European judiciary network votes to suspend observer status of Turkey’s HSYK The European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) on Dec. 8 decided to suspend the observer status of the Turkish High Council for Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), citing concerns that the body is no longer sufficiently independent from the state’s executive and legislature branches. … Read more
International coalition slams Cumhuriyet arrests, media closures freemedia.at – Silvia Morales – Nov 2 A coalition of 14 leading international press freedom and freedom of expression organisations today condemned as an “extraordinary attack on press freedom” the jailing of top journalists with Turkey’s Cumhuriyet newspaper and the via Can Turkey’s Democracy Survive President Erdogan? nytimes.com … Read more
Turkey celebrates 93rd anniversary of the republic The celebrations marking the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic began on Oct. 29 with a ceremony at the mausoleum of founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk One woman’s journey from prisoner to mayor al-monitor.com – Mar 23, 2015, 2:10 AM Author: Amberin Zaman March 23, 2015 Gultan … Read more
Large cracks detected in Topkapı Palace basement, prompting evacuation Parts of Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace are slated to undergo a major restoration worth around 10 million Turkish Liras after deep crevices were found in the treasury room of the Ottoman-era palace in July, causing its closure to tourists Demo in Istanbul over assault of woman who wore … Read more
First Comic & Arts Festival in Istanbul The Istanbul Comics & Art Festival (ICAF) will be held for the first time this year at the St. Joseph Social Club in the city’s Moda neighborhood Governor claims Istanbul is ‘among safest cities in the world’ Hurriyet Daily News Istanbul remains among the safest cities in the world, … Read more
The piece is in Turkish and it is a photo-story of store closures in the once extremely lively İstiklal Street… In other Istanbul related news: Historic tunnel in Istanbul to open to traffic again The Beylerbeyi Palace Tunnel, which was commissioned by Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II and constructed between 1829 and 1832, will be opened to traffic … Read more
Turks Can Agree on One Thing: U.S. Was Behind Failed Coup NYT > Turkey by By TIM ARANGO and CEYLAN YEGINSU Turks of all stripes believe the United States was involved in the coup attempt, especially because the cleric suspected of leading it lives in Pennsylvania. Austria is capital of radical racism, says Turkish foreign minister World … Read more
113 killed in car crashes in Turkey during Eid al-Adha A total of 113 people were killed in car crashes across Turkey during the nine-day Eid al-Adha holiday as hundreds of thousands of citizens began to return amid intensifying traffic 1,500 refugees sent from Edirne to other Turkish cities Syrian refugees, who have waited over 10 days … Read more
HDP leader speaks out on latest violence across Turkey Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has condemned the violence that has enveloped the country and resulted in numerous attacks against his party’s buildings, warning perpetrators about the consequences of their actions. Pro-AKP columnist threatens Hürriyet columnist with death ‘We could crush you like a fly … Read more
The news in Turkish here. ———– Kurdish civilians hit by snipers as Turkey cracks down on militants World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Constanze Letsch in Silopi and Cizre Residents of south-eastern towns say they are living under daily terror from marksmen after new law authorising use of live ammunition to quell protests US Embassy in … Read more
Sultans’ dreams: The Ottomans’ unfulfilled Istanbul projects In the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire launched extensive modernization projects to transform Istanbul into a European metropolis. Many projects were left on paper, but what if the sultans’ dreams had come true? Istanbul’s Kristallnacht Turns 60 FrontPage Magazine On September 6-7, 1955, Istanbul’s Greek Christians underwent the “most … Read more
Turkish PM promises to bring ‘Ottoman order, justice’ Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has vowed to bring the “order and justice” of the Ottoman Empire to today’s world. HDP has inorganic link to PKK: Erdoğan President Erdoğan has toughened his position against the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) by implying that it has ties with the outlawed Kurdistan … Read more
Turkey’s Election a Referendum on Erdogan nytimes.com – Shreeya Sinha – Jun 4 – In 2013, a police crackdown using tear gas and water cannons on peaceful protesters challenging plans to replace Istanbul’s Gezi Park in Taksim Square with a replica Ottoman-era army barracks that would house a shopping mall, became a catalyst for… Turkish PM … Read more
HDP co-chair mocks Erdoğan’s nationwide inaugurations Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş celebrated opening a soda can during his meeting with Turkish humorists and cartoonists in Istanbul, teasing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s successive inauguration meetings on the run up to the June 7 elections. Main opposition CHP’s election truck towed away in Erzurum An election campaign … Read more
Turkish army refutes speculations over top soldier’s leave The Turkish army and Prime Minister Davutoğlu have refuted claims that Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel left his office because of a disagreement with the government over military intervention in Syria, underlining he will be back to his job after recovering from a medical procedure Turkey’s convicted … Read more