Bianet - English

HABAŞ chair under house arrest, nine jailed over blast that killed 19

HABAŞ chair under house arrest, nine jailed over blast that killed 19

Nine of 11 suspects detained over an explosion at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in İzmir that killed 19 workers have been arrested, while company chair Mehmet Rüştü Başaran was released under house arrest.

12 November 2026

Lambdaistanbul office sealed over alleged 'unauthorized venue' operation

Lambdaistanbul office sealed over alleged 'unauthorized venue' operation

The association described the Nov 11 measure by the İstanbul Governor’s Office as part of continuing restrictions on LGBTI+s’ spaces for organizing and solidarity.

12 November 2026

Sister of HABAŞ blast victim: The dead cannot defend their rights, that is our duty

Sister of HABAŞ blast victim: The dead cannot defend their rights, that is our duty

The sister of a 25-year-old mechanical engineer killed in an explosion at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in İzmir has called for accountability, saying her brother had previously raised concerns about workplace safety.

12 November 2026 Nalin Öztekin

Limited access for accredited media at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit

Limited access for accredited media at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit

Most journalists accredited for COP31 cannot cover the Leaders’ Summit from inside the venue. UN and Turkish government media teams have selected a limited press pool for the summit.

11 November 2026 Cansu Acar

Somali restaurateur Abdullah returns to Ankara as trade attaché after forced closure

Somali restaurateur Abdullah returns to Ankara as trade attaché after forced closure

Muhammed İsa Abdullah, who closed his restaurant in Ankara following police interventions and faced a deportation order, has become Somalia’s trade attaché.

11 November 2026

Yonca Verdioğlu Şık released

Yonca Verdioğlu Şık released

Feminist Yonca Verdioğlu Şık was taken from her home by police on a prosecutor’s orders over allegations of “political and military espionage.” She was released following questioning by the prosecutor at the courthouse.

10 November 2026

HABAŞ’s own report had documented a rise in workplace accidents

HABAŞ’s own report had documented a rise in workplace accidents

According to Minister of Labour and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan, ministry inspectors found no “very serious problems” at the facility during previous inspections.

10 November 2026 Vecih Cuzdan

COP31 opens in Antalya today

COP31 opens in Antalya today

The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) opens in Antalya today and will run until November 20. The first day will focus on food security, agriculture, water efficiency, and the health impacts of climate change. Özgür Gürbüz and Cansu Acar are covering COP31 for bianet.

9 November 2026

Call for freedom for trans women

Call for freedom for trans women

Five trans women arrested in Ankara as part of the “My Family Is Safe” operations will appear in court for the first time on November 12. The We Want Freedom Campaign and LGBTI+ organizations have called on the public to attend the hearing.

9 November 2026

news

Explosion at İzmir steel factory kills 17

Explosion at İzmir steel factory kills 17

Numerous fatal workplace accidents and incidents resulting in serious injuries have occurred since the late 1990s at HABAŞ’s factory and port facilities in Aliağa, which have been operating since 1987.

9 November 2026

Weekly Roundup: November 1-7

Weekly Roundup: November 1-7

The investment fund probe has expanded to serving regulators, former senior financial officials and political figures, while journalists covering the scandal face prison sentences of up to nearly 19 years • COP31 approaches • bianet faces censorship and investigation

7 November 2026

İğneada Floodplain Forests threatened by drought and water stress

İğneada Floodplain Forests threatened by drought and water stress

According to a study by scientists from Bartın and İstanbul universities, the Erikli floodplain forest shrank by 16 percent over 30 years, while wetlands in Sakagöl disappeared or deteriorated. Human pressure is increasing the ecosystem’s vulnerability.

6 November 2026

Vocational student: ‘I work until 10.30 pm and haven’t been paid for two months’

Vocational student: ‘I work until 10.30 pm and haven’t been paid for two months’

The student who works at a barbershop in Gebze says he was subjected to violence after forgetting to serve tea to a customer, works from 9 am until 10.30 pm and has not been paid for two months.

6 November 2026

Turkey jails former minister in investment fund probe

Turkey jails former minister in investment fund probe

Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya was formally arrested while her husband İlyas Kaya was released under judicial supervision.

6 November 2026

bianet faces 'disinformation' probe over report on journalist’s arrest

bianet faces 'disinformation' probe over report on journalist’s arrest

The investigation was opened after a complaint by a ruling party MP.

5 November 2026

Eight killed in multiple shootings in Turkey’s Afyonkarahisar

Eight killed in multiple shootings in Turkey’s Afyonkarahisar

The motives of the attacks are not clear as the police are searching for the suspect or suspects.

5 November 2026

Turkey requires COP31 speakers to pledge compliance with ‘public morality’

Turkey requires COP31 speakers to pledge compliance with ‘public morality’

The requirement has raised concerns over vague restrictions on speech as it differs from the UN rules protecting inclusive participation.

5 November 2026

Court blocks access to bianet article on alleged exploitation network in Dersim

Court blocks access to bianet article on alleged exploitation network in Dersim

The blocked article examined allegations of an exploitation network targeting women university students in Dersim in the light of the findings in the investigation into student Gülistan Doku’s 2020 disappearance.

5 November 2026

Survey: Ninety percent of the public unaware Turkey to host COP31

Survey: Ninety percent of the public unaware Turkey to host COP31

Despite limited awareness of the summit, the public supports renewable energy and a phaseout of coal and believes the government should do more to tackle climate change.

5 November 2026

Two journalists detained in Turkey’s fund probe face up to 29 years in prison

Two journalists detained in Turkey’s fund probe face up to 29 years in prison

Mustafa Bakcı and Şaban Sevinç have been indicted on disinformation, slander and insult charges over their social media posts about the fund crisis.

4 November 2026

Turkey ranks 117th out of 143 countries in 2026 rule of law index

Turkey ranks 117th out of 143 countries in 2026 rule of law index

While the country's ranking improved in "order and security," its score declined in several sub-categories including criminal justice and fundamental rights.

4 November 2026

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