Weekend: Desecrated mosque, true face of the Turkish opposition, and court that defied Trump

Demonstrators in Turkey have desecrated a historic mosque, yet the opposition, which organized the protests, has remained largely silent. Meanwhile, their leader expresses disappointment that Britain has not interfered in the country’s internal affairs.  

Speculation is growing about a possible rift between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. If true, this could lead to another intriguing shift in Russia’s political landscape.  

In the United States, a court ruling has set limits on Trump’s authority. His attempt to shut down media outlets such as Radio Liberty and Voice of America has been blocked.  

True face of the Turkish opposition

The ongoing protests in Turkey following the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu show no signs of abating. During demonstrations in Istanbul, protesters vandalized a historic landmark, the Şehzadabaşı Mosque, which was built by Sultan Suleiman in 1548. Slogans were spray-painted on its walls, historical tombs were destroyed, and a group of individuals was seen drinking alcohol in the mosque’s courtyard. These acts of desecration have been widely condemned by Turkish officials, who denounced them as immoral. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized the demonstrators and the opposition, stating that they lack any true understanding of democracy. The incident has sparked discussions not only within Turkey but also internationally. Among those who reacted was Alisher Kadyrov, a member of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan and head of the Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party faction. He described the incident—where intoxicated youths allegedly defaced the walls of the mosque and desecrated historical tombs—as a deliberate act of sabotage orchestrated by Western influences. According to Kadyrov, the roots of such incidents in Turkey can be traced back to the European-style schools established in the country decades ago:  

"When the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1924, European schools were granted broad freedoms in the hope that they would help us learn from European nations. These schools did provide education, but they also cultivated a significant segment of society that despises its own national identity. The young people who hate their own country and values are the grandchildren of those who graduated from these institutions," he asserted.  

The protests in Turkey have now continued for ten days, with the number of arrests and injuries among police officers increasing. So far, nearly 2,000 people have been detained, while more than 150 police officers have sustained varying degrees of injury. Despite these escalating tensions, the opposition leaders who organized the demonstrations have offered no substantial response to the mosque vandalism or the attacks on police officers. In the initial days of the protests, they at least urged demonstrators to refrain from attacking law enforcement. However, they have since remained silent about the desecration of the mosque and other violent acts. On the contrary, Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), has doubled down on its political stance. On March 27, the CHP officially endorsed the imprisoned Ekrem İmamoğlu as its candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. Party leader Özgür Özel announced that efforts would soon begin to collect signatures for early presidential elections, aiming to surpass the 27.7 million votes received by the incumbent, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He also declared that protests in Maltepe would continue into the weekend and that rallies would be held in major cities such as Ankara, İzmir, Antalya, and Mersin under the slogan "Leave My Candidate."  

It is worth briefly examining the political views of CHP leader Özgür Özel, who has been a key figure behind the ongoing protests. In a revealing statement, Özel expressed frustration with Britain’s lack of response to the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu. Speaking to the BBC, he directly addressed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying, "We feel abandoned." He further noted that while all of Europe had reacted to İmamoğlu’s arrest, Britain had remained silent, which surprised him. These remarks expose a deeper aspect of the opposition’s mindset in Turkey today. It is nothing short of disgraceful that the leader of the country’s main opposition party is openly disappointed that Britain did not interfere in Turkey’s internal affairs. Over the past two decades, Turkey, under Erdoğan and his ruling party, has emerged as an independent and influential player on the global stage. It has pursued ambitious projects in the Middle East and has not fallen under the shadow of any major power. Unlike in previous eras, Turkey today operates without significant external pressure from global superpowers. Yet, Özel’s appeal for Britain’s involvement raises serious concerns about the opposition’s foreign policy direction. While seeking diplomatic support is not inherently wrong in politics, Turkey’s unique geopolitical position makes such an approach questionable. If this is the political perspective of Özel and the CHP, one can only imagine the country’s foreign policy trajectory should they come to power in the future.

Kadyrov fleeing Putin

In February 2007, Vladimir Putin dismissed Chechen President Alu Alkhanov and replaced him with Ramzan Kadyrov, the son of former President Akhmad Kadyrov. Since then, Putin and Kadyrov have been inseparable. Even a glance at Kadyrov's Telegram channel shows Putin as the main photo. Whether these ties stem from friendship or a leader-servant relationship remains unclear. In any case, Kadyrov has been a loyal figure in Putin's service until now. This was evident during the invasion of Ukraine. While mobilization in many Russian regions was slow, Chechen battalions were among the first to take their positions on the front lines. However, recent reports suggest that the once-close relationship between Putin and Kadyrov has deteriorated, with tensions arising between them. Over the past month, Russian media have increasingly speculated about the possibility of Kadyrov becoming a fugitive. The publication "Important Stories" provided further insights, citing sources familiar with the situation. According to these reports, relations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov have worsened. A former employee of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) specializing in the North Caucasus confirmed this to the publication. The primary source of disagreement is said to be Kadyrov’s frequent and inconsistent negotiations with representatives of Middle Eastern Muslim monarchies. The publication also highlighted Kadyrov’s serious and long-term health issues, particularly concerning his kidneys and pancreas. Reports of his illness have circulated for the past year, with noticeable swelling on his face being cited as evidence of his deteriorating condition. Despite his attempts to conceal his worsening health through media activity, he has largely remained out of the public eye in recent months. In January and February, Kadyrov was absent from public appearances for an extended period, later attributing his disappearance to a vacation. Since then, he has refrained from making high-profile statements, instead sharing only videos of "inspections" within Chechnya. However, in March, Kadyrov appeared to become more active again, as seen on his social media channel "Kadyrov95." Notably, he visited the UAE and met with the country's president, Zayed Al Nahyan. His engagement with the UAE and concerns over his family’s security after his death are believed to be key factors contributing to the tensions between him and Putin. Reports indicate that uncertainty over the future of his many relatives has led Kadyrov to seek guarantees for them from Middle Eastern Muslim countries, with whose leaders he has longstanding ties. Kadyrov reportedly tried to keep these negotiations hidden from the Kremlin, but the FSB quickly uncovered the situation and informed Putin. "Important Stories" commented on these developments, stating that "the head of Chechnya knows very well how the government operates in his region and what awaits his family members if he leaves." The publication also pointed to the recent removal of Kadyrov's eldest child, 26-year-old Aishat Kadyrova, from government positions as further evidence of this fallout. Aishat, who has been the closest to her father, served as Chechnya's First Deputy Minister of Culture since 2020, later becoming the Minister of Culture and, in 2023, Deputy Prime Minister. As Kadyrov's ties with the Kremlin soured, Aishat resigned from her post and took ownership of Chechnya's largest mineral water export company. In late March, both Aishat Kadyrova and her younger sister, Tabarik Kadyrova, had their names removed from the register of legal entities.  

These rumors and speculations did not arise without reason. Kadyrov has indeed been increasingly involved in the Middle East, with the UAE being his primary focus. On March 19, he visited the UAE and met with President Zayed Al Nahyan. He described the visit as an iftar gathering and referred to Nahyan as his "big brother." Given Kadyrov's long-standing relationship with Putin, it is not surprising that he is now fostering a similar bond with Nahyan. He elaborated on their meeting on his Telegram channel, expressing deep admiration for the UAE leader.  

"For me, every meeting with him is not just a diplomatic event, but a joy to communicate with a great leader and a true Muslim, whose wisdom and fortitude inspire sincere respect. I am immensely proud of our brotherhood, friendship, and relations based on trust and mutual understanding. We have common values and goals, which makes our cooperation especially strong and fruitful. I always feel support and respect from the Sheikh," Kadyrov wrote.  

Kadyrov, who has long felt supported by Nahyan, also displayed special respect for him during the UAE leader’s visit to Russia in October 2024. These gestures and relationships might simply reflect warm diplomatic ties between Kadyrov and Middle Eastern monarchs. However, as the saying goes, "Without wind, the tree does not sway." Moreover, as noted earlier, discussions about tensions between Kadyrov and Putin have been circulating in Russian media for over a month. Despite this, neither Kadyrov nor Putin has provided any meaningful clarification.

Radio Liberty and Voice of America will not be closed

Donald Trump has repeatedly complained that many of his decisions are being blocked by the courts. However, his protests do not change the outcome. The U.S. system, which has been evolving for 250 years, was designed to ensure that no single individual in the Oval Office—especially one serving only four years—could unilaterally impose their will. The well-established principles of separation of powers in the United States are now proving their effectiveness against Trump. One of the first clear examples of this is the blocking of his attempt to shut down Radio Liberty and Voice of America. On March 25, District Court Judge Royce Charles Lambert temporarily halted Trump's efforts to close Radio Liberty. The judge’s injunction allows the federally funded radio station to continue operating. Judge Lambert stated that Congress had tasked the news agency with promoting freedom of thought and expression, and that it could not be dismantled “with a single sentence, with little or no explanation.” He was referring to a March 15 letter from the Trump administration to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which claimed that the station was no longer needed due to shifting government priorities. The letter offered no further justification, merely citing Trump’s directive to shut down certain federal agencies.  

However, this was not the last challenge to Trump’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Last week, journalists from Voice of America, along with several labor unions and the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the closure of Voice of America was unlawful and unconstitutional. The case was heard on March 28 by U.S. District Court Judge James Paul Etken in Manhattan. Ultimately, the judge issued a 21-day suspension on the Trump administration’s attempts to shut down the news organization. According to the lawsuit, the White House violated journalists’ First Amendment rights by taking actions such as placing Voice of America employees on administrative leave. Thus far, Trump and Elon Musk’s broader campaign against media outlets like Radio Liberty and Voice of America has been unsuccessful. In this case, it is reassuring to see that Trump's overreaching ambitions have been kept in check.