Senegalese youth inspired to work the land thanks to reality TV show

By: Nathalie GEORGES| Éric BERGERON

19 min

In a few weeks, the second season of the immensely popular reality TV show “Ferme Factory” (Farm Factory) will air across Senegal. But in contrast to the glitter and glamour usually associated with such shows, Ferme Factory is far from that: For four months, 20 contestants compete to get their hands as dirty as possible, facing various farming challenges, including both sowing and plowing. The winner is awarded with his or her very own farm, along with three years of agricultural training.

Aside from the entertainment value, the show is part of the government’s push to popularise the agriculture sector among the country’s youths, encouraging them to work the land rather than replacing the countryside with the city, or set out on the dangerous route of illegal migration.

Documentary by Arte

 Nowruz, the Persian New Year marking the start of spring, has been celebrated for millennia in West Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin and South Asia. But in a pandemic year, a group of Franco-Iranians have taken the celebrations online, using technology to mark an ancient festival.

VIDEO Persian New Year 'Nowruz' festivities go online - France 24

Transfer of Stasi records agency closes a chapter of East German history

The Stasi Records Agency is a legacy of the peaceful revolution in the GDR. Now its name is disappearing, but its spirit is to live on elsewhere.

The Stasi Records Agency stored the secret service files from communist East Germany

This 
number is impressive enough, if not downright colossal: Since 1991, Germany's Stasi records agency received some 7,353,885 requests for access to the files of the Ministry for State Security (MfS) in former East Germany.

Almost half of these (46%) came from people who wanted to find out what the German Democratic Republic's (GDR) secret police, popularly known asthe "Stasi," knew about them personally: Their private lives, their political views, possible escape plans. All this and much more is contained in the informants' reports, which totaled 111 kilometers (68 miles) of files over the course of 40 years in the GDR.

During the peaceful revolution of 1989/90, East German civil rights activists prevented this Stasi legacy from being destroyed. And despite strong reservations in the West, it was thanks to their tireless commitment that the files were opened. A new office was created for this purpose in reunified Germany, with a name that was anything but catchy: the Federal Commissioner for the Records of the State Security Service of the former German Democratic Republic. Colloquially, it became known as the Stasi Records Agency.

Watch video 03:45 Germany: Looking back on Stasi surveillance

Anniversaries triggered greater interest

Now its head, Roland Jahn, has presented his final report in Berlin. The 15th "activity report" marks the end of an era: in early summer the agency will disappear and the files will be moved to the federal archives, 31 years after they were saved — a decision made by parliament last November after years of discussion.

Jahn revealed that there were 23,686 requests for file inspection in 2020, significantly undercutting the previous year's figure (35,554). But the comparatively high number for 2019 may also have been due to the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The same phenomenon was observed on the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Wall. It seems that stronger media coverage of this historic event triggers a desire among many people to take a closer look at their own past.

The Stasi often played a painful role in many lives. "Some need a long time to deal with their biographies," said Roland Jahn. Among the applications, he said, 20% are now from relatives of deceased people seeking to confront the lives of their parents and grandparents in divided Germany.

Watch video 03:00 Recalling the occupation of the Berlin Stasi office

Requests from all over the world

The fact that the Stasi was and is far more than a purely East German issue can be seen from other figures. For example, well over 400,000 applications to inspect files came from western German states; more than 12%. The statistics also reflect a worldwide interest in the Stasi files: a good 21,000 requests come from 100 countries. The Stasi Records Agency has no information about who is behind them, though clearly many could be from former East Germans who emigrated.

But despite its imminent end, the Stasi Records Agency was for many a success story that has been admired around the world, serving as a model for many countries in Eastern Europe, as well as in Latin America and the Middle East, for how to confront past dictatorships. Once files are opened, perpetrators are often found and prosecuted. In some cases, victims find evidence of how their careers were obstructed for political reasons, and then financial reparations may be possible.

Roland Jahn, Marianne Birthler and Joachim Gauck were the heads of the Stasi archive
Check for Stasi past still possible

This will not change after the integration of this unique institution into the Federal Archives. Although it will lose its independence, the files will remain accessible, for the many victims of the GDR system as well as for researchers and journalists. It will also remain possible to research the past of state officials for potential Stasi ties until 2030, thanks to a legal amendment made in 2019.

Such spectacular revelations about Stasi history are now rare. This was of course different in the first decade of the agency, under the leadership of GDR civil rights activist, and future German President Joachim Gauck.

Some critics, such as the former press spokesman of the office, Christian Booss, consider the incorporation into the federal archives a mistake. "Stasi research was effectively wound up," the historian told DW, adding that claims to the contrary are a "labeling fraud."

He considers it a serious problem that the computer-assisted reconstruction of torn Stasi files is, as he puts it, "de facto dead."

Booss now heads the "Citizens' Committee January 15," an association that has set itself the goal of reappraising and preserving the former Stasi headquarters in Berlin.

Roland Jahn, however, believes that the "visibility of the Stasi Records Agency with its exemplary international function will remain even after its integration into the federal archive."

Jahn's term of office ends on June 17, a date chosen with care: It marks the anniversary of the popular uprising in the GDR in 1953, which was put down with the support of Soviet soldiers. The second revolution in divided Germany in 1989/90 was successful. It led to the end of the communist dictatorship and ultimately to Germany's reunification.

This article has been translated from German.

Myanmar: Protesters defy rising death toll

Fresh bloodshed was reported in Myanmar as protesters returned to the streets to march against the military junta.


Protesters have used barricades to slow down security forces

Opponents of the Myanmar junta came out onto the streets across Myanmar on Saturday as they maintained their defiance of the military coup and the ensuing violent crackdown.

At least one person was killed overnight in the northern ruby-mining town of Mogok when security forces opened fire.

"One [person] died on the spot last night while two others are in critical condition in the hospital," a rescue worker told AFP news agency.

Photos shared on Twitter showed students and residents gathering on Saturday morning in the town of Bago, northeast of Yangon.

Previously, the AFP news agency reported that the military was forcing civilians to dismantle the makeshift barricades of bamboo, brick, and burning tires in the country's biggest city of of Yangon. The civilians were forced to work at gunpoint, according to the report.

More than 230 people have died since the beginning of the coup on February 1.
Growing pressure from Asian neighbors

Asian countries have joined others in condemning the coup and calling for an end to the violence. On Friday night Malaysia backed a call by Indonesia President Joko Widodo for an urgent meeting by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"We in Malaysia, and the larger ASEAN community, cannot afford to see our brotherly nation of Myanmar become so destabilized at the hands of a selected few, who seek to promote their own vested interests," Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said

Watch video 04:44 Myanmar's war on the media

The Philippines and Singapore also called for action against the coup which ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 

Global condemnation

Condemnation and pressure from outside of Myanmar has continued to grow. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres repeated his condemnation of the military's violence on Friday, calling for a "firm, unified international response."

The coup was also formally condemned by the US House of Representatives.

U.S. Embassy Burma

@USEmbassyBurma

We welcome the work of the UN to collect evidence of human rights violations committed in Myanmar since the military coup. It is important that evidence is recorded so that those responsible can face justice and be held to account. More on IIMM: http://bit.ly/3c2Fmvz

9:16 PM · Mar 19, 2021

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The US Embassy in Yangon said in a tweet on Saturday that it welcomed "the work of the UN to collect evidence of human rights violations committed in Myanmar since the military coup. It is important that evidence is recorded so that those responsible can face justice and be held to account."

Myanmar: Protesters defy rising death toll | News | DW | 20.03.2021

#ABOLISHMONARCHY

Thai police clash with protesters near king's palace

Protesters in Bangkok broke through a barricade of shipping containers near the royal palace while calling for reforms to the monarchy.



At least 11 people were injured after police in Bangkok deployed water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets

Thai police used water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd gathered near the King's Palace in Bangkok on Saturday. At least 11 people were hurt during the clashes, the city's Erawan Emergency Medical Centre said.

More than 1,000 demonstrators had gathered to demand the release of protest leaders, whose mass trial on charges of sedition and insulting the monarchy began this week.

"The police officers will remain in the area until peace and order has truly been restored," police spokesperson Krissana Pattanacharoen said.

At least five protesters have been arrested.

How did the protest turn violent?

The rally was mostly peaceful, although some protesters threw firecrackers and allegedly used slingshots to fire objects at the police, authorities said.

The organizers also said they planned to fly paper planes with messages over the palace walls. However, tensions escalated when protesters broke through a barricade of shipping containers. The police police erected the wall, which was two-container tall, on a historic field in front of the palace to keep the marchers from getting close to the palace.

Hundreds of police in riot gear and shields advanced to push people away from the palace area.

Once protesters were able to get through, they threw Molotov cocktails at police who retaliated with water cannon jets and rubber bullets.

Why have protesters returned to the streets?

The fresh protests also took place after parliament this week failed to pass a bill to rewrite the military-backed constitution, one of the protesters' main demands.

The protest movement is also calling for the reform of the monarchy — including the abolition of draconian royal defamation laws.

Watch video 02:48 Thai king is a headache for Germany

The laws shield the ultra-powerful King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family from libel, but rights groups say their broad use means anything perceived as criticism can land a person in jail for up to 15 years per charge.

Since the movement kicked off in July, with thousands of students taking part, more than 60 people have been charged under the lese majeste law.

"We're demanding real democracy and not a government that says it is elected but comes from the army,” said a man who gave his name as Kung. "The world has changed and we want the same kind of monarchy as in Western countries.”

The youth movement has posed the biggest challenge so far to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who critics say has manipulated the law to keep himself in power in the years following the 2014 military coup.

Watch video 01:57 Bangkok's Khaosan Road: Hanging on until tourists return

mm/dj (AFP, dpa, Reuters)

Iceland halts air travel following volcanic eruption

A volcano in southwest Iceland has erupted — as anticipated following thousands of smaller earthquakes in the area in recent weeks.

Watch video 01:31 Volcano erupts near Iceland's capital

A long-dormant volcano in southwest Iceland erupted on Friday some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the capital Reykjavik, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.

Local media reported that both inbound and outgoing air traffic had been halted from Keflavik International Airport, the country's largest, servicing the capital.

The eruption followed thousands of smaller earthquakes in the area in recent weeks, with officials bracing for an eruption as a result.

Watch video 00:45 Seismologist talks to DW about Iceland volcano eruption

'Color code red'

The Meteorological Office reported the fissure caused by the eruption near the Fagradals Mountain was around 500 meters (roughly 1,640 feet) long, declaring "flight color code is red but very little turbulence is seen on seismometers."

A seismograph showed the eruption started at 8:45 p.m. local time.

The lava appeared to "flow slowly," the Meteorological Office added as they shared an aerial view video of the eruption on Facebook.

Authorities urged people to avoid the eruption site.

"We ask people to stay calm and not under any circumstances go close to the eruption site or on Reykjanesbraut. First responders need to be able to drive freely to assess the situation. Scientists are working on assessing the eruption," police said.

Iceland's Minister of Justice Aslaug Arna Sigurbjornsdottir shared an image of the eruption showing a night sky glowing bright red.

 

Two flights were inbound to the Keflavik International Airport.

A Coast Guard helicopter was sent to the scene to investigate the volcanic eruption.

The Icelandic Police Department said it expected volcanic gas pollution to extend as far as the southern coast of the Ölfus municipality, where at least 2,000 people live, almost 50 kilometers away from Reykjavik.

Authorities added that the pollution might continue through the night, urging people to stay indoors and keep windows shut.

An expected eruption

Iceland's Southern Peninsula and its Krysuvik volcanic system, a largely uninhabited zone that includes Mount Keilir, had recorded at least 40,000 tremors as hefty as magnitude 5.7 since February 24.

Experts had said prior to the eruption that they expected a lava-based outpouring, nothing reminiscent of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which generated a massive ash cloud, notoriously disrupting around 900,000 flights across Europe over a period of several weeks.

The region is known to experience effusive eruptions, where lava flows out of the ground, rather than explosive ones, in which ash clouds burst high into the sky. The latter are far more problematic for air travel, with the ash capable of damaging jet engines and affecting visibility.

The Krysuvik volcanic system has been inactive for almost 900 years, according to the Meteorological Office. The southern Reykjanes peninsula last witnessed an eruption 781 years ago.

fb/msh (AFP, dpa, Reuters)

ANALYSIS - 

Theo-politics of Pope’s visit to Iraq

Although it may be considered unnecessary to overplay the Pope’s visit by reading too much into it, when it comes to a two-thousand-year-old theopolitical institution, it is necessary to examine every detail of it from different angles

Prof. Dr. Ozcan Hıdır |18.03.2021

LONG READ



ISTANBUL

Pope Francis, the new Jesuit-origin leader of the Papacy, an institution with two thousand years of theopolitical history, visited Iraq as his first visit outside of Italy since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour, which seems to have been planned with the Papacy’s experience and consciousness going back two millennia, came to the fore with the announcement that the Pope had accepted the invitation sent by the Catholic community in Iraq in 2019 and that the visit would take place in 2020. As a result, for the first time in history, a Pope paid a visit to Iraq, where an estimated 250 thousand Christians live. As will be remembered, in 1999, the then Pope John Paul II wanted to visit Iraq, but Saddam Hussein did not allow it. The previous Pope, Benedict XVI, also wanted to plan a visit there, but he could not go, either.

Although it may be considered unnecessary to overplay the Pope’s visit by reading too much into it, when it comes to a two-thousand-year-old theopolitical institution, it is important to examine every detail of it from different angles, since both the scope of the visit and several symbolic statements made by the Pope drew attention (for example, he said “Assalamu Alaikum” when he first arrived, and later in his speech in Baghdad he remarked, “I come as a pilgrim of peace”). Apart from his meetings with state officials, he visited Najaf, the holy city of Iraqi-Arab Shi’ism, and met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (which was the first time a senior Ayatollah met with the Pope), and in the ancient city of Ur, where Prophet Abraham was born, he listened to a Quranic recitation and prayed with the representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities, held a mass in the Assyrian and Chaldean cathedral-churches and met with opinion leaders, with representatives of the Kurdish administration in the Four Churches Square in Mosul (Nineveh) and in Erbil, and held masses at the Franso Hariri Stadium, which can be stated as theopolitical symbolic messages. To the journalists on board the papal plane, Pope Francis stressed the significance of the tour and the symbols associated with it by saying, “This is a symbolic visit, a mission; Iraq has long been a country of martyrs and victims.”

On the occasion of the meeting of the Pope and Sistani, and members of different religions in Ur also coming together by this opportunity, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s announcement that March 6 would henceforth be celebrated as a “National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence” in Iraq, which came as a remarkable aspect of the visit.

Religious or political?

It was also discussed on account of this visit whether the Pope’s visit to Iraq, and all his international visits in general, were made with his religious identity, political identity, or both political and religious (i.e., theopolitical) identities. As it is known, the Pope, as the successor of Apostle Peter, is regarded as God’s “deputy on earth.” As a consequence, the Pope’s true identity is religious, or theopolitical, and the public opinion is in that direction. As the head of state of the Vatican, he also has a secular position. What kind of identity/identities popes assume for their foreign visits, such as Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq, is also up for discussion. Because he has, so to speak, a “hybrid” identity, it is reasonable to assume that he made these visits with both identities (which may seem paradoxical), and that this is how the world perceives him; his religious or theopolitical position is nevertheless more prominent.

Mosul-Nineveh and Ur visits and Iraqi Sunnis

The ancient township of Nineveh, whose history dates back to 700 BC, and the city of Ur, which is considered to be the birthplace of Prophet Abraham, were two of the most important stops on the Pope’s visit to Iraq. Nineveh is also known as the city of Prophet Jonah (in whose name there is a surah in the Qur’an, and one of the books of the Old Testament is also named after him). The tomb of Prophet Jonah in Nineveh, as well as the town itself, was destroyed by Daesh when it invaded Mosul.

Despite the fact that many mosques in the area were also destroyed, Pope Francis brought up only the churches destroyed by Daesh in Mosul-Nineveh and prayed for war and armed conflict victims in the Hosh al-Bieaa Square in Qaraqosh (Al-Hamdaniya) district, also known as the “capital of Iraqi Christians.” Nobody talks about the suffering of Iraqi Sunnis, either in Mosul, the Sunni heartland, or in other parts of the country; the Pope didn’t even mention it. He could have made a symbolic gesture of goodwill by meeting with an Iraqi Sunni religious leader as well. Furthermore, the Pope’s remarks about “living in fraternity” and “no one should be killed” inevitably prompt us to ask a crucial question: who, in the first place, turned Syria, and especially Iraq, into the war-torn ruins that they are now, killing hundreds of thousands of Muslims?

Papacy, Iraqi Shi’ism and Iran

Although this is a debatable point, it can be said that, of all Muslim groups, Shi’ism, with its institutional and doctrinal structure, is most comparable to the Vatican-Papacy. One of the most striking pictures of the 84-year-old Pope’s visit to Iraq was his meeting with the 91-year-old Sistani --the leader of Arab Shiites, whose theological/theopolitical aspect is more prominent-- at the home of the latter -- and without even paying attention to wearing a mask or maintaining social distance. Although Sistani is of Iranian-Persian origin, he has differences of opinion with Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the city of Qom, the learning center of the Twelver Shia. The Pope’s meeting with Sistani has political/theopolitical significance with regard to Iran and Khamenei. We may also question whether the US was involved in the planning of this visit, since it seems only reasonable to assume that the US would be more than happy to foster ethno-sectarian rivalry among Shi’ites and would therefore not want Khamenei to establish authority over all Shi’ites. To that end, the schism among Shi’ites -- Sistani/Iraqi Shi’ites vs. Khamenei/Iranian Shi’ites -- may deepen, which would actually serve Israel’s interests. The rivalry between Qom and Najaf, as well as between Persian and Arab Shi’ism is well-known and has always existed in the background. In this context, it is also noteworthy that, during the Pope’s visit, a banner reading “You are part of us, we are part of you” was unfurled by a group of Christians, referring to Sistani, who has a well-known general attitude regarding the protection and security of Iraqi Christians.

On the other hand, while there is as yet no official response from Iran regarding these talks and messages, it seems that these messages did not sit well with the pro-Iranian Shi’ites in the country. Abu Ali al-Askari, a senior Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah commander, said on Twitter, “We should not be optimistic about the Pope’s visit and him making our homes calm and peaceful”. Iranian analyst Dr. Hossein Ruywaran also described the visit as political, not religious.

The “patron of Middle Eastern Christians”: Pope

One of the main messages of the symbolic rituals and church visits during Pope’s visit can be considered a reminder of the Christian past in these lands, as well as the Pope’s position as “guardian” of the Christian minorities in the region. As a matter of fact, the Pope brought up, at every opportunity, the difficulties faced by Christian minorities in the country and region, especially during his 50-minute meeting with Sistani. Sistani, on the other hand, emphasized the constitutional rights of the Christian minorities in the country and their right to live in peace and security like other Iraqi citizens. In fact, it is known that many Christians were settled in Shi’ite areas along the Najaf-Karbala road with Sistani’s approval.

Although there were nearly one and a half million Christians in Iraq 20 years ago, the number is now estimated to be about 250 thousand. These Christians come from diverse racial and denominational backgrounds. In addition to the small number of Catholic communities, there are also Chaldeans who are close to the Papacy in terms of administration. There are Orthodox and Catholic Syriacs, Armenians, and a small number of Protestant-Evangelical groups as well. With this visit, the Pope also gave the message that he is the protector of all these Christians. Naturally, this can be interpreted as a “Catholicization mission/call”, the implicit message being, “Come under the umbrella/patronage of the Vatican and the Papacy”, because the Vatican’s/Pope’s “interfaith dialogue” project actually aims at Christianizing non-Christians and Catholicizing non-Catholics. In this sense, the Pope’s visit to Najaf can actually be seen as a visit to al-Hirah, which is nearby. Al-Hirah, the capital of the Lakhmids, one of the ancient Christian peoples of the region, was instrumental in the revival of Christian cities and regions in the Middle East. Besides, in Christian theology, the Middle East, including Anatolia, is actually considered to be a sacred Christian land.

On the other hand, the Pope’s visit to Iraq could be interpreted as a message against the activities, based on an orientalist-humanist background, aimed at reviving Zoroastrianism, especially among Northern Iraqi Kurds. Numerous articles and analyses have been published about how the efforts to this end have ratcheted up in recent years. As a matter of fact, one of the messages delivered by Pope Francis during his Sunday service in a stadium in Erbil was addressed to this particular issue.

- Pope’s UAE visit of 2019 and 'new theopolitical line'

We should also establish a link between the Pope-Sistani meeting and the Pope’s talks with al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb --both during his 2017 visit to Egypt and the highly symbolic and theopolitical three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2019. In this context, the Pope met with Ahmet al-Tayeb, who he believes represents al-Azhar and Sunnis on the one hand, and Sistani, whom he highlighted as “the leader of Shi’ites”, on the other.

As will be remembered, the Pope’s visit to the UAE also drew attention as it was the first papal visit to the Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, and it was emphasized in terms of the UAE’s likely future theopolitical position in the Middle East. During the visit, al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb greeted the Pope by hugging him at the airport and stayed by his side almost the entire time. Together, they signed the UAE-based “Muslim Government Council” and “Human Brotherhood” memorandum, and attended the “interfaith dialogue” meeting at the Sheikh Zayed mosque, attended by nearly 700 religious leaders. Following that, over 120 thousand Christians attended the mass held by the Pope at the Zayed Stadium.

Last October, the Pope released a new declaration entitled “Fratelli Tutti (All Brothers)” -- a call to universal fraternity and social unity -- in which he addressed all humanity. Therefore, his two meetings with the al-Azhar Sheikh in Egypt and in the UAE, and the one with Sistani during his latest visit to Iraq should be interpreted in light of this document/call. As a result, the Pope strengthened his relationship with the Islamic world, including both the Sunni and the Arab-Shiite wings. This can also be interpreted as a new “theopolitical line/alliance” addressed to the Islamic world, but one that excludes the Qatar-based World Union of Muslim Scholars (Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Ahmad al-Raysuni) as well as Iranian Shi’ism and Khamenei. We can also include within this line the Saudi Arabia-based World Islamic Union (Rabita) and Muhammed bin Abdul Karim Issa, who has previously met with the Pope and Vatican officials several times.

Abraham Accords and alliance of Semitic nations

It's possible to draw a connection between the “Abraham Accords” process, which started under former US President Donald Trump’s leadership, and the Pope’s visit to Iraq. Muslim countries such as the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan have taken a so-called “normalization” step towards Israel. The Pope’s visit to Iraq may also be interpreted as a follow-up to the Abraham Accords. Indeed, the Abraham Accords can be viewed as a continuation of a merely “dialogue project,” which is nothing more than an orientalist take on “Abrahamic religions.” Thus, the Pope’s visit to the city of Ur, the birthplace of Prophet Abraham, and his emphasis on Prophet Abraham should be underlined in this respect. Pope Francis gave a message, saying “Unity, togetherness and faith began from Ur. We are descendants of Abraham”. The importance of Prophet Abraham was emphasized in the agreements between Israel and Arab countries, which were interspersed with references to an “alliance of Semitic nations”, referring to the shared Semitic heritage of Arabs and Jews. However, it is well-known that Arabs and Muslims, especially Prophet Muhammad, have been insulted in Jewish-Christian literature throughout history, and this is done in part by referring to them as “Ishmaelites-Hagarenes” (i.e., children of slaves/concubines).

All of this may point to a possible alliance between the Vatican and Israel aimed at a common approach to the greater Middle East; it is understood that they recently agreed to end their animosity

The “Catholic” Biden influence

The role of Joe Biden, the new Catholic president of the United States, in this potential alliance and the Pope’s visit to Iraq amid the pandemic has not gone unquestioned, either. Biden, who is proud of being a member of the American model of the Roman Catholic Church, is the second Catholic president of the United States after John F. Kennedy. This brings to mind Biden’s desire to create a theopolitical line in the Islamic world under the leadership of the Pope-Vatican/Catholicism. As a matter of fact, during his visit, the Pope did not say a word about the invaders in Iraq, first and foremost the US, which together have ruined the country and should leave it once and for all.

Essentially, this theopolitical line, which we believe was initiated by the Pope long before the visit, was merely continued with his visit to Iraq as leader of the Catholic world only a few months after Catholic President Biden took office in the White House. The region will soon see the repercussions of this.

A theopolitical bloc against the Russian Orthodox Church?

On the other hand, this visit of the Pope to Iraq as the “patron of Christians” can also be interpreted as the Papacy’s rivalry/bloc against the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has been especially strong in Syria. This rivalry was closely followed in different regions, especially in Ukraine, and a rivalry formed between the Russian Orthodox Church and the pro-Western churches, particularly the Vatican. It is no secret that Russia wants to reinforce the “ecumenical” influence of the Russian Orthodox Church. There is even no shortage of statements in which Putin, the head of the Russian Church, is referred to as a “Mahdi-Messiah” or “the Tsar and the Saint” charged with preparing Russia for Doomsday, the apocalyptic reckoning, or the great end. There are also books published with such titles as “The Apocalyptics of Vladimir Putin.”

These theopolitical policies, whose most recent repercussions we have been witnessing in Syria, represent the Russian Orthodox Church’s desire to become the new leader and patron of all Eastern Christians. In this regard, Pope’s visit to Iraq could be interpreted as an attempt by the West, especially the United States, to curb the Russian Church’s theopolitical sphere of influence in Iraq-Syria and the Middle East.

What is the message of the visit for Turkey?

The Pope’s visit to Iraq can also be said to contain subtle messages for Turkey. In fact, the Pope’s highly symbolic statements and talks during his visit can be assessed as a message to Turkey, implying overall that they definitely do not desire to see the region being shaped by a powerful Sunni country like Turkey. Indeed, Sunnis and Sunnism in Iraq were besieged from all sides up until a few years ago; now it is even worse: they have been on the verge of being completely eliminated or neutralized for quite some time.

Another symbolic meeting the Pope had in this regard was with members of the terrorist Hashd al-Shaabi, which was established with Sistani's fatwa and has been collaborating with PKK terrorists in Sinjar, as it turned out. Moreover, it was reported in several news outlets covering the Pope’s visit that he gave his own rosary beads to Rayan Salim al-Kildani, the leader of the Babylon Brigade, a Christian militia founded in 2014 as part of Hashd al-Shaabi; the same Hashd al-Shaabi that has been hurling threats at Turkey for some time. During the meeting between the Pope and Sistani, the head of a Hashd al-Shaabi subunit even made a comment along the lines of purchasing an air defense system from the United States in order to defend themselves against Turkey.

It seems that there are both visible and subtle aspects and ramifications of the Pope’s visit to Iraq. Therefore, theopolitical ramifications of the visit in the area, especially in Iraq, will become clearer as the Biden administration takes concrete steps toward the region. We’ll have to wait and see.

Translated from Turkish by Baran Burgaz Ayaz

Prof. Dr. Ozcan Hıdır

The author is a faculty member at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University. He specializes in hadith studies, the relationship between Jewish and Christian cultures, inter-religious and intercultural interactions, Orientalism-Occidentalism, theopolitics, anti-Islamism (cultural racism), and Islam and Muslims in Europe and the West.

* Opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Anadolu Agency.

Employees at Goldman Sachs complain of 100-hour work weeks and abuse from colleagues
March 19, 2021


JUNIOR bankers at investment bank Goldman Sachs have said that they are facing ‘inhumane’ conditions, including 100-hour work weeks and ‘abuse’ from colleagues.

An internal survey among 13 first-year bankers showed they averaged 95 hours of work a week and slept five hours a night, reports said.

The survey, presented to the bank as a slideshow in February, is now circulating on Twitter.

Its contents suggest that at least one division of Goldman Sachs is still struggling with the long hours, high-pressure culture that was exposed when a 22-year-old analyst at the bank took his own life in 2015, reported The Guardian.

The graduates describe an office environment reminiscent of scenes from the recent HBO fictional TV series Industry, which depicts the lives of new staff at the London branch of a US bank.

One said: “There was a point where I was not eating, showering or doing anything else other than working from morning until after midnight.”

“The sleep deprivation, the treatment by senior bankers, the mental and physical stress … I’ve been through foster care and this is arguably worse,” another anonymous contributor to the survey said.

Sources within the bank confirmed the survey was conducted by junior analysts themselves, and presented internally before it started to circulate online.

In 2013 Moritz Erhardt, 21, a Bank of America Merrill Lynch intern, was found dead in a shower at his London flat. He had worked for 72 hours in a row and died of an epileptic seizure.

The death in 2015 concerning a Goldman Sachs analyst was that of Sarvshreshth Gupta, who had complained of working 100 hours over a week and working all night.

The analysts in the survey said that on average they were working 95 hours a week but up to 105 hours mid-February when the poll was conducted.

According to The Guardian report, the entire group said the tough conditions had adversely impacted their relationships with friends and family, and severely affected their mental and physical health.

Responding to the survey, Goldman said: “We recognise that our people are very busy, because business is strong and volumes are at historic levels. A year into Covid people are understandably quite stretched, and that’s why we are listening to their concerns and taking multiple steps to address them.”

It added that it was also transferring staff internally to help its busiest departments, and enforcing a policy of no work on Saturdays.

Asians in Germany targets of racist stereotypes, violence

Racial stereotypes about Asians abound in Germany, and often cross over into physical assault. As in the US and around the world, COVID-19 has further spurred anti-Asian racism.


Students from many countries, including those from Asia, sit at a lecture hall at a university in Zwickau, Saxony

"Hey Chinese, Asian, why are you here?" These words were directed at Zacky, an Indonesian student in Germany, as he walked down a street in Berlin. Once he was actually hit by a man while walking near the city's Museum of Natural History.

Puspa, an Indonesian like Zacky and a student at the University of Bonn, has also had her share of racist experiences. She was walking home from a friend’s house on New Year's eve when "someone threw a firework at me," she said. Based on prior experience, she was "pretty sure" it happened because she was wearing the hijab.

Berlin-based Chinese documentary filmmaker Popo Fan recounts harrowing experiences with racism in the Berlin subway. In 2019, before the pandemic, Fan was at Kottbusser Tor station and a person told him to "f*** back to China."

When the incident in the underground occurred, there were seven or eight people present. "No one helped me at all, no one even looked," he said. "They were on their phones or just turned their head."

Watch video 03:08 Anti-Asian racism on the rise in Germany since COVID-19

Racism 'anchored in German society'

While racist attitudes towards people of Asian origin have been in focus following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its alleged origins in the city of Wuhan in China, prejudices against Asians have long been evident in Germany.

Under the Nazi regime, Chinese living in Germany were expelled or deported to concentration and forced labor camps. But the most widespread anti-Asian racism would occur in the decade after German reunification.

The targets were mostly migrants from Vietnam who initially came to East Germany as part of a program to bring in workers from other communist regimes. Almost 60,000 contract workers from the Southeast Asian country were living in East Germany when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Thousands of Vietnamese students and contract workers were brought to East Germany after World War II

Two years later, neo-Nazis attacked Vietnamese traders in Hoyerswerda in Saxony. They also formed a mob outside a migrant shelter and hurled abuse at the residents.

The worse anti-immigrant riots also took place in Rostock-Lichtenhagen in 1992, when around 2,000 right-wing extremists attacked and fire-bombed a housing block filled with Vietnamese contract workers. Thousands of onlookers reportedly applauded the extremists, while the police did little to stop the attacks.

"This image shaped many people who are fighting against racism in Germany today," said Ferat Ali Kocak, a Berlin-based anti-racism activist. "It became clear to us that for various reasons, anti-Asian racism, even if it's not always visible, is strongly anchored in German society."

Police in Rostock-Lichtenhagen deploy counter measures against neo-Nazis during violent riots in 1992

Rising anti-Asian racism since pandemic

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany last year, this prejudice has become increasingly visible. Filmmaker Pop Fan recalls being yelled at and called "corona" in the subway. "I went to the police and told them they must do something. They did nothing. I asked them, what are you waiting for? For me to be shot by a gun?" he recalled

Fan has since decided to keep his distance from the public transport system in Berlin. The experience brings back traumatic memories.

"You don’t have COVID, do you?" a friend asked Michelle, a Bonn-based young Chinese professional. While the comments could be interpreted as racism, Michelle nonetheless says she understands why people behave this way.

"It’s only human and there is this association with China because the virus probably originated there," she told DW. She describes discrimination within China itself related to the virus, with people from Hubei province — where the first COVID cases occurred — having been socially stigmatized and locked up in their houses.

Watch video03:54 US: Anti-Asian American hate incidents surge

Stereotypes perpetuated in popular culture

Anti-Asian racism in Germany takes many forms, says Popo Fan, who notes that German television barely features Asian characters. Even when Asians do appear on screen they tend to portray stereotypes such a "waitress in an Asian restaurant," or a "young girl working in a spa," he said.

The prejudices also seep into the dating world. "In the queer community, there is also a stereotype," said Fan. "Men on Grindr [a location-based social networking and online dating application for members of the LGBT+ community] say that they won’t hook up with Asian men because they hear it’s like having sex with a dolphin. It’s such an awful thing to say."

Another example of anti-Asian racism in the German media recently made headlines when Matthias Matuschik, a presenter on Bavarian radio station Bayern 3, compared K-pop boy band BTS to the COVID-19 virus after they covered the Coldplay song "Fix You." He described BTS as "some crappy virus that hopefully there will be a vaccine for soon as well."

The social media backlash was global.

Yet Michelle, the young Chinese woman living in Bonn, says she feels accepted in Germany. "People needing directions often come up to me and ask for help even though I look foreign," she says. Initially, she did sense some discrimination, but she believes it could be attributed to cultural misunderstandings. "Germans are direct," she said, adding this has changed in recent years. "They laugh much more."

Youth 'taking to the streets' over racism

Meanwhile, German youth are engaging more with issues like racism and are often more open and accepting, according to Frank Joung, host of the Halbe Katoffl (Half Potato) podcast which promotes dialogue between Germans from immigrant backgrounds.

"They [young people] chat with people all over the world, they are connected through apps, they listen to K-pop, watch Black Panther. I think, for them, it’s a logical way — they are not even thinking about who is 'Black' or 'white'," he said.

Anti-racist activist Kocak shares the sentiment. "With the Black Lives Matter movement and the anti-racism movements after Hanau, something has happened," he said, referring to the February 2020 mass shooting at a shisha bar that killed several people of Turkish descent in the city near Frankfurt.

"We live in an unjust world here and we need much more solidarity," Kocak added. "Young people are realizing this right and taking to the streets."

Asians in Germany targets of racist stereotypes, violence | Culture| Arts, music and lifestyle reporting from Germany | DW | 20.03.2021