Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Football diplomacy brought Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan together in Doha for the opening of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Years of tension between the two were broken with a friendly handshake. The big differences between the two large countries centered on Erdogan’s support of the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist organization banned in Egypt, Syria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, but not banned in America. Erdogan said later that the ministers of both countries will meet and begin a process that may develop into talks to build the…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israeli citizens and journalists are allowed in Qatar in a FIFA agreement during the 2022 World Cup now underway in Doha. Being allowed to enter a country to watch football, or to cover an event as a journalist or media crew, is far different than being welcome. Israeli journalists have reported numerous interactions with football fans and locals in Qatar that let them know they are not welcome because they are from Israel. Moav Vardi, Israeli channel KAN 11, was told by a football fan on live TV from Doha, “It is Palestine, there…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Kurds in northeastern Syria have established their semi-autonomous administration which they call “Rojava”. They are now under threat of an increased invasion and occupation by Turkish ground troops, which could end in ethnic cleansing and mass casualties. Turkish President Erdogan has demanded for years that the US must stop supporting the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) and their armed wing the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) which serve as the army of “Rojava”. Although Turkey and the US are partners in NATO, and long-term allies, with a US military base in Turkey, the two sides…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator “It’s the end of the road for those who believe they can stall Turkey by pun games, by changing names of terrorist organizations, by sharing pictures showing their soldiers next to terrorists,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. Erdogan was directly referring to the US and their support of the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) and their fiercest fighters, the People’s Defense Units (YPG), who are tied to the PKK, an internationally outlawed terrorist group which have killed about 40,000 people in Turkey over three decades. “We oppose this move and call for immediate…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On November 13, a blast ripped through Istiklal street, a busy pedestrian area in the Beyoglu neighborhood of Istanbul.  The explosion killed six people and wounded 81 at about 4:30 pm local time. Among the dead were Arzu Ozsoy and her 15-year-old daughter Yagmur Ucar, a nine-year-old girl and her father, and a married couple. All were Turkish citizens. Later, politicians visited the site where a reported 1,200 Turkish flags were displayed along with flower memorials to the victims. On November 15, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 58 of those injured had been discharged…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey are neighbors in an increasingly unstable Middle East, in which Saudi Arabia plays a key role. The US has meddled in the Middle East for decades and is responsible for the destruction of several countries who have not recovered from failed American policies. Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse interviewed Ambassador Peter Ford to take his expert analysis of important issues developing in the region. Peter Ford served as the British ambassador to Bahrain from 1999 to 2003 and Syria from 2003 to 2006, and is currently the London-based Co-Chairman of…

The interior minister claims the woman acted on behalf of “Kurdish terrorists” in Syria Turkish authorities have released images of a woman, arrested for allegedly planting a bomb that killed six people and injured 81 in Istanbul on Sunday. Ankara has accused Kurdish militias in Syria of masterminding the plot. The arrest was announced earlier on Monday by Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, who said the suspect was arrested in a hideout by Istanbul police. Images shown by Turkish media include footage of the police operation, showing the suspect and several other individuals being detained and escorted by armed officers. There…

With more than 96% of ballots counted, AP, CNN, NBC and Edison Research have called the crucial Nevada race for Democrats Incumbent Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto took a narrow lead over Republican challenger Adam Laxalt on Saturday night in Nevada’s crucial race, with multiple major US media outlets already calling the result and projecting that the Democrats will retain their grip on the Senate. The Republican challenger maintained a narrow lead up until Saturday evening, when with some 96% of the ballots counted, CNN, NBC and Edison Research all projected a Democratic victory. Mail-in votes from the state’s main urban…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator In France, it is banned in schools, and in Iran it is mandatory. The French fashion police are interfering with women’s freedom while criticizing their counterparts in Iran. A piece of cloth used by women to cover their hair has become a point of contention. The Orthodox Jewish women and the American Amish women wear head coverings, but when a Muslim woman wears a headscarf (hijab) it becomes an issue. “We constantly vilify these morality police in Iran and Afghanistan, but in countries like France, if you are wearing the full veil, police will…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Russian warplanes shelled positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, on November 6 in Idlib province. Some of the terrorists killed were: Abdul Minam Muhati, Radwan Hussain Muhayer, Abu Dawoud al-Filistini, Mohammad Ali al-Kadour, Abu Hussein al-Raddad, Abu Hajat al-Chad, Amro abu Layth al-Askandarani, and Mohammed Suliaman al-Ali. The Syrian air force targeted positions of HTS and destroyed a drone factory in the suburbs of Idlib. This attack was in response to an earlier HTS attack on the suburbs of Latakia causing the…