Ali Rıza Kuluncu - Aug 17, 2025
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| Ana Kasparian — Host at The Young Turks |
In recent years, I’ve come to doubt how
secularism is truly understood in the West. The Second Karabakh War offered a
revealing example. While both pro-Armenia and pro-Azerbaijan diasporas in the
West were active, their narratives diverged sharply. Armenians framed the
conflict as a Christian nation resisting Muslim Turks, whereas pro-Azerbaijan
voices emphasized the country’s secular identity, portraying Azerbaijan as one
of the least religious Muslim-majority societies. The contrast was deliberate. During
the Karabakh conflict, global powers backed Christian Armenia despite UN
resolutions, enabling its diaspora to weaponize religious identity while
forcing Azerbaijan’s to overcompensate with secular claims. For Western
thinkers committed to secular ideals, this should raise a clear concern: the
“good guys” in Western eyes are either Christian (or at least non-Muslim) or
secular.
This dynamic plays out in Western media, even in outlets founded to challenge the mainstream. Cenk Uygur, born into a Turkish Muslim family but now an atheist, is the founder and host of The Young Turks. His co-host, Ana Kasparian, from an Armenian Christian background and also an atheist, shares the platform. Both are seen as progressive Democrats, yet their positions on issues tied to their heritage could not differ more.
Kasparian frequently criticizes Turks, not just
the governments of Türkiye and Azerbaijan, but Turks as a people. In 2022, she
posted on X (then Twitter): “Turkic people certainly know a thing or two about
stealing land and slaughtering people.” Though an atheist, she hasn’t hesitated
to invoke religion when it aligns with her nationalist views, as in her
interview with Tucker Carlson, where she appealed to right-leaning American
audiences. Her approach was on display again in a Young Turks YouTube video posted
on August 13 (later restricted to members only). In that segment, Kasparian
discussed the recent peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia, reiterating her
harsh criticism of Turks and even targeting Armenia’s own Pashinyan government.
Uygur, meanwhile, avoided the segment, likely aware his perspective would be
contentious.
Ana Kasparian’s tweet
Uygur has repeatedly
backtracked on past positions. A decade ago, he rejected the politically
charged label “Armenian genocide,” a claim never adjudicated by an
international judicial body, but embraced by Western parliaments, often by
legislators unfamiliar with the region. Over time, he reversed course, likely
to retain credibility and platform reach. Today, Uygur’s views on Türkiye and
Azerbaijan largely align with the Turkish far left. Kasparian, by contrast,
goes further, accusing Armenia’s prime minister of being too soft on Türkiye
and Azerbaijan. She manages to present herself as a secular progressive while
amplifying the anti-peace rhetoric of far-right Armenian nationalists.
This contrast reflects a
broader pattern in Western media and political discourse. Armenians benefit
from Christian cultural capital, which grants legitimacy even to secular or
atheist figures like Kasparian. Muslim and Turkish identities, meanwhile, are
frequently met with suspicion. Figures like Uygur must constantly temper their
views to align with liberal norms, while Kasparian can emphasize Armenian
trauma, invoke religious identity, and even attract right-wing support without
losing her progressive credibility.
The Karabakh war,
Kasparian’s commentary, and Uygur’s moderation reveal an epistemic injustice in
Western secularism. Christian heritage grants someone the status of a “good
progressive” by default, while Muslim identities must continually prove their
legitimacy. The standards are never applied equally.
The West, having failed
to uphold its professed secular values during the war between Christian Armenia
and Muslim-Turkish Azerbaijan, now has an opportunity to recalibrate.
Supporting a fair peace process that is free from cultural or religious favouritism
would demonstrate a genuine commitment to principle over prejudice.
Tags: Alirza Quluncu, علیرضا قولونجو, Ana Kasparian, Cenk Uygur, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia–Azerbaijan Peace Deal, South Caucasus, Karabakh.