Istanbul news roundup: “Istanbul’s housing prices decline amid oversupply

Murder in Istanbul BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Twelve men from the countries of the former USSR have been assassinated in Turkey, and there’s evidence that some of the hitmen were from Russia. Istanbul’s housing prices decline amid oversupply Hurriyet Daily News   Property prices have dropped up to 20 percent in several parts … Read more

This time sad news come from #Kayseri -Turkey PM blames PKK for car bomb that killed 13 soldiers… HDP office attacked afterwards….

Turkey PM blames PKK for car bomb that killed 13 soldiers on bus World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Nicola Slawson   Blast near university in Kayseri targets public bus, wounding 55 other soldiers and civilians Car bomb kills soldiers on public bus in Turkey – video World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk   A car bomb in … Read more

For the record, 259 journalist jailed in 2016, Turkey is the world leader…

2016 prison census: 259 journalists jailed worldwide https://t.co/TeZjE8THPs via @pressfreedomYou guessed it. Turkey is the world leader. pic.twitter.com/p7sn8oQsKY — ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) December 13, 2016 Turkey: Silencing the Media hrw.org – Dec 14, 9:01 PM (Istanbul) – Turkey’s government has all but silenced independent media in an effort to prevent scrutiny or criticism of its … Read more

Domestically Ashamed in the Mavi Marmara case, Uneasy to challenge Russians, Turkey zeroes in on Iran…

Iranian-Turkish tug-of-war over Kurds al-monitor.com – Dec 13, 1:50 AM Author: Pinar Tremblay December 13, 2016 A few weeks before the devastating Dec. 10 twin bombings in Istanbul — for which Kurdish militants claimed responsibility — Al-Monitor spoke with several sources well-connected with Ankara Turkey drops case against Israeli officers in Gaza flotilla killings BBC News … Read more

Hundreds of HDP executives detained as death toll reaches 44 in the latest Istanbul bombed attack….

  HDP Executives Detained in Simultaneous Operations 118 people from the HDP have been detained during operations launched against HDP’s provincial and district executives in İstanbul, Ankara, Adana, Manisa and Mersin. HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş suffers heart spasm in prison: MP Bilgen Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş suffered a heart spasm in jail on Dec. … Read more

Diyanet, Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, claimed gathering intelligence on suspected Gülenists via imams in 38 countries…

  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

Erdoğan’s latest remarks on Turkish military operations in Syria confuses Russians…

Turkey entered Syria to end al-Assad’s rule: President Erdoğan President Erdoğan admits that Turkey crossed into Syria to get rid of President Bashar al-Assad having previously highlighted the fight against ISIL Erdoğan’s remarks on Turkish operation ‘to end al-Assad rule’ to be discussed during Lavrov visit  President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent assertion that the Turkish military operation … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Tahir Elçi remembered…

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

BBC Turkish says reporter, Hatice Kamer, freed in southeast Turkey

BBC Turkish says reporter freed in southeast Turkey Turkish authorities on Nov. 27 freed a reporter for the BBC’s Turkish language service in the southeast of the country after holding her for a day without explanation, the broadcaster said Turkey detains BBC journalist reporting on mine disaster World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Staff and agencies Hatice … Read more

Turkey continues to imprison novelist Erdoğan, linguist Alpay…

Novelist Erdoğan, linguist Alpay arrested over Özgür Gündem probe to remain in prison An Istanbul court on Nov. 23 ordered the release of imprisoned novelist Aslı Erdoğan and linguist Necmiye Alpay on one charge but ruled for the continuation of their arrest on another charge Alpay, Erdoğan Released of One of Charges, Further Arrested on the Other … Read more

“Istanbul’s new airport wins design award in Berlin” -Istanbul news roundup…

  Istanbul’s new airport wins design award in Berlin Istanbul’s planned new airport has received a design award at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin 50 migrants escape from resettlement center in Istanbul, set building on fire (VIDEO) RT Some 50 migrants, mostly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, have set a refugee resettlement center in Istanbul ablaze … Read more

Document: UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to his visit to Turkey, 14-18 November 2016…

Preliminary conclusions and observations by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to his visit to Turkey, 14-18 November 2016 ohchr.org   ANKARA (18 November 2016) – At the invitation of the Government, I spent this week in Turkey to examine the protection and promotion of the freedom of … Read more

EDRI Statement: “State of emergency worsens digital crackdown in Turkey”

Turkey’s Free Press Withers Under Erdogan’s Crackdown New York Times – Rod Nordland – Nov 17, 2:40 AM The jailings are the most obvious example of an effort to muzzle not just the free press, but free speech generally. More than 3,000 Turks have faced charges for insulting the president, including a former Miss Turkey, … Read more

Turkish officials refuse to meet two senior MEPs (@ElmarBrok_MEP @KatiPiri) over post-coup crackdown criticism; their Turkey trip postponed…

MEPs cancel Turkey trip as relations sour  EUobserver.com – Headline News Turkish officials refuse to meet two senior MEPs, as diplomatic relations continue to deteriorate over Ankara’s post-coup crackdown. Euro MPs cancel Turkey trip over coup criticism EurActiv.com by Georgi Gotev Top EU lawmakers yesterday (16 November) cancelled a visit to Turkey after Ankara refused to see … Read more

Not only the Gülen case, Turkey is also interested in Zarrab case, demanding his release…

  Turkish justice minister asks US Attorney General to release Zarrab A top Turkish government official recently met with Attorney General Loretta Lynch and told her the prosecution of Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab was “based on no evidence,” according to a court filing unsealed on Nov. 15. Turkish President Erdoğan blasts foreign media outlets at TRT World … Read more