From Saladin to Erdogan: Muslim Leaders Who Alarm the West
From Saladin to Erdogan: Muslim Leaders Who Alarm the West
When I look back at history, I see a curious pattern: every time a Muslim leader dares to challenge Western dominance, it almost always triggers fear, suspicion, or even demonization in the Western narrative. From Saladin in the 12th century to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the 21st century, the idea of the “Eastern threat” seems to be reborn in new forms over and over again.
As a Muslim, I try to stand in the middle. I don’t want to fall into blind romanticism that glorifies Muslim leaders without criticism, but I also don’t want to get swept away by propaganda that frames every revival of Islamic politics as a threat or terror. This article is my attempt to connect the dots: why do figures like Saladin then, and Erdogan today, evoke such collective anxiety in the West?
1. Saladin: A Symbol of Resistance and Honor
Who doesn’t know Salahuddin al-Ayyubi? In the history of the Crusades, Saladin (1137–1193) was the pivotal figure who recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187 (Lyons & Jackson, Saladin: The Politics of the Holy War, 1982). Interestingly, although he was an enemy to the West at the time, Saladin was also respected by his opponents for his chivalry.
To me, Saladin is a paradoxical symbol: feared for his military success, yet admired for his sense of justice and dignity. He didn’t just win battles; he upheld ethical standards that did not embarrass Islam. In medieval European narratives, Saladin became “the noble enemy”—a foe whose greatness was undeniable.
2. From Empires to Colonization: An Enduring Suspicion
After Saladin’s era, the Islamic world rose to its peak under the Ottoman Empire. But when the Ottoman Caliphate fell in 1924, the West found comfort in the idea that Islam no longer had a powerful political center (Lapidus, A History of Islamic Societies, 2014).
I see the fall of the Ottomans as a turning point where the West felt “safe.” Islam was expected to remain a spiritual faith, not a global political force. This explains why, whenever someone tries to revive the symbols of political Islam, alarm bells start ringing in the West perhaps because of an old trauma of past conflicts.
3. Erdogan: Shadow Successor or Product of Democracy?
Fast forward to the 21st century. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s name often appears in European and American headlines. At first, Erdogan was praised as the man who brought Turkey’s moderate Islam into the democratic arena (Yavuz, Secularism and Muslim Democracy in Turkey, 2009). But over time, the Western narrative shifted: Erdogan is now described as authoritarian, Islamist, even neo-Ottoman.
Personally, I see Erdogan as a complex figure. He rose through democratic elections but his rhetoric often stirs nostalgia for the Ottoman past something unsettling for modern Europe. When Hagia Sophia was converted back into a mosque in 2020, Western media saw it as a sign of “Islamic political revival.” Was that an exaggeration? Perhaps yes, perhaps no because Erdogan still plays on two sides: Islamic symbolism at home, pragmatism abroad.
4. Why Is the West So Afraid of Such Figures?
Why do figures like Saladin or Erdogan trigger fear? My answer is: because they break the narrative of dominance. Saladin took back Jerusalem a symbol of Christian faith in Europe. Erdogan is seen as wanting to revive the Ottoman dream that once rivaled Europe.
Moreover, leaders like these challenge the geopolitical status quo. When the Middle East was divided by the Sykes-Picot Agreement after World War I, the West’s strategy depended on fragmented nation-states, not a unified entity like a caliphate (Fromkin, A Peace to End All Peace, 1989). So when someone talks about “Muslim unity,” Western policymakers get nervous.
5. Not Just Power, But Symbolism
What’s interesting is that Muslim leaders like these often become symbols of resistance. Saladin was not just a general; he was the embodiment of Islamic honor. Erdogan is not just Turkey’s president; he is seen as a symbol of defiance against European dominance (Zarakol, After Defeat: How the East Learned to Live with the West, 2011).
In my view, this is a key point: Western fear is often symbolic. In today’s global era, symbols can be more powerful than weapons. A figure who can inspire a collective Muslim sentiment is seen as a threat even if his military strength is ordinary.
6. Is This Fear Justified?
To be honest, I think the fear is both reasonable and exaggerated. It’s reasonable because historical conflicts are real: the Crusades, colonialism, oil wars. But it’s also exaggerated because today’s world is so interconnected. No matter how much Erdogan invokes Ottoman nostalgia, Turkey is still a NATO member and does business with the EU (Kinzer, Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America’s Future, 2010).
To me, the real challenge isn’t about figures like Erdogan, but how the West understands the political aspirations of Muslims today. Not every Islamic movement is anti-Western. Many Muslims just want their collective dignity recognized, not another holy war.
7. From Saladin to Erdogan: The Red Thread
Looking at Saladin and Erdogan, I see a common thread: Muslim leadership that refuses to bow completely to the Western geopolitical design. Is that wrong? I don’t think so. But the means and context are very different. Saladin fought with a knightly code. Erdogan maneuvers with symbolic politics. The time and consequences are not the same.
One thing is clear: the Muslim world still longs for a leader who can unite political dignity with moral integrity. But history reminds us: no single leader is enough. Saladin needed an army and people’s support. Erdogan too depends on global political realities.
8. Conclusion: What Is the Real Fear?
In the end, I believe the West is not afraid of one man. What they fear is the idea: that Islam can rise again as a political symbol that awakens collective pride. For the modern West, which is deeply secular, the return of a spiritual-political icon feels like a threat.
But history shows that symbols can build bridges or deepen divides. Saladin was respected even by his enemies because he led with fairness and honor. If today’s Muslim leaders want a positive image, Saladin’s example leading with ethics, not just slogans should be the blueprint.
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