Hugh Pope is a recovering journalist now working for the International Crisis Group out of Istanbul. Pope conducts research in Turkey and Cyprus and writes reports focused on Turkish policy. He describes the transition from journalism as a liberating process; in journalism he often experienced editorial limitations, but now he feels he can write whatever he wants and dig out “the truth”.

Pope reported extensively for The Independent, Los Angeles Times, BBC, Reuters and ended up as the Wall Street Journal bureau chief in Istanbul before joining the International Crisis Group. He studied Persian and Arabic at Oxford University.

Pope is the author of “Sons of the Conquerors: The Rise of the Turkic World”, “Turkey Unveiled” and has a new book coming out “Dining with Al-Qaeda”.