Finance watchdog (FATF) 'grey lists' Turkey in threat to investment

[Romali_rotti]

ISTANBUL, Oct 21 (Reuters) - An international watchdog downgraded Turkey to a so-called grey list on Thursday for failing to head off money laundering and terrorist financing, a decision that could further erode foreign investment after a years-long exodus.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), set up by the G7 group of advanced economies to protect the global financial system, also put Mali and Jordan on its increased monitoring list, known as "grey listing".

Citing improvements, it took Botswana and Mauritius off the list, which now includes 23 countries.

Turkey, the largest to be downgraded, needs to address "serious issues of supervision" in its banking and real estate sectors, and with gold and precious stones dealers, FATF President Marcus Pleyer told a news conference.

"Turkey needs to show it is effectively tackling complex money laundering cases and show it is pursuing terrorist financing prosecutions...and prioritising cases of U.N.- designated terrorist organisations such as ISIL and al Qaeda," he said.

Research shows a grey-listing downgrade strains countries' ties to foreign banks and investors that follow FATF rankings, suggesting the move could further weigh on Turkey's lira, which touched a record low earlier on Thursday. read more

"Despite our work on compatibility, placing our country on the grey list is an undeserved outcome," the Turkish Treasury said in a statement late on Thursday.

"In the coming period, necessary measures will continue to be taken in cooperation with FATF and all relevant institutions, to ensure that our country is removed from this list, which it does not deserve, as soon as possible."

In 2019, the FATF warned Turkey about "serious shortcomings" including the need to improve measures to freeze assets linked to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction proliferation.

Other FATF grey-listed countries include Pakistan, Morocco, Albania and Yemen.

International Monetary Fund research this year found that grey-listing reduces capital inflow by an estimated 7.6% of gross domestic product (GDP), while foreign direct investment (FDI) and portfolio flows are also hit.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

Foreign investors have fled Turkey in recent years, citing political interference in monetary policy, double-digit inflation and low official foreign currency reserves.

Foreign ownership of bonds is down to about 5% from 25% five years ago, a period in which the Turkish lira has shed two-thirds of its value against the dollar.

Turkey has carried out some FATF recommendations.

But one - a law last year aimed at curbing weapons financing - has been sharply criticised for unintended harm to civil society groups.

The European Commission this week urged Turkey to adopt FATF recommendations but also said the law - also based on FATF recommendations - imperiled civil society organisations, which now face penalties and undue monitoring of fundraising.

Amnesty International said Turkey's government will "almost certainly" use the law to target non-profit organisations.

It is an "unintended consequence" of FATF policies "which are all too often misused by repressive governments" to restrict rights, Amnesty said, calling on the FATF to push Turkish authorities to adjust the law.

Pleyer said the FATF is aware of concerns over Turkey's treatment of non-profit organisations (NPOs).

"Turkey needs to implement a true risk-based approach to NPOs and ensure authorities don't disrupt or discourage legitimate activity," he said.

In August Reuters reported that in at least five other countries - Uganda, Serbia, India, Tanzania, and Nigeria – legislation passed to meet FATF standards was used by authorities to investigate journalists, NGO workers, and lawyers.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The Turkish inclusion on the list is genuinley unwarranted, quite staggering considering that it can be implemented like this when London is the financial crime capital of the world.

 

[MenInG]

Turkey's Ministry of Treasury and Finance said the grey listing of the country on Oct. 21 by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was unfair.

"Despite coordination studies, putting our country on the grey list has created a result that is unwarranted," the ministry said in a statement.

"For the period after this, all necessary steps will continue to be taken with FATF and related institutions to ensure that our country would be removed from this unwarranted list within the shortest time," it added.

Noting that Turkey has been a member of FATF since 1991, the ministry emphasized that the country has taken the necessary measures in the framework of regulations that are conducted in line with international standards.

"Considering the report of FATF, our country introduced on Dec. 27, 2020 a law preventing the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," it said, adding that thus, it has made significant improvement in the four issues mentioned in the 2019 FATF Report that focused on financial sanctions, internal auditing and affiliates, and sanctions targeted in the field of the financing of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

The ministry also noted that Turkey made notable progress in accordance with FATF standards during the coronavirus pandemic despite quarantine measures and that it had fulfilled its obligations in these regulations.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu reacted against a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decision to downgrade Turkey to a “grey list” on Oct. 22 and accused Europe of “financing” terrorism whose price, he said, Turkey was paying.

“We are a country where terrorism inflicts the most costs. The one, who finances and empowers terrorism, is Europe. There can be such brazenness. It can be made contrary to the facts.”

Elaborating on other measures that Turkey has taken on the issue, Soylu said, “Again on the same date, we enacted the Law on the Prevention of the Financing of Terrorism and made some changes in the Law on Associations No. 5253. We have established ‘Fighting the Financing of Terrorism Branch Offices’ in our law enforcement units. We established ‘Fighting the Financing of Terrorism Bureau’ in 81 provinces.”

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-denounces-unwarranted-addition-to-fatf-grey-list-168810

 

[MenInG]

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he has ordered 10 ambassadors, including those from the US and France be declared "persona non grata".

It follows a statement from the envoys calling for the urgent release of activist Osman Kavala.

He has been in jail for more than four years over protests and a coup attempt, although he has not been convicted.

Persona non grata can remove diplomatic status and often results in expulsion or withdrawal of recognition of envoys.

This week's statement on Mr Kavala jointly came from the embassies of the US, Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.

Addressing a crowd in Eskisehir on Saturday, Mr Erdogan said the ambassadors "cannot dare to come to the Turkish foreign ministry and give orders".

He said: "I gave the necessary order to our foreign minister and said what must be done. These 10 ambassadors must be declared persona non grata at once. You will sort it out immediately."

However, what will happen now remains unclear.

Mr Erdogan said the envoys should either understand Turkey or leave, Turkish media reported.

The foreign ministry had summoned the ambassadors on Tuesday to protest at their "irresponsible" statement on the Kavala case.

The embassies' statement had criticised the "continuing delays" in Osman Kavala's trial, which "cast a shadow over respect for democracy, the rule of law and transparency in the Turkish judiciary system".

It urges a speedy resolution and calls for "Turkey to secure his urgent release".

Mr Kavala was last year acquitted of charges over nationwide protests in 2013, but almost immediately rearrested.

The acquittal was overturned and new charges were added relating to the military coup attempt against the Erdogan government in 2016.

Mr Kavala denies any wrongdoing and critics of the Erdogan government say his case is an example of a widespread crackdown on dissent.

Earlier this week, Mr Erdogan defended Turkey's judicial system, saying: "I told our foreign minister: We can't have the luxury of hosting this lot in our country. Is it for you to give Turkey such a lesson? Who do you think you are?"

The Council of Europe, Europe's main human rights watchdog, has given Turkey a final warning to heed a European Court of Human Rights ruling to free Mr Kavala pending trial.

BBC

 

[MenInG]

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he has ordered 10 ambassadors, including those from the US and France be declared "persona non grata".

It follows a statement from the envoys calling for the urgent release of activist Osman Kavala.

He has been in jail for more than four years over protests and a coup attempt, although he has not been convicted.

Persona non grata can remove diplomatic status and often results in expulsion or withdrawal of recognition of envoys.

This week's statement on Mr Kavala jointly came from the embassies of the US, Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.

Addressing a crowd in Eskisehir on Saturday, Mr Erdogan said the ambassadors "cannot dare to come to the Turkish foreign ministry and give orders".

He said: "I gave the necessary order to our foreign minister and said what must be done. These 10 ambassadors must be declared persona non grata at once. You will sort it out immediately."

However, what will happen now remains unclear.

Mr Erdogan said the envoys should either understand Turkey or leave, Turkish media reported.

The foreign ministry had summoned the ambassadors on Tuesday to protest at their "irresponsible" statement on the Kavala case.

The embassies' statement had criticised the "continuing delays" in Osman Kavala's trial, which "cast a shadow over respect for democracy, the rule of law and transparency in the Turkish judiciary system".

It urges a speedy resolution and calls for "Turkey to secure his urgent release".

Mr Kavala was last year acquitted of charges over nationwide protests in 2013, but almost immediately rearrested.

The acquittal was overturned and new charges were added relating to the military coup attempt against the Erdogan government in 2016.

Mr Kavala denies any wrongdoing and critics of the Erdogan government say his case is an example of a widespread crackdown on dissent.

Earlier this week, Mr Erdogan defended Turkey's judicial system, saying: "I told our foreign minister: We can't have the luxury of hosting this lot in our country. Is it for you to give Turkey such a lesson? Who do you think you are?"

The Council of Europe, Europe's main human rights watchdog, has given Turkey a final warning to heed a European Court of Human Rights ruling to free Mr Kavala pending trial.

 

[MenInG]

Contrary to its claims of acting under no influence, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is exposed to be toeing a “politicised” approach particularly targeting the Muslim states, data reveals.

On Thursday, the anti-money laundering watchdog decided to retain Pakistan in its grey list asking the country to complete concurrent action plans, though it already had complied with 30 of 34 recommended items.

“Overall, Pakistan is making good progress on this new action plan. Four out of the seven items are now addressed or largely addressed,” FATF President Dr Marcus Pleyer told media.

According to the Infolytics issues compiled by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Pakistan is one of the few countries which had the lowest ratio of non-compliance of FATF action plan.

But ironically, the country continues to remain on the grey list despite having sacrificed around 80,000 lives and suffering the economic loss of $150 billion after joining the US-led war against terrorism.

Contrary to Pakistan, the non-compliance ratio of France – home to FATF headquarters – is 25% but the watchdog has turned a blind eye.

Similarly, other countries including the US with a non-compliance ratio of 22.5%, Japan 27.5%, New Zealand 30%, Georgia 32.5%, South Korea 20% and Russia 12.5% are out of the grey list.

Pakistan has long been observing that the global terror financing watchdog was being used as a political tool to serve the vested interests of some countries and the recent enlistment of Turkey in the grey list has substantiated the claim.

Also read: Pakistan is test case for FATF’s fairness: law minister

The firm stance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan particularly on Muslim world issues like Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Palestine and specifically Islamophobia has been pinching the western powers.

Similarly, Prime Minister Imran Khan is also among a few Muslim world leaders who strongly fought the case of Islamophobia across the world including the UN General Assembly.

He is the only leader who blasted India at the UNGA exposing the so-called biggest democracy for its massive human rights abuses in IIOJK.

Recently, the Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confessed to influencing the FATF to keep Pakistan on the “grey list” which raised serious questions on the integrity of the watchdog.

Reacting strongly Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said: “Manipulating an important technical forum for narrow political designs against Pakistan is disgraceful but not surprising for the Modi government.”

Indian news agency ANI quoted Jaishankar on Sunday as saying; “Due to us, Pakistan is under the lens of FATF and it was kept in the grey list.”

The Foreign Office spokesperson Asif Iftikhar Ahmad said: “The Indian statement not only exposes its true colours but also vindicates Pakistan’s longstanding stance on India’s negative role in the FATF."

Special Assistant to PM Raoof Hassan took to Twitter to criticise the FATF’s decision on Pakistan saying, “[The] FATF has lost whatever credibility it still had. It is no longer a fair arbiter. Instead, it has become a veritable arm of western imperialist agenda to subdue the less powerful countries, Pakistan being one of them. It is time to stop pandering. It is time to stand up for rights.”


In a statement, a government spokesperson, the action items that have been completed include amendments in the Mutual Legal Assistance Act, 2020, AML/CFT supervision of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs), transparency of beneficial ownership information and implementation of Targeted Financial Sanctions for Proliferation Finance by DNFBPs.

The remaining action items in the 2021 Action Plan include investigation and prosecution of ML cases, confiscation of assets and UN listings.

Considerable work has already been carried out on the remaining items of both action plans. FATF will undertake the next review of Pakistan’s progress in February 2022.

In a tweet, Energy Minister and Chairman National FATF Coordination Committee Hammad Azhar, who also represented at the virtual FATF meeting, said, “Now only some countries do not agree with the majority on progress made by Pakistan on the TF action plan. We are getting closer to consensus numbers in spite of “challenges”. Our technical stance will be vindicated soon InshAllah.”


Analysts say that the global financial watchdog has become selective in targeting countries where banks have weak compliance or controls to stop the illicit flow of funds.

“If they were fair in their treatment of all the countries, they would have put the UK in the FATF grey list,” said Hassan Aslam Shad, a Middle East-based lawyer who has studied the watchdog for years, according to TRT World. “But they will not do it. They have made up their mind and preconceived notions drive their decisions,” he added.

The FATF’s decision on Pakistan has highlighted how powerful countries are influencing the global money-laundering monitor.

“The FATF has become deeply politicised,” Shad said.

 

[Napa]

Contrary to its claims of acting under no influence, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is exposed to be toeing a “politicised” approach particularly targeting the Muslim states, data reveals.

On Thursday, the anti-money laundering watchdog decided to retain Pakistan in its grey list asking the country to complete concurrent action plans, though it already had complied with 30 of 34 recommended items.

“Overall, Pakistan is making good progress on this new action plan. Four out of the seven items are now addressed or largely addressed,” FATF President Dr Marcus Pleyer told media.

According to the Infolytics issues compiled by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Pakistan is one of the few countries which had the lowest ratio of non-compliance of FATF action plan.

But ironically, the country continues to remain on the grey list despite having sacrificed around 80,000 lives and suffering the economic loss of $150 billion after joining the US-led war against terrorism.

True, but Pakistan also played a double game, giving a base and other help to the Taliban which killed 3,500+ US soldiers. “Broke the chains of slavery”.

Contrary to Pakistan, the non-compliance ratio of France – home to FATF headquarters – is 25% but the watchdog has turned a blind eye.

Similarly, other countries including the US with a non-compliance ratio of 22.5%, Japan 27.5%, New Zealand 30%, Georgia 32.5%, South Korea 20% and Russia 12.5% are out of the grey list.

Pakistan’s military establishment needs to stop fooling itself. If it plays a double game, don’t expect the West to treat it “fairly”.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The Turkish inclusion on the list is genuinley unwarranted, quite staggering considering that it can be implemented like this when London is the financial crime capital of the world.

It's a tool intended to weaken Turkey and keep them in check. When you are at the top, you don't want the competition thriving.

International Monetary Fund research this year found that grey-listing reduces capital inflow by an estimated 7.6% of gross domestic product (GDP), while foreign direct investment (FDI) and portfolio flows are also hit.

 

[gani999]

Contrary to its claims of acting under no influence, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is exposed to be toeing a “politicised” approach particularly targeting the Muslim states, data reveals.



Analysts say that the global financial watchdog has become selective in targeting countries where banks have weak compliance or controls to stop the illicit flow of funds.



The FATF’s decision on Pakistan has highlighted how powerful countries are influencing the global money-laundering monitor.

“The FATF has become deeply politicised,” Shad said.

Organisations like FTF and the UN have always been used as tools by influential countries to keep others under check. No one should know this better than Pakistan.

During the 1980s when Pakistan was the toast of the western world due to its involvement in Afghanistan, its diplomats would table resolution after resolution condemning India on Kashmir in the UNGA. It's only the consistent vetoing by the USSR that saved India from becoming a UN sanctioned pariah state like North Korea. USSR was then a permanent member of the UNGA and one of the few friends India had.

Now the boot is on the other foot. Pakistan shouldn't complain.

 

[MenInG]

FYI

I removed the video in Op and replaced with a proper source instead of BJP style propaganda being peddled as news.

 

[LaLoco]

It is a political tool to put pressure on a country when the hub of parking illegal money has been London for many years.

India had spent millions if not billions to isolate Pakistan as a terrorist country and yet again Hindustan has failed when FATF had said in clear terms that Pakistan will not be placed on black list. Beside FATF I do not see any other tool Hindustan have that they can use to try to isolate Pakistan. But it’ll be continued to be used by India in an attempt to force Pakistan to accept current status of Illegally Indian occupied Kashmir.

Western Establishments could care less if few thousands of American and British were killed by Taliban or any Afghan in Afghanistan, if they did then most of the wars wouldn’t have happened. Could care less if Pakistan supported Taliban - it wasn’t a secret, talks with Taliban were mediated through Pakistan. Most Americans only reminded and taught of Nazi and World war.

For them it is a tool to put pressure on Pakistan and hoping to curb China’s influence. A logical next step for China had always been to connect with the rest of the world via road, rail and any other means possible, would have been for any country with the economy as strong as China and as a top world products supplier.

Placing Turkey on that list is no surprise as Geopolitical is shifting, any Muslim country aligning themselves with China will be placed on this list, can’t really allegedly accuse Western country of terrorism

 

[Romali_rotti]

FYI

I removed the video in Op and replaced with a proper source instead of BJP style propaganda being peddled as news.

Sekhar Gupta is a well respected journalist world wide and is not a BJP stooge like Arnab Goswami. What was the propaganda he peddled according to you bro?

 

[MenInG]

Sekhar Gupta is a well respected journalist world wide and is not a BJP stooge like Arnab Goswami. What was the propaganda he peddled according to you bro?

1. If an important news like that, use a proper source of information which people can read and comment on
2. If you are saying an Indian/Pakistani journalist will carry out a neutral analysis without adding his 2 cents in middle to "enlighten" us then bro, we must be living on another planet.

 

[Romali_rotti]

1. If an important news like that, use a proper source of information which people can read and comment on

Agreed..

2. If you are saying an Indian/Pakistani journalist will carry out a neutral analysis without adding his 2 cents in middle to "enlighten" us then bro, we must be living on another planet.

Agree that Indian/Pakistani journos usually will throw their 2 cents in. However Sekar's report, I felt did not add in anything but facts. I believe Sekar did mention the following; Turkey was Pakistan's best friend, well they are one of Pakistan's best friends, and now joins Pakistan in the FATF grey list, which they now have. He spoke facts so, still not sure where he peddled... Unless if speaking facts is considered peddling then YES, I agree with your stance.

Bold..

 

[MenInG]

Bold..

Do you see the implications there ?

"Turkey is Pakistan's best friend" = Seems Pakistan's friends are running out etc = gloat India.

Note how the same news in presented by Reuters.

 

[MenInG]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan moved to expel the ambassadors of 10 Western countries who appealed for the release of a jailed civil society leader.

Seven of the ambassadors represent Turkey’s NATO allies and the expulsions, if carried out, would open the deepest rift with the West in Erdogan’s 19 years in power.

“I have ordered our foreign minister to declare these 10 ambassadors as persona non grata as soon as possible,” Erdogan said on Saturday, referring to a term used in diplomacy that signifies the first step before expulsion. He did not set a firm date.

Philanthropist Osman Kavala has been in prison since late 2017, charged with financing nationwide protests in 2013 and with involvement in a 2016 failed coup. He denies the charges.

“They must know and understand Turkey,” Erdogan added, accusing the envoys of “indecency”.

“They must leave here the day they no longer know Turkey,” Erdogan said.

The envoys had issued a highly unusual joint statement on Monday saying the continued detention of Parisian-born activist Osman Kavala “cast a shadow” over Turkey.

The US, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden called for a “just and speedy resolution to [Kavala’s] case”.

Jailed since 2017
Kavala has become a symbol of the sweeping crackdown Erdogan unleashed after surviving the coup attempt.

Speaking to the AFP news agency from his jail cell last week, Kavala said he felt like a tool in Erdogan’s attempts to blame a foreign plot for domestic opposition to his nearly two-decade rule.

Kavala said on Friday he would no longer attend his trial as a fair hearing was impossible after recent comments by Erdogan.

The Council of Europe, the continent’s top human rights watchdog, issued a final warning to Turkey to comply with a 2019 European Court of Human Rights order to release Kavala pending trial.

If Turkey fails to do so by its next meeting from November 30 – December 2, the Strasbourg-based council could vote to launch its first disciplinary proceedings against Ankara.

European Parliament President David Sassoli tweeted: “The expulsion of 10 ambassadors is a sign of the authoritarian drift of the Turkish government. We will not be intimidated. Freedom for Osman Kavala.”

‘Authoritarian course’
A source at the German foreign ministry also said the 10 countries were consulting with one another. German legislators called for a tough response.

“Erdogan’s unscrupulous actions against his critics are becoming increasingly uninhibited,” Bundestag vice president Claudia Roth told the dpa news agency. She said Erdogan’s “authoritarian course must be confronted internationally” and demanded sanctions and a halt to weapons exports to Turkey.

“The possible expulsion of 10 ambassadors, including the representatives of Germany and many of Turkey’s NATO allies, would be unwise, undiplomatic and would weaken the cohesion of the alliance,” lawmaker and foreign policy expert Alexander Graf Lambsdorff tweeted. “Erdogan can have no interest in that.”

Norway said its embassy had not received any notification from Turkish authorities.

“Our ambassador has not done anything that warrants an expulsion,” said the ministry’s chief spokesperson, Trude Maaseide, adding that Turkey was well aware of Norway’s views.

“We will continue to call on Turkey to comply with democratic standards and the rule of law to which the country committed itself under the European Human Rights Convention,” Maaseide said.

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said his ministry had not received any official notification, but was in contact with its friends and allies.

“We will continue to guard our common values and principles, as also expressed in the joint declaration,” he said in a statement.

The US said it was aware of the reports and was seeking clarity from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

New Zealand’s foreign ministry meanwhile said it would not comment until it hears “anything formally through official channels,” and added in an e-mailed statement that “New Zealand values its relationship with Turkey”.

Erdogan was quoted on Thursday as saying the ambassadors in question would not release “bandits, murderers and terrorists” in their own countries.

AL Jazeera

 

[ahsan17]

Bold..

I think it's just your interpretation that he's some great neutral journalist. I have gotten the opposite impression from some of his videos.

I must say he does put on quite the impression that could make people think he is a very neutral and impartial journalist. For example, you should read his commentary on the Feb 27 2019 skirmish. Not sure if it's still online but he was peddling full on debunked BJP stories about the terrorist camps being successfully bombed, terrorists getting killed and so on. And the way be was talking with confidence, you would think this crap is widely accepted.

His videos about Pakistan are usually filled with tons of exaggerations and opinions being passed on as facts. I actually used to listen him quite a lot at one point until that Feb 27 skirmish.

 

[ahsan17]

Do you see the implications there ?

"Turkey is Pakistan's best friend" = Seems Pakistan's friends are running out etc = gloat India.

Note how the same news in presented by Reuters.

The guy is hardly a neutral or even decent journalist, and his analysis about Pakistan is usually utter crap.

 

[Giannis]

UAE could end up the FATF's gray list for money laundering and illicit activities

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...nclusion-on-global-watchlist-over-dirty-money

 

[MenInG]

When in trouble... change your name....

==

The Middle Eastern country officially changed its name in December to Türkiye (when the English spelling is used). The decision was made to better reflect the culture and traditions of the country.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a circular in early December making the change to preserve the values that come from the deep-rooted history of the Turkish nation, TRT World reported.

“The phrase Türkiye represents and expresses the culture, civilization and values of the Turkish nation in the best way,” the circular says. “In this context, the phrase ‘Made in Türkiye’ is now being used instead of ‘Made in Turkey’ on our export products, which are the pride of our country in international trade.”

The nation’s tourism group has already rebranded its website as goturkiye.com.

The circular said the change reflects thousands of years of experience. The English word means land of the Turks, and the phrase Türkiye dates back to the 14th century.

“Another valuable step has been taken to strengthen the Turkish brand,” the country’s director of communications, Fahrettin Altun, said of the name change.

The move is not a surprise since the Turkish Exporters Assembly began using Made in Türkiye on its labels starting in January 2020.

There may be another reason for the change. As TRT World points out, English searches for information about “Turkey” bring a plethora of results not associated with the country.

“Type ‘Turkey’ into Google, and you will get a muddled set of images, articles, and dictionary definitions that conflate the country with Meleagris — otherwise known as the turkey, a large bird native to North America — which is famous for being served on Christmas menus or Thanksgiving dinners,” TRT World reported.

Looking it up in the dictionary, turkey will also get results that include “a stupid or silly person” or “something that fails badly.”

While not a common practice, name changes by countries are not as rare as imagined.

Most recently, the Netherlands dropped Holland as an alternate name in 2019. In 2018 Macedonia became North Macedonia, and in 2016 the Czech Republic announced a change to Czechia.

https://www.travelawaits.com/2721555/turkey-changes-spelling-to-turkiye/

 

[JaDed]

It’s so silly people still give into these things(Yes India as well). I would expect better from a country with such high literacy though.
[MENTION=141306]sweep_shot[/MENTION] your fav leader

 

[sweep_shot]

So, Turkiye is the new name. That's awesome.

I think Turkiye seems better than Turkey.

 

[JaDed]

So, Turkiye is the new name. That's awesome.

I think Turkiye seems better than Turkey.

And is the country’s economy better than before?

 

[sweep_shot]

And is the country’s economy better than before?

Economy is often more than just numbers.

Erdogan had to face many obstacles (Kurdish terrorists, Syrian war etc.).

 

[Lonewarrior]

UAE may face FATF grey list over money laundering

The United Arab Emirates is at increased risk of being placed on a global watchdog’s list of countries subject to more oversight for shortcomings in combating money laundering and terrorist financing, even after a recent government push to stamp out illicit transactions.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-04/uae-faces-risk-of-inclusion-on-global-watchlist-over-dirty-money

Lol Pakistan,Turkey and now UAE ...... ) ) )

 

[Pakpak]

So, Turkiye is the new name. That's awesome.

I think Turkiye seems better than Turkey.

??
In Turkish language and in Turkey as far as i know they always call themselves that just like Germany is reallt Deutschland

 

[Varun]

So, Turkiye is the new name. That's awesome.

I think Turkiye seems better than Turkey.

Straight out of the BJP's book.

When nothing is going right, deploy some name changes!

 

[gani999]

Straight out of the BJP's book.

When nothing is going right, deploy some name changes!

The name of the country should have been changed a long time ago. Not a good idea if the country has the same name as something that is devoured for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Doesn't help with the SEO at all.

 

[gani999]

So, Turkiye is the new name. That's awesome.

I think Turkiye seems better than Turkey.

I've heard some Indian Muslims refer to it as Turkistan too.

 

[Local.Dada]

The name of the country should have been changed a long time ago. Not a good idea if the country has the same name as something that is devoured for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Doesn't help with the SEO at all.

I think the point there was to take a dig at BJP.

There isn’t a lot more depth there.

 

[RajBan]

I think the point there was to take a dig at BJP.

There isn’t a lot more depth there.

True. The point still stands though. Irrelevant name change of cities has become the norm by political parties rather than focussing on the core developmental issues. And BJP is ofcourse not alone there.