Turks celebrate Youth and Sports Day on 19 May through various activities, including displaying Turkish flags in windows and balconies. The holiday commemorates the start of Turkey’s war of independence, which started on 19 May 1919 against occupying forces, including British, following the first world war. … [Read more...] about Turkey detains man for hanging union jack towel outside building
Turkey
As Erdoğan turns the screw, we must stand up for human rights in Turkey
To travel to Turkey today is to journey into darkness: tens of thousands of state employees and thousands of academics dismissed, more journalists locked up than in any other country, and a chilly mist of fear. Hasan Cemal, one of the country’s most celebrated journalists, received a 15-month suspended sentence for a piece of investigative reporting about a leader of the Kurdish PKK – good journalism which the regime travesties as “conducting terror propaganda”. (This week he received another sentence, for “insulting the president”.) Cemal calmly tells me about conditions in Turkish jails. … [Read more...] about As Erdoğan turns the screw, we must stand up for human rights in Turkey
Turkey’s truth is becoming stranger than fiction
After the mumblings of SS-GB , we probably need a new “What if?” idea for a drama series. A vivid scenario that threatens a great retired newspaper editor – maybe Sir Harry Evans – with four years in prison for quoting what Jeremy Corbyn says about Theresa May. One that throws a fine columnist – say Nick Cohen or David Aaronovitch – into jail for months on end because they tweeted political dissent. One that locks up the correspondent of Le Monde or the New York Times for reporting Brexit divisions. … [Read more...] about Turkey’s truth is becoming stranger than fiction
Turkey condemns German court for banning Erdoğan video link to rally
Erdoğan enjoys a lot of support among the diaspora in Germany and about 1.5 million Turkish nationals living there can vote in Turkish elections. Erdoğan’s Justice and Development party (AKP) received 60% of the vote from Germany in last November’s election, a bigger share than in Turkey. … [Read more...] about Turkey condemns German court for banning Erdoğan video link to rally
Turkey coup attempt: who were the plotters and why did it fail?
According to the government’s narrative, the putschists were organised and had a plan for how to run Turkey after the coup. They had a list of 9,130 people they planned to arrest, the government source said. They planned to appoint military governors in every area, replace the heads of all government institutions, and had a list of more than 100 loyalists they planned to promote. … [Read more...] about Turkey coup attempt: who were the plotters and why did it fail?
