So far excluded but… “Turkey cannot be excluded from Mosul operation: Erdoğan”

Turkey cannot be excluded from Mosul operation: Erdoğan Ankara cannot be excluded from the operation launched to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Oct. 17 PM Yıldırım says Turkey joined air strikes in Mosul operation Turkey has joined air strikes by … Read more

Parliamentary system is dead: “Turkey extends state of emergency for additional three months”

Turkey extends state of emergency for additional three months The Turkish government has extended the state of emergency, first implemented in the aftermath of the July 15 coup attempt, for an additional three-month period, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş announced on Oct. 3 Turkey’s great purge BBC News | Europe | World Edition Public sector staff are … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Court Rules to Release Suspects Accused of Raping a Minor….

Court Rules to Release Suspects Accused of Raping a Minor Bianet The next hearing of the case is scheduled for Nov. … Association in the southwestern province of Muğla, had also represented the defendants in a mass rape case … “The Turkish judiciary prefers wile over justice,” he added. Rape case to begin amid legal concerns from Hurriyet Daily News A Sakarya court is set to … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: “A Single Person Arrested in Mob Attack Against Alevi-Kurdish Family, “William Burroughs’ Turkish publishers’ obscenity trial postponed and more..

A Single Person Arrested in Mob Attack Against Alevi-Kurdish Family from Bianet :: English Officials arrested the traditional Ramadan drummer as part of their investigation into the attack against an Alevi-Kurdish family in the eastern province of Malatya. Opposition deputies who arrived in the province also castigated the authorities for their inadequate response to the … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Police chief accused of torture and rape promoted…

Police Defends Promotion of Staff Member Accused of Torture, Rape from Bianet :: English The Turkish Police Headquarters issued a public statement in defense of their controversial decision to promote Sedat Selim Ay, the newly appointed deputy director of the Istanbul Anti-Terror Police Department who had been convicted of charges of rape and torture. Controversial … Read more

A few good things also happen:) like State aid to minority newspapers…

Atalay (C), the head of the BİK, poses with represantatives of minority papers. AA photo Minority newspapers happy with 250,000 TL cash grant from Hürriyet Daily News Representatives of minority-run newspapers in Turkey have said they are overjoyed at a 250,000-Turkish Lira grant from the country?s Press Bulletin Authority, or BİK. or Turkish school books … Read more

“Headscarf Ban at Universities Softened but more to do for human rights…

It is just like that. In another round of never ending headscarf issue, Higher Education Council (YÖK) sent university presidents a memo to actually lift the ban. But of course it will take more time to legally change the situation… It is only after the miserable defeat of Kemalist forces in referendum, this shameful ban … Read more

NYT article relies on pro-Ergenekon lobby?

A new article in NYT by Mr. Bilefsky quotes extensively from sources critical of the Ergenekon trial. I have once noted the evidence question last year and I still believe it is a valid concern. However, there is a concentrated attempt to slow down or disorient the process and these people are certainly not doing out of innocent democratic aims. As the article underlines the issue is too complicated but it is not a fiction. It is real despite all problems, anybody in town knows that the deep state operated in this country and Ergenekon trial is here to reveal some of the facts. But of course it cannot be an easy process to do that and by putting “clouds” on the Trial itself, some Western Media production helpsthe anti-trial lobby…

Subversion Trial Puts Cloud Over Turkey

from NYT > Turkey by By DAN BILEFSKY
Prosecutors allege that an underground organization has committed dozens of terrorist acts and sought to topple Turkey?s Islamic-inspired government.

Plot colonel put behind bars over action plan
Today’s Zaman
Dozens of Ergenekon members, including businessmen, members of the military and journalists, are currently incarcerated while standing trial.

Cuntaya ?hayır? çıktı, imamlar sürgün edildi
A small scale campaign continues: Adding “Brave” to the name of Bingöl city. People of Bingöl was brave enough to reject the military enforced constitution referendum after the 1980 coup d’etat. In fact, it was only city…

 

 

Members of Genç Siviller (Young Civilians) and the Ankara-based Bingöl Culture and Solidarity Association (BİNDAV) protested the anti-democratic 1982 Constitution, a byproduct of the 1980 coup, in front of the welcome sign to the city of Bingöl on Saturday…

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The first President to be in Tunceli in 19 years

In another positively historical political moment in Turkey, President Abdullah Gül pays a visit to Tunceli. This city, predominantly Alevite, has been the symbol of radical opposition to Establishment. [I had just heard that fatally ill political prisoner Güler Zere may be released, news coming soon]

Cumhurbaşkanı Gül, Zere'yi affetti
Güler Zere

oh yes, she is released (though it might be too late)…

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