ISTANBUL // Having shot to worldwide prominence after its ships bound for the Gaza Strip were attacked by Israeli soldiers in a raid that killed nine people, an Islamic aid organisation in Turkey has been defending itself against accusations that it supports militant Islamist groups such as Hamas or even al Qa'eda.
"If Muslims had tortured Jews, I would have put this flotilla together to help the Jews," Bulent Yildirim, the chairman of the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Aid (IHH) said in speeches after his return to Turkey following the Israeli raid on Monday and a subsequent detention in Israel. "We are against oppression."
Israel says the IHH, which was founded in the 1990s to help victims of the war in Bosnia, is close to Hamas and has banned the organisation. Some western experts also cite accusations that the group has been involved in gunrunning or other forms of support for Islamist militants, a charge the organisation denies.
But critics say Israel only began linking the IHH to militant groups after the scale of political fallout following its botched raid on the flotilla became clear.
The US government is concerned about the IHH's connection to Hamas but says there is no evidence that would justify branding the organisation a terrorist group.
In their headquarters in Fatih, a religious district of Istanbul, IHH officials do not deny that their group is dealing with Hamas. The IHH has a permanent office in the Gaza Strip, where representatives of the group have had meetings with officials of Hamas, a sworn enemy of Israel and the ruler of the Gaza Strip. Mr Yildirim has also met Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas prime minister.
In his public statements, Mr Yildirim has called Israel a "Zionist regime" and he has made no secret of his sympathies for Necmettin Erbakan, the father figure of political Islam in Turkey and the country's first Islamist prime minister, ousted by the military in 1997. Mr Yildirim calls Mr Erbakan "hoca", a respectful term meaning teacher.
But IHH officials say that does not make their organisation a radical Islamist outfit.
"We are active in 120 countries, most of them Christian or Jewish," Yavuz Dede, the organisation's deputy chairman, said in an interview at the IHH headquarters.
"We do not discriminate on religious or other grounds. For example, we collected US$1 million (Dh3.7m) for victims of the Haiti earthquake, and we delivered our aid in a church there."
Other IHH officials said the organisation is opposed to violence and relies on donations from the Turkish public. Up to 80 per cent of donations come from poor families, they said. Tens of thousands of people in Africa - Christians, Muslims and Animists among them - have been saved from blindness by an IHH aid programme, according to the organisation. Mr Dede also stressed that Turkish authorities checked the load of the aid ships bound for Gaza to make sure there were no weapons on board.
Not everyone is convinced. Evan Kohlmann, a US counterterrorism expert, says the IHH has been engaged "in illicit financing and episodic support to extremist groups". Writing on counterterrorismblog.org this week, Mr Kohlmann stressed that "the evidence in this regard is fairly weighty, and much of it comes directly from the Turkish government - not the United States, nor the Israelis".
He was referring to a reported police raid on the IHH headquarters in December 1997. Mr Dede confirmed that the raid took place but said the police did not find any weapons or explosives. The IHH was later cleared of all accusations of Islamist extremism, he added.
Jean-Louis Bruguiere, France's former top anti-terrorism judge, who investigated the IHH in the late 1990s, told the Associated Press the group had "long-standing ties to terrorism" and said members of a militant group that plotted to bomb Los Angeles airport in 2001 worked for the IHH.
But Turkish authorities have made no effort to close down the IHH since the 1997 raid, despite regular crackdowns on several radical Islamist groups and suspected al Qa'eda supporters in the country.
Police have made numerous raids on suspected Islamist organisations and cells, especially since a series of bomb attacks on Jewish and British facilities in Istanbul by Turkish al Qa'eda supporters in 2003, which killed more than 60 people.
Similarly, the US has not banned the IHH, even though the US is aware of the group's contacts with Hamas. "We know that IHH representatives have met with senior Hamas officials in Turkey, Syria, and Gaza over the past three years," Philip Crowley, a US state department spokesman, told reporters in Washington this week.
"That is obviously of great concern to us," he said, but added that the IHH "has not been designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States". Asked whether the US does not believe that the IHH has connections to al Qa'eda, Mr Crowley said: "We cannot validate that."
Some observers say that links between the IHH and the religiously conservative government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, may have contributed to recent tensions with Israel. Can Atakli, a columnist for the Vatan daily, asserted the IHH's mission had been unofficially supported by the Erdogan government.
The IHH bought the passenger ship Mavi Marmara, which was later attacked by the Israelis, from Istanbul's AKP-led municipality in March for a reduced price of 1.8 million lira (Dh4.2m) excluding VAT, Mr Atakli wrote.
The behaviour of the IHH officials on board the Mavi Marmara and the position taken by the government raised questions that had to be answered, Mr Atakli continued. "The fact that the participants said, 'We will die if necessary' and that the prime minister called those killed martyrs raised eyebrows."
The plight of the Palestinians is a very emotional issue in Turkey, especially in more religious sectors of society.
The Radikal newspaper said that Mr Erdogan's ruling Development Party, or AKP, was engaged in an "ideological competition" with the Felicity Party, or SP, a small Islamist party supported by Mr Erbakan. IHH officials rejected the assertion that their organisation was close to the government, saying the group kept equal distance from all political parties.
tseibert@thenational.ae
Company%20Profile
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
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Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
FIVE%20TRENDS%20THAT%20WILL%20SHAPE%20UAE%20BANKING
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20digitisation%20of%20financial%20services%20will%20continue%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Managing%20and%20using%20data%20effectively%20will%20become%20a%20competitive%20advantage%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Digitisation%20will%20require%20continued%20adjustment%20of%20operating%20models%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Banks%20will%20expand%20their%20role%20in%20the%20customer%20life%20through%20ecosystems%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20structure%20of%20the%20sector%20will%20change%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
THREE
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Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
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The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
