Dana Jaf

"The democratic system requires an advanced degree of sophistication among the masses practicing it. The people must know the limits of freedom if anarchy is to be avoided. Only a vague boundary separates the exercise of freedom and the exercise of anarchy", Dr M - 1992

" When one tries to adjust to a democratic system according to one’s social characteristics, it is advisable to do so slowly. Slow change is always superior to sudden change. Slow change too generates some disturbances, but time is available to make adjustments." Dr M - 2004

The following thread contains some very interesting ideas about democracy and governance by Dr Mahathir Mohammed. These ideas were uttered long before the crisis of democracy of our day. Regardless of what you think of him, he is certainly more worthy of our time than Trump.

It might sound odd but islamophobia is more rampant in certain Muslim majority countries than in the West. In Turkey, the systematic band on headscarf were completely only last year. Still no less than 30% of the population still feels nostalgic about the pre-2000 Turkey.

I was expecting a stupid explanation from German far right 4 Germany World Cup exit along the lines of ‘Merkel’s immigration policy brought this on us’. But that stupid explanation came from left. Cem Ozdemir blames Germany’s losses on Ozil & Gondogan’s pose with Erdogan!

Ali's Wedding on Netflix is a must watch. You get the laughs and all but more importantly it is one of the few movies that gets the cultural context right. The future of this genre is bright and if done right can attract huge audiences.

من كان له قلب فالمجلس مثواه من كان له عقل إياه و إيانا

Great news from Turkey as Mehmet Altan is finally free. Mehmet Altan and Ahmet Altan brothers are among Turkey's bravest pro-decmoracy voices. They fought the military coups and the Kemalist establishment. They were never a part of a coup and their trial was not fair.

AKP’s peace process was about to cost them power & its Kurdish partner was no longer ‘Kurdish’ but the forefront of the Turkish front to unseat Erdogan. Well, they went for the easier option: embrace nationalism, start military ops & ally with MHP! Thanks HDP for all of that.

AKP had come out weak in June elections and had lost many votes to HDP & MHP due to its 2 years of appeasement to Ocalan & PKK yet HDP refused to even receive Davutoglu! That was the moment AKP decided not to ever put its eggs in the ‘Kurdish issue’ basket anymore

Excellent point which is missed by almost all ‘Turkey analysts’! HDP’s distancing itself from being ‘representative of Kurdish issue’, embracing Turkish left as its main audience & ‘seni başkan yaptırmayacağız’ crap led led them to mistakes which all Kurds & Turkey r paying 4 nowhttps://twitter.com/tylrdrdn13/status/1011017638703783941 …

On 27 March 2018, Erdogan became the Turkish statesman who has stayed longest in office. He broke Ataturk’s record which was 5492 days in office. Erdogan has been in office b/w prime minister & president for 5,582 days as of today.