President Robert Doar
American Enterprise Institute
1789 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Re: Response to Michael Rubin’s Article on UNHCR Leadership
November 20,2025
Dear Mr. Doar,
To begin with, a basic yet critical correction: the internationally recognized name of “Turkey” country is the Republic of Türkiye. Continued use of outdated terminology disregards the democratic will of the Turkish people and fails to meet the diplomatic standards.
I write to express my deep concern regarding Michael Rubin’s latest commentary on the selection of the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees an article that once again reflects a troubling pattern of rhetoric targeting the Republic of Türkiye and, most recently, Ambassador Ahmet Yıldiz. Mr. Rubin’s assertions are not only factually distorted but also part of a long-running and increasingly transparent campaign to delegitimize Turkish diplomacy and vilify Turkish officials at every opportunity. It is important to state at the outset that even the most casual reader can recognize the repetition of themes in Mr. Rubin’s writings: persistent Turkey-bashing, one-sided narratives, and broad accusations unsupported by evidence. If the late Ray Charles were alive, even he could see the unmistakable pattern. This is not analysis it is fixation.
Mr. Rubin claims that Ambassador Ahmet Yıldiz “weaponized refugees,” yet he provides no substantive evidence. In reality, Mr. Yıldiz is a career diplomat with decades of honorable service, known widely for his integrity, professionalism, and authentic compassion. I have witnessed him personally embrace refugees, speak with families, and comfort individuals experiencing profound hardship. His character is not theoretical it is observable to anyone willing to approach the subject with honesty rather than hostility. Türkiye’s record on refugees stands in sharp contrast to the narrative Mr. Rubin attempts to manufacture. Türkiye has hosted nearly 3.5 million Syrian refugees, the largest refugee population in the world, for over a decade often with limited international assistance. It has spent billions of dollars from its own national budget to house, feed, educate, and protect these individuals. These are verifiable facts acknowledged repeatedly by the United Nations, the European Union, and international aid organizations.
Mr. Rubin’s article conveniently ignores another set of facts: Greece has repeatedly been criticized by the European Parliament, human rights organizations, and even EU member states for the documented mistreatment of refugees and migrants in the Aegean and Mediterranean. Reports include the firing of live rounds near inflatable boats, unlawful pushbacks, and the abandonment of vulnerable people including women and children in open waters. These matters are not speculative; they are documented in official EU reports, UN investigations, and international press coverage. Yet Mr. Rubin elects not to mention even one of these incidents, preferring instead to portray Türkiye and Mr. Yıldiz as villains.
The imbalance and selectivity speak for themselves. Furthermore, to suggest that Ambassador Yıldiz would carry political loyalty into the United Nations system is a baseless insinuation meant only to discredit a highly qualified candidate. Ambassador Yıldiz has served as Türkiye’s representative to the Council of Europe, a Deputy Foreign Minister, and an experienced envoy in multiple regions. His record reflects diplomacy, not ideology; service, not partisanship. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees requires not merely a manager but a leader with lived experience confronting refugee crises directly, with both administrative competence and human empathy. Ambassador Yıldiz embodies these qualities more than any candidate Mr. Rubin mentions. His decades of firsthand engagement with displaced people provide him with a depth of understanding matched by very few in today’s diplomatic circles.
Demonizing Türkiye is neither constructive nor conducive to regional peace or international cooperation. Türkiye’s efforts to build a stable, cooperative neighborhood including its extensive refugee support infrastructure stand as a matter of public record. The attempt to smear Ambassador Yıldiz is not only unfair to an honorable diplomat but also harmful to the integrity of the global conversation on refugee policy.
In closing, I strongly urge AEI to consider the objectivity, accuracy, and fairness of material published under its name. Criticism is one thing; targeted campaigns built on selective information and inflammatory language are another. Ambassador Ahmet Yıldiz deserves better, and the international community deserves better analysis.
Respectfully,
Ibrahim Kurtulus
Community Activist
Cc: Founder: Lewis H. Brown, Republic of Turkiye UN Ambassador Ahmet Yildiz
AEI Board of Directors
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