Terror Trends Bulletin

For the second time in 4 months, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has been closely tied to a Saudi national who has been designated by the US Treasury Department as a foreign terrorist.

The Saudi terrorist is a man named Yasin al-Qadi.

Michael Rubin first reported on Erdogan’s close relationship with al-Qadi in an article in Commentary magazine back in September:

Turkey’s Double Speak on Al Qaeda

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/09/12/turkeys-double-speak-on-al-qaeda/

Erdogan makes no effort to hide his close relationship with the Jihadist terrorist:

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan…has embraced and continues to support Yasin al-Qadi, designated by the U.S. Treasury Department to be terror financier, having channeled money to al-Qaeda. After it came out that Cuneyt Zapsu, a top Erdoğan adviser, had donated money to Yasin al-Qadi, Erdoğan defended both his aide and Qadi himself. “I know Yasin, I believe in him as I do in myself. He is a charitable person who loves Turkey,” Erdogan told Turkish television.

Now, Turkish media is reporting that al-Qadi has been coming and going into and out of Turkey under the protection of Erdogan’s personal security detail. This suggests a far greater relationship than previously supposed. In fact, this would have to be considered material support for a known terrorist.

Yasin al-Qadi escorted by PM’s security detail, daily reports

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-335341-yasin-al-qadi-escorted-by-pms-security-detail-daily-reports.html

Turkey may be placed in a difficult position in the international arena as Yasin al-Qadi, a Saudi Arabian businessman who is on the US Treasury Department’s “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list, has entered Turkey multiple times escorted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s protective detail and without a passport or visa, the Taraf daily reported on Monday.

It’s no wonder that Erdogan’s Turkey has been labeled by some as the chief sponsor of HAMAS, supplanting Iran in that role…

Islamist Turkey Replaces Iran as Hamas’ Sugar Daddy

http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/islamist-turkey-replaces-iran-as-hamas-sugar-daddy/

Israel’s intelligence community has determined that Turkey became the lead financier of Hamas. Israeli sources said Turkey replaced Iran as the leading financial backer of Hamas since 2012.

The sources said the government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has overseen the transfer of up to $250 million a year to Hamas, particularly the Islamic regime in the Gaza Strip.

“The money is channeled mostly through private sources, but with full coordination with Erdogan and his aides,” a source said.

The sources said Turkey has coordinated the cash transfers with another ally of Hamas. They said Erdogan was working with Qatar, which has been hosting the Hamas leadership since its expulsion from Syria in late 2011.