The European Court of Human Rights’ Grand Chamber ruling of 25 August means that Turkey is under a binding legal obligation to release Osman Kavala and remedy the consequences of his conviction. The Court said he should be freed “at the earliest possible date” and that the conviction cannot lawfully continue to justify his imprisonment … Read more
After the Süleymancılar, “Furkancılar” is also under investigation. This is a relatively small group based in Adana. Their type of activism differs greatly from that of the Süleymancılar, who have been exposed to a judicial process. The August 2026 Crackdown on the Furkan Movement in Turkey: Law, Politics, and Religious Civil Society Executive summary Turkey’s … Read more
Süleymancılar and Turkey’s August 2026 Crackdown: Movement, State Relations, Legal Architecture, and Political Stakes Executive summary As of 18:25 TRT on Thursday, 13 August 2026, Turkey is conducting a large, multi-province criminal investigation centered on Alihan Kuriş, the current leader associated with the religious community conventionally known as the Süleymancılar. The most important qualification is … Read more
Comedian Deniz Göktaş detained after new show goes viral today. It was an expected result. Mr. Göktaş seemed well prepared for the aftermath. If he ever performs the third act, it will center around his prison days. This time, I asked Grok to round up positive and negative critiques on X about Deniz Göktaş’s … Read more
Koç Holding just marked its 100th anniversary with highly visible, Republican‑symbolic events in Ankara, including a mass Anıtkabir visit with about 6,000 employees and dealers, where Ömer Koç signed the Anıtkabir special book in the name of the group: The group also organized large‑scale public celebrations in Ankara (e.g., Tarkan concert in Millet Bahçesi) that … Read more
While my colleagues and I were in distress whether we have our university or not, Türkiye’s main opposition party had its own ordeal, which is lasting, unlike ours. Here is a review: The past two weeks have seen the most dramatic legal blow ever delivered to Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), … Read more
Recently, Sixteen detained over ‘laundering OnlyFans income’. I have asked Perplexity to round up the OnlyFans ordeal in Türkiye: OnlyFans has been formally blocked in Turkey since June 2023 and, since late 2023, authorities have escalated criminal investigations and financial-crime probes targeting creators who earned income from the platform. Access ban and legal basis Access … Read more
Here is an overview by Perplexity. Overview: The İmamoğlu Indictment On November 11, 2025, Turkish authorities announced a sweeping indictment against Ekrem İmamoğlu, the jailed Mayor of Istanbul and a leading opposition figure. The nearly 4,000-page indictment accuses İmamoğlu and 401 others of forming and leading a criminal organization, bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, tender rigging, … Read more
Turkey’s main opposition party faces police blockade as court appoints new leadership in İstanbul … and our internet connections are allegedly throttled (I cannot watch YouTube properly at the moment), so that citizens cannot be informed. There’s never peace of mind in this country. Here is background for tonight’s chaos: Turkey’s main opposition party, the … Read more
I believe the reasons for Mr. Altaylı’s detainment or arrest are not justified. He should be free, and I think he will be free soon. However, what I will list here is his long-term career of abusing the rights of many sectors of society. Anti-government circles are quick to heroize him, and some Western circles … Read more
Detained mayors were transferred to the hospital for inspection in a humiliating manner… Toll of Detained CHP Mayors in Turkey (as of June 5, 2025) Summary: As of June 5, 2025, Turkish authorities have detained and removed a total of 11 mayors from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), including Istanbul’s Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, … Read more
Grup Yorum has been around for so many decades that it was another shameful censorship by Turkish authorities. We all know that it has affiliations to an outlawed armed revolutionary organization, but that organization is not even active nowadays. And audiences for the band are definitely beyond that group. I find this censorship really unnecessary. … Read more
Details of Turkey’s Planned Ban on Certain Quran Translations A Turkish parliamentary committee has recently approved a controversial bill that would grant the state-run Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) sweeping powers to censor, seize, and destroy Quran translations it deems “contrary to the essential principles of Islam”15. Under this proposed legislation, a Diyanet-appointed board would … Read more
X (formerly Twitter) blocked Ekrem İmamoğlu’s account in Turkey following a legal demand and court order issued by Turkish authorities. The official reason given was that posts on his account, particularly one from April 24, allegedly incited people to commit crimes and amounted to “propaganda for a criminal organization.” Authorities cited concerns over public order … Read more
After 45 days in prison, Ekrem İmamoğlu’s first photo from the prison as his family visits him. The photo was first broadcasted by OdaTv. Allegations Against Ekrem İmamoğlu Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul and a leading opposition figure, was arrested on March 19, 2025, and formally detained on March 23, 2025, facing a series … Read more