I could not write about these stories when they happened, but I still want to keep them in the EFD record. They are not necessarily connected, yet together they say something about contemporary Turkey: ritual, spectacle, medical entrepreneurship, migration, music, and earthquake anxiety all appearing in the same news cycle. On the first day of … 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
Another well-known actor since my childhood days has passed away. Kadir İnanır had a strong personality and political standing, and was a conscious artist, which we do not see much of nowadays. Here is an obituary and at the end you will find a detailed report on his filmography and an infographic. The Final … Read more
Türkiye, following Australia, recently banned social media for children under 15. Just a few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine such a ban, but things change fast. I have curated some information on these bans and related restrictions in other countries using Perplexity. Here it is: Turkey and Australia have both adopted … Read more
My TV Turkish Serials Subreddit receives more than 95 thousand visits weekly, and my colleague Alper Kırklar and I decided to curate an edited volume on Turkish Television Series. The series’ global attraction is definitely unintended, but all over the world, I come across people asking me about a particular Turkish series. So here we … Read more
Just finished an article by dear Joakim Parslow, who knows this blog well. I have done some research on the history of the internet in Türkiye, but Joakim goes far past the pre-internet decades, where Cybernetics had some resonance. The article link is here. Parslow, J. (2021). The Mechanical Atatürk: Cybernetics and State Violence in … Read more
I was once a trainer in an EU-funded project, and I spent a few hours with Prof. Ortaylı in 2015 in one of its workshops. I was really anxious about whether he would make fun of me, but he did not (!). According to the project page of RUMVADER (Cemaat Vakıfları Temsilciliği), it was the … Read more
There’s a massive, viral trend on Turkish X right now (early March 2026) where Turkish users are celebrating Spain as the new “kardeş ülke” (brother country). The reason? Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez’s firm “No to war” stance — specifically refusing to let the US use Spanish bases for any attacks/escalation involving Iran, plus Spain’s long-standing … Read more
When I saw a few Twitter messages about the home visits, I asked Perplexity to compile what is noted about President Erdoğan’s and also a few other governmnent officials’ home visits during the Ramadhan. I have also added a gallery of visit images. I understand that some staging needed in any case, but it could … Read more
I am losing my respect for Wim Wenders fast, but I continue to admire Emin Alper. I remember Emin from our college days as a nice, calm person. Here’s what happened at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale 2026): The Context: Wim Wenders’ Controversy German filmmaker Wim Wenders, serving as jury president of the … 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
As of February 2, 2026, the publicly released Epstein Files include several references to Turkey, focusing on allegations of international trafficking, diplomatic contacts, and broader geopolitical implications. However, as far as I could see, no major scandals so far! Most Turkey-related references in the newly released Epstein Files are incidental or contextual, with only one … Read more
I want to resume my active Beşiktaş fandom, but it is so hard to focus on the game itself amid these scandals. Türkiye is currently facing a major football betting scandal, with over 1,000 professional players under investigation and suspended by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) for alleged involvement in illegal sports betting activities. The … Read more
I believe this is really shameful. Tele1 TV seized by state, broadcast interrupted mid-air The authorities appointed a trustee to pro-opposition broadcaster Tele1 TV on the evening of Oct 24, taking the channel off air during its main news bulletin. But this was not the first time: Since 2016, Turkey has systematically seized, shut down, … Read more
I haven’t visited this site yet, though I have been to Göbeklitepe. I should go there soon! The discovery of a human face depiction on the surface of one of the T-shaped pillars at the Karahantepe excavation site in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa reinforces the theory that these stones symbolize human figures. Saying … Read more