Mehmet Ali Talat returns as CTP leader

Mehmet Ali Talat addresses the CTP congress. Photo: Kanal B

NEWS/TRNC

On Sunday, North Cyprus’ largest political party voted in a new leader and a new national executive committee. Mehmet Ali Talat returns as head of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), which he formerly led between 1996 and 2005, while Turfan Erhürman is the party’s new General Secretary.

835 members took part in the party congress on Sunday 14 June. Erhürman was unopposed and returned unanimously. The TRNC’s Prime Minister and party leader Özkan Yorgancıoğlu decided not to enter the CTP leadership race, leaving Talat to stand against Yaşar Oduncuoğlu. Talat won convincingly, polling 727 votes to Oduncuoğlu’s 93, with 15 spoiled papers.

117 people stood for the 40-person National Executive. Among those selected was Mehmetçik (Galatya) town council leader Cemil Sarıçizmeli, trade unionist Ahmet Barçın, and CTP MP Fazilet Özdenife. A host of CTP youth leaders were also elected, including Ongun Talat and Ürün Solyalı,

TRNC PM Özkan Yorgancıoğlu replaced as CTP leader by Talat

The congress was watched by Prime Minister Yorgancıoğlu, who remained at the back of the room during proceedings. After his re-selection as party leader Talat said he had asked the TRNC Prime Minister not to resign, but to work together with him to help reform the party.

In recent years, CTP has experienced several acrimonious splits among party members, with many openly criticising Yorgancıoğlu for ‘poor leadership’. In 2014, Yorgancıoğlu had presided over CTP’s decision to select Dr Sibel Siber as its Presidential candidate over former TRNC President Talat. Siber was knocked out in the first round of the 2015 Presidential elections, which was won in the run-off by another left-wing candidate, TDP’s Mustafa Akıncı.

Speaking after the elections, Talat outlined his near-term aims: “We have a lot of work to do. We need to renew CTP so that it can gain its rightful place in this (North Cyprus) society and become this society’s most important political party, we are aiming for a rejuvenated and more progressive [party], this is the path we will take.”

He added that among his primary priorities is creating a just society, which in turn should help restore confidence among Turkish Cypriots in their political system and politicians. He also wants North Cyprus to have a strong and sustainable economy, and also to prepare Turkish Cypriots for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. To achieve this ambitious programme, Talat said his party had to “erase its internal divisions”.

Mehmet Ali Talat served TRNC President from 2005-2010. Prior to that, as TRNC Prime Minister he had led the Turkish Cypriot people to vote ‘yes’ in the historic 2004 referendum on the internationally-backed Annan Plan, which aimed to unite Cyprus. Due to the Greek Cypriot ‘no’ vote, the island remains divided. New UN-supported talks are now under way between the two sides.

Book review: Rauf Denktaş - A Private Portrait by Yvonne Çerkez

CULTURE / BOOKS

By John Oakes

“Cometh the hour, cometh the man” …Rauf Denktaş through his own eyes.

In their hour of need, Great Britain had Churchill, and the TRNC had Rauf Denktaş (RD), its Founding President – a comparison which diminishes neither man.

So a new biography, which had RD’s full support and co-operation, is an important addition to the annals of Turkish Cyprus.

I had the privilege of meeting RD several times over three decades, and can confirm that this pen-portrait does full justice to his urbanity, good humour, and immense intellectual grasp.

Yvonne Çerkez. Photo: New Cyprus Magazine

He needed all these to deal with the niceties of domestic politics while grasping firmly what had to be achieved on the world stage.  Simply, there was no-one else on the island capable of combining such intellectual qualities.

But what the book also brings out are the personal tragedies that he had to deal with, both as a child and throughout his life, in what was at times clearly a very lonely and threatened existence. Even his detractors acknowledge that he had extraordinary personal strength of character and ability to survive.

Of course there are omissions, and points glossed over: but that’s family life for you, and this is how RD wanted to be remembered. How the book will be rated by historians and analysts will take years to establish. 

But what is certain is that, with such a wealth of personal detail and anecdote, love him or hate him, this is a book you need to buy if you have the slightest interest in one of those rare individuals who clearly shaped history.

For more information about the book and author visit: RaufDenktasAPrivatePortrait.com 

RELATED ARTICLES

London book launch for new biography on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktaş, 20 Jan 2015

Why Ramazan is the holiest month of the year

Mosque in Turkey welcomes Ramazan - the holiest month of the year

WELLBEING / SPIRITUAL

Described in Turkish as ‘12 ayın sultanı’ (the queen of 12 months), Ramazan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

Starting today, during this 30-day period Muslims will fast between the hours of sunrise and sunset as they consciously reconnect with God (Allah) and their faith. Any good deeds and all prayers during this time count for double.

In 2015, Ramazan runs from 18 June to 16 July. The dates are set by the lunar calendar; those in the West following the Gregorian calendar will find the dates shift forward by about 10 days each year.

T-VINE asked Abdul Abduallah, the imam of Shacklewell Lane Mosque – the UK’s first Turkish-owned mosque – to explain what happens during this holy month. 

Tell us about Ramazan and fasting…

“The prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him/pbh) received the first revelations of the holy Kuran during Ramazan. Fasting during this month is a pillar of Islam – it is obligatory for all Muslims. The solid structure of a house is built around its core pillars, and your spiritual faith is no different.”

“Being healthy and having faith is essential for fasting – if you are elderly, pre-pubescent, or sick, you are excluded. Women menstruating are also exempt and, like others who may have skipped a few days perhaps through illness, must complete their fast before the following Ramazan. However, women do not need to make-up on missed prayer-time.”

“There are multiple purposes and wisdom behind this holiest of months – not all are immediately evident. Allah promised to reward everyone who fasts. It is a time for compassion, when we reflect on the poor who go without food all year round. It is a time to spiritually bond with our brothers and sisters.”

“During Ramazan, we aim to read the entire Kuran over 29 or 30 nights, depending on the lunar calendar. The book is a collection of sayings from God. Its core is unshaken – the content has not changed in over 14 hundred years. It is truthful and trustworthy.” 

Imam Abdul from Shacklewell Lane Mosque, Dalston, explains why Ramazan is so important to Muslims

What else do Muslims do during Ramazan other than fast?

“Muslims are obliged to pray five times a day [the ‘salât – the second of the five pillars of Islam]. During Ramazan, after evening Isha [Yatsı] prayer, many do additional voluntary prayers, often at the mosque where they can also hear lectures by guest speakers.”

“Shacklewell Lane Mosque welcomes all the family and our Ramazan programme aims to help people reflect on their different roles. For example, how to be a good husband, father, and son.”

“We also offer food so the congregation can break fast together. It is a good deed to feed those who are fasting – even if you yourself do not fast you receive blessings for your actions.” 

Why do good deeds count for double? And what if you repeat your sinful ways?

“During Ramazan, our ordinary status is elevated and all good deeds and prayers are multiplied. Those who fail to take advantage of this holy month, the Prophet cursed thrice: ‘May he perish. May he perish. May he perish’. They are life’s losers because the heavens are open during this month and only ungrateful people will fail to reach out to God.”

“It is why the mosques are always full during Ramazan. Muslims are conscious about their behaviour. But forgiveness comes with conditions: you must regret your sin, you must want not to go back to your bad ways, and you must ask for forgiveness with these intentions [at the forefront of your mind]. There’s no sin that’s not forgivable if you ask for it: ‘Oh Allah, you are the one who loves to forgive, forgive me.’” 

What is the Night of Power?

“The Night of Power (Kadir Gecesi) occurs during the last ten days of Ramazan [this year it falls on 13 July]. It commemorates, among other things, the revelation of the Kuran to the Prophet Muhammed (pbh). As set out in the Kadr Suresi [a chapter in the Kuran], those who pray on this special night will have done the equivalent of 80 years of worship.”

“This is not about what the preachers tell you – no Muslim has the right to judge another. This night is a gift from God, a chance to repent and use your faith as a cleanser. You become inspired and become ready to meet your destiny.” 

Why do Muslims give fıtre?

“’Zekat’ is giving alms and it is mandatory for all Muslims who can afford it. Giving charity towards the end of Ramazan is called ‘fıtre’: it helps the poor to celebrate Bayram along with better-off Muslims. In the past, this was measured by a cupped handful of food – an adult will contribute as many handfuls as they have dependents. These days a monetary equivalent is set. In the UK it is about £4.”

Cyprus’ oldest Turkish coffee brand Özerlat set to launch new premium range at Taste of London festival

NEWS/UK

One of Cyprus’ best loved brands will be on show at London’s premier gourmet food event – Taste of London at Regent’s Park, which starts today and runs until this Sunday, 21 June. Özerlat is launching a new premium Turkish coffee range with two new blends developed especially for British coffee drinkers.

Located in the Cypriot capital Lefkoşa, the Özerlat family has been producing gourmet Turkish coffee since 1917. They have become renowned island-wide for their coffee’s distinctive flavours crafted using only the highest quality coffee beans, which are then roasted and ground to precisely the right strength and texture.

For some years, the artisan coffee maker’s products have been available in London at selected Turkish restaurants (Cyprus Garden, Kazan) and speciality ethnic supermarkets (including Yasar Hallim). However, with the UK coffee market continuing to expand, the Özerlat UK team wanted even more Britons to enjoy the pleasures of Turkish coffee.

Turks brought coffee to Europe

A fourth generation Özerlat, İley said their aim is to bring an alternative to the Italian and American coffee culture that is now firmly established in Britain. Indeed, they all have the Turks to thank for the availability of coffee in Europe. As İley notes, “Many Britons are not aware that Turkish coffee is the original method of making gourmet coffee, which dates back over 500 years.”

Turkish coffee - the world's first gourmet coffee, dating back over 500 years. Photo: Ozerlat Coffee

Coffee’s origins can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire. Many were drawn to its stimulating properties, and the popularity of the drink quickly travelled from the drinking dens of Lebanon and North Africa to the Ottoman Court in Istanbul. As more visiting dignitaries sampled the drink, demand for Turkish coffee abroad grew, prompting traders to bring the product to Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

The UK’s first coffee house was opened by an Ottoman Jew in Oxford in 1650. Many more opened soon after in London and beyond, often using the name Turk’s Head Coffee House. Cyprus’s oldest coffee brand intends to help Britons rekindle their love of Turkish coffee.

A new look for Özerlat

As part of launching their new premium coffee range, Özerlat have also taken the opportunity to rebrand themselves. Working with a British design agency, the coffee brand have a stylish new logo, an illustration of a woman sipping coffee, which adorns their packaging, along with two vibrant colours for their two new blends: turquoise blue for Mozaik and caramel for Heritage.

The new look will make its debut at Taste of London this week, where visitors will be able to watch demonstrations, as well as be inspired by Özerlat’s creative serving suggestions. The new blends can be bought together with beautiful, specially-designed handmade fincans (demitasse) coffee cups and cezve, which are also available to UK buyers online at ozerlat.com.  

 

Visiting Taste of London 2015

Running since 2004, Taste of London is a five-day celebration of the finest food and drink the capital has to offer. Last year, 55,000 people attended the festival where the capital’s hottest restaurants showcase their signature dishes, while Michelin-starred chefs such as Michel Roux Jr and Marcus Wareing host live demonstrations. Visitors can watch, taste and join in master classes, as well as sample unique ingredients and buy products in the gourmet food and drinks market.

Tickets are priced £21-£28, depending on the day and time you visit, and available from Taste of London. Visitors need to also purchase vouchers (called ‘crowns’) in blocks of £10 to use at stands, or they can pre-buy with a discount when they book their entry ticket.

“Islam isn’t the enemy… Islam is here to stay in the UK” says actor and former gangster-turned-Muslim Martin Askew

Actor Martin Askew (left) with director Andrew Hulme at Rio Cinema, Dalston. Photo: Mustafa Koker

NEWS/UK

Perceptions about Islam, the gentrification of inner London, and ‘how do you tell your gangster family that you’ve converted to Islam’ were among the questions put to film director Andrew Hulme and actor Martin Askew at a special screening of Snow in Paradise,  a film which they wrote together.

Inspired by Martin’s life and shot locally in Dalston and Shoreditch, the critically acclaimed film charts the life of a young Eastend gangster whose life hits rock bottom following the death of his best friend. It tackles guilt, fear and redemption, as well as the changes in urban London and attitudes towards Muslims and multiculturalism.  

Some 70 people attended the screening and Q&A at the Rio Cinema in Dalston on Saturday 6^th June that was chaired by T-VINE editor İpek Özerim. The diverse audience encompassed a broad age-group, from students to the elderly, as well as multiple ethnicities. Among those asking questions were representatives of faith groups, including Faith Matters patron Filip Slipaczek, filmmakers such as award-winning film sound editor Nigel Holland, local councillors Emine Ibrahim and Peray Ahmet, local residents and curious others.

Photo: Mustafa Koker

Many of the questions were directed to Martin Askew, a “Cockney Muslim” by his own admission who happily chatted about his youth, conversion to Islam and the challenges making Snow in Paradise. Martin grew up in nearby Hoxton where the community was entrenched in a culture of crime. His uncle Johnny Wall was an East End legend and a boxing champion, and his cousin Lenny “The Guvnor” Mclean was the most famous bare knuckle street fighter in the country, who was given the title of Briton's Toughest Man and later starred in the film Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Martin excelled as a young sportsman. However, his career was cut short suddenly one day as he was walking home with friends when two men tried to stab him. During the ensuing street fight one of his friends was murdered in front of him. On the way to the funeral, four of Martin’s best friends were then killed in a horrific car crash. These events changed Martin; his fear of being the next victim catapulted him into a street gang where hard drink, drugs and violence became the norm, although it couldn't ease the pain and the guilt he was hiding.

Photo: Mustafa Koker

The vicious circle continued, until what Martin describes as the ‘best night of my life’: the night six bouncers gave him the worst beating ever. He lay in the gutter smashed to pieces and fighting for his life.... That’s when he made his first prayer and during his recovery, he discovered Islam.

"I’m as English as any in the EDL & Islam is here to stay in the UK.”

Martin explained it had taken him 10 years to fully convert, that reading the Koran had touched him deeply and the Prophet Muhammed became his “superman.”

On how he broke the news to his family, Martin said, “As a budding actor, even wearing a trendy jacket got you labelled a ‘poof’”, so he initially kept his creative pursuits away from his macho community: “I had to hide being in the arts, let alone being a Muslim. It wasn’t easy being different back then.”

On how the media and other commentators bombard Western audiences with a singular, negative narrative around Islam, Martin said there are challenges on two fronts. He’s had to counter those Muslims who promote a radical view of jihad, as well as those who condemn the religion as ‘barbaric’ and unwelcome in Britain: “Islam isn’t the enemy. I’m as English as any in the EDL and Islam is here to stay in the UK.”

Photo: Mustafa Koker

His uncle and cousin, who had encouraged him to enter the arts, had passed away before the news about his conversion was properly known. After initially struggling with his identity, where Martin explained he was rejected by both Muslims and others in his immediate community, he came to realise that “being a Muslim is not about lineage, or ethnicities, and I have nothing to be ashamed of. At its core, [my faith] is about my connection with the Creator, finding my inner essence and being a good soul.”

Havva Murat-Başkal, the former deputy editor of Zaman UK, praised the film for “shining a positive light on Islam in the current climate”. This view was echoed by Haringey Councillor Emine Ibrahim who was also “pleased to see the gentrification issue tackled in the movie”, as it affects large parts of London including her own borough.

Photo: Mustafa Koker

Others asked Andrew Hulme about the funding challenges he faced in Britain and why the film, which had taken six years from inception to its UK release in February, wasn’t as well promoted in the UK as it has been on the continent, to which he replied:

“It was a film that had no UK funding and a very small budget and its major triumph was being picked as part of the Cannes Film Festival Official Selection in 2014. It got a standing ovation. So most of its interest has come from Europe, France and Germany in particular. In the UK it’s had a tough time. It’s hard to know why.”

One elderly Jewish lady highlighted the fact that the mosque used in the film (in Shackewell Lane, Dalston) was a synagogue before Turkish Cypriots bought it in the 1970s and converted it into a mosque. A young man from the local Orthodox Jewish community training to be a rabbi said his parents came from Jewish and Muslim backgrounds, but he had decided to follow Judaism. He congratulated Martin for “talking about the one God – which is the same God for Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”

Photo: Mustafa Koker

Many young Muslims thanked Andrew Hulme for making the film and one British Somalian student told T-VINE afterwards: “We heard about this screening from our filmmaker friends in Spain. We are so glad we came. It’s a really good film and Martin is such a cool guy. He was so open about his life. We hardly ever hear positive news like this in the British media.”

The event was organised by T-VINE Magazine – the UK’s first & only English consumer publication for British Turks. The event was sponsored by inter-faith charity Faith Matters, anti-Muslim bigotry monitoring group Tell Mama, international food brand Aytaç and the multi-award-winning Best Turkish Kebab in Stoke Newington.

L-R: Andrew Hulme, Recep Ercan, MD of event sponsor Aytaç Foods, Martin Aksew. Photo: Mustafa Koker

See all the photos from the screening and Q&A event here courtesy of Mustafa Koker.


RELATED ARTICLES

Snow in Paradise – inspired by a true story about a British gangster turned Sufi Muslim, 24 May 2015

Snow in Paradise – Evrim Ersoy film review, 13 Feb. 2015

 

Turkish brands meet UK counterparts at ‘quality in business’ conference in London

Fahri Ustaoğlu with Semra Eren-Nijhar, recognised for her research into Turkish migrants in Europe

NEWS/UK

Owners of small and medium-sized businesses from diverse industry sectors in Turkey were in the capital on Thursday to explore business opportunities as part of a unique networking event organised by Leaders of Branding Intelligence (LOB’IN) and the European Turkish Association (ETA). Titled 8^th International European Quality Conference, the business summit took place at the London South Bank University (LSBU).

Among the Turkish companies attending were airline Atlasglobal, leading coffeehouse Gönül Kahvesi, TGRT TV – selected Turkey’s Best News Channel of the Year in 2015, Altınçatı Elderly Care Homes, healthcare experts ILO Autism, and telecommunications and wireless solutions specialist Net İletişim. They met with entrepreneurs based in Britain whose ethnic origins and business interests spanned Africa, Europe, and South Asia.

Keynote speakers included Sunil Chopra, the past Mayor of the London Borough of Southwark, whose term in office was marked by activities aimed at bringing diverse communities together. The event kicked off with a welcoming speech from Prof. David Phoenix, the Vice-Chancellor of LSBU, who explained that the university was not only home to 20,000 students from 120 countries, but also assisted SMEs through the university’s unique range of consultancy services.

Some 80 people attended in total, including university heads of departments, a former UK government advisor and the head of Turkey’s UK Tourism Office. Along with exchanging ideas and exploring business opportunities, awards were also presented by Fahri Ustaoğlu, President of LOB’IN, to those companies and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding quality in their work.

T-VINE columnist Semra Eren-Nijhar was among those recognised. The sociologist and documentary-maker has extensively documented Turkish migrants and their contributions in Europe. In December 2014, she launched the UK’s first-ever Turkish Heritage Day, backed by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Turkish singer Ekin (2nd left) with Creative Africa team & other delegates at conference

Working with local partners, LOB’IN helps to build important business bridges for Turkish companies by organising a range of events around the world, including in Istanbul, New York, Frankfurt and Brussels. Their next event is set to take place in San Francisco. Their LSBU event was organised in conjunction with ETA.

ETA chair Mustafa Aydın told T-VINE: “While the event was smaller than usual LOB'IN events, the calibre of participants was fantastic, as was their feedback. Everyone commented on the warm and inclusive atmosphere, and the excellent opportunities that have arisen from networking. Even our entertainer Ekin [renowned Turkish folk singer] fitted the bill perfectly: his duet with Caribbean artists [Soca Boys] and experiences growing up in Denmark hit a chord with our diverse audience.”

Hackney Downs set to host 5th Alevi Festival this Sunday

Özlem Taner will perform traditional and contemporary Anatolian Blues

CULTURE / FESTIVAL

This Sunday the UK’s Alevi community will again bring its unique sights and sounds to Hackney as part of its annual cultural celebration. Masters of Anatolian Folk music will provide a rich tapestry of sounds that are inspired by Alevi spirituality and culture. There’s also folk dancing, children’s activities and a delicious selection of Turkish street food.

Headlining this year’s festival is Ezginin Günlüğü – an indie Turkish folk band whose contemporary rhythms are steeped in Anatolian’s traditional music. First formed in Istanbul in 1982, the band dissolved in 1990 before being reformed with new members, which hit the Turkish mainstream with their 1995 release Oyun (Game).

Other visiting artists from Turkey are Anatolian rocker Oğuz Boran, and producer, composer and singer Seyfi Yerlikaya, whose name has become synonymous with Türk Halk (Turkish Folk) and Özgün (protest) music.

Also on Sunday’s line-up is Gaziantep’s Özlem Taner, a singer and musician of Turkmen origin who is best known for her contemporary renditions of Türkü (Turkish Blues) music. Part of the internationally-respected Kalan roster of artists, her 2007 release Türkmen Kızı (Turkmen Girl) made international waves for its beautiful harmonic bridge between not only traditional and contemporary Anatolian Folk music, but also Turkey’s diverse ethnic and spiritual communities.

The festival is organised by the UK Alevi Federation, which represents twelve Alevi cultural centres and cemevis (religious buildings) across Britain: in London, Glasgow, Coventry, South London, Croydon, Harrow, Bournemouth, Nottingham, Doncaster, Hull, Sheffield and Edinburgh.

It is estimated that one in five people from Turkey are Alevis – the country’s second biggest faith group. This mystical branch of Islam includes beliefs and rituals that pre-date the religion. Unlike other Muslims, men and women worship together in the cemevi, and music and dance play a central role in their faith.

Festival date: Sunday 14 June 2015

Starts: midday

Address:  Hackney Downs Park, Downs Park Road, London E5 8NP

Entrance: £2 (adults)

More Info: UK Alevi Federation

www.alevinet.org