One of my former graduate students has become an underwater photographer and has shared their work presented on this website. We always emphasize that divers who take photographs and film underwater serve as the eyes and ears of our seas and inland waters. As individuals who have taken on this responsibility, we are fully aware … Read more
The European Court of Human Rights’ Grand Chamber ruling of 25 August means that Turkey is under a binding legal obligation to release Osman Kavala and remedy the consequences of his conviction. The Court said he should be freed “at the earliest possible date” and that the conviction cannot lawfully continue to justify his imprisonment … Read more
After the Süleymancılar, “Furkancılar” is also under investigation. This is a relatively small group based in Adana. Their type of activism differs greatly from that of the Süleymancılar, who have been exposed to a judicial process. The August 2026 Crackdown on the Furkan Movement in Turkey: Law, Politics, and Religious Civil Society Executive summary Turkey’s … Read more
Süleymancılar and Turkey’s August 2026 Crackdown: Movement, State Relations, Legal Architecture, and Political Stakes Executive summary As of 18:25 TRT on Thursday, 13 August 2026, Turkey is conducting a large, multi-province criminal investigation centered on Alihan Kuriş, the current leader associated with the religious community conventionally known as the Süleymancılar. The most important qualification is … Read more
Key takeaways: Broad coalition backing: AKP, MHP, DEM, HÜDA PAR, and New Path signed the bill (360 signatures), with CHP largely supportive despite internal turmoil. Nationalist opposition: İYİ Party and Zafer (Victory) Party remain firmly against it, framing it as a betrayal or existential threat to the unitary state. DEM’s conditional embrace: The pro-Kurdish party … Read more
I do not believe NATO is doing well at all. I am not sure to what extent this summit triggered international reactions, but here in Türkiye, it was a big deal. The government used this as an occasion to show off. I have asked both ChatGPT and Perplexity to collect information about this summit. You … Read more
Ankara is no good for the citizens nowadays. The media accreditation process is especially disappointing. Here is a roundup: Preventive arrests and bans on dissent Police have detained more than 200 people in large “anti‑terror” operations in Ankara, Istanbul and other cities, formally targeting alleged members of jihadist and far‑left organisations.[4][3][5] Among those detained are … Read more
An X user shared photos of James Baldwin, who spent time in İstanbul. Before I was born, he was hanging out in İstanbul. Baldwin’s years in Istanbul Baldwin first came to Istanbul in 1961, invited by his friend, the actor Engin Cezzar, whom he knew from New York theater circles. From 1961 through roughly 1971 … Read more
Türkiye, following Australia, recently banned social media for children under 15. Just a few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine such a ban, but things change fast. I have curated some information on these bans and related restrictions in other countries using Perplexity. Here it is: Turkey and Australia have both adopted … Read more
Two new reports tell a similar story about democratic decline inside “the Western alliance”. One tracks the steep fall of academic freedom in the United States. The other shows Turkey sinking to the bottom of the World Press Freedom Index. Together, they suggest that NATO’s “allies” are increasingly aligned militarily, but drifting away from any … Read more
Turkey’s Worst Day Yet in Syria Offensive: At Least 7 Soldiers Killed NYT > Turkey by By ROD NORDLAND Syrian rebels in the northern city of Afrin also destroyed at least one tank, a day after other rebels shot down a Russian warplane. Turkey has no aim to invade Syria during Afrin operation: Erdoğan Turkey has no aim … Read more
Turkey starts ground incursion into Kurdish-controlled Afrin in Syria World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Kareem Shaheen in Istanbul Move follows intense aerial bombardment of enclave, with Kurdish militias shelling Turkish border province in response Turkey said it had begun a ground incursion into the Kurdish enclave in Syria known as Afrin a day after intense … Read more
Border security force to be stationed at borders with Turkey, Iraq: US-led coalition Hurriyet Daily News The U.S.-led coalition is working with its Syrian militia allies to set up a new border force of 30,000 personnel, the coalition said on Jan. 14, a move that has added to Turkish anger over U.S. support in Syria. Possible Afrin … Read more
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
Pro-Kurdish footballer Deniz Naki shot at on German motorway World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Agence France-Presse in Berlin German-Turkish player, sentenced last year by Turkish court for terrorist propaganda, unharmed after his car came under fire German prosecutors have opened an attempted murder investigation after a German-Turkish football player known for his pro-Kurdish views was fired … Read more