EFD Rights Watch: US State Department Country Report on Terrorism 2014 – Turkey

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Country Report on Terrorism 2014 – Turkey

June, 2015

Overview: Largely because of the ongoing conflict in Syria, Turkey has voiced increasing concern about terrorist groups near its border, including Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), al-Nusrah Front, and other al-Qa’ida (AQ)-affiliated groups. Throughout 2014, Turkey served as a source and transit country for foreign terrorist fighters wishing to join these and other groups in Syria. The Government of Turkey intensified efforts to interdict the travel of suspected foreign terrorist fighters through Turkey to and from Syria and Iraq. These efforts include the development and implementation of a “banned from entry list,” as well as the deployment of “Risk Analysis Units” to detect suspected foreign terrorist fighters at airports, land border crossings, and border cities. Cooperation with other source countries increased during the year in response to the foreign terrorist fighter threat, with both Turkey and source countries seeking to improve information sharing in particular. Turkey is an active member of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL.

 

President Erdoğan joins Quran defamation case as plaintiff

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has become involved as a plaintiff in a case filed against a woman who allegedly “insulted the Quran” by posting a photo on Twitter showing her foot standing on the Muslim holy book
Why Both Erdoganism and Kemalism May Finally be Dead in Turkey
Huffington Post
The government claimed improbably vast conspiracies, most notably the Diyarbakir KCK (Kurdish), Ergenekon (nationalist), and Sledgehammer (military) cases. Roughly 500 people were arrested and 300 charged in the Ergenekon case alone.
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FOLDED CORNER – ‘Understanding Turkey’s Kurdish Question’ edited by Fevzi Bilgin and Ali Sarıhan
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Bianet :: English
Under compulsory drafting in Ankara, U.Ö allegedly committed suicide after shooting O.D. However, it causes suspicion that U.Ö. was shot in his forehead, eyebrow and cheek.
Turkey’s Council of State defends mandatory religious knowledge courses

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An Ankara court on June 16 handed down a 21-month suspended jail sentence to an editor of an English-language Turkish daily newspaper after convicting him of “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Euro court finds Turkey guilty in retired commander’s case

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found Turkey guilty in the case of retired commander Levent Bektaş, who complained he had failed to obtain notice of the public prosecutor’s opinion during his criminal proceedings
ECtHR dismisses most charges brought by Ergenekonsuspect
Today’s Zaman
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has dismissed most of the complaints including monetary damages brought forward by Ergenekon suspect retired Col. Levent Bektaş, ruling in his favor however on one complaint. According to the judgment .
Turkish Foreign Ministry condemns confirmation of Morsi verdict

An Egyptian court’s June 16 confirmation of the death sentence for deposed President Mohamed Morsi is based on politics, not the law, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu has said
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Turkey’s business world pushes for coalition gov’t

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Prime Minister calls on opposition parties to bury the hatchet and discuss coalition

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In Turkey, in Search of a More People-Sensitive Gentrification

Global Voices Online by Ece Basay
Istanbul, Turkey. 23rd August 2013 -- Demolition areas have become part of community life as the Tarlabasi area of Istanbul undergoes a major redevelopment project. Children are playing there all the time. -- Istanbul's Tarlabasi area is to undergo a redevelopment project. Whole building blocks are getting demolished and people are being evicted. Expensive hotels and shopping centers will take their place. Demotix, ID: 2684393

Istanbul, Turkey. 23rd August 2013 — Demolition areas have become part of community life as the Tarlabasi area of Istanbul undergoes major redevelopment work. Whole building blocks are getting demolished and people are being evicted. Expensive hotels and shopping centers will take their place. Demotix ID: 2684393

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