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Saudi Arabia changes Ottoman ‘Empire’ to ‘occupation’ in school textbooks

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Saudi Arabia changes Ottoman ‘Empire’ to ‘occupation’ in school textbooks

Ottoman-Empire-Public-Demonstration-1908.jpg

Ottoman Empire public demonstration in 1908 [file photo]

August 29, 2019 at 1:16 pm
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Saudi-Turkey dispute affects economy

Saudi Arabia’s official defamation of the Empire – or Caliphate, as it is widely known – signals a heightened sense of nationalism, as well as a strong anti-Turkish sentiment which has dominated the kingdom’s narrative in recent years.

Critics of the move by the Saudi ministry have likened it to the similarity of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s popular narrative of the Ottoman Empire, exploiting a rising sense of Arab nationalism while countering the perceived increasing influence of Turkey in the region by attacking and defaming its imperial history.

Over the past few years, relations between Saudi and Turkey have been increasingly strained by diplomatic differences and by each other’s involvement in the Syrian civil war, and especially by Turkey’s support of Qatar following the ongoing blockadeimposed on it by the kingdom, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt in 2017.

Relations reached breaking point with the murder of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October last year. Following months of investigations into the murder and a UN report concluding that Saudi agents killed Khashoggi under the direct command of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Turkey has repeatedly called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

Consequently, the Kingdom has been pushing a campaign to encourage its tourists to boycott Turkey through all possible means, including the purchase of products, consumption of foods, sale of properties, dealings with Turkish companies, and especially tourism to the country. The campaign has garnered support amongst Saudi royals and figures, a famous case being when Riyadh’s influential governor Faisal bin Bandar declined an offer of Turkish coffee, triggering a call for a boycott of Turkish products.

READ: In effort to discourage tourism, Saudi warns of passport thefts in Turkey

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. . .
Salaam

Given the Ottoman Empire was the last time Muslims had a powerful player on the international stage, Muslims generally will view them favourably.

Not to mention the last time Muslims had a Caliphate.

The ottomans were an Island of freedom and dignity in a sea of subservience and humiliation for the Muslims.
 
. .
Salaam

Another point.

If you read Saudi ulema fatwas they acknowledge the Ottoman Khilafat as legitimate. The arguments used to justify the Saudi rise to power are never at the cost of legitimacy of the Ottoman claim - which is recognised as being Islamically legitimate.

It is generally understood by the wise that challenging the legitimacy of Islamic rulers of the past may give ideas to people about the status of the present rulers and their legitimacy.

So it would be interesting to see how this impacts the future of religious verdicts of the Saudi clergy.
 
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Salaam



What are inclusive Muslims - and what type of Muslims do you think the Saudis are? Are Arabs not worthy?

Wa alaikum Assalam.

Caretakers of the Holy places should be religiously impartial towards all Muslims: Sunni, Shia, Sufi, and Salafi.

KSA weaponizes Hajj/Umrah for political goals and excludes political rivals like Iran and Qatar at times.

It is not about being an Arab, but being a proper Muslim and following the path of Rasullulah saws.

Anyways, there are plenty of hadith to show the displeasure of the Prophet Muhammad saws with Najd and the affairs of Madinah (negatively affecting Jerusalem) at this time.
 
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