Burak Bekdil

Burak Bekdil is a Fellow at the Middle East Forum and has covered Turkey for the U.S. weekly Defense News since 1997. He previously wrote for 29 years at one of Turkey's leading newspapers, until he was fired in 2016 for writing what was taking place in Turkey for Gatestone.

Bekdil also worked as Ankara Bureau Chief for Dow Jones Newswires and CNBC-e television. He contributes to annual national defense sector reviews for anti-corruption institutions like Transparency International and Global Integrity.

James Cuno, art historian and President of the J. Paul Getty Trust, describes Bekdil as "a frequent critic of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan." In 2001, a Heavy Crimes Court in Ankara sentenced Bekdil to a suspended, 20-month prison sentence for his column in which he had satirised corruption in the judiciary.

Bekdil's comments, quotes and articles have been published in international media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, BBC, The Guardian, Reuters, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Los Angeles Times, The Commentator, New York Times, Kathimerini, National Review Online, Algemeiner, NPR, Washington Times, Die Presse, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Toronto Star, Financial Times, Al-Monitor, Le Figaro, ABC, El Pais, Stern, Al-Arabiya, Helsingin Sanomat, Racjonalista, Defence Greece, Moyen-Orient, Courier International, ISN Security Watch and Coloquio (of Congreso Judio Latinoamerico).

(Born: Ankara, 1966; Undergraduate: Department of Economics, Middle East Technical University, Ankara; Post-graduate: Department of Economics, University of Surrey, United Kingdom)


Writings by Burak Bekdil  (View Biography)

Title Date
Why Erdoğan Wants a UN Seat for Muslims2023/11/14
Jihad on Israel: Where Does Turkey Stand? - Part II2023/10/13
Jihad on Israel: Where Does Turkey Stand?2023/10/10
Putin's Man in Ankara: Erdoğan2023/10/04
Turkey: An Air Force Without Wings2023/09/22
Erdoğan: Willing Hostage to Putin's Anti-West Doctrine2023/09/07
Erdoğan's Most Eminent Men: Turkey's New Spymasters2023/07/21
Is Erdoğan Hoping to Bring 84 Million Turks into Europe?2023/07/14
Brace for Another Tumultuous Five Years with Erdoğan2023/05/31
How The West Sanctions Enemies: Floods Them with Rewards2023/05/24
Turkey's Elections: Nationalist Identity Politics Wins Out Over Misery2023/05/23
Turkey's Hizbullah Terrorists: Erdoğan's New Ally2023/05/09
Turkey: A Belated Farewell to Erdoğan?2023/03/30
Disasters in Turkey2023/03/24
Turkey: Islamist Sex with Children Is Fine; Condemning It Is an Offense2023/03/02
Earthquake Unveils Turkey's Many Ugly Faces2023/02/24
Erdoğan's Turkey: NATO's Trojan Horse Moment2023/02/03
Turkey's Elections Are Not Just Turkey's2023/01/26
Turkey: Putin's Open Door for Harming Western Interests2023/01/20
Turkish 'Progress': Six-Year-Old Girl Married by Her Sheik Father2022/12/30
Erdogan's Syrian Gambit2022/12/28
Turkey and Israel: 'On' Again, Only to Be 'Off' Again2022/12/08
The Russian-Turkish Bond to Harm the West2022/11/18
A Cold Winter for Europe: Blame Strategic Blindness2022/11/12
Turkey: 243 Sleepless Nights for Erdoğan2022/11/01
Turkey: A NATO Ally?2022/10/28
The Putin Pawns in the NATO Alliance? How the West Emboldens Erdoğan's Aggression2022/10/25
'Europe Should Be Grateful to Erdoğan'2022/09/23
Turkey and Israel: Dating with Hate2022/09/21
Turkey: What Is the Real Terrorist Threat?2022/09/05
Congress Holds the Key to the Balance of Airpower between Turkey and Greece2022/08/25
NATO Family Picture in Madrid: This Will Not Be Erdoğan's Last Blackmail2022/07/07
Turkey: Erdoğan Fishing for Trouble in the Aegean Sea - Again2022/07/05
NATO Should NOT Pay Ransom to Turkey; Instead, Should Amend Rules to Expel It2022/06/05
How The Biden Administration Is Getting Erdoğan's Moves All Wrong2022/05/26
Why Erdoğan's NATO Blackmail Is Subversion2022/05/18
Turkey: NATO's Pro-Putin Ally2022/05/04
Turkey: Beware of Islamists Bearing Gifts2022/04/10
Iran's Long Arm in Turkey, Turkey's Fake "Peace"2022/03/20
Erdoğan, in Trouble at Home, Fishing for Trouble in the Aegean2022/03/05
Biden's Political Myopia Endangering Europe: Allow the EastMed Pipeline2022/02/28
Why Is Democratic Biden Rescuing Autocratic Erdoğan at the Expense of U.S. Allies?2022/02/24
Istanbul's Mayor: Erdoğan's Worst Nightmare2022/01/29
Erdoğan's Neo-Ottoman Ambitions Turning Eastward2022/01/28
Turkey: Erdoğan's Hoax Charm Offensive2022/01/27
Poverty, Economic Turmoil Shaking Erdoğan's Throne2021/12/14
Biden's Two-Faced Agenda on Turkey2021/12/03
Erdoğan's Quest for a New Sharia-Based Alliance2021/11/12
Turkey: Drifting Further into Russian Orbit2021/11/09
Greek-U.S.-French Pact Is a Deterrent to Turkish Aggression2021/10/29
Turkey: NATO's Pro-Russian, Taliban-Friendly Ally2021/09/24
Erdogan's Plans for the Future of Afghanistan: China, Russia and Terrorists2021/09/06
Turkey: How the Sultan's Ivy League School Axed a Professor2021/08/24
From Biden to the Taliban with Love2021/08/17
Turkey and the West: Drifting Further Apart2021/08/06
How Erdoğan's Miscalculation Crippled Turkey's Aerial Firepower2021/07/05
A Mobster and Turkey's Arms Shipments to Jihadis2021/07/03
Turkey's Collateral Damage: Its Jews2021/05/29
The "We-Must-Hate-Israel" Season Re-Opens in Turkey2021/05/19
Turkey: How Erdogan's Pledge for Reform Collapsed in Five Months2021/04/29
Turkey: Erdoğan's Biggest Political Rival2021/04/21
What Makes Erdogan Tick?2021/04/11
Biden Needs to Handle the Turkey Dossier with Utmost Care2021/03/17
Turkey: Erdoğan's War on Peace2021/03/11
Erdoğan's War Against Freedom on Campus2021/02/23
Turkish Reforms: From Imperial Repression to Thuggish State2021/02/11
Turkey and Greece: Still More Peace Talks2021/01/27
Turkey and Israel: Premature Optimism for Normalization2021/01/06
Turkey: From Europe With Love2020/12/26
Turkey: Islamist Justice at Its Best2020/12/09
Turkey: Legitimizing Extremist Violence2020/12/08
Erdoğan's New Charm Offensive: Bogus Democratic Reforms2020/12/05
Erdoğan's Jihad on "Infidel Europe"2020/11/07
Turkey: The Dark Side of Religious Sects2020/10/20
A Fifth War Won't Do Turkey Any Good2020/10/05
Turkey: Erdoğan's Soft Spot for Hamas2020/09/23
Will Gas Discovery Change Turkey's Political Course?2020/09/03
Erdoğan Needs New Enemies2020/08/22
Turkey's Brain Drain: Why Youths See No Future There2020/08/01
Hagia Sophia and Turkey's Supremacism2020/07/14
Turkey: How Erdoğan's Migrant Blackmail Failed2020/07/10
Turkey: Erdoğan Wishes "Many More Happy Conquests"2020/06/20
Erdoğan's Libya Campaign: Another Neo-Ottoman Design2020/06/03
Turkish 'Justice': Free Mobsters, Keep Dissidents Locked Up2020/05/12
Death on a Hunger Strike Unmasks a Hate-Filled Turkey2020/05/05
Turkey: Erdoğan Is Getting Coronavirus Dancing to His Tune2020/04/23
Turkey: Erdoğan's Post-Corona, Existential Economic Challenge2020/04/15
Turkey: Violence against Women Continues to Escalate2020/03/24
Europe Must Not Fall Victim to Erdoğan's Blackmail2020/03/06
Are Turkish Cypriots Done with Ankara?2020/02/25
Greek Islanders Want Their Life Back2020/02/20
Turkey's 'Truthophobia'2020/01/27
Erdoğan's 'Make-Turkey-More-Islamic' Campaign Is a Failure2020/01/15
Turkey's Gunboat Gambit in the Mediterranean2019/12/30
Turkey: Stop 'Fantastical Fiction,' Free Osman Kavala!2019/12/23
Turkey's East-West Carpet Trading2019/12/19
Turkey's Open Secret: Fake Secularism2019/12/03
Turkey's New 'Bashibazouks': The Free Syrian Army2019/10/22
How Terrible Does Turkey Have to Get?2019/10/14
Stalin Had Gulags, Turkey Has Courts2019/10/08
Next for Turkey? Nuclear Weapons!2019/09/18
Turkey Faces "Almost a Revolution in the Middle East"2019/09/10
Erdoğan's Elections: Heads I Win, Tails You Lose2019/09/02
Turkey Adopts Eurasianism2019/07/30
Erdoğan's American Gamble2019/07/19
Turkey: Out in the Cold2019/07/16
Istanbul: 'Everything Is Coming Up Roses'2019/06/24
Turkey's New Violent Political Culture2019/06/11
Erdoğan's Istanbul Nightmare2019/05/27
Poor Friendless Erdoğan2019/04/30
How Turkey's Democracy Went From Insanity to 'Beyond Insanity'2019/04/26
Turkey's Elections: What Do They Mean for Turkey and Erdoğan?2019/04/05
Israel-Bashing Season Re-Opens in Turkey2019/03/27
Turkey: Putin's Ally in NATO?2019/03/19
"Make Turkey Great Again" Collides with the U.S.2019/02/22
Has Turkish President Erdoğan Distanced Himself from the Muslim Brotherhood?2019/02/07
New Year, Same Old Turkey2019/01/27
Erdoğan Is Wrong on Syria. Turkey Cannot Get the Job Done.2019/01/15
Turkey and EU: Can this Marriage be Saved?2018/12/27
US Pullout from Syria: Who Will Fill the Vacuum?2018/12/26
The Great Turkish Brain Drain2018/12/19
Turkey and US: Conflict Contained, Not Resolved2018/11/20
Why Erdoğan's Charm Offensive Falls Flat2018/11/15
Why Do Middle Eastern Refugees Vandalize Christian Structures?2018/11/04
Turkey and Qatar: An Alliance Under the Saudi Sword2018/10/29
The 'Saudi Affair' in Istanbul Unveils Sunni vs Sunni Rivalry2018/10/24
Turkey: Erdoğan's International Juggling Circus2018/10/03
Turkish Education: Same Old Religious Obsession, Only Worse2018/09/19
Trump's Fake Allies in the Gulf2018/08/24
Turkey's Neighborhood Bullies2018/08/12
Child Brides in Turkey2018/07/30
Erdoğan's Turkey: Unwanted in Arab Lands2018/07/23
Turkey's Election: Stockholm Syndrome at Its Worst2018/06/26
Turkey: Erdogan's "Holy War" Obsession2018/06/20
Turkey and Israel: From Loveless to Fracas2018/05/29
Turkey: Erdogan's Islamist "Family Engineering"2018/05/14
Turkey's Elections: But Who Counts the Votes?2018/05/09
Turkey: Erdoğan's World of Terrorists Includes Everyone but Terrorists2018/05/03
Let Turkish Scholars Speak: See What Islamism Is About2018/04/18
Erdogan's Unrequited Arab Love2018/03/18
Hamas: Turkey's Longtime Love2018/02/22
Erdogan's Turkey: Making Trouble Everywhere2018/02/13
Turkey: Targeting Kurds In Syria2018/01/25
Turkey, the Arab World Is Just Not That into You2018/01/14
Turkey Mania: "Jerusalem is Muslim"2017/12/19
Turkey: Laundering Billions for Iran2017/12/06
Erdogan: No Moderate Islam2017/12/04
Erdogan's Interesting New Top Mayors2017/11/28
Turkey and the U.S.: A Poisoned Alliance2017/10/30
Turkey: Let Them Die!2017/10/11
Victims of Turkey's Islamization: Women2017/08/31
Turkish Education: Jihad In, Evolution Out2017/08/17
Turkey: Erdogan's New Morality Police2017/08/02
Turkey: Erdogan's Obsession to Take Jerusalem2017/07/17
Violence against Women: Some Inconvenient Data for the Corrupt UN2017/06/28
Soft Sharia in Turkey2017/06/18
Turkey: Jail for Hunger Strike2017/06/05
Turkey: Erdogan's Goon Squad Comes to Washington2017/05/28
Turks Vote to Give Away Their Democracy2017/04/18
Turkey's Barks and Bites2017/04/11
Erdogan's War on the West2017/03/22
Europe's 'Turkish Awakening'2017/03/14
Extremist Muslims' One-Way Street2017/02/24
Turkey: Record-Breaking Purge in Academia2017/02/16
What Turkish Islamists Understand about 'Education'2017/02/05
Turkey: The Purges Continue2017/01/30
Turkey: Erdogan's Grab for Absolute Power2017/01/29
Turkey and Terrorists2017/01/19
How Putin Unmasked Erdogan's Tough Guy Show2017/01/10
Turkey's Lifestyle Massacre2017/01/08
Turkey's "Long Arm" in Europe2017/01/01
Turkey's Misdiagnosed Kurdish Problem2016/12/20
Erdogan's Private Youth Army2016/12/11
Erdogan's Gritted-Teeth Peace with Israel2016/12/06
Turkey: Child Rapists to Go Free, Journalists Not?2016/11/27
Turkey: Lies, Cheap Lies and Cheaper Lies2016/11/21
Trump's Difficult Ally in Ankara2016/11/14
Erdogan's Neo-Ottoman Plans2016/11/03
Turkey: Erdogan's Galloping Despotism2016/11/02
Turkey: Erdogan's Stealth Jihad Against the West2016/10/26
Red Alert! Protestant Couple "Security Threat" to Turkey!2016/10/22
Turkey's Land-Grab Wish List2016/10/20
Turkey's Dangerous Moves in Iraq2016/10/11
Turkey: "A Great Muslim Democracy"?2016/10/02
Turkey: Land of Mosques, Prisons and the Uneducated2016/09/27
The "Great Turkish Purge": Guilty Without Trial2016/09/18
The Middle East: The Other Main Sources of Law2016/09/09
"Liberal" Turkey Claims Europe Is Racist2016/09/01
Turkey's Official "Cocktail Terror"2016/08/28
Turkey's Exhausting Zigzagging Between East and West2016/08/23
Turkey, Europe's Little Problem2016/08/11
Coup-Weary Turkey: Directionless and Insecure2016/08/08
Turkey: Good News, Bad News2016/07/28
Turkey: Marry Your Rapist2016/07/27
Coup Attempt in Turkey: A Feast of Pretexts2016/07/21
Turkey: Victim of Its Own Enthusiasm for Jihad2016/07/07
Turkey and Israel: Happy Together?2016/06/29
Turkey: A Thuggish Ramadan2016/06/28
Turkey's Conquest-Fetish2016/06/16
Backstage at Turkey's Shotgun Wedding with Israel2016/06/14
The Fairy Tale of "Post-Modern" Turkey2016/06/06
Qatar: The World's Wealthiest Family-Run Gas Station2016/05/31
Turkish Sultan's New Grand Vizier: What Is His Main Goal?2016/05/24
Turkey: Erdogan's Promised "Reforms"2016/05/18
Wanted: New Grand Vizier for Turkey's Sultan2016/05/15
Turkey: "We Need a Religious Constitution"2016/05/06
Turkey's Fake War on Jihadis2016/04/28
Erdogan: The World's Most Insulted President2016/04/20
Turkey's Circus in Washington2016/04/12
Journalism in Turkey: Newsroom vs. Courtroom2016/03/31
Turkish Hatred: When the Truth Slips Out2016/03/27
Egypt's "Dictator," Turkey's "Democrat"2016/03/22
European Union Caving to Turkey's Blackmail?2016/03/15
Turkey's Runaway Anti-Semitism2016/03/10
Turkey's "Fall and Fall"2016/02/28
Russia's Trap: Luring Sunnis into War2016/02/16
Turkey's Haunted Border with Syria2016/02/11
Turkey and Israel: A Loveless Date2016/02/09
Turks' Unrequited Love for Palestinians2016/02/04
Turkey: Death to Free Speech2016/01/27
Turkey: Is It Religiously All Right to Lust for My Daughter?2016/01/12
Blame Terror on Everyone but Terrorists!2016/01/11
Russian Imperialism Meets Illusions of Ottoman Grandeur2015/12/31
Turkey's Dangerous Ambitions2015/12/24
Turkey and Israel: A Rickety Handshake2015/12/23
Turkey's "Spies," EU's "Human Rights"2015/12/13
Russia Devouring the Eastern Mediterranean?2015/12/05
Turkey: Wrong Partner to Fight Terror2015/11/28
Turkey's Oppression Machine2015/11/22
Arab Spring, French Autumn2015/11/17
Erdogan's License to Strangle2015/11/16
Turkey's Stockholm Syndrome2015/11/08
Turkey: Where Ice Cream Can Be More Dangerous than Bombs2015/11/05
What Turkey's Elections Will NOT Change2015/10/29
Turkey's Thugocracy2015/10/26
Turkey's Grisly Dances with the Islamic State2015/10/15
The Politics of Lies2015/10/06
Turkish Press's New Normal2015/10/04
Turkey's Islamist Factory Settings2015/09/21
Why Do Muslims Flock to The "Evil West"?2015/09/17
Turkey's "Free" Press2015/09/14
Turkey's 'Good' and 'Bad' Terrorists2015/09/10
Turkey: America's Really Bad "Faustian Bargain"2015/09/08
Sorry, Egypt No Longer a Province of the Ottoman Empire2015/09/06
NATO Allies Making It Easier for Iran to Attack Israel?2015/09/03
Turkey: Payback Time?2015/08/30
Election Time in Turkey: Tossing the Dice Again2015/08/20
Turkey's Multiple Wars2015/08/16
How Elections Messed Up Turkey's Plans2015/08/12
Turkey's Rambos (Almost) Fight Islamic State2015/08/09
Turkey and Its Kurds: At War Again2015/08/06
Turkey: ISIS's Hostage Again2015/08/04
What Turkey Wants in Syria2015/07/31
Turkey Turns on Its Jihadists Next Door2015/07/28
How Turkey Fights the Islamic State2015/07/27
Turkish Journalists: Guilty Without Trial2015/07/22
Iran Nuclear Deal: Good and Bad News for Turkey2015/07/16
Turkey: Jihadists in Lawyers' Robes2015/07/13
Turkey Finds China Too Big To Bite2015/07/12
Turkey's View of Terror2015/07/07
Turkey's Wrong Bet on Syria2015/07/01
Turkey and Israel: Starting Over?2015/06/28
Erdogan's Fake Campaign to Save Morsi2015/06/25
Obama's "Model Partner" Thinks Israel, U.S., Biggest Threats2015/06/21
Erdogan & Co.: Bad News for Jihadists2015/06/18
Turkey Cracks Down on the Free Press2015/06/17
Post-Election Turkey: Now What?2015/06/11
Turkey: Muslim Brothers' Protector2015/06/09
Turkey: "An End to an Era of Oppression"2015/06/08
Turkey's Flotilla: What Was It Really About?2015/06/04
Turkey: "Home of Bad Jokes"2015/06/02
Turkish Fairy Tales from Uncle Tayyip2015/05/30
Turkey: Not-Quite Rule of Law2015/05/25
Who Can Attack Turkish Ships?2015/05/22
Erdogan's Dream: The Sultan Rules2015/05/15
A Turkish-Saudi Military Offensive on Syria?2015/05/10
Turkey's Obsessive Fantasy2015/05/05
How Democracies Decay2015/05/02
How Non-Muslims "Survive" in Turkey2015/04/30
Turkey's Supposed Nemesis: "The Mastermind"2015/04/27
No Racism in Turkey!2015/04/23
Turkey: Genocide à la Carte2015/04/16
Turkey and Iran: Theater of Make Believe2015/04/14
ISIS's Turkish Brothers2015/04/11
Turkey's "Muslim God"2015/04/09
Turkey: "Zero Problems with Neighbors"2015/04/06
Erdogan Raising "Devout Generations"2015/04/01
Turkey: Is the AKP's "Spell" Reversing?2015/03/29
Turkey: Davutoglu vs. Davutoglu2015/03/26
The Age of "Dangerous Turkish Criminals"2015/03/22
"Reform" in Turkey2015/03/18
The Islamist Way2015/03/14
Hamas in Turkey: "Humanitarian Activity"2015/03/06
"Top Secret" Turkey2015/03/03
Being "Protected" in Turkey2015/03/01
Turkey's Illusions Hit Realities2015/02/26
Turkey's Culture of Horror2015/02/24
Turkey: Justice vs. Islamist Justice2015/02/18
The Real "Enemies" of Turkey2015/02/15
Bad News: Davutoglu Wants "New Middle East"2015/02/10
Turkey's Bad Joke: Crocodile Tears for Victims of Holocaust2015/02/08
Turkey: Don't Get Mad, Take Over a Bank2015/02/05
Justice, Erdogan Style2015/01/27
Turkey's Dance with Jihadists2015/01/26
Erdogan's Turkish Bazaar2015/01/17
Turkey's Staggering "Shoeboxgate"2015/01/15
How Turkey Fights Extremism: "Do Not Keep Pet Dogs at Home!"2015/01/13
Turkey: Where Some Murders Are More Equal than Others2015/01/12
Erdogan in Wonderland: "Freedom" in Turkey2015/01/03
Davutoglu and Mashaal: A Marriage Made in Heaven2015/01/01
Erdogan's Egyptian Nightmare2014/12/30
Why Does Nobody Want to Play with Turkey?2014/12/26
Heading for a Jew-Free Turkey2014/12/23
"Justice" in Turkey2014/12/20
Turkey and EU: The Kodak-Moment2014/12/14
Turkey "Improves" Education2014/12/11
Turkish Hospitality For Arab Terrorism2014/12/06
Pluralism in Turkey: A Fairy Tale2014/12/02
The Turkish Governor's "Huge Hatred"2014/11/29
Turkey's Bark and Bite2014/11/21
Turkey's "Foreign" Citizens2014/11/19
"Zionist" Olive Trees in Turkey2014/11/16
A Turkish Quest to "Liberate" Jerusalem2014/11/13
Turkey's Rules for Safety2014/11/08
Don't Tell Erdogan Jihadists Kill People2014/11/06
Erdogan's Book of Defeat2014/10/31
Normalization between Ankara and Jerusalem? Guess Again.2014/10/30
Turkey: No Longer a "Rock Star" on Arab Street2014/10/27
Turkey: The "Great Muslim Democracy"2014/10/25
Turkey's Love Affair with Hamas2014/10/19
Turkey's Boomerang War in Syria2014/10/16
Turkey: Jihad-Lite2014/10/14
Who Does Turkey Support?2014/10/07
The Few Brave Men of Turkey2014/10/04
Turkey? Antisemitic? Who, Me?2014/10/01
How Turkey Plans to "Combat Anti-Semitism"2014/09/25
Turkey: What Ally?2014/09/22
Turkey's Frankenstein Monster2014/09/13
Confusion over "Jihad"2014/09/11
Turkey's New Government: Old Wine in a New Bottle2014/09/10
Forty-Four Million Zionists in Turkey!2014/09/06
How to Be "A Disgrace to Humanity" in Turkey2014/09/04
Sorry to Remind You, but Golda Meir Was Right - Part IV of IV2014/08/30
Sorry to Remind You, but Golda Meir Was Right - Part III of IV2014/08/29
Sorry to Remind You, but Golda Meir Was Right - Part II of IV2014/08/28
Sorry to Remind You, but Golda Meir Was Right - Part I of IV2014/08/27

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