Journalists discuss the Middle East: 'It's a class war, not a religious war!'

At the invitation of the Patronların Ensesindeyiz Communication Workers Solidarity Network, journalists gathered for an event titled 'It's a class war, not a religious war: The Middle East,' featuring speakers Musa Özuğurlu and Mustafa Kemal Erdemol. The event, held at the Nâzım Hikmet Cultural Center on January 10, Working Journalists Day, addressed the behind-the-scenes of recent developments in the Middle East.

The event began with an opening speech by Merve Güzey on behalf of the Patronların Ensesindeyiz Communication Workers. Güzey spoke about the history of the People's Representatives Assembly of Turkey and the Patronların Ensesindeyiz Communication Workers, describing the people's assemblies that aim to revive Turkey's intellectual heritage, and stated that what brings communication workers together is a love for the country and the struggle for secularism.

Discussing the organizational and solidarity goals of the Patronların Ensesindeyiz Communication Workers solidarity network, Güzey said, "Our goal is to grow the organized struggle of communication workers and strengthen solidarity; therefore, we set out by saying we do not bow down to the order of slavery." Emphasizing that they never abandon the responsibility of telling the truth, Güzey stated that the duty of the press is to be the sleepless eye of the people. Expressing that journalism cannot be separated from the struggle for equality and secularism, Güzey then shared the latest current developments in the Middle East with the audience.

Journalist and author Musa Özuğurlu began his speech by summarizing how imperialists have changed the fate of the Middle East since the Industrial Revolution.

Stating, "The war in the Middle East is not a religious war, it is a class war," Musa Özuğurlu explained his words as follows:

"This does not mean that there is an advanced class consciousness in the Middle East; of course, there were very serious leftist movements in the Middle East, but this means that imperialism's war of partition in the region is being conducted through class."

Discussing religious conflicts, Özuğurlu pointed out that the region is the most volatile in the world due to religious wars that have continued in a bloody manner to this day, noting that there is no other geography as bloody as this, where people do not wake up to a day without fighting.

"The desire of global powers to dominate the Middle East is the fundamental reason for this war," said Özuğurlu, stating that while there is always hope, it has become quite difficult to save the region from its current situation.

'HOPE WILL ALWAYS EXIST, HISTORY IMPOSES THIS UPON US'

Emphasizing that what is happening in Syria has taken the country back centuries, Özuğurlu spoke about the need for journalists to know how to read this situation and explained that Turkey has pursued a very wrong foreign policy by cooperating with the new administration. He mentioned that as a result of the relationship the government in Turkey developed in Syria, it created the Kurdish issue itself. Pointing out that it is not in anyone's interest in the region for a country with a secular and developed past like Syria to be torn apart, Özuğurlu mentioned that there were once sprouts of socialism in the region, and while noting that the bastions in the region are being destroyed one by one, he also said that hope will always exist.

Pointing out that history always imposes a reckoning, Özuğurlu concluded his speech by emphasizing that the time for this reckoning will also come.

'UNTIL RECENTLY, BASHAR AL-ASSAD WAS THE APPLE OF IMPERIALISM'S EYE'

Stating that the media has been lying significantly about the Middle East, journalist and author Mustafa Kemal Erdemol began his speech by summarizing the recent history of Syria, a democratic and secular country that established close relations with the USSR and was influenced by Nasserism. Explaining that until recently, Bashar al-Assad was also a figure who was the apple of the West's eye, Erdemol stated that imperialists liked him because he abandoned the statist practices implemented by his father, initiated import-oriented policies, and removed state subsidies that eased the economy. "Before that, Syria, which had developed close relations with the USSR, was in a position that could be easily discarded," said Erdemol, adding, "All of these are the result of inverted class struggles; it was a country that had entered the US radar and rejected Western powers."

Summarizing the civil war and the struggle in Syria, Erdemol pointed out that the balance in Syria changed with Russia's support in 2015, and explained that after the diplomatic developments in 2018 and the February 6 earthquakes, Turkey also changed its policy, starting to focus more on the Kurds in northern Syria rather than Assad. Explaining that the developing atmosphere is progressing in favor of Syria, Erdemol continued his speech by summarizing the latest developments in other countries in the region.

Furthermore, emphasizing that the infatuation with Putin should also end due to the developments, Erdemol spoke about the need to draw serious lessons.

Stating that all of Israel's Zionist initiatives constitute its foreign policy and that this policy consists entirely of economic interests, Erdemol explained that all of Israel's plans are being implemented one by one. Again, stating that Qatar and Turkey are looking entirely at their own economic interests, Erdemol stated that the issue is not about ethnicity but is a class struggle.

'A GREAT LOSS IN TERMS OF THE STRUGGLE FOR SECULARISM'

Stating that there were regions in Syria that were surrendered without any fighting, for example, Iran surrendering the border gate without any conflict, Erdemol pointed out that this is a very significant loss in terms of the struggle for secularism, and explained that this situation is not important at all in the eyes of Western powers.

The event continued with questions, answers, and contributions.