As reported by independent research institute MEMRI on 26 August 2020: "On August 26, 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an gave a
speech at Manzikert National Park in Turkey at an event celebrating the 949th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert. He said that for Turkey, conquest is not occupation or looting. Rather, he said that it removes oppression and brings Allah's justice to the conquered region. He said that Turkey will claim its right in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black seas, that it will do whatever is necessary politically or militarily, that it will never cede any of its territory -".
Michael Bosch, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "These extracts are typical of the rhetorical style President Erdogan uses to keep his support base in Turkey happy. The soundbites should be viewed by international observers in the wider context: Yes, Turkey is interested in gaining access to the gas and oil fields in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea; and yes, Ergodan wants to increase Turkey"s influence in the region, but it is not as if he is about to lead a jihad-based war against other countries in the region. It is true that Turkey supports radical Islamic groups fighting in both Syria and Libya and has soldiers deployed in those countries, but the nationalist-Islamist rhetoric should be seen as President Erdogan"s way of using religious language to underpin his foreign policy and to justify putting the lives of Turkish soldiers at risk for his geopolitical ventures."
Michael Bosch continues: "Admittedly, Erdogan"s rhetoric does appear threatening to Christians in Turkey and the surrounding region, but evidence suggests that the younger generation is refusing to buy into such nationalist and Islamist populism: A report by Middle East Eye published on 21 May 2020 reveals that more than 60% of
Turkish youth want to move abroad. Could it be that the days of President Erdogan are numbered and his speeches to his national audience become louder and more threatening as he sees his support base shrinking?"
Michael Bosch adds: "Interestingly, the rhetoric used by many Gulf countries is exactly the opposite to the path chosen by Erdogan. Instead of nationalist and Islamist language, countries such as the United Arab Emirates like to speak to the international world in terms of tolerance and interreligious dialogue (see
WWR, 29 September 2020). This sounds far less threatening to international listeners, but does not make proselytizing in their Islamic countries any less illegal, nor protect Muslim citizens wishing to convert to the Christian faith."
