Status Change Explanation: Turkey’s status declined from Partly Free to Not Free, its political rights rating declined from 4 to 5, and its civil liberties rating declines from 5 to 6 due to a deeply flawed constitutional referendum that centralized power in the presidency, the mass replacement of elected mayors with government appointees, arbitrary prosecutions … Read more
Turkey’s president raises tensions with criticism of Israel World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Kareem Shaheen in Istanbul Israeli foreign ministry responds to strong remarks about treatment of Palestinians by condemning Turkish human rights record Tensions have resurfaced between Turkey and Israel, with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticising the “racist and discriminatory” treatment of Palestinians, and Israel … Read more
Detained Journalist From Italy Released, Deported Bianet :: English Angelino Alfano, Minister of Interior of Italy has announced that Gabriele Del Grande, a journalist from Italy who had been in custody since April 9, was released and sent to Italy. Silencing Turkey’s Media hrw.org – Dec 14, 2016, 9:01 PM Ruthless Assault on Press Freedom Shields … Read more
Turkey should investigate referendum vote ‘irregularities’, says EU commission World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Daniel Boffey in Brussels President’s spokesman calls on authorities to launch transparent inquiry after observers raised doubts about poll result The EU has called on the civil authorities in Turkey to launch a transparent investigation into the referendum result granting the … Read more
Turkey Allows Women in Military to Wear Hijabs, in Cultural Shift NYT > Turkey by By PATRICK KINGSLEY The move highlights a change in the armed forces and society, where the head scarf has been a symbol of the struggle between secular and religious factions. Turkey permits women soldiers to wear headscarf Women soldiers in Turkey … Read more
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
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
Gulen did not order Turkey coup, EU spies say EUobserver.com – Headline News EU intelligence services do not believe exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen ordered the coup in Turkey, saying opposition to the ruling AKP was much broader. Cyprus reunification talks: rivals reject proposed new borders World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Agence France-Presse Delegations from … Read more
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
CHP’s Fatma Kaplan: To Hell with Your Presidential System, to Hell with Your Ambition Bianet :: English Beaten while warning AKP MPs who weren’t complying with voting procedures during discussions on 3rd Article of constitutional amendment talks, CHP MP Fatma Hürriyet Kaplan has protested the incident on parliamentary rostrum. ‘That referendum will take place,’ vows President … Read more
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
One-year halt in Turkey, Russia ties ‘over’: Turkish PM A year-long hiatus in relations between Russia and Turkey is over, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said Dec. 6 in his first visit to Moscow as prime minister Diyanet gathers intelligence on suspected Gülenists via imams in 38 countries Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has gathered … Read more
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
AKP, MHP agree on presidential system The leaders of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have agreed to submit a charter draft, which grants more executive powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to parliament next week, after the two leaders reviewed the text in a meeting on Dec. … Read more
Killing of Diyarbakır bar head Tahir Elçi becoming unsolved murder, widow says The killing of Tahir Elçi, the Diyarbakır Bar Association head who was killed in an armed clash in November 2015 in Diyarbakır, is becoming an unsolved murder, his wife has said, as she commemorated the first year of her husband’s death. Only Power Rules: Turkey After … Read more