There was a protest in İstanbul in front of the Italian embassy: Italy-Turkey Friendship Association supported the students who organized a protest over visa issues and left a black wreath in front of the consulate. Students who say that they are being kept waiting or denied visas even though they have earned the right to … Read more
A few days ago, Osman Kavala marked seven years in prison Such a waste of life. Even the many in the government know he does not deserve to be in prison. But he symbolizes a life view that the current nationalist bloc hates. Osman Kavala, a prominent Turkish businessman and civil society leader, marked the … Read more
The MV Kathrin, a German-flagged cargo ship, has been at the center of international controversy due to allegations that it is carrying explosives destined for Israel. Here are the key developments: Background The MV Kathrin departed from Vietnam in mid-July 2024, reportedly carrying 150 metric tons of explosives, including RDX and TNT[1][4]. The ship’s … Read more
You can find the report here. The main criticisms and praises in the 2024 EU Türkiye Report are summarized below: Criticisms: Democratic Standards: The report criticizes Turkey for the weakening of democratic standards, including the functioning of democratic institutions. The presidential system is said to lack checks and balances, and the legislative and oversight functions … Read more
If I were living in the US, I would probably be upset. But back in Türkiye, many people around me are happy with the election outcome. They [Democratic Party leadership] insisted on a weak leader, then moved to Harris, who was not as dynamic as we thought. They ignored younger more militant voter base to … Read more
That’s just sad. Probably some blackmailing moves to force the opposition to a constitutional change… On November 4, 2024, the Turkish government took action to remove three elected pro-Kurdish mayors from office in southeastern Turkey, replacing them with state-appointed officials[1][2][3]. This move has significant political implications and has drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between … Read more
Just as we were getting happy with a possible peace process, a major coup added to the new arrests of Kurdish politicians, Mr Özer is a notable personality of Kurdish origin, and he was elected through CHP ranks. I suspect he is a victim of behind the door struggles within the state circles. Ahmet Özer, … Read more
I saw the news that the Netherlands is considering sending some rejected asylum seekers to Uganda. I guess it may all have started with the EU’s agreement with Türkiye, which keeps millions of refugees in the country. Here are some current and recent attempts to send refugees to the third countries: The Netherlands-Uganda Proposal The … Read more
This might be the most popular video from the summit (!) Erdoğan combing his hair! The most recent BRICS summit was held from October 22-24, 2024 in Kazan, Russia. Here are the key highlights and outcomes: Expansion and Attendance The summit marked the first gathering after BRICS expanded to include new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, … Read more
Right after the talk of a new peace process, the terror attacks happen. We do not know the details yet! A few hours ago, a terrorist attack targeted the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) in the Kahramankazan district near Ankara, Turkey. The incident resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to … Read more
A new Kurdish peace process is on the way. MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) leader Devlet Bahçeli made some significant statements about PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan during his party’s group meeting today. Here are the key points: Bahçeli called for Öcalan’s isolation conditions to be lifted, suggesting that Öcalan could speak in the Turkish Grand National … Read more
The unthinkable happened, and the nationalist MHP leader shook hands with DEM deputies. I suspect that after the Sinan Ateş murder, MHP was blackmailed into accepting a possible rapprochement. This may, in turn, be related to new constitution debates. A new constitution may allow Erdoğan to be elected president again. An ‘event’ and afterwards: The handshake … Read more
Nationalist hysteria has led to the license revocation of one of Turkey’s best examples of community radio. I am really sad. Açık Radyo was a pioneer in climate crisis-related broadcasting in the country. Here is a roundup: Turkey fined Açık Radyo and imposed sanctions on the station due to statements made during a broadcast of their program “Açık … Read more
A strange new tax is on the agenda: The Turkish government has recently proposed a new bill that includes several measures to raise funds for the country’s defense industry. One of the key aspects of this proposal is a new tax on credit cards with high spending limits. Here’s what we know about this specific … Read more
Since fixing social decline is harder, they chose the easiest option. They could not stop leaking the data they collected from citizens. Censorship! Now i will have to find a new venue for my classes’ communications and use VPN to reach many AI companies’ servers there. Yes, Turkey has banned access to Discord[1][2][3]. The ban … Read more