Headline News

Did Erdogan Stage A Phony Coup So He Could Create An Islamic State In Turkey?

A US-based Turkish cleric accused of plotting a coup to overthrow the Ankara government has claimed President Recep Erdogan staged the rebellion himself.

Published

10 years ago

July 16, 2016

Geoffrey Grider

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A US-based Turkish cleric accused of plotting a coup to overthrow the Ankara government has claimed President Recep Erdogan staged the rebellion himself to justify a major clampdown on opposition forces.

Fethullah Gulen, who was a former key ally of Erdogan has been blamed by the politician of using his contacts to develop a ‘parallel structure’ to overthrow the state. Erdogan has called on US President Barack Obama to extradite Gulen, who is based in Pennsylvania.

In response to the attempted rebellion, Turkish authorities have detained 2,745 judges and prosecutors whose loyalty to the regime has been questioned. Also, some 2,839 soldiers – including the head of the Third Army Corps in Istanbul, General Erdal Ozturk – have been arrested.

PM Binali Yildrim described the plot, which claimed the lives of 161 civilians with 1,440 wounded, as a ‘black stain on Turkish democracy’.

Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman unexpectedly sparked controversy in Turkey when on April 25 he declared that Turkey’s new constitution should forgo mention of “secularism” and instead be a “religious constitution” referencing God. His words reignited Turkey’s always tense “secularism debate,” which has been amplified since 2002 when the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power. Kahraman’s remarks led to protests in a number of cities, a call by the main opposition leader for him to resign and allegations by secular pundits that the Speaker had shown the AKP’s “true face,” its “real intentions.” Because Kahraman is a known confidant of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, many also suspected that his statement was part of a scheme being orchestrated by Turkey’s leader.

In the next two days, however, the major figures in the AKP disowned Kahraman’s position on a “religious constitution.” The AKP’s Mustafa Sentop, chairman of parliament’s constitutional commission, said that Kahraman’s view was not a “party stance” and that “secularism is preserved in our constitutional draft.” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu asserted, “In the new constitution that we are preparing, the principle of secularism will be included.” He added that it would be a “liberal interpretation” of secularism, not an “authoritarian” version. In also addressing the controversy, Erdogan not only professed support for secularism, but even offered an inspired defense of the principle.

Defining secularism as the state’s “obligation to stay at an equal distance to different faith groups,” he explained why it is a good idea: “If the faith of all religious groups in this country is guaranteed in the constitution, and the state’s equal distance to all religious groups is a foundation, why do you need to emphasize Islam? If I can live my faith as a Muslim the way I want to, the issue is over. If a Christian can live his/her Christianity, if a Jew can live his/her Jewishness or an atheist can live his/her atheism, the issue is also over for them.”

Will Erdogan’s powerful statement ease the tensions over secularism? Probably not, because many secularists fear that they have not yet seen the AKP’s “true face.”

A common view in opposition circles is that Kahraman’s statement on doing away with secularism and introducing a religious constitution did not reflect his “personal views,” as he claimed, but was in fact part of a plan cooked up by Erdogan. Accordingly, Erdogan wanted to test the waters by having Kahraman float the idea of a religious constitution, but then defended secularism after the reaction it elicited. An “Islamic state,” however, remains Erdogan’s long-term goal in their thinking. Another, more persuasive interpretation of events would be as follows.

Erdogan’s ambitions are more about power than doctrine. For power, he needs to sustain popular support, and for popular support, he needs to use religion, but only to a certain extent. While religious symbolism has broad appeal in Turkey, a Quran-thumping Islamic state does not. Various polls bear this out. The most recent survey of the political inclinations of Turkish society was conducted in 2013 by the Pew Research Center, which found that only 12% of all Turks support “making Sharia the official law in their country.” In contrast, 84% of Pakistanis and 74% of Egyptians supported the idea.

Erdogan likely has the support of this hardcore, Islamist minority of 12%, who probably do expect him to create their utopia. At the same time, he also has the support of a much larger block of “conservative” voters who are religious and like reference to religion, but who still prefer to live under secular law. This is why Erdogan would want to retain secularism in the Turkish constitution, albeit while not shying from venerating religion in the public square or perhaps even in the constitution.

A journalist with access to the AKP recently wrote in an insider report that there is a chance that the new constitution will preserve secularism — “laiklik,” from the French “laïcité” — but the preamble might make reference to “Allah and the religion of Islam,” along with some historical figures such as Rumi and Atatürk — in other words, something for everybody. Another rumor is that the preamble will make reference to “the Creator,” a possible inspiration from the US Declaration of Independence.

The more likely future for Turkey is not a Sharia-imposing Islamic state, but a more conservative state re-designed in the image of the AKP. Keep in mind that the latter-day ideology of the party is not simply “Islamism” after all, but “Erdoganism,” in which Islamism is indeed an important theme, but not the only theme. This would not put Turkey on the path to becoming another Iran or Saudi Arabia, as Turkey’s secularists fear, but it could lead in the direction of another Russia, where a similar ideology, “Putinism,” rules.

As the journalist Fareed Zakaria astutely observed, Putinism consists of five fundamentals: religion, nationalism, social conservatism, state capitalism and government media control. “Returning to the values of religion” — in particular Orthodox Christianity — is a powerful theme in Putin’s agenda, with a global vision of “protecting persecuted Christians all over the world.” Replace “Christian” with “Muslim,” and one has Turkey’s ruling ideology. source

Related Topics:Erdogan Islamic State Turkey

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Free Bible Program

200 King James Bibles To The Tomoka Correctional Institution In Daytona Beach And A Single Ruckman Reference Bible To An Inmate In Rikers Island

Published

1 day ago

January 15, 2026

Geoffrey Grider

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Please pray for the inmates at the Tomoka Correctional Institution and the one inmate at Rikers Island who will be receiving God’s word through Bibles Behind Bars

Bibles Behind Bars, thanks to all y’all’s prayers and support, is off to a fast start with Bibles and books sent to the Delta Regional Unit in Arkansas, the Monroe Correctional Complex in Washington State, the Central Florida Reception Center in Orlando as well as Orange County Corrections also in Orlando. Today we received 2 requests, one for 200 Bibles to be sent to the Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach, and an urgent request for a single Ruckman Reference Bible to be sent to an inmate housed at America’s most notorious jail, Rikers Island in New York. The belly of the Beast!

“Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;” Psalms 79:11 (KJB)

The request for the single Ruckman Reference Bible came to us from an inmate advocacy group in New York City, on behalf of the inmate who was being given a very hard time when he asked to have a Bible. Rikers Island jail is predominately Muslim, with mostly Muslim chaplains along with one or two Catholic Chaplains, so getting a Bible is a lot harder than you think it might be. We sent that Bible out, and ask you to pray for this inmate (name withheld), as well as us being able to put many more Bibles into Rikers. What a blessing that would be! Also pray for the hundreds of souls at Tomoka who will soon be receiving King James Bibles as well. Come help us, Christian, we need you!

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

If God has prospered you, please take a moment to click on the donate button to help us in this monumental task of providing King James Bibles, New Testaments, scripture portions, gospel tracts as well as Spanish Bibles to inmates in jails and prisons from Florida to Alaska, and every state in between. We need your prayers, we need your generous financial support, and we need you to stand with us in the closing days of the Church Age. Thank you so very much, TO THE FIGHT!!!

NOTE: If you need a 501 C3 Letter of Donation for tax purposes, please send your donation to:

NTEB Ministries
1340 N Great Neck Rd.
Ste. 1272-129
Virginia Beach, VA 23454.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

European Union

WORLD WAR TRUMP: European Nations Like Germany, France And The United Kingdom Sending Troops To Defend Greenland From A United States Takeover

Published

1 day ago

January 15, 2026

Geoffrey Grider

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European troops arrived in Greenland to back Denmark as talks with the United States exposed deep rifts over the Arctic island’s future and security

This article makes the 11,591st article that I have personally written over the past 17 years, and believe me when I tell you, the headline at the top of this page is the strangest one I have ever done. I know, I talk all the time about the coming world war, and give all sorts of facts, figures and scriptures to make my case, but when it actually begins to come to pass, it is a strange feeling. Only the Lord knows how far this will go, but at least for the moment, the wheels are in motion.

“Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.” Habakkuk 1:5 (KJB)

While the MAGA Movement may be salivating at the thought of Trump taking Greenland by military force, the majority of rationally-thinking Americans do not want to acquire the island in such a manner. Indeed moves like that are precisely where world wars come from. Someone earlier today suggested that they suspect that Donald Trump may have recently had a stroke by way of attempting to explain his ever-increasing irrational behavior. At his age, that could certainly be true, but I am still sticking to my original hypothesis that the warning shot to his right ear is what is driving him closer and closer to the brink of war. Keep your eyes on Germany and France, that’s where the last two world wars came from.

European troops arrive in Greenland to support Denmark amid dispute with the United States

FROM SCRIPPS NEWS: Troops from several European countries, including France, Germany, the UK, Norway and Sweden, are arriving in Greenland in a show of support for Denmark as talks between representatives of Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. on Wednesday highlighted “fundamental disagreement” between the Trump administration and European allies on the future of the Arctic island.

Denmark announced it would increase its military presence in Greenland on Wednesday and several European partners started sending symbolic numbers of troops on that day, just as the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers were preparing to meet with White House representatives in Washington. The troop movements were intended to portray unity among Europeans and send a signal to U.S. President Donald Trump that an American takeover of Greenland is not necessary as NATO together can safeguard the security of the Arctic region amid rising Russian and Chinese interest.

Look at Emmanuel Macron with a darkened right eye, calling for a massive weapons buildup in Europe. “Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly… pic.twitter.com/c7s6VV2eOX

— Now The End Begins (@NowTheEndBegins) January 15, 2026

“The first French military elements are already en route” and “others will follow,” French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday, as French authorities said about 15 soldiers from the mountain infantry unit were already in Nuuk for a military exercise.

Germany will deploy a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel to Greenland on Thursday, its Defense Ministry said.

On Thursday, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the intention was “to establish a more permanent military presence with a larger Danish contribution,” according to Danish broadcaster DR. He said soldiers from several NATO countries will be in Greenland on a rotation system.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, flanked by his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, said Wednesday that a “fundamental disagreement” over Greenland remains with Trump after they held highly anticipated talks at the White House with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rasmussen added that it remains “clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland” but that dialogue with the U.S. would continue at a high level over the following weeks. Inhabitants of Greenland and Denmark reacted with anxiety but also some relief that negotiations with the U.S. would go on and European support was becoming visible. READ MORE

Several European countries and NATO allies send troops to Greenland

Military personnel from several NATO countries including Germany, France, Sweden and Norway headed to Greenland on Thursday as Denmark and its allies prepared ⁠for exercises to try to assure US President Donald Trump over its security as he pushes to acquire the island.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Headline News

Iran Closes Airspace In Move That Signals An Attack By Either Israel Or The United States May Be Imminent

Published

2 days ago

January 14, 2026

Geoffrey Grider

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Many European nations as well as the United States have issued an ‘urgent warning’ for their citizens to leave Iran immediately as airspace is closed tight

The world is holding its collective breath right now, waiting for a strike on the imperiled Iranian regime that nearly all outlets say could happen at any moment. The Middle East has literally closed its doors, with as many foreign nations evacuated as possible. Donald Trump has promised the US would strike if they killed their citizens, and with the death toll now over 12,000, the moment of truth has arrived. Will he or won’t he?

“And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.” Daniel 5:25 (KJB)

Everywhere around the world you look right now, nearly all of it seems to be up for grabs and in motion, and one man is there in the middle of it as perhaps the greatest change agent that exists in politics right now. Steve Bannon calls Donald Trump ‘the Disrupter’, and very few could successfully argue against that. Everywhere he goes and everything he touches becomes hyper-polarized and infused with chaos and turmoil. While the world waits to see what he will do in Iran, Europe is already planning to withstand him in Greenland. The world is indeed realigning itself right now, with the pieces being moved around to prepare for the arrival of the soon-coming 7-year kingdom, and the man who will run it.

Iran closes airspace as Western military official says signals show US attack ‘imminent’

FROM THE JERUSALEM POST: Iran has issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) late on Wednesday night, closing its airspace to all flights, as Western military officials say US military action in the country is “imminent.” Flight tracker websites showed the airspace over Iran and Iraq emptying rapidly prior to the NOTAM’s issuing. The advisory is valid for a little more than two hours, Flightradar24 said.

“All the signals are that a US attack is imminent, but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes. Unpredictability is part of the strategy,” a Western military official told Reuters later on Wednesday.

Shortly before the NOTAM was issued, US President Trump held a press conference in which he said he was told that the killings in Iran had stopped. When asked if the US was still considering military action, Trump answered, “We’re going to watch and see what the process is.”

One of the main driving forces behind the protests of the Iranian people against the regime was the PROMISE of President Donald Trump to step in and help them obtain their freedom. Trump has now broken that promise and abandoned the Iranians who trusted him. @POTUS @WhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/jriuWnU2JV

— Now The End Begins (@NowTheEndBegins) January 15, 2026

Both Poland and Italy have urged their citizens to leave Iran immediately. The British embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed. Less than 24 hours before, the US had urged its own citizens to leave. The US has also withdrawn military personnel from the US military’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. READ MORE

Trump to STRIKE Iran ‘in next 24hrs’ and could launch Tomahawk missiles

A US military strike on Iran is imminent, officials have warned as the world is waiting with bated breath amid fears the first protester has already been executed. American troops and staff have started withdrawing from key military bases across the Middle East as tensions escalate in the region.