Taha Kılınç All daily Yeni Şafak Columns

11.03.2025, Tuesday
09:59

Taha Kılınç

186 columns listing

On the Pulpit of the Umayyad Mosque...

23 February 2025, Sunday

Last Friday (February 14, 2025), the Umayyad Mosque, one of Damascus’ most iconic landmarks, witnessed yet another historic moment. One of Syria’s most esteemed scholars, Sheikh Muhammad Mujir al-Khatib al-Hasani, delivered a sermon in his homeland for the first time in years, addressing the people from the pulpit. The reason I describe Sheikh Mujir’s Friday sermon as “historic” is deeply tied to the legacy of the Khatib family, whose name has become almost synonymous with the pulpit of the Umayyad

What's the reason behind Saudi Arabia's warm welcome of Syria's Ahmed Shara?

14 February 2025, Friday

As expected, Syrian President Ahmed Shara made his first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia. In Riyadh, he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after which he and his delegation traveled to Mecca to perform the Umrah pilgrimage. In line with its tradition of extending special courtesies to distinguished foreign guests, the Saudi leadership made a notable gesture to Shara: the doors of the Kaaba were opened, allowing him and his delegation to pray inside. Observers of recent Middle Eastern history

First Flight to Damascus...

25 January 2025, Saturday

There have been very few journeys in my life that have filled me with such excitement. I am certain that on Thursday morning, as the Turkish Airlines plane named "Akdeniz" took off from Istanbul, glided over Cyprus and Lebanon, and finally landed in Damascus—13 years later—there were many who shared this same feeling. The heartfelt joy of the Syrian passengers on board, the songs they sang together, the tears they shed, and the prayers of gratitude they offered as soon as they stepped onto the tarmac

The wait is over: Returning to Damascus

04 January 2025, Saturday

Whenever people repeatedly asked me, “So, when are you going?” I would always reply, “I didn’t anticipate the regime falling this quickly; I’ve unfortunately packed my schedule too tight.” Indeed, while everyone was making their way to Damascus, I was busy fulfilling commitments both within and outside Türkiye. Finally, after sending the January 2025 issue of Derin Tarih, dedicated to Sham-i Sharif, to the press, I set off for Syria. Syria was the first foreign country I visited in my early twenties,

Understanding the Flow of History

28 November 2024, Thursday

Highlighting the severe and seemingly irreparable damage to Israel’s global image might seem unconvincing, especially given the official support the Zionist occupation enjoys from major powers. I noticed that my column last Saturday raised some questions in this regard. When viewed from the perspective of certain readers, their points may appear valid. However, to adopt a more realistic perspective, I’d like to revisit a few points and emphasize certain aspects: - When discussing Israel and the

The Collapse of Hasbara

22 November 2024, Friday

When the Third Zionist Congress convened in Basel, Switzerland, from August 15-19, 1899, one of the main topics of discussion was how to present Zionism to the global public. Theodor Herzl, the leader of political Zionism and the founder of the Zionist Congress, introduced the term “propaganda” for this purpose. At the time, the term carried no negative connotation, and Herzl urged the attendees: “Engage in propaganda for the masses; tell them who you are!” Shortly afterward, Herzl’s close associate

Fault Lines: Boundaries and British Influence in the Middle East

03 November 2024, Sunday

“We had an incredibly interesting day with Ibn Saud. He is one of the most striking figures I've ever met. Standing over two meters tall, he has a majestic appearance, carries himself with great dignity and calm, and has proven his courage as a leader of irregular troops, embodying both military prowess and statesmanship.” These were the words of renowned British agent, traveler, and explorer Gertrude Bell, who had the chance to meet and converse with the future King of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Ibn

After the flood...

12 October 2024, Saturday

A year has passed since the Aqsa Flood, and since then, Israel's aggression has extended beyond Gaza to Lebanon. Watching a genocide unfold from afar, helpless, first brings sorrow and anger, followed by hopelessness and inaction. However, the Aksâ Flood has already yielded concrete results and is being recognized as a turning point in many respects. It offers not despair but hope and action. Let's explore through questions and answers: What did Gaza and its people teach us? Gaza taught us resistance

Beyond Words: Can We Afford to Just Talk About Palestine?

09 October 2024, Wednesday

Since the beginning of the Aksâ Flood, I have delivered at least 346 speeches across various provinces in Turkey, under different institutions and online platforms. These discussions have covered a range of topics, including the significance of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims, the history of Palestine, the processes of Zionist occupation, the phases of resistance against occupation, the situation of the Muslim world, and pivotal moments in Middle Eastern history. Naturally, as these

The throne is vacant in Lebanon

06 October 2024, Sunday

On September 1, 1982, a secret meeting took place in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya. Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin had invited Lebanon's newly elected 34-year-old president, Bashir Gemayel, to discuss support for Israel's invasion of Lebanon, which had begun on June 6. At that time, Gemayel was leading a strong military front (Kuwatu'l-Lubnaniyye) during the ongoing Civil War and opposed the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Syria's presence in Lebanon, identifying as a