Arabs were overjoyed about the failure of last month’s coup attempt against Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to an Arabic-language commentator.
Writing in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, Saudi columnist Tawfiq Al Saif said there were two main reasons for this.
In part it was because Arabs are generally against coups. The other reason was because they support democracy in Turkey “regardless of their position vis-à-vis the ruling party or its leaders”.
He said it was important to examine the language used in expressing this attitude.
“There is an omnipresent – albeit implicit – acknowledgement of the virtues of democracy, a glorification of civil liberties and a vilification of conquering as a means to take over power,” he wrote.
“It has not yet reached the level of complete adoption of the democratic discourse and of total rejection of violence and beliefs that support the monopolisation of power, but it sure is an indication that the religious movement Al-Manhaj Al-haraki (dynamic Islam) is gradually letting go of its archaic historic legacy.
“Arabs have yet a long way to go towards a complete transition in their political culture, but for observers like myself, these small successive transitions are proof of what we believe is the light at the end of the tunnel,” he concluded.
Another columnist noted that Arab religious groups were quick to align with Mr Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party once the government announced that it had regained control and the coup had failed
"The alignment of Arab Islamists with Mr Erdogan and his party poses a number of issues related to the assessment of political and religious awareness," said Idriss Al Kanboury in the London-based pan-Arab newspaper Al-Arab.
He said that such an alignment was not new but it was different this time as Islamists had shaken off the reservations they had expressed about the Hizmet (Gulen) movement following its conflict with the ruling party in 2013 after scandals of corruption “touched the entourage of Mr Erdogan”.
Back then, Islamists did not pay heed to these scandals and they played along with the ruling party although they made sure to mention that they were against corruption and with the reform and its standard-bearers, Al Kanboury noted.
“The truth is that Arab Islamists had no other choice but to stand by the ruling party, even though its opponent is also Islamic albeit not being particularly political,” he added.
“The party in power can offer what a movement out of power cannot – even if the latter is right.
“For Islamists, being right and having power is one of those equations that have got religion and politics in theoretical and moral trouble since the very beginning.
“What happened when the corruption scandals broke out happened again following the failed coup, but the problem is that Islamists did not just condemn the coup this time like many parties both inside and outside Turkey did.
“Rather, they went on to commend Mr Erdogan’s policies – namely arresting hundreds of thousands merely because they were members of the Gulen movement and closing down dozens of Hizmet institutions and media platforms, not to mention the state of fear that spread throughout Turkey,” the writer said.
He said that the religious groups had only heard the case of one party in the conflict and took its side without verifying the news.
translation@thenational.ae
Company%20profile
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Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport