Erdogan allows a convicted Palestinian Islamic Jihad member to operate freely in Turkey

Image: Jihad Watch

Sami Al-Arian, a former senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) who was convicted on terrorism-related charges in the United States, continues his activities in Turkey with support from the Islamist government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Despite the PIJ being designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey’s strategic allies, including the US and the EU, Erdogan’s government provides a platform for individuals linked to the group. These individuals leverage Turkey’s resources to spread antisemitic propaganda, promote jihadist ideology, and radicalize the Turkish population— with Al-Arian playing a central role.

Taking advantage of heightened tensions from the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict, Al-Arian frequently appears on state-run media outlets such as TRT World— the English-language arm of the taxpayer-funded Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT)— and the Anadolu news agency. He regularly condemns the West, particularly the US and Israel, advocates for the dissolution of the Jewish state, justifies terrorist attacks, and promotes jihadist rhetoric.

Al-Arian has also contributed as a writer for Daily Sabah, a newspaper linked to Erdogan’s family, and Insight Turkey, a journal published by the SETA Foundation, which has ties to Turkish intelligence. Additionally, he has been featured on pro-Hamas platforms such as Middle East Eye and the Qatari-funded Al Jazeera network.

Following his conditional release from prison in the US after a guilty plea, his subsequent deportation, and his acceptance by the Erdogan government in 2015, Al-Arian has benefited from Erdogan’s protection, privileged access to state resources, and strong ties to Turkish Islamist organizations.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)