President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is seen by many as an upright and fearless leader who consistently delivers on the promise of good governance. Perhaps Erdogan's biggest contribution has been the successful demolition of the myth that the demands of modernism and electoral democracy are somehow anachronistic and incongruous with faith. If winning populist elections is the biggest test of a popular leader, he has won each one of them with a resounding mandate. Secondly, he has managed to defang the powerful military that has always seen itself as Turkey›s natural ruler and protector of Ataturk›s legacy. It's largely thanks to the popular support that Erdogan has enjoyed and his steely resolve that he was able to foil the military coup last year, using nothing but his iPhone. The groundswell of support that he unleashed after the coup speaks volumes about his popularity. By speaking out repeatedly for vulnerable, voiceless communities around the world - from the besieged Palestinians and Syrians to the persecuted Rohingya Muslims in distant Burma - Erdogan has earned himself a global following. It hasn't been merely lip service; he has extended a helping hand to the helpless everywhere, without worrying about the political and economic consequences. A generous Turkey hasn't only hosted more than three million Syrian refugees since 2011, it has gone out of its way to support them, even offering citizenship. Turkey has paid a huge price for supporting the Syrians. It has been perpetually under attack from both Daesh (the self-proclaimed IS) and assorted groups loyal to Damascus. For a country that depends on tourism as a major source of revenue, these attacks have proved disastrous, driving away tens of thousands of international tourists. Turkey has been at the receiving end for a host of other reasons as well. There is no dearth of those who would hate to see Erdogan succeed in his attempts to present Turkey as a modern country at peace with both its Islamic identity and liberal democracy. This is why it is hard for one to censure Erdogan, perhaps the most popular leader since Mustafa Kemal, the architect of modern Turkey. However, some of Erdogan's recent actions and pronouncements make all well-wishers of the country extremely uneasy. The escalation of Turkey's tensions with European countries like Germany and the Netherlands is most disturbing. Given the history of Islamophobia in the Netherlands, and the rise of characters like Geert Wilders, known for his anti-Muslim rants and antics, Turkey's outrage is perhaps understandable. Especially after the Dutch in an unprecedented move refused to let the Turkish foreign minister land to address a rally of Turkish citizens and immigrants. Challenged by Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) and finding it hard to hold on to power, the centrist government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) has taken a sharp turn to the right, hardening its rhetoric against immigrants. In January, in full-page newspaper advertisements and interviews on radio and TV, Rutte issued an unprecedented warning to immigrants and Muslims "to behave or be gone from Netherlands". Wittingly or unwittingly, Erdogan flew into this raging storm of tensions by sending his ministers to speak in the Netherlands, ahead of the constitutional referendum he is seeking on the question of adopting a US-style presidential system. When the hosts made it clear that they were not welcome, Erdogan flew into a fit of rage, sparking an unpleasant war of words. In one particularly memorable line, the Turkish president accused the tiny European country that hosts the International Court of Justice at The Hague of "acting like a banana republic." This even as the Turkish supporters of Erdogan clashed with police, protesting against the denial of permission for their rallies. Of course, the Dutch move was unprecedented and unreasonable. However, all said and done, it's their country and the Dutch have every right to decide who is welcome and who is not. The escalation of Turkey's tensions with Germany is even more unfortunate considering the two countries have been close NATO allies and friends and have worked with each other on a host of issues, including in helping Syrian refugees and resolving the conflict. Turkey happens to be Germany's most important trading partner in EU, which Ankara has been aspiring to join for many years. Germany, the driving force behind the EU, has also inked an agreement with Ankara that seeks to curb the influx of refugees into Europe by helping them be rehabilitated in Turkey. Germany is also home to a large and vibrant Muslim population, the majority of them descendants of Turkish and North African immigrants. These are strong bonds that go way back. Moreover, under Angela Merkel, Germany has been most welcoming and generous in accommodating refugees from Muslim countries. This support cannot be emphasized enough considering the general hostility and paranoia Muslims have been facing in the rest of Europe and the West. Muslims in general and those in the West in particular are facing unprecedented challenges. Relations between Islam and the West have hit a new low. At a time like this, leaders like Erdogan must help to heal the rift by fostering reconciliation and understanding and avoiding needless confrontation. While on the issue of confrontation, what makes one uneasy is the crackdown on the media and thousands of dismissals and arrests of bureaucrats, teachers and judges across Turkey for their alleged support for the coup. Some journalists, loyal to the old secular-military establishment, may be guilty of opposing Erdogan and even supporting the coup against a democratically elected government. However, the targeting of the media is not only unfair, it is also counterproductive. A free press is vital to a healthy democracy. Besides, there is no revenge so complete as forgiveness. It's time for Turkey to move on, demonstrating a generosity of spirit and maturity of vision befitting its stature and history. President Erdogan should choose his battles and work to make Turkey a strong, independent and forward-looking nation and a source of strength and inspiration for the whole of the Muslim world. It's time to lead by example. Aijaz Zaka Syed is an award-winning journalist. 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