Strange times. Bahçeli invited Öcalan to the Turkish Parliament.

A new Kurdish peace process is on the way. MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) leader Devlet Bahçeli made some significant statements about PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan during his party’s group meeting today. Here are the key points: Bahçeli called for Öcalan’s isolation conditions to be lifted, suggesting that Öcalan could speak in the Turkish Grand National … Read more

Turkish Special Forces in the service of a political party

Süleyman Karadeniz, the head of Special Operations, kissed Bahçeli‘s hand, which drew reactions from the public. CHP’s Murat Bakan: “If police and soldiers start kissing hands, this country will experience more July 15ths.” DEVA Party’s Mustafa Yeneroğlu: “Thinking that you are the police of a party is the biggest damage to the state.” Salih Uzun … Read more

For the record, “Turkish economy shrinks for first time since 2009

  Turkish economy shrinks for first time since 2009  Hurriyet Daily News   Turkey’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by a bigger than expected 1.8 percent in the third quarter of 2016 on weak consumer spending and exports, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) showed on Dec. 12 Charter amendment draft submitted to Turkey’s parliament  Hurriyet … Read more

Turkish government refers to the ‘The Following’ TV series to understand “FETÖ”

Devlet Bahçeli gazing at photos of HDP deputies in jail… ************ ‘The Following‘ TV series suggested to understand FETÖ, Turkey … Daily Sabah–Dec 6, 2016 “The Following,’ an American television drama series, might be a good example to understand the structure of the FETÖ” the booklet said…   Turkish man gives away free tombstones to anyone … Read more

There Lira in free fall: 1 USD: 3.10 TL

Turkish Lira hits record low against dollar on political worries, Fed’s rate hike signals The Turkish Lira hit a record low against the dollar on Oct. 13 over fears that political uncertainty could be triggered by a fresh government move to push through legislation introducing an executive presidential system BP refutes claims about exiting Turkish market BP … Read more

Turkey announces 174 jails to be built while Former torture methods reemerge in Turkish prisons according to Human Rights Association…

Former torture methods reemerge in Turkish prisons: Human Rights Association Notorious former prison torture methods have reemerged during the state of emergency declared after the July 15 failed coup attempt, in addition to overcrowding and poor conditions in Turkey’s jails, according to the Human Rights Association (İHD) 174 jails to be built in Turkey More than 170 … Read more

As Obama to travel to Turkey for G20 summit “Assailants open fire in front of main opposition CHP headquarters in Ankara…

Assailants open fire in front of CHP headquarters in Ankara Unknown assailants opened fire late on Oct. 26 at the Republican People’s Party (CHP) headquarters in Ankara, the party’s deputy head has said  Academic Murat Belge details frustration of being betrayed by the AKP BGN NEWS Academic Murat Belge details frustration of being betrayed by the … Read more

13 scandals of restoration from Turkey… A social fabric roundup…

In Photos: 13 of Turkey’s historic heritage sites destroyed by erroneous ‘restoration’ The “SpongeBob” castle in Istanbul has rekindled debate on Turkey’s failure to protect heritage sites. Click through to see 13 sites across Turkey, destroyed due to erroneous restorations In photos: 25 hilarious reactions to the tourist beating Turkish shopkeepers ‘If this tourist forms a political … Read more

Despite 2 pro-Kurdish members, Turkey’s first election gov’t dominated by AKP…

Turkey’s first election gov’t comes with more firsts Turkish PM Davutoğlu’s interim government, approved by President Erdoğan, is the first one that a Kurdish problem-focused party takes part. It also features the first minister wearing the Islamic headscarf. MAIN FOCUS: Turkey seeks caretaker government | 26/08/2015  euro|topics Following the failure to form a government, the Turkish President … Read more

Nov 1, General Election Timetable Announced; polls show AKP still short of votes to form government alone…

General Election Timetable Announced Bianet :: English Timetable of general elections which will be held on November 1st has been announced. Poll shows Turkey’s AKP short of votes needed to form government alone Ruling AKP is seen falling short of the votes needed to form a single-party gov’t in a snap election on Nov. 1 with 41.7 … Read more

Turkey’s new Major General was acquitted of unidentified murders of 13 villagers…

HDP Appeals to UN for Extrajudicial Executions and Enforced Disappearances  Bianet :: English Peoples’ Democratic Party demanded an investigation from UN Rapporteur for “illegal, extrajudicial and arbitrary executions” in Turkey. US drone strikes Syria from Turkey  BBC News | Europe | World Edition The US has carried out its first air strike on so-called Islamic State in … Read more

He is not supposed to be the one to negotiate for coalition but still cites red lines…

Erdoğan cites Istanbul airport and bridge projects as his own coalition red line Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed to oppose any coalition talks that pledge to suspend “major projects,” such Istanbul’s under-construction new airport and third bridge. Ruling AKP vows to decrease 10 percent election threshold Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said his coalition talks with … Read more

Elections for parliament speaker continues while Turkey’s presidential office plays logical games to justify ISIS

ISIL exists because al-Assad exists: Erdoğan aide A senior spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office has indicated the presence of terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) was linked to the prevalence of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria AKP candidate leads in elections for parliament speaker in … Read more

For the record, Turkish interior ministry to pay to French student for Gezi detainment…

Turkish interior ministry to pay 10,000 liras to French student for Gezi detainment: Court A French student who was deported after being detained by the police during Istanbul’s Gezi Park protests on June 11, 2013, has won 10,000 Turkish Liras in compensation for being unlawfully deprived of her freedom during her detention. Council of Europe advisory body … Read more

1- #TurkeyElections roundup. Follow #ElectionFraud for irregularities…

Turkey votes in election that could bolster president’s powers  World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk w Poll seen as referendum on whether to endow Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with powers that would significantly change Turkish democracy Only one vote cast in Turkey’s southeastern village Only one person has cast a vote for the parliamentary election in the Yolveren village … Read more