The Association of Justice Defenders Strategic Studies Center
www.assam.org.tr
ASSAM is a strategic research center (SRC) with thematic areas of focus, which has been operating for over a decade. The fundamental interest of our center lies in seeking answers to the question: "How can a just and free world be established?" in the face of global injustices and imbalances. In the current global order, there exists a structure in which those deprived of power are unable to defend their rights. In this context, the solution lies in forming a unity of power to become an influential actor within global equations.
ASSAM conducts research on the theoretical foundations and practical implementation models of concepts frequently mentioned in the public sphere such as the “Union of Islam” or “Ittihad al-Islam.” It also develops solution proposals on how this unity can be achieved.
The Paradigm Shift That Brought Success in Turkiye’s Fight Against International Terrorism
Written by Melih TANRIVERDİ
For over 40 years, Turkiye has been combating separatist terrorism, facing not merely a security issue but a complex proxy war orchestrated by global powers. Foreign actors, particularly those supporting terrorist organizations like the PKK both ideologically and logistically, have aimed to destabilize Turkiye, preventing it from rising to a global stature and nullifying its regional influence. Over the years, successive governments have adopted various measures – some periods relied solely on military suppression of terrorism, while others attempted negotiation processes. However, these approaches alone proved insufficient to eliminate the root causes of the problem.
Beginning in the 2000s, as global power balances shifted and under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkiye’s global vision expanded, giving rise to a more strategic and holistic counterterrorism approach. This new understanding was shaped significantly by the contributions of the late retired general Adnan Tanrıverdi, the founding president of ASSAM and then-Chief Advisor to the President. Under Tanrıverdi’s guidance, a new counterterrorism concept was developed – prioritizing the elimination of terrorism at its source, including cross-border operations. This approach moved away from traditional defensive reflexes, evolving into a multidimensional strategy that is proactive, intelligence-driven, inclusive of local actors, and reliant on international diplomacy.
Since its creation in 1948, Israeli has perpetually committed war crimes, including genocide, ethnic cleansing, blockade to cause famine, starvation as a weapon of war, destroying livelihood of Palestinians, and attacking food and humanitarian assistance conveys at Gaza unabatedly. Since October 2023, the crimes have increased manifolds. War crimes are the violations of international criminal law, including the international humanitarian laws as well. All such crimes have been documented and acknowledged by the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the Inter Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and all most all renowned international human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch. But that does deter Israel at all because she is being encouraged by the United States and many West European countries to continue committing such crimes. Indeed, they do not wish to stop the ongoing genocide of Muslims. In fact, many of them are accomplices to these heinous crimes against humanity by providing diplomatic, financial, and military support to Israel. They have discouraged and hindered all efforts of ceasefire during the deliberations conducted at the United Nations Security Council. The United States is a case in point, in particular.
Middle East and Gaza Crises – a Conundrum of Genocide, Violence and Destruction
Dr. Shahid Hashmat
Muslim world is facing multiple problems but some issues, such as Palestine – Gaza crisis and foreign military occupation of their natural resources by the Western countries, pose existential challenges for many Muslim nations. The fact remains that process of Western domination that had started in seventeenth centuries with European colonization had accelerated after decline of Ottoman Empire. With Ottoman Empire’s downfall, in early twentieth centuries, Muslims lost their unitary and solidarity and the political center of gravity that provided an umbrella of safety and security to them, despite many internal difference and disputes.
War Crimes in Gaza: a flagrant mockery of International Humanitarian Law
Dr. Shahid Hashmat
Human history is replete of wars and conflicts and resultant loss of human lives and destruction of cities and mean of livelihood. However, most religions and civilizations have tried to develop philosophies and laws that would curtail and limit the horrors of war. Islam has laid strict rules that governs the armed conflict, including complete prohibition for killing and harming noncombatants, elderly persons, women, and children. Islam even prohibits killing of animals, cutting of fruit trees and causing destruction that hinders human livelihood. Damaging or destroying religious or worship places is also strongly forbidden.
UNSC Resolution for Ceasefire in Gaza: Israeli Attacks and Atrocities Continue Unabated
Dr. Shahid Hashmat
Israel continues to commit genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza, despite the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution for immediate ceasefire. Moreover, it is using its blockade to stop any humanitarian aid to reach up to Gazan people who are besieged and cramped up in south Gazan. Israe has already killed more than thirty-two thousand innocent Gazan Palestinians and injured around one hundred thousand. Gaza has been devastated, and destroyed, making it inhabitable. The UNSC is responsible to maintain international peace and security. The UN agencies have declared Gaza unsuitable for human life due to manmade disaster and catastrophe perpetrated by Israel.
Gaza Starvation: A Weapon of War and Ethnic Cleansing
Dr. Shahid Hashmat
Gazan Palestinians have been subjected to worst war crimes by unbridled Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in its unrestrained brutal genocide. IDF is employing all possible means of mass killing, with the intent of carrying out ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, especially in Gaza, in the last five months. Though, this process has been going on in Palestine for last one hundred years. In the recent conflict, since October 2023, IDF has killed over thirty-two thousand Gazans, beside severely injuring over eighty thousand. Most of the victims are innocent civilians and non-combatants, mostly children, women, elderly persons, and sick and wounded patients, who were in hospitals. In addition to having destroyed most houses, hospitals, and schools indiscriminately, IDF has displaced two million inhabitants of Gaza, forcing them to escape to eastern part of the narrow strip. These Palestinian are living in southern Gazan under inhuman conditions, without any water, food, medicines, and shelter.
Gaza Carnage: A Neo-Crusades, Muslim Disunity & Apathy
Dr. Shahid Hashmat
In last five months, the world has witnessed unprecedented bloodshed, carnage, genocide, and ethnic cleansing of Muslim Palestinians at Gaza by Israel. Though, Zionists have continued to commit the worst apartheid and terrible war crimes against Palestinians for last one hundred years, that were shamelessly supported and abetted by the United States and European countries, yet the recent wave of brutalities and callousness perpetrated by criminal minded leadership of Zionist Israel is unknown to human history. The intensity of crises and catastrophe faced by Gazan Palestinians has no parallel other than Christian crusades unleashed against Muslims of Levent.
Undermining the United Nations: The Collapse of The Collective Security System
Dr. Shahid Hashmat
Has the United Nations (UN) been totally undermined, marginalized, and declared redundant by the US and UK? At least in the context of its primary role of maintaining international peace and security. Failure to reform, UN Security Council (UNSC) has become completely hostage to the US veto, particularly on Israel – Palestine conflict. The US and Israel have decided to ignore, defy, and flout the opinion of the international community, and rest of the world.
Gaza Catastrophe: ‘The Death of Human Conscience’
Dr. Shahid Hashmat
The United States has again vetoed the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) resolution for immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Does the US want that Israel should continue its genocide and war crimes perpetrated for last four months? The US was the only country to vote against the draft text while UK abstained. Thirteen other members of UNSC voted in favour of the resolution that demanded immediate end of Israeli aggression. This is third consecutive refusal of the US to immediate cease-fire on humanitarian grounds. The US still claims to be a champion of global human rights.
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Perceptions and Perspectives & Lessons from Collapse of Damascus Regime
Dr. Shahid Hashmat
Situation in Syria has changed very rapidly leading to fall of Bashar al-Asad's government like a house card and his Army's erosion like a castle of sand. Alawites’ rule in Syria has come to an abrupt end and sudden collapse to the surprise of many. In the hindsight, many analysts think that inevitable has happen. The conflict in Syria has been brewing to the boiling point for many years, particularly sine 2011 - the Arab spring.
Participated in ASSAM Islamic World NGO's Fair '24
Written by ASSAM
The genocide that is being carried out in Palestine today, by bleeding consciences, by broadcasting live on TV and social media, by devastating the world's public opinion, and which is eventually spreading to the entire Middle East via Lebanon and Syria, is sending a message to the entire world by aiming for a regional war.
The message the United States of America is giving to the whole world regarding this genocide it is carrying out on the cursed Jewish people in Palestine is;
● This genocide will continue as long as I want and you cannot stop it!
● This genocide will continue with the same level of brutality that I allow, and you cannot stop it!
● None of you are independent, whatever I say goes!
● You have no choice but to surrender to me or die!
● I can even make death a nightmare for you!
Seeking Solutions to the Middle East and North Africa Crises – 2024 Congress Opening Speech
Written by Melih TANRIVERDİ
Seeking Solutions to the Middle East and North Africa Crises – 2024 Congress Opening Speech
Dear presidents and members of Non-Governmental Organizations,
Dear university rectors and academicians,
Dear opinion leaders,
Dear listeners and viewers,
I greet you with the most beautiful greetings.
Esselamu aleyküm ve rahmetullahi ve berakatüh
Retired General, former Senior Advisor to the President Erdogan and Member of the Security and Foreign Policy Board, our President, Adnan Tanrıverdi passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024 at the age of 80.