Special to WorldTribune.com The one thing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan enjoys more than a turn of phrase is the filet mignon of raw power. Erdogan has had a voracious appetite for that red meat, moving quickly to shift the center of power in Turkey to the presidency, saying that the parliamentary system has outlived […]
Special to WorldTribune.com The UN is calling for an investigation into alleged human rights abuses in Turkey’s southeast region, citing instances of unarmed civilians being shot and rescue personnel being prevented from attending to those injured by Turkish troops. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on May 10 said […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Germany fully expects Turkey to honor a deal limiting refugee flows to Europe despite the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, with whom German Chancellor Angela Merkel hammered out the deal. “The chancellor has worked very well until now with Davutoglu and all Turkish representatives and we assume that this good and […]
Special to WorldTribune.com A brawl erupted in Turkish parliament on May 2 after a committee approved an amendment clearing the way for the prosecution of pro-Kurdish lawmakers on terror-related charges. The amendment, which still requires approval from the full assembly, was proposed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development (AKP) party, which accused […]
Special to WorldTribune.com In a case seen as a test of press freedom under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish government has prohibited the media from covering the trial of two journalists who face possible life terms for espionage charges. Can Dundar, editor-in-chief of leading opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet, and Erdem Gul, his Ankara bureau chief, […]
Special to WorldTribune.com As recently as a few weeks before the March 22 terror attacks in Brussels, Israel had warned Belgian officials of numerous security deficiencies at Zaventem Airport. Israeli security officials who assess safety measures at international airports that operate flights to Tel Aviv found “significant shortcomings” at Zaventem, Israel’s Channel 2 reported on […]
Special to WorldTribune.com One of the few remaining independent voices that routinely published viewpoints opposite of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been taken over by the Turkish government. Zaman, Turkey’s best-selling opposition newspaper, came under government control on March 4 as Erdogan’s government continued its assault on press freedom. Protesters opposed to the takeover were […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Insulting the president in Turkey is a crime. Apparently, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan doesn’t like being insulted – and a lot of people are doing it. “The justice ministry has allowed 1,845 cases on charges of insulting Erdogan to go ahead,” Bekir Bozdag said, responding to questions in parliament. “I am unable […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Turkey and Russia risk setting off an “accidental war” which threatens to bring NATO into the equation, analysts say. “Both Russia and Turkey are looking to position for strategic advantage,” Tim Ash, head of emerging-market strategy at Nomura in London, said on Feb. 15. “The risk is of an actual Russo-Turkish military […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Some 35,000 Syrians are stranded at the Turkish border after fleeing a Russian-backed Assad regime offensive in Aleppo. Turkish humanitarian groups warned of a desperate situation in the making as they set up camps and sent in truckloads of aid on Feb. 8 for people, many of them women and children, amassed […]