Building Somalia: Turkey Redefining Humanitarian Aid

[AlphaMonster 1,806]

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30447039

Until 2011, Somali was forgotten land of the world, suffering from famine in between the ruins of civil war.  
It all started with the famine of 2011. The then Turkish prime minister, now president Erdogan, flew to Somalia, first states official from non-african country to visit country in 20 years. Unlike other foreign countries or international organizations, who keep at a safe distance from the country, preferring to do Somali-related business from neighbouring Kenya, he walked through the streets of Mogadishu. In a suit. Not body armour.
Somalis still talk about how he picked up dirty, starving children. How his wife kissed members of the despised minority clans.
And hence the love affair began. Somalis called their boys Erdogan, their daughters Istanbul. 

Turkey had clear project instructions: produce tangible, sustainable results with Turkish funds.
A massive nation-building effort followed; roads, hospitals, mosques, and schools were built, the airport was expanded, and many business partnerships were forged. Even some turkish teachers, doctors, engineers, craftsmen came. Within an incredibly short period of time, Erdogan's plan resuscitated Somalia from near death. Nothing illustrates that fact more than the profound impact that the Turkish aid model has had on the average Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Somalia. In addition to setting up feeding centres that provide appetising foods, decent housing, and health clinics, the Turkish aid model has boosted the average IDP's standard of living with economic empowerment. 

Of course nothing comes free of charge. Turkish Missions became targets of Al-Shabab (Al-Qaeda affiliated) for Turkey's "attempt to suppress Sharia Law in the region" meaning supporting stabile government of Somalia. To prevent such events happening, Turkey will establish an overseas military base in Somalia and trains soldiers in Somalia instead of training them in Turkey. 

[Juvi 1,639]

great that someone helps such countries like Somalia, but on the other hand, it's probably some military strategy by Erdogan being held on the backs of the Somalian people!

[AlphaMonster 1,806]

24 minutes ago, Juvi said:

great that someone helps such countries like Somalia, but on the other hand, it's probably some military strategy by Erdogan being held on the backs of the Somalian people!

He is conservative, not evil. 

Plus, there is no colonizing in traditional turkish culture like that of western europe. There is a reason why Ottoman Empire was called Third Rome. Conquered subjects were considered Ottoman citizens too, not some colonized slaves to exploit. 

[Luc 4,776]

What's the source for it? It feels like reading a north korean news article, and Marshall Kim-Jong un's great impact in making a peaceful world, with thousands of young men and women inspired to fight against the corruption and the class model towards an economical, technical and cultural revolution (while the American imperalists and Japanese reactionary fascists were the once who caused the war in the first place!)

[AlphaMonster 1,806]

53 minutes ago, Luc said:

What's the source for it? It feels like reading a north korean news article, and Marshall Kim-Jong un's great impact in making a peaceful world, with thousands of young men and women inspired to fight against the corruption and the class model towards an economical, technical and cultural revolution (while the American imperalists and Japanese reactionary fascists were the once who caused the war in the first place!)

Just Watch the video but source article is from BBC, I put the article. For more stuff; you can just google "Turkey Somalia Humanitarian Aid" .You'll see reports of various international authorities and lots of newspaper articles about it. First articles of saferworld.org.uk appears for example. 

Video is from INTEGRATION TV https://www.youtube.com/user/IntegrationTV247 A Somali Channel. 

Erdogan walked on streets of a "no-go zone" without body armor like any other person of that region, picked up and played with poor dirty kid. This public image is reason why Erdogan is winning elections constantly in Turkey. 
<A man of the people, not "a ballroom snob"> Image. It is not really like Kim Jong-Un. 

[Juvi 1,639]

1 hour ago, AlphaMonster said:

He is conservative, not evil. 

Plus, there is no colonizing in traditional turkish culture like that of western europe. There is a reason why Ottoman Empire was called Third Rome. Conquered subjects were considered Ottoman citizens too, not some colonized slaves to exploit. 

oh honey....

....just because your cultural HAD no "colonizing tadition" or similar doesn't mean that they wouldn't start develop one now!

and second: i'm from kosovo & as far as I know about my culture, turkey took over the albanian "kingdom" & forced them into Islam (that's like 500 years ago, but still it is colonizing)

[Lord Temptation 11,209]

36 minutes ago, Juvi said:

oh honey....

....just because your cultural HAD no "colonizing tadition" or similar doesn't mean that they wouldn't start develop one now!

and second: i'm from kosovo & as far as I know about my culture, turkey took over the albanian "kingdom" & forced them into Islam (that's like 500 years ago, but still it is colonizing)

I don't think the Ottomans forced any country to become Muslim, because otherwise why did the Greeks not convert? 

[Juvi 1,639]

3 minutes ago, Lord Temptation said:

I don't think the Ottomans forced any country to become Muslim, because otherwise why did the Greeks not convert? 

they did. everyone is evil. and i think it's rather ridiculous to not be attentive when it comes to political figures like Erdogan, who is already treating his own country & folks in a way that shouldn't be in the 21st century (look up what happend at protests on World Womens day, 8th March), trying to "help" other countries like Somalia without ulterior motives.

[AlphaMonster 1,806]

1 hour ago, Juvi said:

oh honey....

....just because your cultural HAD no "colonizing tadition" or similar doesn't mean that they wouldn't start develop one now!

and second: i'm from kosovo & as far as I know about my culture, turkey took over the albanian "kingdom" & forced them into Islam (that's like 500 years ago, but still it is colonizing)

What is your proof of such forced conversion ? It is factually false(go to second paragraph to see why such false info would be promoted). Ottoman Empire is especially famous for religious tolerance and multiculturalism when there was no concept of religious tolerance. For example, during 4th crusade (1204), crusaders were allowed in golden horn by Oriental Roman Empire, then crusaders decided to sack Constantinople betraying the treaty. First thing, Catholics did was abolishing Patriarchate of Constantinople (highest honor in orthodox church). Then Romans took back Constantinople, Patriarchate of Constantinople came to his seat. When Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror promised security of Patriarchate himself, in return Patriarchate even gave the honor of Caesar of Romans(Kayser-i Rum in turkish) to Mehmet. Bonus: A painting of Ottoman Emperor with Patriarch of Constantinople.
Here is another promise to christians after the conquest of Bosnia(1478):  "I Sultan Mehmed Khan, All the people from lower and upper classes should know that, I order this to the Bosnian priests who are carrying this ferman that: No one shall disturb or interfere with those priests or their churches. All the people who are unaware of this order or all the people who run away from my country can come to our lands and to their churches. Neither me nor my viziers shall disturb those people. I sware on the name of Allah, on the name of Mohammed, on the names of seven holy books, on the names of 124.000 prophets and on sword I wore, no one shall oppose those priests who will obey my authority and who will serve my country."
Ottoman Empire was the only country around mediterranean and europe where all religions co-existed peacefully at that time. 
Also, during 15th and 16th century, Ottoman Empire took in most of jews fleeing executions perpetrated by catholic inquisition courts. In 1492, Sultan Bayezid II ordered personally to chief rabbi of Edirne to invite Jews of Iberia to Ottoman Empire; a famous quote of Bayezid II about spanish monarch executing and expelling jews: "Ye call Ferdinand a wise king he who makes his land poor and ours rich!". In 16th Century, Suleiman The Magnificent also saved vast number of jews from Portuguese inquisition, taking them into Ottoman Empire. Suleiman officially forbade judges from trying cases of blood libel which was the reason why catholics were trying to burn jews constantly. 
Ottoman Empire was very progressive for its time. I am quite interested in history,and I never read about such "forced conversions" or found any substantial proof of it.(Romantic memories are not evidence.) 

 

It is easy to understand why so many balkans nations have this false negative idea towards their turkish rulers. In nationalistic era, they had to develop a national identity which was based on gaining independence from Ottoman Empire; only way to obtain spirit of independence was to unite but against what, most of these nations was made to find answer in uniting against turks because of made up "forced conversions". It is much more clear when one knows history; for example, after gaining independence, Kingdom of Greece had appointed dynasties by european powers. First King of Greece was a bavarian prince(Otto), second King of Greece was a danish prince(George); it is obvious that the false idea of political based memory generation against Turks was an easy way to make these nations uprise against Empire that was weakening so that european powers could use them. In the same vein, first monarch of Bulgaria was also Verona-born, nephew of Russian Tsar. What a surprise Bulgaria gained independence after Russo-Turkish War (1877-78). 

Extra note about religious tolerance(intolerance in this case): 

Spoiler

Of course, those were medieval and roughly beginning of renaissance. Religious Tolerance did not come for free, there was blood tax system called "Devşirme" but it is what you meant.

Devşirme was chiefly the annual practice by which the Ottoman Empire sent military to take boys of their Christian subjects in the villages of the Balkans and Anatolia with the primary objective of selecting and training the ablest children for the military or civil service of the Empire, notably into the Janissaries. The ideal age of a recruit was between 7 and 10 years of age, although much younger boys were recruited. The devşirme system was often locally resented. On the other hand, as the devşirme were recruited to rise up to the grand vizier status (the second most powerful man in the empire), Christian parents in Bosnia were known to bribe scouts to take their children. The children were taken from their families and transported to Istanbul. Upon their arrival, they were converted to Islam, examined, and trained to serve the empire. This system produced infantry corps soldiers as well as civilian administrators and high-ranked military officials.

It is not what you meant because devşirmes were not going to back to their homelands or whatsoever. They were becoming parts of kul system. System required devşirmes to get totally disconnected from their past, it is not like they could go back to Albania and live as muslim albanians. 

 

[AlphaMonster 1,806]

21 minutes ago, Lord Temptation said:

I don't think the Ottomans forced any country to become Muslim, because otherwise why did the Greeks not convert? 

I just posted a huge entry about it filled with counter-arguments that show how forced conversion could not take place in Ottoman Empire, lack of proof about "forced conversion" claim ,and reason why idea of false "forced conversion" is promoted. 

[AlphaMonster 1,806]

47 minutes ago, Juvi said:

they did. everyone is evil. and i think it's rather ridiculous to not be attentive when it comes to political figures like Erdogan, who is already treating his own country & folks in a way that shouldn't be in the 21st century (look up what happend at protests on World Womens day, 8th March), trying to "help" other countries like Somalia without ulterior motives.

"everyone is evil." You have to be kidding. 

It might be hard to relate because of your nation's long history of foreign rule and intervention but  Erdogan is OUR tyrant, OUR elected president. It means that "It is nobody's business but Turk's." . We can decide how we should be treated in this way or that way, not you ! ONLY WE can take Erdogan off his seat, or ONLY WE can put him in presidential palace. 

Since you said "everyone is evil.", I will in the need of explaining a simple logic of life. Nothing is evil or angel but somewhere in between in this life.
Erdogan is a tyrant to me because I want gay marriage to be legalized. In the same vein, republicans say that democrats are tyrant because they pass laws that do not allow employers to fire their employées on the basis of sexuality, and it is against their religious beliefs therefore these laws violate their freedom of religion. Tyrant, just, good, bad are all dependent on point of view. 

What happened at Women's day exactly ? 

[Juvi 1,639]

5 hours ago, AlphaMonster said:

What is your proof of such forced conversion ? It is factually false(go to second paragraph to see why such false info would be promoted). Ottoman Empire is especially famous for religious tolerance and multiculturalism when there was no concept of religious tolerance. For example, during 4th crusade (1204), crusaders were allowed in golden horn by Oriental Roman Empire, then crusaders decided to sack Constantinople betraying the treaty. First thing, Catholics did was abolishing Patriarchate of Constantinople (highest honor in orthodox church). Then Romans took back Constantinople, Patriarchate of Constantinople came to his seat. When Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror promised security of Patriarchate himself, in return Patriarchate even gave the honor of Caesar of Romans(Kayser-i Rum in turkish) to Mehmet. Bonus: A painting of Ottoman Emperor with Patriarch of Constantinople.
Here is another promise to christians after the conquest of Bosnia(1478):  "I Sultan Mehmed Khan, All the people from lower and upper classes should know that, I order this to the Bosnian priests who are carrying this ferman that: No one shall disturb or interfere with those priests or their churches. All the people who are unaware of this order or all the people who run away from my country can come to our lands and to their churches. Neither me nor my viziers shall disturb those people. I sware on the name of Allah, on the name of Mohammed, on the names of seven holy books, on the names of 124.000 prophets and on sword I wore, no one shall oppose those priests who will obey my authority and who will serve my country."
Ottoman Empire was the only country around mediterranean and europe where all religions co-existed peacefully at that time. 
Also, during 15th and 16th century, Ottoman Empire took in most of jews fleeing executions perpetrated by catholic inquisition courts. In 1492, Sultan Bayezid II ordered personally to chief rabbi of Edirne to invite Jews of Iberia to Ottoman Empire; a famous quote of Bayezid II about spanish monarch executing and expelling jews: "Ye call Ferdinand a wise king he who makes his land poor and ours rich!". In 16th Century, Suleiman The Magnificent also saved vast number of jews from Portuguese inquisition, taking them into Ottoman Empire. Suleiman officially forbade judges from trying cases of blood libel which was the reason why catholics were trying to burn jews constantly. 
Ottoman Empire was very progressive for its time. I am quite interested in history,and I never read about such "forced conversions" or found any substantial proof of it.(Romantic memories are not evidence.) 

 

It is easy to understand why so many balkans nations have this false negative idea towards their turkish rulers. In nationalistic era, they had to develop a national identity which was based on gaining independence from Ottoman Empire; only way to obtain spirit of independence was to unite but against what, most of these nations was made to find answer in uniting against turks because of made up "forced conversions". It is much more clear when one knows history; for example, after gaining independence, Kingdom of Greece had appointed dynasties by european powers. First King of Greece was a bavarian prince(Otto), second King of Greece was a danish prince(George); it is obvious that the false idea of political based memory generation against Turks was an easy way to make these nations uprise against Empire that was weakening so that european powers could use them. In the same vein, first monarch of Bulgaria was also Verona-born, nephew of Russian Tsar. What a surprise Bulgaria gained independence after Russo-Turkish War (1877-78). 

Extra note about religious tolerance(intolerance in this case): 

  Reveal hidden contents

Of course, those were medieval and roughly beginning of renaissance. Religious Tolerance did not come for free, there was blood tax system called "Devşirme" but it is what you meant.

Devşirme was chiefly the annual practice by which the Ottoman Empire sent military to take boys of their Christian subjects in the villages of the Balkans and Anatolia with the primary objective of selecting and training the ablest children for the military or civil service of the Empire, notably into the Janissaries. The ideal age of a recruit was between 7 and 10 years of age, although much younger boys were recruited. The devşirme system was often locally resented. On the other hand, as the devşirme were recruited to rise up to the grand vizier status (the second most powerful man in the empire), Christian parents in Bosnia were known to bribe scouts to take their children. The children were taken from their families and transported to Istanbul. Upon their arrival, they were converted to Islam, examined, and trained to serve the empire. This system produced infantry corps soldiers as well as civilian administrators and high-ranked military officials.

It is not what you meant because devşirmes were not going to back to their homelands or whatsoever. They were becoming parts of kul system. System required devşirmes to get totally disconnected from their past, it is not like they could go back to Albania and live as muslim albanians. 

 

 

4 hours ago, AlphaMonster said:

I just posted a huge entry about it filled with counter-arguments that show how forced conversion could not take place in Ottoman Empire, lack of proof about "forced conversion" claim ,and reason why idea of false "forced conversion" is promoted. 

 

4 hours ago, AlphaMonster said:

"everyone is evil." You have to be kidding. 

It might be hard to relate because of your nation's long history of foreign rule and intervention but  Erdogan is OUR tyrant, OUR elected president. It means that "It is nobody's business but Turk's." . We can decide how we should be treated in this way or that way, not you ! ONLY WE can take Erdogan off his seat, or ONLY WE can put him in presidential palace. 

Since you said "everyone is evil.", I will in the need of explaining a simple logic of life. Nothing is evil or angel but somewhere in between in this life.
Erdogan is a tyrant to me because I want gay marriage to be legalized. In the same vein, republicans say that democrats are tyrant because they pass laws that do not allow employers to fire their employées on the basis of sexuality, and it is against their religious beliefs therefore these laws violate their freedom of religion. Tyrant, just, good, bad are all dependent on point of view. 

What happened at Women's day exactly ? 

cool that you made all this affort to write all this...

1. CALM YOUR ASS!!!

2. I'm not saying it was during ottoman empire that the religious forcing took place but it DID.

3. And even if not, Erdogans politics are up to NO GOOD & that is what i'm warried about. He's probably not a very religious person, even if he (would) claim to be, but what he likes is CONTROLING EVERYBODY. Look how he is blocking twitter & all those important medias to cover up that he is not there for the folk but only for his power & "fortune"! And he seems to realise that Africa will sooner or later live in the same conditions as we now & he wants to be "responsible" for that and that those countries are in his "debt", to have military partners and "colonies" he can control to some point. (So the point that I made before was to this conclusion, which i thought would be obvious but sorry that I'm a worily person when it comes to evil people "doing good things") 

[AlphaMonster 1,806]

28 minutes ago, Juvi said:

cool that you made all this affort to write all this...

1. CALM YOUR ASS!!!

2. I'm not saying it was during ottoman empire that the religious forcing took place but it DID.

3. And even if not, Erdogans politics are up to NO GOOD & that is what i'm warried about. He's probably not a very religious person, even if he (would) claim to be, but what he likes is CONTROLING EVERYBODY. Look how he is blocking twitter & all those important medias to cover up that he is not there for the folk but only for his power & "fortune"! And he seems to realise that Africa will sooner or later live in the same conditions as we now & he wants to be "responsible" for that and that those countries are in his "debt", to have military partners and "colonies" he can control to some point. (So the point that I made before was to this conclusion, which i thought would be obvious but sorry that I'm a worily person when it comes to evil people "doing good things") 

1- I made all this effort because I cannot take ignorance.

2- "turkey took over the albanian "kingdom" & forced them into Islam" . Turkey comes from medieval latin word Turchia meaning land of turks. Ottoman Empire is the predecessor of Republic of Turkey; Ottoman Empire was also called as Turkish Empire or Turkey. Modern Turkey only exists since 1923, "Turkey" from 1299 to 1923 is Ottoman Empire. Modern Turkey or any other Turkish Muslim state did not even rule balkans except Ottoman Empire. Moreover, Ottoman Empire is only "Turkey" for 700 years until 20th century. Your logic is problematic, knowledge is crippled. 

3- Turkey helps many countries not only Somalia. Indeed, Turkey is the 3rd biggest humanitarian aid funder of the world. Turkey accepted 2.715 million asylum seeker from Syrian Civil War. More than half of the all syrian asylum seekers in the world are accepted by Turkey ! Turkey has spent $8 Billion for syrian refugees, this is nearly half of what whole world spent which is $17 Billion. 
 It is not something only Erdogan does. Many anti-Erdogan Pop Stars did concerts for Somalia, private enterprises entered into business. Erdogan is President, not a monarch. Turkey has liberal economy, money he controls is limited! Power he controls is also limited !  Plus, Turkey do not give loan to these countries, it is "aid", not something that will be paid back.
I am repeating again, you make me defend Erdogan which is the funniest part; he is a goddamn conservative, not evil! But it does not matter in the topic of Somalia, the country needs hospitals, schools, food, roads, industrial infrastructure ! 

[Juvi 1,639]

19 minutes ago, AlphaMonster said:

1- I made all this effort because I cannot take ignorance.

2- "turkey took over the albanian "kingdom" & forced them into Islam" . Turkey comes from medieval latin word Turchia meaning land of turks. Ottoman Empire is the predecessor of Republic of Turkey; Ottoman Empire was also called as Turkish Empire or Turkey. Modern Turkey only exists since 1923, "Turkey" from 1299 to 1923 is Ottoman Empire. Modern Turkey or any other Turkish Muslim state did not even rule balkans except Ottoman Empire. Moreover, Ottoman Empire is only "Turkey" for 700 years until 20th century. Your logic is problematic, knowledge is crippled. 

3- Turkey helps many countries not only Somalia. Indeed, Turkey is the 3rd biggest humanitarian aid funder of the world. Turkey accepted 2.715 million asylum seeker from Syrian Civil War. More than half of the all syrian asylum seekers in the world are accepted by Turkey ! Turkey has spent $8 Billion for syrian refugees, this is nearly half of what whole world spent which is $17 Billion. 
 It is not something only Erdogan does. Many anti-Erdogan Pop Stars did concerts for Somalia, private enterprises entered into business. Erdogan is President, not a monarch. Turkey has liberal economy, money he controls is limited! Power he controls is also limited !  Plus, Turkey do not give loan to these countries, it is "aid", not something that will be paid back.
I am repeating again, you make me defend Erdogan which is the funniest part; he is a goddamn conservative, not evil! But it does not matter in the topic of Somalia, the country needs hospitals, schools, food, roads, industrial infrastructure ! 

okay. we won't compromise on this topic than. that's fine.

(And, not that I think that you are up to that, but please don't report me because I got a different opinion than you do. It's not that I necessarily think you would be my experience on this site is that I got reported by everyone because I was "mean" or whatever, just because I got a different opinion. Which is the same situation here, that's the only reason I write this.)

[Lord Temptation 11,209]

8 hours ago, Juvi said:

they did. everyone is evil. and i think it's rather ridiculous to not be attentive when it comes to political figures like Erdogan, who is already treating his own country & folks in a way that shouldn't be in the 21st century (look up what happend at protests on World Womens day, 8th March), trying to "help" other countries like Somalia without ulterior motives.

Yeah but the Ottoman empire included hundreds of ethnic groups like Greeks, Assyrians, Coptic and Armenians - who are all still Christian. It was only Albanians who converted.