Unlike the previous attempts, the ceremony occurred after a long series of negotiations behind the doors so that no parties would be humiliated (remembering the Habur gate incident). This, of course, does not stop nationalists fuming. They may be right on some points, but peace is still better than not. Full text: PKK statement during … Read more
Öcalan released a 7-minute video. This is historic and provides food for thought for commentators on TV and YouTube. But I feel like people have already moved on to the other issues. There was much talk about the brand of the T-shirt Öcalan was wearing, rather than political debates on social media – of course, … Read more
After the last update, Grok’s answers became offensive and led to a restriction in Türkiye. Honestly, before the update, I was using Grok to get relatively objective information, but not now at all. On July 9, 2025, a Turkish court ordered a nationwide block on Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI (Elon Musk’s company), … Read more
President Erdoğan once again succeeded in creating chaos within the CHP, which has been experiencing its most successful electoral period. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu is more than happy to take on the role of agent within the party. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu plays a central role in the current CHP trial as the potential beneficiary who could return to … 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
In early May 2025, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) held its 12th Congress in northern Iraq and announced it would dissolve its organizational structure and end its armed struggle. This unprecedented declaration – effectively disbanding the PKK after 40+ years of insurgency – ignited intense public reactions and debates across Turkeyreuters.comreuters.com. All segments of Turkish … Read more
The mood is calm, not much excitement, but this is historic in any case. The PKK’s decision to disband after four decades of conflict represents a potential turning point in Turkish-Kurdish relations and regional stability. While the announcement has been met with cautious optimism from various stakeholders, there is widespread acknowledgment that this is just … 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
I did not have the honor of meeting Mr. Önder, who died after 18 days in intensive care. Despite a lifelong struggle, days of torture and imprisonment, he was not trapped in ressentiment. That’s how I will remember him. Both the Turkish and Kurdish opposition miss an irreplaceable person. This is a (deepl-translated) letter to … 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
I used ChatGPT’s deep research with proper prompts to collect all pro and counterarguments and issues related to the state of the city. Historical Overview of the Project Early Ideas: The concept of a canal connecting the Black Sea (Karadeniz) to the Sea of Marmara (Marmara Denizi) is not new. Ottoman sultans as far back … Read more
Mahmut Tanal has recently earned fame among a younger generation of Turkish citizens, but he has been dedicated to advocacy for a long time. Mahmut Tanal repeated several times alongside the students as the intervention with the TOMA continued: “What is the TOMA doing at ODTÜ?” Mahmut Tanal: A Timeline of Rights Advocacy and Activism … Read more
Mr. Önder is going through a life-threatening heart issue at the moment, and as one of the key persons in ongoing peace negotiations with the PKK, this might even be endangering the process. What I like about him is his resourcefulness, positivity, and leadership in many critical situations. Sadly, his lifelong hardships have taken a … Read more
High School Student Protests in Turkey (April 2025) In April 2025, Turkey saw- and is still seeing- a wave of high school student protests in response to controversial teacher reassignments at elite public high schools known as “proje okulları” (“project schools”). These schools – some of the country’s most prestigious, exam-selective institutions – were … Read more
On April 11, 2025, he appeared in court at the Silivri Open Penal Institution for a trial related to allegations that he threatened Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. The case involves charges that could result in a prison sentence of up to seven years and four months, as well as a political ban. İmamoğlu … Read more