Turkish popular culture

My piece at @HuffPostBlog “A Few Thoughts on the Decision to Eliminate Evolution From Turkey’s High School Curriculum 

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A Few Thoughts on the Decision to Eliminate Evolution From Turkey’s High School Curriculum 07/12/2017  By Prof. Erkan Saka The ruling Turkish government rarely uses explicit Islamic reasoning to intervene in Turkey’s secular life. Instead, taxation, age restrictions, and zoning regulations have been used to support the restriction of alcoholic beverages in the country. In … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: HDP’s Demirtaş still not brought to court… Academic Koray Çalışkan Detained…

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HDP’s Demirtaş Refuses Handcuffs, Not Brought to Court Bianet :: English HDP Co-Chair Demirtaş wasn’t taken to courtroom after refusing to be handcuffed. “We will resist injustice and protect honor of the people whom we represent”, Demirtaş said. Jailed HDP co-chair Demirtaş slams Erdoğan over ‘terrorist’ claims Selahattin Demirtaş, the jailed co-leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party … Read more

#AdaletMitingi – The rally that concludes the Justice March seems to be stealing govt’s moral superiority…

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https://twitter.com/AyhanKaya14/status/884050530112286721 Let's see what state news says about the justice march? Oh, it says Erdoğan is having a busy day… pic.twitter.com/hN7817zS7D — Ankaralı Jan (@06JAnk) July 9, 2017 Hayatımda zulme karşı Gezi'den daha barışçı bir kitlesel eylem göremeyeceğimi sanıyordum. pic.twitter.com/4BrPXcVgrl — Cem Say (@say_cem) July 7, 2017   Bu sıcakta kapalı yollarda tekerlekli sandalyeyle bile … Read more

Human rights activists detained en masse on terrorism charges and Turkish authorities can still be angry with today’s European Parliament decision.

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2nd Amnesty International Leader Detained in Turkey NYT > Turkey by By PATRICK KINGSLEY The director of the group’s office in Istanbul was being held, as were seven other activists. The chairman of the group’s Turkey chapter was detained last month. European Parliament votes to accept proposal to suspend Turkey’s EU accession talks The European Parliament on July … Read more

The 2nd day at main opposition’s “justice march” #AdaletİçinYürüyüş

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Main opposition CHP leader rejects criticisms on second day of ‘justice march’ Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli will need justice as well, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said in response to Bahçeli’s criticism of the former’s march to Istanbul in protest of a CHP lawmaker’s arrest. The first ever … Read more

Turkey’s prime minister attempting to write but confused about some letters…

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Some argue this is due to the fact that we rely on laptops, mobile etc and do not write directly. I am not sure but whatever… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUycb0jAkMs   173 women killed in Turkey in first five months of 2017: Report Some 173 women were killed by men in the first five months of 2017, according to … Read more

Bir Wiki Projesi: “The Gezi Project- Gezi Direnişi Hakkında Her Şey” #GeziParkı4Yaşında

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Devam eden Wiki projesi. Buyrun: https://geziarchive.wikispaces.com/ Devam eden bir proje olduğu için çok kızmayınız. ************** The Gezi Project Gezi Direnişi Hakkında Her Şey- Bir ansiklopedik proje. Taksim Yayalaştırma Projesi ve Gezi Direnişi’nin Başlaması Gezi Parkı Olayları Zaman Çizelgesi Gezi Parki Olayinin Zaman Çizelgesi (in English) Belgeler Raporlar Belgeseller Gezi Parkı Yargı Kararı Gezi Parkı İle İlgili Kitaplar … Read more

Creative protest from the raided daily Sözcü… #journalism

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Turkish daily Sözcü publishes blank issue to protest detention warrant on executive, staff members Hurriyet Daily News Turkish critical daily Sözcü has published a “May 19 Press Freedom Special Edition,” left blank to protest the detentions of some staff members.

There was once a band called “L.S.D. Orkestrası [L.S.D. Orchestra] in Turkey

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Anatolian Rock Revival Project Published on May 7, 2015 A project, dedicated to bring the non-mainstream pieces from the Turkish Rock History into light with unique art works. Illustration: Seliço https://www.facebook.com/AnatolianRoc… Unfortunately, there is little known about L.S.D. Orkestrası. They were a psychedelic rock band, as their name suggests. They competed in a Battle of the … Read more

“maps showing locations in Turkey that have been re-named over the past century…

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A series of maps showing locations in Turkey that have been re-named over the past century https://twitter.com/NicholasDanfort/status/863852999445295107?s=03 Turkey: RSF calls for French photographer’s release | Reporters without borders rsf.org – May 10, 8:57 AM Reporters Without Borders (RSF) regards French photojournalist Mathias Depardon ‘s detention since 8 May in southeastern Turkey as “completely unjustified” and … Read more

Research Project Infographic (Media in Political Transition in the Southern Mediterranean after 2011) released

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University of Cambridge – Al Jazeera Media Project has recently finished. I was proudly part of Turkish team. Today an infographic summing up research and its finding released on Al Jazeera website. Please have a look A long term research project is giving more fruits. Turkey team’s articles will be published next year. Morocco teams are … Read more

Culture wars Turkish style: TV stations fined for Victoria’s Secret show; TV dating shows banned with new state of emergency decree…

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Victoria’s Secret show is ‘not a Turkish tradition,’ watchdog warns TV stations Turkey’s television regulator has fined private broadcasters Star TV and NTV for suggesting that watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on New Year’s Eve “is part of Turkish traditions” Turkey bans TV dating shows with new state of emergency decree Turkey banned television dating shows … Read more

Wikipedia ban and ironies of Turkey abound…

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As PM Yıldırım was claiming Turkey is a democratic country in his interview at BBC World, a caption says Turkish authorities block Wikipedia… It seems that Istanbul Municipality invited Jimmy Wales, the Wikipedia co-founder, to the Smart City conference that will take place on 15-18 May. update: the Municipality cancelled Wales’ talk today. *********************** Turkey dismisses almost … Read more

Sometime in 1976-1978 in UK, there were 3 grad students and a first lieutenant who would be part of Turkey’s contemporary ruling elite…

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These photos were recently released. Hulusi Akar (L), Turkey’s current chief of staff, was a first lieutenant when he got a leave and came to London to visit/meet Abdullah Gül (Turkey’s former President- in the middle) and Şükrü Karatepe, (R) a current advisor to President Erdoğan. The photo is taken by veteran columnist Fehmi Koru, who … Read more

#Wikipedia is blocked in Turkey [allegedly] due to some content “that takes an equal stand between state of Turkey and terror organizations

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The reason is not officially stated but I have seen some Twitter users arguing about that. When there is no credible official sources, there will always be many explanations/ conspiracies. I believe there might be so much content Turkish authorities may not like because they cannot tolerate any different viewpoints to be documented, the very existence … Read more