The assassination in Ankara and its aftermath

The Russian ambassador’s assassination in Turkey is another grave incident and act of terror that only serves the interests of Iran and the Syrian regime, and harms the cause of the Syrian people. The crime highlights again that the world’s security is more endangered than ever.
Unfortunately, the confusion of terror and regional issues such as Syria continues, as the murderer of Ambassador Andrey Karlov in Ankara justified his crime by claiming it was revenge for the tragedy in Syria.
At the same time, another terrorist drove a truck into a crowd and killed people in Germany, which has long supported the Syrian people and has played a significant role in hosting Syrian refugees. Meanwhile, Daesh proudly claimed responsibility for killing 10 people in the Jordanian city of Karak.
The party that exploits and justifies the killing of the ambassador by linking it to Aleppo and Syria’s tragedy is the one trying to inflame anti-Russian feelings to support Daesh, which is to blame for instigating the world against the Syrian people’s revolution.
There is anger over Moscow’s stance, but this should not be confused with acts of terror. Russia enjoyed a good status in the Middle East, especially among Arabs, because of its anti-occupation stance, and its backing of liberation movements and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Russia also backed the Arabs on key issues such as the Palestinian cause, and were careful not to get involved in regional military adventures. Even when it occupied Afghanistan, many countries viewed it as a conflict between Washington and Moscow on a remote territory.
Yet the Arabs’ positive perception of Russia has greatly changed since its brutal intervention in Syria, and particularly in Aleppo. Extremist groups, not just militant ones, have jumped on the bandwagon of emerging hatred toward Moscow, as they realize that regional governments tend to negotiate with Russia in the hope of a sensible political solution that could be accepted by most Syrians and put an end to the war.
Governments in the region do not want to cut ties with a powerful country such as Russia, as they do not have political disagreements with it. Neither do they want to push it further toward Iran and the Syrian regime. If Moscow wants to have a role in the region, a compromise can be reached to make that role positive.
The Middle East has no anti-Moscow camps. This is also true for countries that have close ties with Washington and the West. These countries reject the notion of dividing the region into two camps – pro and anti — as it was during the Cold War.
Although there is little hope now, Russia can play a key positive role in Syria. This would achieve reconciliation that would exclude extremism from the Syrian revolution and from the regime, which is responsible for massacres.
Daesh and other terrorist organizations want to undermine these efforts. They realize that targeting Russian officials touches a nerve among an angry public and embarrasses regional governments, which seem unable to provide aid and protect millions of Syrians.
Russia is aware that it now has an unprecedented bad reputation. TV channel Russia Today (RT) and other official media platforms have not succeeded in justifying the country’s stances, actions and responsibility for supporting the Syrian regime and Iranians in Syria.
The opinions of millions of Arabs and Muslims may not concern Russia, as they do not participate in elections or influence their government’s policies. However, we know that terrorists exploit public anger and governments’ inabilities.
Most of those who welcomed the murder of Karlov are emotionally affiliated to Daesh and other terrorist organizations. These people are not less dangerous than terrorists. By expressing their happiness and justifying the crime, they drive ordinary angry people to support terrorist groups, giving terrorism the oxygen it needs for publicity and empathy.
Daesh and Al-Nusra Front are as evil and dangerous as the Syrian regime and Iranian militias fighting in Syria. Hailing the killing of the ambassador should be a crime, as it helps terrorists recruit more people and receive more donations. It also grants them the legitimacy and popularity they were losing recently because of propaganda against them.