TO THE POLICIES OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE GOVERNMENT THAT TARGET GENDER EQUALITY, WOMEN’S BODIES, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AND SEXUALITY, OUR RESPONSE IS A RESOUNDING “NO!” A roundup of news from Turkish politics: Erdogan’s Turkish Spring: Crosscurrents in the Bosphorus Forbes (Photo credit: Wikipedia) By James D. Zirin Thousands of women took to the … Read more
Thousands of women march in Istanbul to protest against the possible introduction of severe limitations on abortion. Photograph: Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images The Guardian: Turkish women join pro-choice rally as fears grow of abortion ban Thousands of women joined a pro-choice rally in Istanbul on Sunday amid growing fears that Turkey‘s Islamist government intends, in effect, to … Read more
Today in Beşiktaş a feminist group protested Erdoğan’s latest – not any more funny- ranting: via Twitter PM Erdoğan counters growing pressure over Uludere massacre with arguments beyond reason… For the first time, I began to hear some rumors that he might in fact be in need of psychiatric help… via Twitter Abortion is ‘murder,’ … Read more
Turkey’s PM threatens theatres after actor ‘humiliates’ daughter from World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Fiachra Gibbons Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemns ‘despotic arrogance’ of intellectuals and says he will cut state funding In a tale which could have come straight from the time of the sultans, when one wrong word could seal your fate, the … Read more
Turkey ranks 47th in mothers report from Hurriyet Daily News Turkey ranks 47th on a list of the ?best countries in which to be a mother,? in… nuclear power stations, turkey style (!) RedHack hacks Turkish family ministry website on Mother’s Day from Hurriyet Daily News The socialist RedHack group today took down the Turkish … Read more
Turkish student sentenced to 11 years in poshu scarf case from Hurriyet Daily News A Turkish court sentenced university student Cihan Kırmızıgül to 11 years in jail. ************** Turkey tired of ‘government controlled’ media by Turkish Digest Turkey tired of ‘government controlled’ media A growing number of young Turks are turning to social … Read more
Eight Soldiers ‘Suicide’ per Month from Bianet :: English Minister of National Defense İsmet Yılmaz answered the parliamentary question of CHP: ?934 military people committed to suicide in last 10 years? 1 Million People from İzmir Platform held a public demonstration against the thermal power plants yesterday and many parties, unions and non-governmental organizations participated the … Read more
* Student Cihan Kırmızıgül Released ? Bianet – 2 days ago University student Cihan Kırmızıgül was released pending trial at the eighth hearing of his case on Friday (23 March). The Galatasaray University student is Penalty for Defending Murder with “Tradition” from Bianet :: English The Diyarbakır Bar Association decided for … Read more
Religious Education and 4+4+4 from Turkish Politics in Action by Ragan Updegraff PHOTO from Birgun Fast approaching the anniversary of the Feb. 28 process, or the 1997 “postmodern coup” that brought about the fall of the Islamist Refah government and a slate of reforms to defend secularism against what was perceived by some as the … Read more
Turkey’s Chief Rabbi Izak Haleva (C) and Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu (L) light candles, in memory of holocaust victims, during a commemoration to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day at Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul January 26, 2012. The event occurs a day ahead of the annual International Day of Commemoration, which was designated by … Read more
259 Women Killed in Turkey in 2011 According to data collected by bianet, 14 women in Turkey were killed by men in December 2011. 24 women were injured, 15 women raped and 16 harassed. In total, 259 women were killed by male culprits in Turkey in 2011. Police detain 30 students from Hurriyet Daily News … Read more
A traditional Turkish coffee is served at a coffee house in Istanbul. Photograph: Fatih Saribas/Reuters Turkish coffee house talk could teach the world a thing or two | Kaya Genç by Kaya Genç As Turkey’s coffee culture arrives in London, it provides an opportunity for proper discussion about culture and politics The coffee house was … Read more
Feyza’s piece in Turkish here. Turkish Women’s Magazine Searches for Intersection of Islam and Fashion The previously little-known magazine has begun outselling Vogue and Elle here, sparking a national debate over whether fashion and Islam can coexist … Turkish gender studies specialist Feyza Akinerdem, agrees that Âlâ is far from the Vogue of Islamic clothing. … Read more
Fury rages over rape case from Hurriyet Dailynews by ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News Government ministers and deputies from opposition parties all joined an outcry regarding a court decision that lowers the sentence for 26 suspects who were tried for allegedly raping a 13 year old girl. Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin … Read more