The Guardian piece on Asli Erdogan…

Turkish author Asli Erdogan on her 136 days in jail  BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Turkish author Asli Erdogan was jailed for 136 days over her links with a pro-Kurdish newspaper. Doorstep demand BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Asli Erdogan could face life in jail after being accused of involvement in … Read more

According to new @FreedomHouseDC report “Turkey faces largest decline in freedoms in 2016”

Turkey faces largest decline in freedoms in 2016: Report   Turkey suffered the largest decline in freedoms among 195 countries over the past year, an annual report published by the Washington-based Freedom House showed on Jan. 31.   Turkish Alevis release list of suggestions for ‘pluralistic’ religious education in new curriculum   A Turkish Alevi foundation has … Read more

Before meeting with Trump, Theresa May was in Turkey for a £100m defence deal “‘turning a blind eye to rights abuse’

Theresa May in Turkey: UK agrees £100m defence deal  BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Theresa May discusses trade with Turkey’s president, and a deal to develop fighter jets is sealed. UK’s £100m weapons deal with Turkey ‘turns blind eye to rights abuse’ World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Jamie Doward   Arms sale in … Read more

Good days with Greece may end: “Greece’s Top Court Rejects Extradition of Turkish Officers…

Turkey protests Greek rejection of extradition of 8 fugitive troops   Turkey said it protests Greek rejection of Turkish demand of extradition of eight fugitive troops, vowing it will evaluate the impacts of this decision on different aspects of bilateral ties between the two countries. Greece’s Top Court Rejects Extradition of Turkish Officers NYT > Turkey by … Read more

RSF Report: Journalism in death throes after six months of emergency in Turkey

In this release, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) examines the persecution of Turkey’s journalists and media under the state of emergency proclaimed exactly six months ago today, and urges Turkey’s national assembly to repeal all the decree-laws that are incompatible with its constitution and its international obligations. In the increasingly arbitrary clampdown on media freedom during … Read more

A female deputy from the ruling party was particularly industrious in parliamentary debates on constitutional change…

Gökcen Özdogan Enç, Antalya MEP from AKP.  Amid Fistfights, Turkey Nears Parliamentary Approval of a New Constitution  NYT > Turkey by By ROD NORDLAND   The proposal, bitterly disputed by opposition parties, would greatly expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if approved in a referendum. CHP’s Pavey, HDP’s Buldan Beaten in Parliament, Taken to Hospital … Read more

Mass surveillance: “Summary of Proceedings Prepared for 17,000 Social Media Users…

Yarkadaş: Summary of Proceedings Prepared for 17,000 Social Media Users Bianet :: English   CHP’s Yarkadaş has said that a “Social Media Monitoring Unit” has been formed and within this framework, summary of proceedings prepared for 17,000 social media users but since detention centers in İstanbul are already full, no detention proceeding is taking place at … Read more

Human Rights Watch 2017 report unsurprisingly criticizes Turkish authorities…

World Report 2017: Turkey Human Rights Watch – Jan 12, 6:35 AM On July 15, 2016, elements of the military attempted to carry out a coup d’état against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. The attempted coup left at least 241 citizens and government Human Rights Watch criticizes Turkish authorities … Read more

“Turkey to play more active role in Syrian War” -as if she did not play before…

Biden, Turkish PM to discuss Syria, extradition of Gülen U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım will discuss issues regarding Syria and the extradition of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen during Biden’s visit to Turkey, Yıldırım has said Syrian war: Turkey to play more active role  BBC News | Europe | World … Read more

Re-conquering Istanbul with residential housing projects, malls… Istanbul news roundup…

Istanbul to mark Ottoman conquest of city with grand ceremony Istanbul is set to mark the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul on its 563rd anniversary with a major event created by a grand team of 1,200, as expectations rise for the event, which is expected to attract 1 million spectators Istanbul marks 1453 Ottoman conquest of Istanbul with … Read more

3 Academic jailed, lawyers detained, a British academic Chris Stephenson who has been living in Turkey for decades, may be deported…

Academic Released by Prosecution Brought to Repatriation Center  Bianet :: English Academic Chris Stephenson detained at the courthouse where he went to support his colleagues has been released following his testimony was taken, yet police haven’t let him leave the building. Stephenson has been brought to Kumkapı Repatriation Center. British academic detained over ‘PKK propaganda’ released A … Read more

As “EU ‘long way from satisfied’ with Turkish migrant cooperation”, “Turkey plans to issue work permits for Syrians…

Turkey plans to issue work permits for Syrians Ankara is planning to offer Syrian refugees work permits in order to encourage fewer of them to migrate to Europe, Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozkır said on Jan. 11, amid pressure from the EU to reduce the flow of migrants from Turkey EU ‘long way from satisfied’ with Turkish … Read more

[Erkan also quoted] “Case of Vice reporters underlines Turkish crackdown on Internet freedom….

Case of Vice reporters underlines Turkish crackdown on Internet freedom  Al Jazeera America Al Jazeera America Case of Vice reporters underlines Turkish crackdown on Internet freedom Al Jazeera America “Turkish authorities are very pragmatic in stigmatizing encryption,” said Erkan Saka, a professor of communications at Istanbul’s Bilgi University. “They want a media blackout in the region,” … Read more

AKP suffers a major defeat, loses majority. Hopefully, the end begins… #TurkeyElections

Turkish election: pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party supporters fill streets after result – video World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP) fill the streets after passing Turkey’s 10% voting threshold. Thousands of Kurds celebrated in the city of Diyarbakir on Sunday, setting off fireworks upon hearing the news that the party … Read more

agar.io game becomes a battlefield in Turkish politics #TurkeyElections

Web game becomes latest battlefield in Turkish politics A simple, multiplayer game on the web has become the latest battleground for Turkish politics ahead of the June 7 general election, gaming website Kotaku has reported. Turkish LGBTI associations condemn homophobic news items against openly gay HDP candidate Three LGBTI associations have condemned homophobic news items published by … Read more