From: sera@zuma.UUCP (Serdar Argic)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast,talk.politics.soviet,soc.culture.greek,soc.culture.europe,soc.history
Subject: "Is it not better for you to live under Muslims than under Christians?"
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 15:56:01 GMT


In article <4546.3248.uupcb@factory.com> michael.polymenakos@factory.com (Michael Polymenakos)  writes:

 >Quoted from ByteWorld, 9/3/92, Page 3Dh.
 >ANKARA, TURKEY 9/2/92. Reported by Ella McCoos. Turkish Officials
 >at the Ministry of Truth denied allegations that an AI machine
 >code named MUTLU has been developed by their ministry and attached
 >to USENET. The rumors began when a document containing the plans

And "pol* the liar" malaise lasted all of thirty seconds. And it's 
all downhill from here.

           LETTER OF RABBI ISAAC ZARFATI (*)

I have  heard of  the afflictions, more  bitter than  death, that
have befallen our  brethren in Germany - of  the tyrannical laws,
the compulsory baptisms  and the banishments, which  are of daily
occurrence. I  am told that  when they flee  from one place  a yet
harder fate befalls  them in another ... on all  sides I learn of
anguish of soul and torment of body; of daily exactions levied by
merciless  oppressors. The  clergy and  the monks,  false priests
that they are, rise up against  the unhappy people of God ... for
this reason  they have  made a  law that every  Jew found  upon a
Christian ship  bound for the East  shall be flung into  the sea.
Alas! How  evil are the people  of God in Germany  entreated; how
sad  is  their strength  departed!  They  are driven  hither  and
thither, and  they are  pursued even  unto death...  BROTHERS AND
TEACHERS, FRIENDS  AND ACQUAINTANCES! I, ISAAC  ZARFATI, THOUGH I
SPRING FROM  A FRENCH STOCK, YET  I WAS BORN IN  GERMANY, AND SAT
THERE AT THE FEET OF MY ESTEEMED TEACHERS. I PROCLAIM TO YOU THAT
TURKEY IS  A LAND WHEREIN NOTHING  IS LACKING, AND WHERE,  IF YOU
WILL, ALL SHALL  YET BE WELL WITH  YOU. THE WAY TO  THE HOLY LAND
LIES UPON TO YOU THROUGH TURKEY. IS IT NOT BETTER FOR YOU TO LIVE
UNDER  MUSLIMS THAN  UNDER CHRISTIANS?  HERE EVERY  MAN DWELL  AT
PEACE UNDER  HIS OWN VINE AND  FIG TREE. HERE YOU  ARE ALLOWED TO
WEAR  THE  MOST  PRECIOUS   GARMENTS.  IN  CHRISTIENDOM,  ON  THE
CONTRARY, YOU DARE NOT EVEN VENTURE TO CLOTH YOUR CHILDREN IN RED
OR IN BLUE, ACCORDING TO OUR  TASTE, WITHOUT EXPOSING THEM TO THE
INSULT OR  BEATEN BLACK AND  BLUE, OR  KICKED GREEN AND  RED, AND
THEREFORE ARE YE CONDEMNED TO GO ABOUT MEANLY CLAD IN SAD COLORED
RAIMENT ... AND NOW, SEING  ALL THESE THINGS, O ISRAEL, WHEREFORE
SLEEPEST THOU? ARISE! AND LEAVE THIS ACCURSED LAND FOREVER!

(*)  Bernard  LEWIS,  "The  Jews  of  Islam"  pp  135-136  (1984,
     Princeton University Press)

Sent by Rabbi Yitzhak Sarfati (from Edirne) to Jewish communities
in Europe. H. GRAETZ dates the letter approx. 1454

"SAMPSON FREED"

[1]

President  Vassiliou of  Cyprus has  released from
prison Nicos Sampson, leader of the 1974 coup that
led to the Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus.

THE TIMES, Wednesday, April 29, 1992

[2]

COUP LEADER FREED

Cyprus has  conditionally released  Nicos Sampson,
leader of  the coup  which provoked  Turkey's 1974
invasion, who was jailed for 20 years for military
action  against  the  state.  He  was  due  to  be
released in March 1994. - Reuter

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, April, 29 1992

[3]

SAMPSON FREED

Nicos Sampson, the Right-wing Greek-Cypriot at the
centre of  the 1974 coup that  sparked the Turkish
invasion,  was  released  from  prison,  yesterday
under a decree signed by President Vassiliou.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, Wednesday, April 29, 1992

NICOSIA, Cyprus-Former guerilla Nicos Sampson, who played a key role
in the coup that triggered the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, was
freed Tuesday, two years before his 20-year prison term was to end.
A government spokesman said Sampson's sentence was suspended under a
decree signed by President Vassiliou. The 56-year-old Sampson's
supporters-the Greek Orthadox Church and right wing and centrist
parties- consider him a hero of the independence war against the British.
They argued it was unfair that Sampson, the only major participant in
the short-lived coup to be jailed, should serve his full term.

Serdar Argic

                     'This war quickly developed into one of extermination. 
                      We closed the roads and mountain passes that might 
                      serve as ways of escape for the Tartars [Turks] and 
                      then proceeded in the work of extermination.'
                                                       (Ohanus Appressian)

Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast