge them. Erdoğan today no longer is living among us. He is not present. His political end was tragic.
Even though I was fully aware – rationally speaking, of the fact that Erdoğan was merely an appointed administrator of the Republic of Türkiye by the British rulers – those who brought down the Ottoman Empire and who continue to control the Muslim lands, including Türkiye, I wish his end were much better.
The war of Gaza was the biggest test of the Sultan. Muslims are being killed – children, babies, women and old non-combatant people. Muslims in Gaza are being slaughtered. Muslims in Gaza are being humiliated. Muslims in Gaza are maimed and tortured. They are isolated.
However, Erdoğan’s military, his political position, his experience, his charisma, and his promise that Gaza was his redline proved to be of no use during these days. The President of the Republic of Türkiye could not take any measures to protect the oppressed and attacked Muslims of Gaza.
Erdogan proved to be no more than an interesting image, but with no essence.
He might continue to live and even work as the president of Türkiye, but he is of no use. He betrayed the Muslims of Gaza. He lied. He did not take any measure to support them.
How can he be able to do anything to help Muslims when he is not free to make independent political decisions?! This is the reason why he should have expelled the US military base in Türkiye and left NATO in order to gain more political independence, but he couldn’t do it because he chose to work as a puppet.
Sabri Lushi
