Party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has faced criticism following the revelation, which prompted denials and conflicting explanations from party officials, and legal action against journalists.

BirGün reported that the recruits were paid 950 liras (~20 US dollars) each to attend the event, where Kılıçdaroğlu welcomed new members to the party. Ebru Çelik, a reporter for the newspaper, joined the event undercover after registering with one of the agencies.

According to the report, participants gathered at a shopping mall in the Şişli district before being transported by shuttle buses to the venue in Sarıyer. Many reportedly believed they had been hired as extras for a film or commercial rather than for a political event. The newspaper said attendees were instructed to applaud, chant slogans in support of Kılıçdaroğlu, and wave CHP and Turkish flags during the ceremony.

Kılıçdaroğlu returned to the CHP leadership in May after a court annulled the party's 2023 leadership congress, ruling that the election in which he lost the chairpersonship after 14 years had been tainted by irregularities where delegates were promised money and party positions.

Following the ruling, former CHP chair Özgür Özel left the party founded the New (Yeni) Party. Ninety-one of the CHP's 135 deputies joined this party, making it the largest opposition group in parliament and ending the CHP's 24-year status as the main opposition party.

Turkey’s main opposition party officially splits as Özel declares New Party

24 July 2026

Conflicting statements from CHP

The CHP leadership initially denied the allegations that attendees had been hired.

The party's İstanbul provincial chair Gürsel Tekin later acknowledged that paid attendees had been present but claimed they had been recruited as part of a plot targeting the current party leadership. During a press conference yesterday, Tekin played an audio recording in which a party member insulted reporter Çelik. She responded to this on social media, saying that she will initiate legal proceedings against the insults.

The Press Workers (Basın-İş) union condemned Tekin's remarks, saying targeting journalists and media outlets was unacceptable and threatened press freedom.

Tekin also filed a criminal complaint against Çelik, the newspaper's web editors, and Sözcü TV journalists, alleging defamation, spreading misleading information, and insult. He argued that the reports were false and claimed CHP had never worked with casting agencies for its events.

BirGün released multiple videos supporting its reporting.

The owner of one of the casting agencies later acknowledged during a TV100 broadcast recruiting people for the ceremony but said it had done so on its own initiative and that the CHP administration had neither requested nor financed the operation. (VK)

The two women were taken from the İzmir Women’s Closed Prison, also known as Şakran Prison, to the Marmara Women’s Closed Prison in İstanbul’s Silivri district.

Mater and Özerden had been held at the Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison since their imprisonment in 2022. They were transferred to Şakran Prison on Jul 20, and admitted to the facility the same day.

Mater’s lawyer Hürrem Sönmez noted after the initial transfer that the prisoners' families and lawyers were based in İstanbul and that the transfer would be another form of punishment.

“Family visits will become more difficult, and they will face another form of isolation beyond imprisonment itself,” she told bianet.

ECtHR: Inmates Cannot be Transferred to Prisons Distant from Their Hometowns

19 September 2019

Background

The İstanbul 13th Heavy Penal Court sentenced Mater and Özerden to 18 years in prison in Apr 2022, for “aiding an attempt to overthrow the government.” 

The Court of Cassation’s 3rd Penal Chamber upheld both sentences in Sep 2023.

The case concerned the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which drew millions of people across Turkey. Eight rights advocates were accused of organizing and financing the demonstrations with the intent of overthrowing the government.

An initial trial ended in acquittals, but a retrial resulted in lengthy prison sentences, including an aggravated life sentence for philantropist Osman Kavala. Three defendants whose sentences were later overturned were acquitted following another retrial.

Who are the eight convicts of the Gezi case?

26 April 2022

(NÖ/VK)

Melis Gebeş, advocacy coordinator at the Civil Society in the Penal System Association (CİSST), said the problem stems from administrative procedures not being implemented effectively.

The transport of prisoners’ belongings during transfers is guaranteed under the Regulation on Items and Materials Allowed in Penal Institutions. Under the regulation, the administration carrying out the transfer must record the prisoner’s belongings in a detailed report and deliver them to the new prison.

Tap water ‘smells of bleach’ in Muğla prison

18 September 2024

“However, prisoners are forced to purchase the same items again at the institutions to which they are transferred,” Gebeş said.

She emphasized that transfers are an administrative process carried out without the prisoner’s consent:

“Items used in prisons, such as televisions and refrigerators, are largely purchased by prisoners or their families. When these items cannot be used at the new prison after a transfer, the same needs have to be met again, placing an additional burden on family finances. It is unacceptable for prisoners and their families to bear the financial consequences of an administrative decision.”

Over 5,000 violations recorded in Marmara region prisons in 2025

25 February 2026

Gebeş stressed that imprisonment does not strip people of their property rights and that transfers should not become another source of hardship: 

“All procedures involving personal belongings must be carried out transparently and remain open to oversight. The reasons why the belongings could not be transported, how they were stored and what was subsequently done with them must be clearly documented.”

Gebeş called on the Justice Ministry and the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses to take the steps to prevent violations of prisoners’ property and economic rights during transfers:

“Existing rules must be applied using the same procedures and standards in all prisons, and differences in practice between institutions must be eliminated. Prison staff must receive regular training on their obligations in this area, and implementation must be effectively monitored.

"Complaints involving belongings that are lost, damaged or not delivered must be resolved promptly, and compensation must be provided for any resulting losses.”

AKP, criminalization and the Republic of 'Campus' Prisons

15 April 2025

(FY/VK)

The nearly 200-year old trees have witnessed the development of the avenue from a lush shoreline into the urbanized, historic area it is today. They’ve seen İstanbul’s elite move in and out of iconic yalılar (waterfront mansions), the founding of Kabataş High School and Bahçesehir University, and the avenue’s transformation into one of the first asphalt streets in İstanbul. They’ve witnessed the initial construction, closing and conversion, of the stone and marble Çırağan Palace into the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Hotel of today. 

Now their death, caused by an irreversible disease, has upset many İstanbul residents who will miss the shaded route they once knew, one formerly shared by Ottoman royalty. 

The plane trees have fallen victim to plane canker, a fatal fungal disease. 

İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa soil science and ecology professor Doğanay Tolunay said the loss of trees “has not only impacted İstanbul residents, but also nature lovers throughout the country.” 

“The historical plane trees are as monumental as the palaces in İstanbul, and their deaths sadden everyone” he added. 

Municipality is replacing dead trees

The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality said in a Jul 22 statement that it is cutting dead and dried out trees in a continuation of its efforts against the Plane Tree Canker, which began with its initial detection in 2009 and first intervention in 2012. 

The statement clarified that no intervention was made on living trees. Pruning operations to reduce the canopy load were carried out in June and July 2025 in order to stop the spread of the disease and ensure safety for passing vehicles and pedestrians. 

The statement also stressed that the disease is a global problem with no known cure. It was first identified in the United States in the 1920s and since then spread to many coastal European cities, including İstanbul. 

The municipality intends to complete the renewal and transformation works on standing and dead trees affected by spreading Sycamore Canker by the end of 2026.

Causes of the spread of the disease

According to Tolunay, the drying up of the plane trees was first and foremost caused by the Ceratocystis platani fungus, rather than any specific action done by the municipality. Heavy pruning or improper care did not directly cause the plane trees to dry out.

However, practices such as lack of awareness of the fungus, failure to observe quarantine measures, transportation of pruning waste, and failure to disinfect pruning tools may have led to the spread of fungal spores and their infection of healthy trees.

A 2024 statement from the Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ÇEKÜL) about the disease also said that lack of maintenance in itself does not cause disease. Once the disease enters a tree, it spreads to the environment through unconscious interventions, primarily pruning, as well as through birds and certain insects. Measures should be taken to prevent its spread, but an infected tree cannot be revived. 

“Once the disease is detected, whether or not maintenance was performed is irrelevant, as the diseased tree already carries the fungus in its roots and soil,” the report said.  

Energy and climate expert Önder Algedik believes that the municipality could have taken a more proactive role to prevent such tragedies. 

“First of all, these trees are part of the city ecosystem, so they are part of municipal services and municipalities should care for them,” said Algedik. “If they care, if they allocate proper expertise and if they form proper policies, we wouldn't have such a problem.” 

The blame game

The issue has been brought again into the public light due to municipal cutting operations and viral social media posts by Hilmi Türkmen, an executive member of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) and the former mayor of İstanbul's Üsküdar district, who blamed the opposition-controlled municipality for the loss of trees.

“Where are those who tore the country apart over moving three trees in Gezi Park?” he wrote, referring to the countrywide anti-government protests in 2013, which were ignited after the government's attempt to dislodge the trees in İstanbul's Gezi Park to build a shopping center there.

Both Algedik and Tolunay stressed the bipartisan nature of the issue and how its politicization is both inaccurate and harmful. 

Algedik argues that both parties have presided over the poor management of the city’s urban greenery. 

“They are blaming each other … because when AKP comes they are going to do the same thing, and when CHP comes they are going to do the same thing — the problem is opposition, the other side, not the problem,” Algedik said. 

“Politicizing the issue overlooks the rapidly spreading invasive species and diseases, especially in today's world, fueled by globalization,” Tolunay said.  “Increasing the capacity of municipalities, regardless of whether they are from the ruling party or opposition, to manage diseases, pests, and the care of urban trees is also a very urgent matter."

Tolunay believes that quarantine measures on imports in Turkey are not being strictly enforced and this needs to change to prevent future plant disease outbreaks.  

How to recover?

Replacing the trees remains a challenging task. Tolunay warned that even if the plane trees are cut down, as the municipality is doing, fungal spores may still be present in the soil, making it highly likely the newly planted plane trees will also contract the disease. 

Tolunay said there are two options: The first is to use plane tree varieties being cultivated abroad that are more resistant to the cankers, but even this still has a high possibility of them contracting the disease. The second is to replace the trees with other common İstanbul species such as magnolia, redbud and linden. However, regardless of the method it will take 5-10 years for re-planted trees to grow and become fully developed even if tall saplings are used. (İK/VK)

Brazil took the opening set 25-23 before Turkey responded by winning the next two sets 25-23 and 26-24. Turkey sealed the victory with a 25-21 win in the fourth set, claiming its second VNL title after its triumph in 2023.

Turkey's Cuban-born opposite hitter Melissa Vargas was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

"It was a great match. I want to say thank you to all Turkish fans," she said in a post match interview.

Turkey won the match in straight sets, 25-21, 25-15 and 25-20, to secure its place in the championship match.

The team will face Brazil in the final tomorrow. Brazil reached the final earlier today after defeating Italy 3-2 in the other semifinal.

This is the third time Turkey has reached the Women's VNL final and will face Brazil for the first time in a final match. The team won its first Nations League title in 2023, along with its first European Cup title. 

José Taboada, a resident of Vincios, goes up every day to tend to these animals, which eat the local vegetation, clearing the land and protecting it from fires. 

“In 2017 we had a fire that burned 81% of the mountain, about 500 hectares. That was our starting point. It wasn’t like that across the whole forest, but basically it was pine and eucalyptus land, there are still plenty of them around here,” explains Taboada, referring to two highly pyrophytic tree species whose surrounding undergrowth also fuels fires.

“That was when we experienced a paradigm shift. After the fire, we removed the eucalypts because their natural regeneration was completely out of control. Suddenly there were entire fields of pines and eucalypts. Little by little we got rid of them, pulling them out by the roots – it took many days of work,” he describes.

Taboada speaks enthusiastically about the changes to the mountain, decided by assembly in the Comunidad de Montes de Vincios. This form of collective ownership, dating back to the Middle Ages, is present throughout Galicia, with more than 2,800 community woodlands where residents own the land and decide together how to care for it.

“I’m from Baroña, I was born here, my parents too, my grandparents. The moment I move to another city, I lose my status as a commune member. So when decisions are made, the future of the mountain is taken into account,” says Ovidio Queiruga, president of the Comunidad de Montes de Baroña. The mountain is indivisible and immune to seizure; all resources are reinvested in the community, in an effort to support the rural economy and sustainable forest management.

Livestock farming to clear the land

In this region of Spain, battered by some of the worst fires in southern Europe, every decision has a major impact on the forests, and the community woodlands could be key to fire prevention. Two years ago, Vincios introduced cows and goats to clear the land, but other communities across the region have started using horses, Galician pigs, and rotating animals according to the season to keep the hills free of biomass.

“It’s a complete change in how we manage the mountain. We’re just starting out, we’re making mistakes, but it’s very clear: there is no other viable solution than extensive livestock farming. Anyone who says otherwise, I think, doesn’t understand what the mountain is,” Taboada asserts.

In 2025, forest fires in Galicia burned nearly 150,000 hectares – equivalent to more than 210,000 football pitches – across 1,492 recorded fires throughout the year. This year is shaping up to be even worse for the whole of Spain, where more hectares have already burned than in the entire previous year, making it the European country hardest hit by wildfires.

The fire situation presents very similar scenarios across southern Europe: increasingly prolonged heatwaves and droughts, fires spreading with unprecedented speed and intensity in forested areas, and woodlands suffering the effects of growing rural depopulation. The community woodlands have been testing different methods for years to care for the land while preventing fires. Silvopastoral practices can offer a more sustainable, lower-cost alternative to mechanical clearing for keeping the hills clear. By eating the vegetation, the animals create open areas, breaking up the continuity of the landscape and acting as natural barriers that hinder the spread of flames.

A study by the Basque research and technology alliance NEIKER suggests that this method can reduce biomass by up to 60% in forested areas. Many of these communities supplement livestock farming with solar-powered virtual fencing, without permanent infrastructure, so they can move the animals according to vegetation growth and fire risk. This technique also helps reduce costs while keeping animals in natural environments, contributing to the production of quality meat.

“There didn’t used to be as many fires as there are now; that’s because of active land management and people’s connection to the forest. One of the key factors was animals, livestock,” explains Queiruga from the Baroña community. “Here, horses help us manage the gorse. As the forest biomass load decreases, we introduce goats. And where there is more pasture, we bring in cows and finally sheep, which eat slightly grassier vegetation. That creates a rotation system across the whole mountain."

In Baroña, they have managed to create jobs for nearly a dozen people through timber management and other uses of the land, such as selling meat. In Vincios, they do not trade the meat from their livestock, but using animals is already proving economical compared to mechanical brush clearance.

“Fires are like that in Galicia, the undergrowth grows very fast. We need a lot of livestock, well established and free-ranging. That will help create jobs in rural areas, keep people living in these territories and prevent fires,” says Taboada.

“It’s more economical, more environmentally friendly and a very good alternative to more mechanized methods,” says conservation ecologist Okan Ürker of Çankırı Karatekin University.

The spread of scrubland is partly a consequence of the decline of extensive livestock farming in Spain. Low profitability, rural exodus and bureaucratic hurdles have left the forest neglected, at the mercy of multiple factors that favour fires. The depopulation of these areas has also led to the disappearance of controlled burns, a traditional method that once helped maintain ecological balance.

Galicia lost 32 villages last year, reaching a new annual low, with 1,900 settlements without a single resident, while another 1,000 have only one inhabitant. The comuneiros are the last profile of local residents who know the mountain and aim to bring it closer to the population in order to care for it collectively.

Incompetence in wildfire prevention

Recent fires have shown that the authorities are not sufficiently competent and do not know how to reach every corner of the territory. Residents complain that when emergency services arrive, they often do not know the terrain, making firefighting even more of a race against time. Emergency protocols leave no room for local people to devise joint action plans for managing the land, even though they know it best. Prevention, therefore, may be key to averting larger disasters.

“Now we talk about mega-fires in Turkey, in Spain, in Portugal. We are at a critical point for fire management, which deserves a separate budget, because the current system can no longer cope,” describes Ürker. “There are less aggressive ways to care for both burned areas and prevention areas. Above all, large expanses of pines and other pyrophytic trees can be avoided. That is one of the critical points in fire prevention."

In many community woodlands, joint actions have been organized to remove non-native species such as eucalyptus, planted years ago for their rapid growth and use for timber and derivatives. “For these areas to be better protected in a few years’ time, we need to rethink how we plan the mountain. The impact of a fire is not the same in a eucalyptus forest as it is in an area of oaks,” warns Queiruga.

Communities such as Baroña are studying native trees and how to make use of them through other methods, such as inoculating mushrooms for sale. “We’ve even looked at place names. If there is a hill called ‘the chestnut grove’, perhaps that’s because there used to be chestnuts there. Why not plant some?” he suggests.

Taboada, for his part, insists on the need to constantly rethink the mountain to find the most ecological and effective ways to care for it. However, he believes that all mechanisms can still fail if the mountain remains an ethereal concept detached from the population: “We have to bring the mountain closer to new generations,” he insists. Infesta, a mountain village of fewer than a hundred inhabitants near the border with Portugal, has joined the “Model Villages” programme, which revitalizes farmland to prevent fires and halt depopulation.

In mid-April, the Juan de Vega Association brought a group of students to the village to imagine ways to revive the mountain, to draw a future in which people can live, survive and care for the forest. “This is the only positive thing to come out of the fires, which are becoming increasingly harsh and critical. We are starting to realize that if we come together, we can understand the land better and learn from each other,” the organization said.

The community woodlands agree that the mountain must be accessible to everyone, so that those who walk there, live nearby or work on it can enjoy it and have a say in the future of the territory. “Above all, when citizens feel that the mountain is also theirs, they take care of it,” concludes Taboada. (LV/AC/VK)

Soydan loves teaching despite the low salary. He takes pride in crafting entertaining lessons that keep his three-to-five year-olds engaged, but said it’s hard not to have some regrets over his career. 

“Half of my salary goes to my rent and my bills, and most of the time … I can only eat one time a day, … because I cannot afford more than that,” he said.  

“It can be devastating for you to see you get a four-year, five-year education about teaching and after that your whole life is between the boss’s two lips,” said Soydan. “You think being a teacher is more than that, it’s teaching, it’s touching people’s lives, the world, the country, any other thing — but at the end of the day you only think about what can I eat cheaper today, how can I pay the rent, and in that case you don’t want to be a teacher.” 

Soydan is one of many private school educators who do not enjoy the same stability and salaries as their public school counterparts. Private school teachers often work for around half of what public school teachers earn, on temporary contracts and report high workloads and pressure to perform additional uncompensated labor.  

'I was already hungry': Private school teachers continue hunger strike in Ankara

18 June 2026

Selin Pir, a private high school English teacher, said private teachers typically work yearly contracts and are forced to resign during the summer months so schools can save on their budgets. The school then re-hires these teachers for the start of the next school year, leading to a precarious employment situation. This model makes termination easier as the school can simply choose not to re-hire its former educators.  

“When they offer you something if you say no, as you have just a one-year contract, they don’t have to even fire you, so the chances that you will get your rights is very low because they just have to wait until the end of your contract and they can just say ‘okay you can go find another job,’ so you don’t have much to say for your wages,” Pir said. 

In May or June at the end of the school year, teachers negotiate their next year’s salary that they will receive after the summer holiday. This makes it very difficult to account for Turkey’s rapidly rising inflation rates, she added. 

Seasonal jobs in the summer

Pir said that many of her colleagues work seasonal jobs to make ends meet, often in construction or hospitality as service workers at vacation areas. And during the school year, teachers are often expected to work long, uncompensated hours. 

For Soydan many of his additional work hours were spent at a shopping mall doing marketing for the school instead of lesson plans or tutoring. He is also expected to make social media content for the school. 

His school had him host an exhibition at the mall for this marketing campaign. His responsibilities included creating an accompanying dance choreography, teaching it to his students for them to perform, creating a puppet show and handing out free tickets to passerbys.

“I was just like what am I doing at a mall, with these free tickets and trying to market our school? I'm only a teacher. My only thing is teaching English to the people, the kids, but now, where am I?” 

Summer is 'job-hunting season' rather than vacation for private school teachers

8 June 2026

Soydan said his work schedule is more reasonable than many of his peers, but acknowledged that many of them work 10-12 hours a day.  

“They demand this kind of thing, and they give you a chance to not accept it, but when you say something like ‘no, I cannot do 12 hour class today,’ when you do it more than once they’re going to say ‘I think you should check out other jobs, okay?’” 

“If you’re not accepting overwork more than once I think you would get fired in Turkey,” he added.  

Oral interview barrier

Most teachers hope to land public sector teaching jobs to avoid these conditions, but this remains out of reach for many. All applicants must take the Ministry of National Education Academy Entrance Examination. After the exam the state shares the number of teachers they intend to appoint per subject. However, the appointee numbers are low, and Pir and Soydan said the process is marred by injustice. 

The Private Sector Teachers Union, which Pir and Soydan are both part of, has also been protesting on behalf of what they call “interview victims.” 1,611 high scorers on the exam were screened out during oral interviews. 

Soydan said that there were inconsistencies in the way the interviews were scored and some questions seemed to screen for political preferences, asking the candidates their thoughts on the Minister of Education. 

“The need for [public sector] teachers is not very low actually, but they’re not doing the appointments, the state is not doing enough appointments, so teachers are forced to work in the private sector,” Pir said.  

Prior to 2014, a clause in Law No. 5580 guaranteed that private sector educators would not be paid lower than their public school counterparts. Pir believes the law was abolished because the government wanted to promote the expansion of private school education. According to many teacher organizations, this change led to the widespread issues facing many private school teachers today. 

Still 'honored' to be a teacher

Soydan said he's honored to be a teacher despite the poor working conditions. He mentioned that even the word “hoca” or “teacher” in Turkish has roots in Farsi that refer to a noble person with a good reputation — he doesn’t take that lightly. 

“Every kid changes the world and the world changes the kid, in a dialect, and I really like to be part of the world and the kid,” said Soydan. “Being ‘hoca,’ being öğretmen (teacher), being a teacher, is both — it is being part of a world and … you stay in the kids’ hearts, minds or any kind of thing, and you can have a really big part of their life. 

Soydan’s students are too young to know about the protests that he and his peers are organizing, but the parents have remained mostly neutral. 

Pir, though, said her students are aware and supportive of their efforts to secure better working conditions. 

“They [the students] are mostly supportive because it is also their future too, nobody right now, nobody, feels secure in Turkey because whether you become a teacher or whether you become an engineer, the working conditions are the same — the wages are low,” she said.  

“So they are supportive because they are first-hand seeing the conditions of teachers, they see the workload of teachers, so yeah, most of them are supportive,” Pir said.  

Pir hopes others will also rally behind their cause and show support similar to that of her students. 

“We just want our rights to be met, because education is an issue that must be important to everyone because it's the future of not just our nation, but it is the future of the planet that we share,” she said. (İK/VK)

The inevitable had happened, the elderly one who woke up one morning and instead of having breakfast decided unilaterally to reclaim the party, is not going anywhere. So, the dynamic one has decided to take the ball home “as this is not fair,” and is taking all the players with him to set up a new team - party. Leaving the aged one to be master of only his own house.

 “Yeni! Yeni! Yeni!“ It felt like a bird singing at the dawn chorus but it was my wife dancing around the room. “Yeni Parti.” (New Party.) Half-awake, unsure if I was dreaming, “Are we having a party? I don’t remember the old party we had, who came?” Then slowly the cogs in my head started turning and I sat watching a very dapper and striking logo, a cross between Coke and Nike. It looked hopeful, even joyous. We vowed even if we disagreed about anything today, we would start the day again New. Everything was coming up roses, so I ordered my wife some. 

The main news channels reported it like it was a death nail in their own coffin, panic on the newscaster’s face as he saw his new yacht sailing away.

On others it was a Cheshire Cat smiling, licking their lips in pure joy. 

The leader of the ‘Yeni Party’ first went to Friday prayers, almost carried by the crowd in religious like fervour.

The party would be officially launched at 2pm outside the old parliament; at the stroke of a pen, they were overnight the official opposition party. 

The old guy could see the three letters of his party falling down from the building, which was collapsing on him.

On the streets they marched, walked and followed, a great burden is on him, the hopes of thousands maybe millions, back to better times and into new ones.

What happens next is up to you and you and you, and your party? 

The departure of the MPs reduced the CHP’s parliamentary group to 44 seats, which means it has lost the main opposition status, which the party has held since 2002.

Özel's planned new party gets support from overwhelming majority of CHP deputies

22 July 2026

Özel signed the new party’s founding documents and announced his resignation from the CHP in a video.

“May it be for the good of our homeland, our nation, our party and all of us,” he said at the end of the recording.

Özel also changed the photograph on his official X account and removed the description identifying him as CHP chair.

The party’s founding team submitted a petition to the Interior Ministry, beginning the formal registration process. Media reports said the date was chosen because it marked the anniversary of the Lausanne Treaty, which established the borders of modern Turkey.

Subsequently, Özel was elected the party leader.

After the formalities, Özel walked with his team to the First Parliament building, where the Republic's foundation was declared in 1923, where he met with the public.

Özel had announced plans to establish the party during a CHP parliamentary group meeting earlier this week.

(VK)

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating Soydaş on allegations "of publicly insulting religious values" and "disseminating obscene images." She was detained on Jul 21.

Campaign in pro-government media

The investigation followed a targeted campaign in pro-government media and on social media accusing Soydaş of producing “immoral” content.

Images and videos purportedly showing her were circulated on social media, including a video in which Soydaş kissed a male content creator and another showing her drinking a beverage that looked like beer. A picture of a foot, which appeared to be AI-generated, also circulated.

Soydaş told prosecutors that allegedly obscene images attributed to her were AI-generated, the pro-government outlet A Haber reported, citing Soydaş's testimony. She pointed out that the widely circulated foot photo contained a foot with four toes.

Turkey expands ‘obscenity’ investigations to musicians as 'girl band' given travel ban

10 September 2025

Soydaş denied posting content that insulted religious values and said she wears a headscarf.

“I am already a veiled person,” she said. “It is out of the question for me to insult religious values in any way.”

About the "beer" photo, Soydaş said the foam led people to assume it was alcoholic and that she already removed the post after deciding it was inconsistent with her beliefs and views.

Social media personality Merve Taşkın placed under house arrest over ‘obscene’ Valentine’s Day post

17 February 2025

'Presenting an Islamic image'

Prosecutors alleged that Soydaş had created a public perception that she followed an Islamic lifestyle while publishing sexually suggestive videos and using religious symbols in ways that conflicted with social sensitivities.

The investigation file also said she published some content through a monthly subscription service, which was intended to earn money from subscribers and included visuals showing Soydaş's body.

Soydaş denied sharing obscene material through the subscription system. “You can check the Instagram account that I used on a subscription basis,” she told prosecutors.

Turkish court arrests adult content creator, cites ‘semi-naked’ photos on social media

17 January 2024

(VK)

In the last three months, T24 columnist Tolga Şardan was convicted on charges of "insulting judicial organs" over his story on the "MİT judiciary report," journalists Barış Pehlivan, Murat Ağırel, and Zafer Arapkirli for "publicly disseminating misleading information (disinformation)," Timur Soykan for "violating confidentiality of an investigation," and journalist Erdoğan Alayumat for "making propaganda for a terrorist organization."

The report indicates that continuous arrests of journalists continued in the second quarter of 2026, following DW Türkçe reporter Alican Uludağ, Aydınpost editor-in-chief Yelis Ayaz, and BirGün newspaper's İsmail Arı, with Kaos GL news site editor-in-chief Yıldız Tar, who was jailed under the pretext of the NATO Summit.

Total of 7 years and 6 months in prison for six journalists in three months

In the past three months, during which dozens of journalists were put on trial, prosecutions carried out against at least 12 of them on charges of "publicly disseminating misleading information," "insulting state institutions," "insulting religious values," "violating confidentiality," "making organization propaganda," or "membership in an organization" were concluded. While some of the journalists were acquitted, six were sentenced to a total of 7 years and 6 months in prison (1 year and 6 months suspended) as a result of the trials:

T24 columnist Tolga Şardan was sentenced to a suspended five-month prison sentence on charges of "insulting judicial organs" over his news report titled "MİT judiciary report." Investigative journalists Barış Pehlivan and Murat Ağırel were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison on charges of "publicly disseminating misleading information" due to their statements on the program "Kayda Geçsin" on Halk TV.

Timur Soykan was also given a suspended 10-month prison sentence on charges of "violating confidentiality." Journalist Zafer Arapkirli, a writer for BirGün newspaper, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison on charges of "publicly disseminating qualified misleading information" due to a social media post regarding attacks targeting Alawites in Syria. Erdoğan Alayumat was sentenced to a suspended 1 year and 3 months in prison on grounds of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization."

Journalist İskender Kahraman, who was retried on charges of "organization propaganda" over articles about Rojava and Afrin published on the Yüksekova Haber website in 2017 and 2018, was acquitted. Journalist Ender İmrek, who was held under house arrest for 100 days as part of the HDK investigation, and Ercüment Akdeniz, who was detained for eight months, were acquitted in the cases where they were tried for "organization membership." A similar decision was reached for Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Esra Solin Dal and Mehmet Aslan.

Persecution through arrests continues with İsmail Arı and Yıldız Tar

Chronic problems regarding the arrest of journalists due to political conjuncture or after bringing political authorities to the agenda continued in the last three-month period with reporters such as BirGün newspaper reporter İsmail Arı, Aydınpost site owner Yelis Ayaz, and magazine journalist Bilal Özcan.

Along with these journalists, although DW Türkçe reporter Alican Uludağ, who was previously arrested, was recently released, the imprisonment of Kaos GL news site editor-in-chief Yıldız Tar under the pretext of an "organization operation" before the NATO Summit constituted a fresh example of the violation of fundamental journalism rights due to conjuncture. The detention of 40-year journalist and TELE1 editor-in-chief Merdan Yanardağ in a lawsuit filed with the allegation of "political espionage" has exceeded eight months.

Three out of five detentions against LGBTI+ journalism

While at least five journalists were detained in the April - June period, the reason for the deprivation of liberty of three of them (Müberra Ünsal, Yusuf Çelik, and Doğa Tekneci) was following the LGBTI+ Pride Week and related agenda. Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Sema Bingöl was also detained with battery while following the demonstration commemorating Ethem Sarısülük, who was killed in Ankara.

Three out of five attacks in front of CHP Headquarters

In the last three months, at least five journalists were subjected to attacks or physical interventions by political figures or groups, and one was threatened due to their broadcast.

While three journalists were harshly intervened with in the events in front of the main opposition party Republican People’s Party (CHP) Headquarters after the absolute nullity decision regarding CHP, former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu could cope with the questions of the Now TV reporter by pushing away their microphone.

In addition, a police officer sprayed tear gas at close range into the eye of Gülseren Özkan from the Kısa Dalga site, who was following the May 1 demonstrations. The office door of İzmir-based İz Gazete was also damaged outside working hours by being forced with a drill.

Insulting the president: 16 journalists and cartoonists on trial

Arbitrary lawsuits regarding the charge of "insulting the president" against journalists in Turkey continued in the last three months with trials opened against at least 16 journalists and cartoonists (Alican Uludağ, Deniz Yücel, Sedef Kabaş, Baransel Ağca, Erk Acarer, Julien Serignac, Gerard Biard, Laurent Sourisseau, "Alice", Mehmet Tezkan, İbrahim Kahveci, Suat Toktaş, Ramazan Yurttapan, Haydar Ergül, Doğan Pehlevan, and Rüstem Batum) demanding up to 4 years and 8 months in prison. In this period, Sefer Selçuk Özbek and Gökay Başcan also came to the agenda with investigations opened against them. No conviction decision was identified under this article in the last three-month period.

Consequently, Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code served as a basis for the prosecution of over 250 journalists and the sentencing of at least 80 (some suspended) to prison or fine penalties during President Erdoğan's 12-year term in office. Neither the Venice Commission recommendation of 2016 nor the "Vedat Şorli" conviction issued by the ECtHR against Turkey in Oct 2021 could, unfortunately, prevent journalists from being harassed with arbitrary lawsuits in the intervening time.

Without state will, fight against impunity remains weak

Thirty-two years later, the judiciary and authorized institutions have finally thought to investigate the location of the bomber and his family who placed the bomb in the vehicle of investigative journalist and Cumhuriyet newspaper columnist Uğur Mumcu, causing his death.

While the Pelitli Group in Trabzon and "security officials who cleared the path for the murder on behalf of FETÖ" were punished regarding the 2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, those who prepared the ground for the murder by targeting Dink through actions, programs, and declarations were left untouched. In the case regarding the fatal attack that environmental documentarian Hakan Tosun was subjected to in Esenyurt, İstanbul, on the night of Oct 10, 2025, the dimension regarding the attack's connection to his professional activities could not yet be observed.

The retrial of those who severely battered Yeniçağ newspaper columnist Yavuz Selim Demirağ in Ankara on May 10, 2019, will continue on Sep 10. Regarding the armed attack carried out against journalist Yaman Kaya from Bursa in 2023, two defendants who were acquitted the following year due to "lack of evidence" are being retried at the Bursa Heavy Penal Court. A decision was made to forcibly bring defendant İsa Can Biler to the hearing, who was arrested and then released after firing 10 shots at the İzmir office of Evrensel newspaper on the night of Aug 13, 2025.

Albayraks expecting 400,000 liras in compensation get 30,000...

In the last three months, during which at least four journalists and three media outlets were tried at civil courts of first instance or commercial courts for a total of 2,650,000 liras in compensation, Evrensel newspaper writer and academician Ceren Sözeri was sentenced to pay 20,000 liras in the lawsuit filed by Turkuvaz Media Company and Serhat Albayrak over her article titled "Who made the AKP lose votes?"

Journalist Hazal Ocak was also sentenced to pay 10,000 liras to Berat Albayrak over her news report in Cumhuriyet newspaper titled "The son-in-law knows his business." Serhat Albayrak and Berat Albayrak were expecting 200,000 liras in compensation each from the files.

Online censorship: Research, criticism, and LGBTI+ reporting targeted

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) and penal judgeships of peace continue full steam ahead with online censorship based on "personal rights," which the Constitutional Court annulled as of Oct 10, 2024. Since then, they have been using the ground of "national security and public order" to prevent issues such as irregularities and corruption from reflecting to the public. Access to at least 24 online news articles was blocked in the last three months.

In the region of the "Year of the Family" policies declared by President Erdoğan, X accounts of numerous journalists and news outlets, such as Yusuf Çelik, Esra Ece Kutlu, Zilan Azad, and Kaos GL Editor Oğulcan Özgenç, were banned in the last three months, particularly along with LGBTI+ reporting. Access blocks in the last three months targeted the X accounts of Bülent Mumay, Erk Acarer, Abdurrahman Gök, İslam Özkan, Yusuf Çelik, Esra Ece Kutlu, Zilan Azad, Oğulcan Özgenç, and Nisan Çıra, as well as the TGS Women and LGBTI+ Commission and the Velvele website.

The censorship of the investigative dossier titled "Visa Empire" by Canan Coşkun on the Kısa Dalga news site, along with related news and social media posts, again in the name of "protecting national security and public order," constituted one of the clear and severe examples of investigative journalism being recklessly suffocated through the judiciary. The problem of accreditation discrimination against the media observed at the NATO Summit in Ankara, which was also registered by courts in Turkey, became part of the international agenda accompanied by harsh reactions from media freedom organizations.

AYM remains hope as long as arbitrary arrests do not end

In terms of arbitrary journalist detention as severe consequences of the political instrumentalization of the judiciary, as was the case in the processes regarding Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener, Can Dündar and Erdem Gül in the past, the Constitutional Court (AYM) received new applications for journalists Alican Uludağ and İsmail Arı in the last three months as well.

The AYM continues to be the sole guarantee within the scope of individual applications on the basis of rights to "security" and "freedom of press and expression" being disregarded in journalist files. In this period, another application was made by MLSA regarding the licensing regime of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) that poses a threat to online broadcasting.

ECtHR broke silence for Çetinkaya

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which had remained silent on journalism rights for a long period, broke its silence with a decision published in the last three months: It ruled that journalist Tuncer Çetinkaya, who was arrested during the coup attempt process on charges of "membership in an organization" and "targeting the constitutional order," was arbitrarily arrested; it also sentenced Turkey to pay 20,656 euros (approximately 1,090,000 liras) in compensation.

RTÜK punishes political criticism

Under the chairmanship of Mehmet Daniş since Oct 2025, while the provocative discourse and outbursts of his predecessor, Ebubekir Şahin, have not been observed, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) continues to go after channels that bring the political statements of Republican People’s Party (CHP) or Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) officials to the agenda.

RTÜK fined channels Halk TV and Koza TV on grounds of "acting contrary to broadcast bans," which have a scope issue in Turkey, as well as SZC TV and Halk TV again for bringing political criticism to the screen.

RTÜK member İlhan Taşçı stated on his X account that "RTÜK has almost taken on the role of acting as the lawyer for Justice Minister Akın Gürlek."

In the April, May, and June 2026 period, RTÜK issued administrative fines to TV outlets a total of three times due to news and program broadcasts. The Council imposed a total administrative fine of 1,114,913 liras on TV outlets.

Eight unemployed in three months

In the last three months, at least eight journalists, programmers, presenters, and editorial staff members lost their jobs due to shifts in editorial policy or broadcasting disputes.

After Halk TV program presenter Seda Selek left the channel stating she had "justified reasons," four more departures took place, especially following reactions directed at channel owner Cafer Mahiroğlu. Mahmut Oral, editor-in-chief of Diyarbakır-based SurAjans and Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) Diyarbakır representative, was forced to resign following backlash after reporting on imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan's meeting notes at İmralı, in order to "not harm the process." (EÖ/HA/VK)

The decision was issued under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of “protecting national security and public order.”

Uludağ, a reporter for the Turkish service of Germany's state media DW, was detained on Jul 21 over his criticism of the judiciary. He was later released under judicial control measures.

BIA Media Monitoring Reports

13 December 2024

Blocked posts

The Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) provided details about the restricted posts. They included Uludağ’s criticism of actor Levent Üzümcü’s detention and his questions about political and military responsibility before and after the 2016 coup attempt.

Other restricted posts addressed investigations targeting journalists, detentions ahead of a NATO summit and unanswered questions surrounding the killing of Muhammed Kavi, a suspected ISIS member, in late June when the suspects opened fire on police during a raid in Ankara.

The court also blocked posts in which Uludağ criticized Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s response to operations targeting mayors and questioned investigations involving municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Another restricted post concerned the imprisonment of Fatoş Pınar Türker, general manager of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Media Inc.

DW Türkçe journalist Alican Uludağ formally arrested for 'insulting the president'

20 February 2026

Detention

Uludağ was detained at his home in Ankara over a social media post criticizing practices within Turkey’s judicial system.

“A new judicial order has now been established in Turkey,” he wrote. “When a new operation is launched against people in the morning, briefing notes prepared against them are distributed by the same center to pro-government journalists before they even reach the police station.”

“As if that were not enough, footage of their detention recorded by police cameras is also distributed. The presumption of innocence and the right not to be stigmatized are disregarded.” (HA/VK)

Student selections for Kurdish dialect courses rose to over 35,000 with 30,441 students enrolled in Kurmanji and 4,488 in Zazaki dialects, the figures showed.

Enrollemnts in Kurdish language courses made up over 90% of all selections. Adyghe was chosen by 400 students, Bosnian by 144 and Laz by 41.

The figures mark the highest number of enrollment in the "Living Languages and Dialects" course since introduction in 2011. It was nearly 60% above the previous peak in 2015 and marked a 295% increase from the lowest level recorded in 2020.

The course is available at middle schools, which have a total enrollment of about 5.3 million students nationwide.

Survey shows strong support for Kurdish in education amid declining use among youth

18 August 2025

Situation in Kurdish regions

Demand for Kurmanji was concentrated in Diyarbakır, Mardin and Batman. Diyarbakır recorded the highest enrollment with 7,421 students, followed by Mardin with 6,058 and Batman with 4,694.

Hakkari had 3,226 Kurmanji students, while Van had 2,971 and Şırnak had 2,256. Enrollment stood at 1,016 in Ağrı, 939 in Urfa, 676 in Bitlis, 565 in Siirt, 324 in Mersin and 183 in Muş.

Survey: 31 percent of Kurdish families don't speak to their children in Kurdish

16 May 2022

Diyarbakır, Mardin and Batman together accounted for about 60% of Kurmanji enrollment. Diyarbakır alone represented nearly one-quarter of the nationwide total.

Changes from the previous academic year varied by province. Kurmanji enrollment rose by 47% in Bitlis, 31% in Van, 17% in Ağrı, 14% in Batman and 12% in Şırnak.

It fell by 35% in Urfa, 16% in Hakkari, 10% in Diyarbakır and 5% in Mardin.

'A response to pressure': Full enrollment in universities’ Kurdish language departments

15 August 2024

Zazaki enrollment was highest in Bingöl, where 3,021 students selected the course. Diyarbakır followed with 1,285 students, while Dersim recorded 171.

The presentation identified Diyarbakır as the main center for Kurmanji enrollment and one of the few provinces where demand was high for both Kurdish dialects.

Study: Kurds want education, municipal services in mother tongue

7 April 2022

Gender distribution among Kurmanji students was nearly even. Boys accounted for 15,631 students, or 51.3%, while 14,810 girls made up 48.7%.

Kurdish language teachers were largely assigned to districts in eastern and southeastern regions of the country, broadly matching the provinces with the highest demand.

Assignments in western provinces remained limited, except in several migration destinations, including İstanbul and Antalya. (NÖ/VK)

Canada won the opening set 25-22 after breaking a 5-5 tie and holding off Turkey’s late challenge. Gizem Örge contributed in defense, while Jack-Kısal and Hande Baladın led Turkey’s attack.

The Hakkari Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said there was no sufficient evidence to bring a public case over the complaints filed by Salah Bimari and Resul Bimari.

The two men were detained near the Şemdinli border area on May 15. They were arrested on May 18 and sent to Hakkari Closed Prison.

The Bimaris said they were subjected to torture and mistreatment in police custody and prison. Resul Bimari also reported being sexually assaulted while in custody.

Man tortured over alleged flag removal during Rojava protests; no such charge brought in court

23 January 2026

Prosecutors said they reviewed the men’s statements, medical examination reports prepared when they entered prison and security camera footage from the detention facility and police station.

The decision said “no sufficient evidence, free from any doubt, was obtained to warrant a public prosecution over the allegations that they were beaten.”

Medical reports

Medical reports cited in a preliminary findings report documented injuries on both men. The report was prepared by the Hakkari Bar Association, the Hakkari branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) and the Hakkari branch of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD).

Resul Bimari had wounds below his knees, bruising on his thigh and a missing left front tooth, according to the report. Salah Bimari had bruising around his eyes and several bruised areas on his thighs.

Azerbaijani student activist deported from Turkey alleges mistreatment, coercion

13 November 2025

The report also said the men, who do not speak Turkish, were initially examined without an interpreter. Resul Bimari’s sexual assault allegation was not included in his first medical record dated May 18. It was recorded during a second hospital visit on May 20.

Rights groups to appeal decision

The three organizations claimed the investigation had not been conducted effectively and that available evidence had not been adequately assessed. They plan to challenge the decision and seek an independent and effective investigation into the allegations.

The Bimaris said soldiers who detained them at the border did not mistreat them. They alleged that the abuse occurred at the Şemdinli District Security Directorate and during their time in prison.

Resul Bimari said he was tortured and sexually assaulted in rooms without cameras at the security directorate. Salah Bimari said he heard Resul’s screams before being taken to the same area and tortured.

Resul Bimari also said he was beaten again in prison on Jun 10 and subjected to violence with an electric shock device and an iron baton.

The three organizations filed a criminal complaint with the Hakkari Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Jun 25. They requested the preservation of camera footage and duty rosters, independent medical examinations in line with the İstanbul Protocol and the suspension of public officials named in the allegations during the investigation. (NÖ/VK)

The review found that 95 of the CHP's 135 members of parliament have declared support for Özel's initiative. Twenty-one lawmakers voiced support for the current party leadership under Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, while 18 have not publicly disclosed their position so far. 

This would make the new party the second-largest group in the parliament after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The CHP, meanwhile, would have the seventh-largest group.

Özel announced yesterday that he would found a new party after legal challenges to his removal as CHP leader failed to conclude before the judicial recess that began on Jul 20. 

Leadership crisis at CHP 

The move follows a months-long leadership crisis triggered by a court ruling that invalidated the CHP's Nov 2023 leadership congress over alleged irregularities. Özel had defeated Kılıçdaroğlu at that congress, ending the latter's 14-year tenure as party leader.

In May, the court ruled that delegates had been improperly influenced through money and promises of party positions, removed Özel from office, and reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu as party leader. Police later entered CHP headquarters and removed party members who resisted the ruling. 

Turkey restricts social media amid police blockade on opposition party

8 September 2025

Özel's faction appealed the decision to the Court of Cassation, the country's highest appeals court, but the case was not taken up before the judicial recess. The group also sought an extraordinary party congress, arguing that enough delegates had signed a petition to convene one. Özel accused Kılıçdaroğlu's administration of refusing to call the congress despite meeting the required threshold. 

Division began after 2023 election

The party's internal conflict dates back to the aftermath of the May 2023 presidential election, in which Kılıçdaroğlu lost to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. İstanbul's suspended mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, subsequently led calls for change within the CHP and backed Özel's successful leadership bid.

Following the congress, members of the losing faction filed lawsuits alleging that Özel's and İmamoğlu's supporters secured delegate votes through financial incentives and party appointments.

Police storm CHP headquarters after leadership ouster

24 May 2026

İmamoğlu, whom Özel later declared the CHP's presidential candidate, was detained in March last year as part of a corruption investigation and has remained in prison while facing several trials. Since then, authorities have expanded investigations to CHP-run municipalities, suspending dozens of mayors, including those of Antalya, Adana, and Bursa. 

Thirty-one opposition mayors removed from office since 2024 elections

2 April 2026

Özel and İmamoğlu's allies argue that the investigations are politically motivated and intended to weaken the opposition after the CHP handed President Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) its worst local election defeat in 2024. The government rejects the allegation, noting that some witnesses and complainants in the investigations are also CHP members. (VK)

The workers, organized by the DİSK Energy Workers Union (Enerji-Sen), were on the second day of their march from the Yunus Emre Thermal Power Plant in Eskişehir, central Turkey. They had planned to reach Ayaş in the adjacent province of Ankara today.

Police surrounded the workers as they attempted to resume the march after stopping at a gas station, according to a statement from the union.

Officers blocked the group and used pepper spray when they insisted on continuing. The union's chair Süleyman Keskin and secretary-general Emin Atsız were detained during the incident. No workers were reported to be taken into custody.

Video showing moments of the altercation:

🔻 Yıldızlar SSS Holding’e bağlı Doruk Madencilik bünyesindeki Yunus Emre Termik Santrali işçileri, 3 aydır ödenmeyen maaşları ve insanlık dışı çalışma koşullarına karşı DİSK Enerji-Sen (@enerjisen) öncülüğünde Ankara’daki holding merkezine yürüyor.

👉 DİSK/Enerji-Sen Genel… pic.twitter.com/iUQE9gt7yj

— bianet (@bianet_org) July 22, 2026

An ambulance was called to the gas station for workers affected by the pepper spray.

Police later attempted to disperse the group, but the workers said they would remain at the site.

The union called for the release of its executives.

Workers' demands

Workers at the Yunus Emre plant say they have not received their wages for three months and that payments have also been repeatedly delayed in the past.

In June, the plant management sought to place workers on unpaid leave. It later limited the leave period to 10 days following objections.

Workers have also raised concerns about occupational health and safety measures. They say they were given only one set of work clothes during winter and received no work clothes for summer.

They also say they have had to purchase their own gloves and that the masks provided by the company are insufficient in number and do not meet required standards.

The plant also lacks an ambulance, which concerns workers about access to hospitals during emergencies.

Workers travel about 60 kilometers each day to reach the plant and they say the company’s shuttle buses are poorly maintained.

More than 350 workers have joined Enerji-Sen in an effort to improve conditions. The Labor and Social Security Ministry has determined that the union has the required authorization to begin collective bargaining talks.

The workers are demanding payment of their outstanding wages, the immediate start of collective bargaining and stronger occupational health and safety measures.

The action is the second labor dispute involving Yıldızlar SSS Holding in recent months. Workers at the holding’s Doruk Mining company previously staged a strike and marched to Ankara during a campaign lasting nearly two months. They later secured payment of their outstanding receivables. Workers at the Yunus Emre plant then sought to pursue a similar course.

Doruk Madencilik miners receive all unpaid dues after resuming protest

5 June 2026

(HA/VK)

Tar was detained during police operations ahead of the NATO leaders summit that took place in Ankara on Jul 7-8 and formally arrested on Jun 25.

The crackdown saw the detention of more then 200 people, including journalists, environmental activists, academics and students for "being a member of a terrorist organization."

Turkey detains dozens, including journalists, in new wave of raids ahead of NATO summit

5 July 2026

Some of those those detained, includign several journalists, have been released since then.

Ankara University associate professor Emel Memiş, Umut-Sen union spokesperson Burcu Arıkan and several volunteers for the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion (TEMA) were also released yesterday. 

During questioning, prosecutors asked Tar about their interview of the "Family Year" campaign run by the government throughout 2025, which was widely used in a manner that particularly targets LGBTI+ rights advocacy.

Ankara court remands over 100 including academic, journalist ahead of NATO summit

26 June 2026

"I have published various news reports, interviews, discussions and articles about the Year of the Family policies," Tar said in their statement. "All of these fall within the requirements of my profession as a journalist and the scope of freedom of expression."

"As a journalist, I could never praise or encourage any act of violence, let alone terrorism offenses," Tar said. "I work as a journalist and writer to defend the fundamental rights and freedoms of the LGBTI+ community, of which I am a member, and to challenge prejudice against this community. In my statements, I exercised my freedom of expression through criticism."

Tar was kept in Ankara's Sincan Prison during their arrest.

Tar also spent over three months in pretrial detention last year over their involvement in the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), a Kurdish and leftist umbrella group, facing "terrorism" charges.

Journalist Yıldız Tar to be released after 98 days in prison

30 May 2025

(VC/VK)

The statement cited Soydaş’s social media activity as the reason for the detention but did not specify which posts prompted the investigation.

Separately, a court ordered a ban on Soydaş's accounts on TikTok and Instagram, the office said. The pro-government Yeni Şafak newspaper said the blocking order was issued in response to a request from the Family and Social Services Ministry.

Presidential aide supports detention

Prior to her detention, Soydaş faced widespread online shaming targeting her conduct and personal life, with some videos purportedly showing her circulating online.

Pro-government media outlets also described her as someone “known for making inappropriate posts on social media” in their coverage of the detention.

Turkish court arrests adult content creator, cites ‘semi-naked’ photos on social media

17 January 2024

A chief advisor to the president, Oktay Saral, also backed Soydaş's detention without naming her, describing the decision as appropriate.

"Those with deviant mindsets who seek to peddle insults against our faith through cheap and repulsive content must know that Turkey is not a country where enemies of religion can run rampant," Saral wrote on social media.

Several content creators faced similar targeted campaigns and subsequent legal action in recent years, typically on obscenity charges. The campaign against Soydaş followed the same moralistic pattern, but she faced a different accusation.

Turkey expands ‘obscenity’ investigations to musicians as 'girl band' given travel ban

10 September 2025

Statement from lawyers

Soydaş’s lawyers released a written statement in response to her detention, claiming that Soydaş she had been subjected to a coordinated campaign involving images and videos altered with artificial intelligence. 

Lawyer Tansel Koç said manipulated and sexually explicit content had been circulated alongside false claims that she had exploited religious values.

“The images have no connection to our client’s real life or the values she upholds,” said Koç.

The statement said the accounts that created, shared, commented on or supported the fake content had been identified and documented and legal action have been initiated against them. 

Trans activist Janset Kalan sentenced for 'obscenity' over photo showing 'cleavage'

26 November 2025

“We ask Fatma Soydaş’s supporters, followers and the public not to give credence to these baseless, AI-generated materials,” the statement said.

Soydaş has more than 280,000 followers on Instagram. Similar allegations circulated about her in recent months, which she denied. (VK)

The practice was illegal and incompatible with medical ethics and human rights, the association's women's health branch said in a written statement today.

'No scientific basis'

“Female genital mutilation is a severe form of violence that violates the bodily integrity, health and fundamental human rights of women and girls. It has no medical necessity or scientific basis,” the statement said. 

“This practice is unequivocally rejected by international health and human rights organizations, particularly the World Health Organization. It cannot be reconciled with the medical profession.”

TTB Women said the  Ağrı-Kars-Ardahan-Iğdır Medical Chamber had launched a disciplinary investigation into the doctor, without naming in which province the invstigation is underway.

It added that it would closely follow the legal and disciplinary proceedings in line with its responsibility to defend medical ethics, scientific principles and human rights.

(EMK/VK)

Speaking at his final CHP parliamentary group meeting, Özel said preparations for the new party’s formation were continuing.

"Today, we stand on the threshold of a sorrowful farewell whose time has come and that we have been forced to make. However, I also want to share with our nation that we carry within us the unwavering hope of a new beginning," he said.

"Our party is now under the captivity and occupation of a system confined by annulment rulings," Özel remarked, referring to a court ruling that removed him from office in May due to alleged irregularities in the 2023 leadership congress where he was elected. 

Police storm CHP headquarters after leadership ouster

24 May 2026

'Ousted because of refusing to collaborate'

Özel also claimed in his speech that he could remain the party leader if he collaborated with the ruling bloc. 

He said he had received “immoral offers” had been told he could remain party leader "until the age of 80" if he stopped supporting Ekrem İmamoğlu, the imprisoned and suspended mayor of İstanbul, whom the CHP had declared its presidential candidate under his leadership.

Özel had previously said formal steps could be taken in late July if legal efforts to regain control of the CHP failed.

New party could become 'main opposition'

Özel’s decision will effectively split the CHP, the republic’s founding party. A list circulating in political circles identified 83 lawmakers, including Özel, who were reportedly preparing to leave the CHP and join the new party. The CHP holds 135 seats in parliament. The lawmakers have not collectively confirmed the report.

Özel did not name the deputies expected to join him but said all MPs who had not explicitly announced their support for the current leadership “will be together with us.”

If the reports are accurate, Özel’s new party could become the main opposition party, a designation granted under Turkish law to the opposition party with the largest parliamentary representation.

Under the current seat distribution, no opposition party has more than 80 MPs. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) holds 277 seats.

Background

The plans for a new party follow a leadership crisis triggered by a court ruling that declared the CHP’s Nov 2023 congress legally invalid over alleged irregularities. Özel had won the congress, ending Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s 14-year tenure as party leader.

The court removed Özel from office in May and reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu. Police later entered the CHP headquarters and removed party members who resisted the ruling.

Özel’s faction appealed the ruling to the Court of Cassation, the country's top appeals court, and separately requested an extraordinary party congress. Özel said the new party would be formally established if those legal proceedings failed to produce a result before the judicial recess beginning on Jul 20.

He also accused Kılıçdaroğlu’s administration of refusing to convene an extraordinary congress despite a petition signed by a sufficient number of delegates.

CHP's appeals against leadership removal rejected as Kılıçdaroğlu set to take office

22 May 2026

The CHP’s internal split emerged after Kılıçdaroğlu lost the May 2023 presidential election to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. İstanbul's now-suspended Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu subsequently led a campaign for change within the party and backed Özel’s leadership bid.

Members of the losing faction filed lawsuits following the congress, alleging that Özel and İmamoğlu’s supporters secured delegate votes through money and party positions.

İmamoğlu, whom Özel declared the CHP’s presidential candidate, was detained in March last year as part of a corruption investigation. He has since remained in prison while facing several trials. After this, the crackdown expanded to other municipalites controlled by the CHP, with more than 30 mayors suspended, including those of major cities like Antalya, Adana and Bursa.

The Özel-İmamoğlu bloc claims investigations targeting CHP-led municipalities are politically motivated and intended to weaken the opposition, especially after the 2024 local election, where the opposition inflicted an unprecedented loss on Erdoğan's AKP. The ruling bloc denies the allegation, noting that some witnesses and complainants in the cases are also CHP members.

(VK)

The petition on Change.org claims cycling tourism and sports activities had expanded in the northeastern province during Çiçekli’s tenure and his removal caused "sadness and concern" among the residents.

Çiçekli would frequently post videos on social media from his cycling tours and said he worked to realize Ardahan's potential for being a sports tourism center. The petition credits Çiçekli for his efforts, claiming that participation in youth activities increased by 30% and that growing interest in cycling led to the planning and construction of bicycle lanes.

“Ardahan’s recently gained development momentum must be maintained. We believe Mr. Çiçekli should remain in office,” the petition says, clarifying that the campaign has no political purpose.

Çiçekli, 50, had been serving as the governor of Ardahan since January.

Ardahan is a small city with a population of less than 100,000 people on Turkey's northeastern border and is also among the poorest of the country's 81 provinces. 

Background

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan replaced Çiçekli on Jul 18 through a decree published in the Official Gazette. The removal did not mean that Çiçekli had been dismissed from public service.

While the decree did not give a reason fr the governor's replacement, the decision followed criticism over photographs and public appearances showing Çiçekli wearing athletic tights while cycling.

İnan Akgün Alp, an MP from the secularist main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), had ingited the debate, calling for Çiçekli's removal during a Jul 5 parliamentary speech.

“There cannot be a governor in leggings,” Alp remarked. “Either remove these governors or send them a fig leaf to wear.”

Following his dismissal, Çiçekli told BirGün newspaper that he practices several sports, including cycling, at a near-professional level and wear athletic outfit only when training. “I am a sailing and rowing athlete, and I am a cyclist. What I was wearing was sports clothing that I use while exercising.”

Asked what he planned to do next, Çiçekli replied that he would “keep pedaling.”

(VK)

The Gebze Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office charged the officials with causing multiple deaths and injuries through conscious negligence as per article 22/ of the Turkish Penal Code.

The defendants include former Dilovası Municipality Zoning and Urban Planning Director Hüseyin Öztürk and building control directors Cihan Sorgucu, Selim San and Muammer Telli. Deputy Mayor Necati Temiz and acting municipal police directors Cengiz Taşdemir and Nizamettin Balcı were also charged.

If the indictment is accepted, each defendant will face between two years and eight months and 22 years and six months in prison.

Workplace deaths in Turkey exceed 1,000 in first half of 2026

15 July 2026

Prosecutors said the suspects had “failed to meet their duty of care” and alleged that their conduct contributed to the incident. 

The suspects denied the accusations. The prosecutor’s office described their statements as attempts to avoid criminal liability and rejected their defenses.

The indictment followed reports by Interior Ministry inspectors and court-appointed experts. The inspectors first sent their report to the Dilovası district governor’s office, which authorized an investigation into the seven officials on Feb 19. The İstanbul Regional Administrative Court rejected their appeal on Apr 7.

(HA/VK)

The actor was detained on Jul 16 on suspicion of “publicly inciting hatred and hostility.” 

During his interrogation, prosecutors presented Üzümcü with a folder containing all his social media posts from July, which they claimed contained elements of the alleged offense, Üzümcü said on a social media post today. The posts in question included sarcastic comments about the country's current affairs.

Prosecutors referred Üzümcü to a judgeship demanding his arrest. The judge instead imposed house arrest and an international travel ban.

Üzümcü said he was unable to communicate after his release because he does not use a computer and his phone, confiscated during his detention, remained in police custody.

“All my posts remain on my X account without exception, and they will remain there. New ones will also be shared,” he wrote. 

Üzümcü frequently comments on political issues and has previously faced trials and detention. (VK)

Workers at the Yunus Emre Thermal Power Plant have not received their salaries for three months, the DİSK Energy Workers’ Union (Enerji-Sen) said in a statement.

The workers would begin marching this evening toward the Ankara headquarters of Yıldızlar SSS Holding, the owners of the plant.

The action is the second labor dispute the holding has faced in recent months. Workers at the holding’s Eskişehir-based Doruk Mining company staged protests in April and May, including a march to Ankara and a hunger strike. The action ended after ministries intervened as mediators and the sides reached an agreement.

The strike resumed after the company paid some of the agreed amounts incompletely. The company paid all outstanding claims in June.

Doruk Madencilik miners receive all unpaid dues after resuming protest

5 June 2026

Unpaid leaves and poor working conditions

More than 350 workers demanding improved working conditions recently joined Enerji-Sen, after which the union officially gained the authority to conduct collective bargaining, according to a statement from the union.

Enerji-Sen called for the payment of workers’ outstanding wages and the start of collective bargaining talks. The workers haven't been paid for the last three months and this was not the first time the payments are delayed, said the union.

The company also forced workers to take unpaid leave in June, according to the union. Management later reduced the leave period to 10 days after workers objected.

'I was already hungry': Private school teachers continue hunger strike in Ankara

18 June 2026

‘Workers have to bring their own masks’

Workers have also complained about inadequate occupational health and safety measures and poor working conditions.

The union said workers receive one set of work clothes during the winter but receive none during the summer. They also have to buy their own work gloves.

Masks provided at the plant are insufficient in number and do not meet required standards, accoding to the union. “As a result, workers also have to bring their own masks,” it said.

There is no ambulance at the plant, raising serious concerns about whether injured or ill workers could reach a hospital during an emergency.

Workers travel 60 kilometers each day to reach the plant. Vehicles older than three years should not be used for the journey, but the company’s shuttle buses are poorly maintained and between 10 and 12 years old. (VC/VK)

Mater and Özerden had been held at the Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison since April 2022.

Gezi trial: Aggravated life sentence for Osman Kavala, 18 years in prison for seven others

25 April 2022

Mater’s lawyer, Hürrem Sönmez, told bianet that they would pursue all available legal remedies.

“We will exhaust all legal avenues,” Sönmez said.

Sönmez said they had not yet been informed of the reason for the transfer.

“These procedures are generally carried out without informing families or lawyers,” she said. “These people were born and raised in İstanbul. Their families and lawyers are here.”

“Family visits will become more difficult, and they will face another form of isolation beyond imprisonment itself,” she added. “I want to believe that the state does not harm its citizens, but what has been done is harmful.”

The Şakran prison is nearly 400 kilometers away from where the Mater and Özerden are currently held.

GEZİ TRIAL

Justified ruling in Gezi Trial: There are criminals but no crimes

8 June 2022

What happened?

The trial concerned the 2013 anti-government protests known as the Gezi Park protests, which drew millions of people across Turkey. Eight righrs advocates were accused of organizing and financing the protests.

While the initial trial ended with the acquittal of all defendants, a retrial resulted in lengthy prison sentences. 

In Apr 2022, the court sentenced philantropist Osman Kavala to aggravated life imprisonment for “attempting to overthrow the government” under Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code. The court did not apply any discretionary reduction.

The other seven defendants, Mücella Yapıcı, Çiğdem Mater, Ali Hakan Altınay, Mine Özerden, Tayfun Kahraman, Can Atalay and Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi, were each sentenced to 18 years in prison for “aiding an attempt to overthrow the government.” They were imprisoned subsequently.

Who are the eight convicts of the Gezi case?

26 April 2022

After an appeal the 3rd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Appeals upheld the convictions on Dec 28, 2022.

In Jul 2023, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Cassation submitted its opinion to the court’s 3rd Penal Chamber, requesting that the convictions be upheld.

The chamber issued its final ruling on Sep 28, 2023, upholding Kavala’s aggravated life sentence and the 18-year prison terms imposed on Atalay, Kahraman, Özerden and Mater Utku. The chamber overturned the 18-year sentences imposed on Altınay, Ekmekçi and Yapıcı. They were acquitted following a retrial.

Three acquitted in Gezi Park case retrial

11 February 2025

(EMK/VK)

“Humor is not a crime,” the statement said, describing Göktaş’s detention and arrest as part of broader pressure on artistic and political expression.

The text was signed by 16 organizations along with prominent artists including Bülent Ortaçgil, Nur Sürer, Vedat Sakman, Taner Öngür and Ayşe Tütüncü.

Göktaş released his show which he has been performing for about three years, on YouTube in late June. The roughly 90-minute show received millions of views within days, with clips from the performance going viral on social media.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office later opened an investigation into Göktaş on charges of “insulting the president” and “publicly denigrating religious values embraced by a section of society.”

Göktaş returned to Turkey from abroad after learning of the investigation. Police detained him at İstanbul Airport on Jul 2, and a judge ordered his arrest the following day.

Comedian Deniz Göktaş detained after new show goes viral

2 July 2026

He is currently held at the Çorlu Karatepe High-Security Prison in Tekirdağ, northwestern Turkey. This is one of the prisons described as “well-type” by rights advocacy groups and widely criticized for their isolating conditions.

Deniz Göktaş formally arrested after explaining controversial standup jokes during interrogation

3 July 2026

The joint statement said the detention and arrest orders violated constitutional protections for freedom of expression and artistic freedom: 

“These decisions against Deniz Göktaş are entirely unlawful. They directly contradict the constitutional right to freedom of expression and the principle of artistic freedom. Humor is not a crime.

"We now know how the pressure imposed on us by one-man rule tramples the rule of law in order to intimidate the public. At a time when art and artists are being forced into political silence and stripped of their voice, Deniz has done what no one has managed to do for a long time. But this is not the time to simply sit back and say, ‘What great courage.’ The door Deniz has opened is not the beginning of a heroic tale, but an invitation to stand shoulder to shoulder in our just and legitimate struggle.

"As it builds its own fascism, the government believes it can force us into submission by imprisoning Deniz and many of our friends. The only response to those who seek to intimidate us through detentions and bans must be to strengthen our struggle.”

Organizers said the statement remained open for signatures through Google Forms, but only for artists and cultural workers. (EMK/VK)

The insects have been seen mainly in Silivri, Çatalca and Arnavutköy, where farmland and residential areas overlap on the outskirts of the city. Many videos, including AI-generated clips, went viral on social media alongside sensational claims of an “invasion.”

Most of the insects shown online were white-faced bush crickets, or Decticus albifrons albifrons, Dr. Ergün Bacak of İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Bacak told Anadolu Agency (AA).

“Their large bodies, long antennae and strong legs attract people’s attention,” he said. “This is not an invasive grasshopper species. Perhaps one or two enter people’s homes. Social media creates the impression of a major infestation, but that is not the case.”

The species can grow to between 5 and 6 centimeters, he said.

In a video interview with the Iranian outlet Majaraa Media, Araghchi discussed the 40-day war, which began on Feb 28, and its regional implications.

Araghchi claimed that US President Donald Trump contacted leaders of Iranian Kurdish armed groups on the fourth day of the war and supported a ground incursion into the country.

After learning of the alleged plan, Araghchi said he contacted officials in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi prime minister and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to convey Tehran’s concerns.

“Turkey played a very effective role in this process,” Araghchi said. “They held talks with the Americans and took a very firm position on the issue. These collective efforts ensured the failure of the plot to divide Iran and stir internal unrest.”

US President also made remarks on Turkey's role during the process, claiming during the Jul 7-8 NATO summit in Ankara that it it weren't for him, Turkey would enter the war on Iran's side. Ankara did not respond to this claim.

Araghchi also accused Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, of supporting the country’s partition.

“That little bird,” he said, referring to Pahlavi, “had reached an agreement during his visit to Israel on dividing Iran. He said, ‘You can have the border regions, and I will be shah in the center.’ They had made all their plans to divide Iran, topple the government and create internal unrest, but they failed.”

War across the border leaves Van facing anxiety and economic loss

3 March 2026

Earlier reports on Turkey's intervention

During the early days of the war, the pro-government Türkiye newspaper also reported that Washington had abandoned a plan to involve Kurdish groups following pressure from Ankara.

Similar reports later appeared in the US media. A New York Times analysis published in late March said an Israeli plan to use Iranian Kurdish militias to trigger unrest in northwestern Iran had been blocked by Turkey.

According to the report, Mossad planned to mobilize groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan. Israeli aircraft were expected to strike Iranian military and police positions to clear the way for their advance.

The plan, reportedly presented by Mossad chief David Barnea as a way to trigger an uprising and bring about government change within days, initially received support in Washington.

Separately, Israli news outlet i24 reported, citing senior Israeli sources, that US Vice President J.D. Vance had leaked the plan to Ankara.

How are the US and Israel using artificial intelligence in attacks on Iran?

8 April 2026

Former Israeli military intelligence chief Tamir Haiman claimed in early June that Erdoğan warned Trump that Turkey would act against the Kurdish groups if they entered Iran. Haiman said the US abandoned the plan after those discussions.

Israeli opposition figure Yair Lapid also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for pursuing the plan without considering Ankara’s "predictable" response or Erdoğan’s influence in Washington. Lapid said Erdoğan had “taught Netanyahu a big lesson.”

After a memorandum of understanding was signed between the US and Iran in early June, Erdoğan said Turkey had resisted attempts to deepen the conflict.

“We did not fall for provocations or abandon fairness,” Erdoğan said. “We did not allow the principles of neighborly and brotherly relations to be damaged. We acted in cooperation with our allies and our brothers in the Gulf. We were not among those who poured fuel on the war, but among those who raised the voice of peace.”

‘Turkey wants neither Israel nor Iran to dominate Middle East’

3 April 2026

Erdoğan said Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had strongly supported mediation efforts led by Pakistan. He added that the importance of Turkey’s actions would become clearer over time.

Erdoğan also said communication channels established during the conflict had prevented wider crises that could have harmed the region’s ethnic communities. He said it would eventually become clearer how “Turks, Kurds, Arabs and Persians thwarted a bloody and insidious game.”

Iran denies firing missiles at Turkey after third interception in 10 days

13 March 2026

What Kurds said

The possible involvement of Iranian Kurdish groups had been widely discussed in Israeli media during the early stages of the war. After the ceasefire, Trump accused the groups multiple times of keeping US-supplied weapons rather than using them in the conflict. Kurdish groups repeatedly denied the allegation.

Six Kurdish parties operating in Iran’s Kurdistan province and other Kurdish-majority cities formed the Alliance of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan on Feb 22, six days before the US intervention. The timing fueled expectations that Kurdish groups would participate in a ground incursion, but no such operation took place.

In the early days of the war, Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, Iraq's first lady and a senior figure in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), rejected the war, saying that Kurds are not anyone's soldiers for hire.

Duran Kalkan, a senior figure in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), one of the largest Kurdish armed groups, made similar remarks in March, saying, “Kurds are nobody’s soldiers.”

Bahçeli: Kurds will not be ‘soldiers for hire’ for US or Israel

10 March 2026

Mustafa Mauludi, deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDK-I), a member of the alliance, also rejected the claims in an interview with bianet earlier this month.

“Whether it was the 12-day war or the 40-day war, the Kurds of Rojhilat were in no way part of this war,” Mauludi said. “This war, which began with airstrikes and is still continuing, is not a war that protects Kurdish rights. There was no reason for the Kurds to enter the war.”

“The US objective in this war is to change the Iranian government or force it to accept US demands,” he added. “The Kurdish objective is the fall of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the establishment of a democratic, federal Iran in its place. We followed the right policy and stayed out of the war.”

Nevertheless, throughout the conflict, Iran repeatedly targeted Kurdish groups based in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region with missile and drone strikes. Most recently, nine Peshmerga fighters were killed in an Iranian strike on the Komala group's camp on Jul 17, during the renewed conflict with the US. (VK)

In a statement marking the attack’s 11th anniversary, the group also called for the extradition of two fugitive defendants believed to be held in Syria.

The Suruç Justice Platform said the legal campaign pursued since Jul 20, 2015, had become “a struggle in which the responsibilities of the perpetrators and public officials were concealed.”

It said investigators did not establish how suicide bomber Şeyh Abdurrahman Alagöz reached Suruç, obtained bomb-making materials or received assistance while crossing the border.

The statement also raised allegations concerning the conduct of public officials before the bombing. Reports by Interior Ministry inspectors documented that police personnel in Adıyaman and Şanlıurfa had searched official databases for information about Alagöz before the attack, according to the platform.

No judicial or administrative proceedings were brought against those officers, it said.

Families appeal court ruling in Suruç Massacre case

26 October 2021

Mehmet Yapalıal, the Suruç district police chief at the time, was fined 7,500 liras for “neglect of duty and misconduct in office” over the failure to take routine security measures on the day of the bombing. The fine was ordered to be paid in 12 installments.

The platform also said five hours of security camera footage from the day of the attack were missing or had been deleted. It said no effective expert examination had been conducted to determine what happened to the recordings.

It added that the court had rejected requests to investigate information indicating that Balı received treatment at the Cihanbeyli State Hospital in Konya while he was sought by the police.

The bombing

Around 300 young people gathered outside the Amara Cultural Center in Suruç on Jul 20, 2015, following a call from the SGDF. They planned to take toys and humanitarian aid to the Kurdish town of Kobanî in northern Syria.

A suicide bomber attacked the group as participants prepared to make a press statement. Thirty-three people were killed and more than 100 were wounded.

Authorities identified Alagöz as the ISIS operative who carried out the bombing. A confidentiality order was imposed on the investigation on Jul 23, 2015, on the grounds that access to the documents could jeopardize the investigation.

The Şanlıurfa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment 18 months after the attack, seeking 104 aggravated life sentences for each of the three defendants.

The trial began at the Şanlıurfa 5th Heavy Penal Court on May 4, 2017, nearly 21 months after the bombing. Şahin, the only defendant in custody, did not attend the opening hearing.

On Oct 22, 2021, the court sentenced Şahin to 34 aggravated life terms and an additional 1,890 years in prison. Balı and Büyükçelebi remained fugitives in Syria. (VK)

It was of course well deserved Karma. When first playing with this word on a bus, I was talking to a guy who supported Eskişehirspor, his team had slided down multiple divisions one after another, I said, yes you guessed it. He laughed but it was cutting and now I was paying the price.

Don’t get me wrong, the word is in fact the cuddliest on the plane. Hospitals are a field day for it. Everybody says it to everyone and you feel a part of that great collective of dead or nearly dead. Even a minor limp like mine and I’m am treated like a sultan. With my now love of the word and perfect understanding of how it works, we arrived one day at the door of our very religious neighbours, where there had been a recent death in the family. There were more shoes outside than a department store. I bowed my head respectfully, they were very good people and said “Geç…” Before I could finish, my wife leaped at the words and rammed them down my throat. “He means…” and squirmed her and my way out of it. “You don’t use it like that.” “I was offering condolences.” After a heated row I blamed the word and vowed never to say it again. No please don’t say Geçmiş Olsun for that.

Gerizekalı, now this is rather harmless word in UK. If used in banter it can even be affectionate. So when seven strapping Turkish lads got on the coach and sat near us and one said he supported Manchester City, my teams arch rival, I said, yeah I know, “Gerizekalı.” The oxygen in the coach went thin, my wife’s jaw dropped, the guy was in shock and his big strong friends looked at me long and hard. It was too late, my wife could not grab the words, they were out. Quickly she threw water on the fire and in time the flames died down the embers still burning till we left the coach. “Güle güle.” Now that’s right. 

The summer is upon us and I’ve learnt that Turkish people use the German word Dummkopf. This too is like the former, used by and large harmlessly in Germany. So when I’m on the beach and a child’s ball comes near us I’ll playfully say to the boy “dummkopf” or if a gang of lads are making a barbeque or being noisy, “dummkopf” I will jokingly shout, now what could go wrong with that… (DM/VK)

The West Bank was divided on paper into A, B, and C zones with the 1993 and 1995 Oslo Agreements. According to these agreements, Zone A is entirely under Palestinian administrative and security control. In Zone B, administrative control is Palestinian, while "security" is Israeli. Zone C is entirely under Israeli control. 

However, since the 2020s, the West Bank has become a region where almost every street is closed off to the outside. According to data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 2026, the number of permanent and temporary checkpoints restricting the movement of Palestinians has exceeded 900.

New illegal settlement plan

On Jul 2, the Israeli cabinet approved a plan to establish 13 new settlements in the central occupied West Bank. These settlements are planned for the Binyamin area, one of the largest settlement blocs in the West Bank. This area lies on Route 60, a central north-south axis connecting Palestinian cities such as Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, as well as important Israeli settlements.

Route 60 is one of the key components of the highway network built by Israel to allow Jewish settlers living in illegal settlements in the West Bank to access Israel or other settlements directly without passing through Palestinian cities. Palestinians, however, face checkpoints and obstacles when trying to use this road. According to OCHA data, there are more than 120 such obstacles on Palestinian access roads.

‘Why are you leaving the city?’

Nahel al-Kubari, a 31-year-old resident of Ramallah, says living in the city doesn’t make her feel safe. She explains that Israeli forces can enter the city suddenly and without announcement, causing her to feel constant panic and fear.

According to al-Kubari, today, a Palestinian travelling from Ramallah to Nablus means passing through countless checkpoints and waiting for hours. Border controls, settler attacks, and home raids mean that Palestinians living in the West Bank have to live their daily lives with the constant thought of "something will happen".

When we want to visit our relatives outside the city, it's not always possible because of the countless checkpoints. If we have to go outside of the city, we are subjected to various searches and harassment, and the question is often, "Why are you going out?" There are numerous checkpoints in every area. For example, I live in Ramallah, and my sister lives in Jerusalem. When I want to go to her, I have to pass through more than seven checkpoints and wait for hours. Sometimes, money is stolen from us at the checkpoints, and we are beaten and made to stand for long hours at each one. –Nahel el-Kubari

‘Salaries are not a match for the quality of work’

Since Oct 7, 2023, the West Bank has been experiencing a deep and long-lasting economic downturn due to increasing movement and access restrictions, a decrease in customs revenue transfers from the Israeli government, and the cancellation of work permits for more than 170,000 Palestinian workers employed in Israel.

Israeli military raids and settler attacks also intensify the economic collapse. According to a report by the Palestinian Institute for Economic Policy Research (MAS), 18.7% of businesses have suffered direct physical damage. There have been significant declines in income, employment, and production.

Nahel al-Kubari says that the cost of living has increased due to the war, the value of money has decreased, and earning a living is becoming increasingly difficult.

There are very few good job opportunities, and if there are any, the salaries are not commensurate with the nature of the work and the effort required. Another problem is the closure of city hospitals covered by health insurance. An open-ended strike has been declared due to insufficient external funding and doctors not receiving their salaries. As a result, people with limited financial means cannot receive treatment.. –Nahel el-Kubari

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the health system is experiencing staff shortages due to unpaid salaries. Stock levels of essential supplies are also nearing zero. According to Health Ministry data, 16% of essential medicines, 14% of medical supplies, and 9% of laboratory equipment are at zero stock.

“Merhamet veya insanlığa dair hiçbir şey yok”

Nahel el-Kubari, stating that Palestinians in the West Bank are subjected to strange treatments, says that what is happening targets human dignity:

There is no mercy or humanity; we are not treated as human beings.

Al-Kubari, stating that she wishes for the end of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and the ability to travel freely. She says, “I love my country deeply and I long to live and settle there. Only after the occupation ends will I consider visiting all the beautiful places in my homeland, such as Jaffa, Acre, and Jerusalem as we are currently not allowed to reach them. This is my final wish.”

(ABI/VC/VK)

While such decrees do not specify the reasoning behind the decisions, the decision follows criticism from opposition and a public debate early this month over Çiçekli's public cycling appearances in athletic attire, and his interactions with the public in that outfit. Removal from office as the governor doesn't mean Çiçekli was dismissed from public service altogether.

İnan Akgün Alp, an MP from the secularist main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), had called for Çiçekli's removal during a parliamentary speech on Jul 5.

"There cannot be a governor with leggings. Either remove these governors or send them a fig leaf to wear," the lawmaker said, arguing that the governor's behavior was "not suitable for the seriousness of the state."

The matter escalated into a quarrel in parliament after some deputies reacted to Alp's remarks.

Çiçekli did not directly respond to the criticism at the time but reposted messages supporting him on his social media account.

Şamil Tayyar, a former lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and a frequent commentator on public debates, supported the dismissal of the governor in a social media comment he posted today:

"Governors represent the state, they are the president's frontier commanders in the province. They have to act in accordance with this representation.

"Neither citizens nor the public personnel he manages will take a governor in leggings seriously, and he cannot establish state authority."

Tayyar also questioned "according to what criteria people with such a mindset are appointed as governors."

Ömer Hilmi Yamlı, the district governor of Şehitkamil in Antep, has been appointed to replace Çiçekli.

Response from Çiçekli: 'I'll keep pedaling!'

BirGün newspaper reached out to Çiçekli following the president's decision, and the dismissed governor clarified that he only wears such attire when training and not during his working hours:

"I am someone who does various sports branches close to a professional level. I am a sailing and rowing athlete. I am a cycling athlete. The clothing on me is also a sports outfit that I use for doing sports in the mornings, which I wear while doing sports. Other than that, we do not walk around in this clothing during our working hours. We do this sport at very early hours on the weekend. So we do sports with sports attire."

When asked "What will you do next? Do you have a current duty?" Çiçekli replied, "Keeping on pedaling":

"I am not someone who does sports just for image. I rowed in İstanbul, I sailed in the Marmara and the Aegean, I rode a bicycle in Karaburun in Ankara. What will I do next? I will do more sports."

Çiçekli added that he did not have prior knowledge about his removal from office and learned it after the decree was published in the Official Gazzette: 

"This decision is the discretion of our leaders. They saw this fit. Long live our state and our nation."

(VK)

Grounded in the premise that "as long as capitalism exists, the climate crisis cannot be solved," the studio stands shoulder-to-shoulder with anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggles from an ecosocialist perspective.

We spoke with its founder Link Berry, who describes himself as a "working-class art organizer," about maintaining "revolutionary optimism" in the midst of the climate crisis, the mainstream movements' blindness to the war industry and imperialism, the place of Palestinian resistance, and the agitprop aesthetics of the street.

At the core of Earth Liberation Studio lies a clear premise: As long as capitalism exists, the climate crisis cannot be solved, because the work required to restore the planet is inherently unprofitable under this system. What was your primary goal when establishing the studio with this mindset, explicitly as a political tool?

I knew I wanted to use art and political messaging as a way to process my despair, rage, and frustration about the climate crisis and the global political unwillingness to even address it. The art was a way for me to channel that emotion, and better establish what I thought solutions to the crisis might be. Making the art was a process of investigation and research into the subject matter which led me all over the place, brought me into various movements, introduced me to new friends and comrades, all of which led to the political conclusions held within the art.

My goal, in retrospect, was and is to help others like myself navigate the despair and rage they feel and direct their energy toward something, anything, that might move the needle in the direction of a better world. Or at least help them sleep at night. I don’t like to get grandiose about what art can achieve; I’m not sure it can create political change, but I think it can help people feel less alone, and in the best cases, encourage people to take action, find each other, and produce a line of questioning about the dominant cultural narratives.

One of the foundational building blocks of your work is "revolutionary optimism." Maintaining this optimism amidst climate collapse and global crises is no easy feat. What convinces you that we can break free from the shackles of capital, debt, and soul-crushing, alienating work? What separates this optimism from mere empty consolation?

It’s a foundational building block because it’s my biggest struggle. 

Let me just start by saying that in order to create change we first have to believe it’s a possibility. If there’s no belief in possibility, that certainly shrinks our horizon of action considerably. What would 1917 have looked like if Lenin and the Bolsheviks had not truly believed revolution was possible? There were hundreds of their comrades insisting it was not possible, encouraging them to take less action, have a slow, incremental approach to gaining power. They seized Petrograd because they believed it was possible, maybe even in the face of evidence that it wasn’t. 

Really the only thing convincing me that any better world is possible is the understanding that Anything could happen. We just witnessed the defeat and humiliation of history’s deadliest and most belligerent empire by the Iranians. In a world where the empire is so visibly crumbling, there are cracks everywhere. It’s hard to commit yourself to complete pessimism when the future is as unknowable as it has been this past decade. Openings are revealing themselves all around us, and if we don’t believe that we can fill those openings and start a revolution, then we won’t do it.

'Artists propping up the dying empire are the real propagandists'

Your portfolio opens with Paul Robeson’s quote: “The artist must take sides. He must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative.” Today, the mainstream art world often dismisses explicitly political art as "propaganda," declaring it aesthetically invalid, or confines it to sterile galleries. How do you think this agitprop aesthetic, which you create directly for the streets and protests, challenges the boundaries drawn by the art market?

As far as the dismissal by the mainstream art world of my work as ‘propaganda’, I say this: every accusation is a confession. The bourgeois art world holds up the status quo and peddles individualist, nihilist, and imperialist propaganda at us constantly. I call on all agitprop artists to reverse that accusation: they are, in fact, the propagandists, propping up the dying empire.

The bourgeois art world is woefully out of touch with the needs, desires, and tastes of regular working people. It’s often garish and nihilistic. A rag-tag group of agitprop artist comrades and I can (and have) put on an art show in an old thrift store and turn out more people than an opening weekend at some gallery in Beverly Hills. 

'What I’ve gained in happiness, I’ve lost in economic security'

You define yourself as a full-time, working-class artist and art organizer. How does maintaining this radical and intense pace of production, while navigating the daily struggle for livelihood and the constraints of a day job, feed your perspective as a worker and shape your designs?

For most of my life, the need to have a ‘real job’ kept me from my need to make art. This is true of many artists, and we understand early on that capitalism diminishes us, keeps us from realizing our true selves, keeps us away from what we need to do. So, I internally understood the exploitative nature of capitalism, which helped form my politics quickly.

It’s been 3 years since I left my last ‘real job’, and the struggle is not much different - my time is still dominated by the need to produce commodities and get paid in order to pay my rent and survive. The commodities are however of my own choosing, which makes the work a lot more enjoyable. It was a worry, early on, that by leaving the workforce, I would be alienating myself from the struggle, and my work would grow increasingly out of touch. That hasn’t been the case; I’m making far less money as an artist than as a worker for an employer; so what I’ve gained in happiness, I’ve lost in economic security. It’s a trade I’d make in every lifetime, and it’s kept me from becoming unaware of the struggle.

Throughout your descriptions, you explicitly note: "Absolutely no AI tools are used in the creative process of any piece, ever." This is not just a technical explanation of your method; it is a profound principle. Given that data centers deepen the climate crisis through their massive energy consumption and that artists' labor is being systematically exploited, where do you place this refusal within your own artistic ethics?

I find the environmental argument against AI and data centers a little toothless - yes, they are environmental disasters that are actively deepening the pit of disaster we’re all in, but that’s not necessarily different than, you know… everything else under capitalism. My resistance to AI therefore arises more from a respect and reverence for the creative process.

The generation of an idea, and the beginning stages of translating that idea into visual form is one of the most joyful experiences I’ve encountered in this life. It baffles me why anybody who has experienced that joy would want to outsource it to an algorithm, and it saddens me that new artists might not experience that joy because of the rise of generative AI. 

'Imperialism is one of my most revisited topics'

You designed posters for Abby Martin’s documentary "Earth's Greatest Enemy," which exposes the ecological devastation caused by the US military. While the military might of US imperialism secures global resource extraction, it also boasts one of the largest carbon footprints in the world. How do you strive to make this link between militarism and imperialism—which is so often ignored by mainstream climate movements—visible through your visual language?

There’s a common refrain within the western climate movement: they say that the US and imperialist bloc should be the force to ‘lead the world’ into a carbon neutral or carbon negative future. This of course views the US as a force for spreading democracy, or at least a neutral force, and one that ignores the imperialist and carbon intensive ways that the US has exploited the planet and put us in this mess. Sure, the US can lead - lead itself and other settler nations into the dustbin of history. Other than that, the US must be subjugated out of any sort of leadership role on the global front.

The more silent the mainstream movements, the louder the marginal movements have to be; so imperialism becomes one of my most revisited topics. Visual motifs such as military equipment - war planes, tanks, aircraft carriers, etc - are often portrayed being confronted, destroyed, eaten by forces of nature or groups of people and tools of sabotage. 

You have created works for activists blocking weapons shipments and students occupying campuses. In your manifesto, you state that anti-colonial struggles are key to solving climate change and creating a better world. Where exactly does the Palestinian people’s resistance against occupation and their anti-colonial stance fit into this narrative?

The struggle of the Palestinian people should be at the forefront of any serious environmental struggles. As seen across the planet, where native people thrive, so do the natural environments they care for. Decolonial struggles of all oppressed native populations ought to be celebrated, and the Palestinian struggle is among the most visible of these struggles, one that invites all of us into it as all of the western nations are implicit in the destruction of the Palestinians.

Relying on small contributions from ordinary people

We know that you have been involved in the climate movement for many years and define yourself as an "art organizer." You position the studio completely outside the industrial and commercial art market. How does taking art out of the realm of gallery commodities and bringing it directly into collective struggle as an organizing tool liberate your creative process? How do you maintain the studio's independent structure?

Being an ‘outsider’ in the bourgeois art world has certainly helped the studio get off the ground - not being beholden to the galleries or to the wealthy collectors, and instead relying on small contributions from ordinary working people, has been the only way to make this work possible. Every single person who purchases a print, shirt, or sticker, or subscribes on Patreon, or hires me for a commission, makes this work possible.

All of this work argues that a better world is possible. How do you tangibly envision that world—one where capitalism has been overcome, the planet begins to breathe anew, and humanity is liberated from the alienation of its own labor?

It’s admittedly hard to envision that better world as it probably lies on the other side of a great calamity that truly immiserates a massive portion of the world’s population, including those within the imperial cores. We see glimpses of that calamity and along with it, the possibility of a better world. When my city, Los Angeles, was hit by wildfires in 2025, we got a glimpse of what was possible. People rallied together to help each other, doing what they could to help. That’s the tangible way to envision the better world: the dissolution of isolating western lifestyles and the building of community.

You can also follow Earth Liberation Studio on X or Instagram.

(DS/VC/VK)

Nelson Mandela is among the world's most respected leaders for his struggle against the racist white minority regime, his peaceful and conciliatory approach after long years in prison, and his leadership in his country's transition to a democratic system. Mandela's strong will and personality, his resilience, and his unwavering commitment to the ideal of "freedom for all blacks" have placed him in a special position in the history of freedom struggles.

Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in Transkei, into a family belonging to the Madiba clan, a subgroup of the Thembu tribe. One of thirteen siblings, Mandela was the first in his family to attend school. At the age of 19, he had the opportunity to attend one of the few colleges that provided education for blacks. He wore pajamas and brushed his teeth for the first time in his life. He met Oliver Tambo, his close comrade who would later lead the ANC and with whom he would establish the youth wing of the ANC.

As one of his country's first black lawyers, Mandela dedicated his professional life to this cause. His work in the youth wing of the African National Congress, and subsequently as leader of the ANC's armed wing, achieved great success in securing the support of the international community, particularly African countries. However, although he managed to convince the ANC to start an armed struggle and secured the support of Blacks, he was soon captured and sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Prison years

Nelson Mandela concluded his four-hour defense at his 1963 Rivonia trial—where he was sentenced to life imprisonment—with these historic words: “Throughout my life I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the black people. I have fought against white supremacy, and I have fought against black supremacy. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Mandela's prison years, which began in 1964 on Robben Island when he was 46, demonstrated his remarkable ability to endure harsh conditions. In the small cells where they were kept, prisoners slept in their clothes under thin, worn blankets during cold weather and bathed with cold water. Every day they had to get up at 5:30 a.m., empty their toilet buckets, and endure inadequate, low-quality meals.

As soon as they arrived on Robben Island, Mandela emerged as the informal leader of the group. He and his close friends from the Rivonia Trial made it clear to the authorities that they would not negotiate or accept any privileges in return for cooperation. Anti-apartheid veteran Ahmed Kathrada detailed in his books how the apartheid prison administration frequently offered preferential treatment and lighter conditions to political prisoners in exchange for cooperation. Nelson Mandela consistently rejected these privileges, refusing to accept any favors that were not extended equally to all of his fellow inmates.

From their first days in prison, they were forced to break stones in a lime quarry, during which they were forbidden to speak to each other. This hard labor lasted for 13 years. To get news from the outside world, they searched for scraps of newspaper that the guards used to wrap their sandwiches. Restrictions on communication and correspondence were strictly enforced to ensure the prison administration maintained full control over Mandela. He was prevented from contacting his lawyers, and most letters addressed to him were withheld. His wife, Winnie, visited him for the first time three months after his arrival, but had to wait two years for their second meeting. He was also unable to attend his mother's funeral. As the leader of the political prisoners, he was in constant conflict with the administration and, whenever possible, explained the harsh prison conditions to political visitors. Thanks to his legal education, Mandela drafted various appeals to the administration regarding their mistreatment, though they went unanswered for many years.

In 1977, the forced labor in the quarry finally ended, and he was allowed to cultivate a small garden of tomatoes and onions in the prison yard. In 1978, the prison responded to requests for radio access by establishing its own internal broadcast system. Finally, in 1980, they were allowed to receive newspapers, though "objectionable" news and articles were still cut out before delivery. In early 1980, after the government decided to contact Mandela, his treatment by the prison administration began to improve. In 1982, his 18-year imprisonment on Robben Island came to an end when he and his comrades were transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town, where conditions were much better. There, he continued his hobby of growing vegetables in halved barrels on the prison roof. In December 1988, he was transferred to Victor Verster Prison, from which he was finally released on February 11, 1990.

Leadership in difficult years

A key feature that made Mandela special was his extraordinary, conciliatory leadership as the country's first Black president during the transition of power from the white supremacist minority to the Black majority. After 27 years in prison, he set aside personal animosity and anger, initiating a reconciliation process with the white minority and embracing the entire population. His efforts in implementing transitional justice mechanisms prevented Black-white conflict and played a primary role in establishing peace in the country.

The political climate during the negotiations with the white administration was highly unstable; armed white supremacists sought to obstruct the talks, while numerous deadly armed attacks undertaken by certain Black factions added to the difficulties of the process. In short, during the negotiations, the high number of Black casualties sparked a wave of anger within ANC circles, and cadres began calling for a return to the armed struggle and holding the government accountable.

On April 10, 1993, the assassination of Chris Hani—leader of the Communist Party, head of the armed wing of the ANC, and a close friend and confidant of Mandela—by a white supremacist plunged the country into chaos, resulting in 70 deaths and widespread protests. During this period, De Klerk’s government proved too weak to settle the conflict, and Mandela's leadership emerged as the stabilizing force, successfully preventing the chaos from escalating through his televised appeals.

Furthermore, violence continued even after the provisional constitution was approved by parliament on December 22, 1993, and throughout the election process. On March 28, 1994, attacks by those dissatisfied with the compromise resulted in the deaths of 53 ANC members at the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg. The ANC once again took to the streets, staging mass demonstrations, but these protests were met with another tragedy. Earlier, on September 7, 1992, during a protest march against the Ciskei homeland government attended by 70,000 people, 29 people had been killed by soldiers.

Mandela insisted on peace

In short, the 1990–93 period during which negotiations were carried out was also the period of the most violent clashes and the highest death toll. A total of 14,000 people are recorded as having died during this time. Despite the ongoing violence, Mandela—while advocating firmly on behalf of the Black majority—made a special effort to resume and continue the interrupted negotiations to achieve peace.

Following Mandela's resistance and efforts for peace, the apartheid system of racial segregation in South Africa came to an end. In 1993, he led the process that ended the apartheid regime and, together with President F.W. de Klerk, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1994, he became the first Black president of South Africa in the country's first fully democratic elections. Through his peaceful and conciliatory leadership, he achieved significant success in promoting a culture of peace and reconciliation to diminish the culture of conflict that had accumulated over the decades, earning immense respect within the international community.

After his term as president, Mandela dedicated himself to tackling social and global issues, primarily the fight against AIDS. When Mandela died on December 5, 2013, he left behind millions who mourned him but carried on his belief in equality and freedom.

References

-Nelson Mandela, Autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. Little, Brown and Comp., New York, 1995 

-David Welsh, The Rise and Fall of Apartheid, Jonathan Ball Publishers, Johannesburg & Cape Town,2009

-Ahmet Kathrada, Simple Freedom, Wild Dog Press, South Africa,

The Antalya 4th Heavy Penal Court convicted the detained defendant, Aref Elhussein, of willful murder. The court separately sentenced Elhussein to seven years in prison for theft and did not grant a sentence reduction for good behavior.

Nazlıer was killed in her home in Antalya on Jul 31, 2025. The prosecution had requested aggravated life imprisonment for Elhussein on charges of willful murder with monstrous intent or torment.

During the trial, Elhussein claimed that Nazlıer had sexually assaulted him. However, an internal physical examination ordered by the Antalya 2nd Penal Court of Peace found no evidence supporting the allegation. The indictment concluded that the defendant made the claim to escape punishment.

At the third hearing of the case, Elhussein presented his final defense in court. "I ask for mercy," Elhussein said. "I want mercy from Turkish justice. I gave in to my desires."

Investigators found that Elhussein took Nazlıer's gold and jewelry, placed them in a bag, and left the bag with a person identified as A.L. The bag contained the defendant's identification, passport, and mobile phone. (TY/VK)

The journalist and his lawyers were present at the hearing that took place at the İstanbul 22nd Heavy Penal Court.

At the hearing, Koyun stated that he is a socialist and argued that his political activities were being criminalized. He denied all accusations and requested his acquittal. His lawyers also demanded Koyun's release and acquittal.

BIA Media Monitoring Reports

13 December 2024

The prosecution requested the continuation of the journalist's pretrial detention.

The court decided to merge the case with another file against Koyun and ordered his release, adjourning the trial until Oct 27.

Meanwhile, authorities blocked the area around the İstanbul Courthouse with barricades, restricting entry.

ETHA news agency co-owner Mehmet Acettin detained in house raid

16 June 2026

(EMK/VK)

More than 1,200 of their products were removed from sale, with products containing Kurdish language or including the words Kurdish and Kurdistan "systematically blocked," Berşev told bianet.

Trendyol cites suspicion of counterfeit products or false brands as the reason for removals, but Berşev believes this is a pretext for a discriminatory practice.

Citing a biographical book about Celal Talabani, a prominent Kurdish leader and the former president of Iraq, titled "Mam Celal: A Life Dedicated to Kurdistan," Berşev said, "When we uploaded the book to the system, the algorithm automatically rejected it. The reason given was a 'brand error'."

When they removed the word Kurdistan from the product page and uploaded the book as "The Life of Mam Celal," the system banned the book again, this time because of the word Kurdistan on its cover, Berşev claimed.

This practice was not limited to books, as balloons, mugs, posters, and paintings with Kurdish writing were also removed from sale, he added.

Berşev noted that they actively avoid selling political products, yet they still faced such treatment. "We are careful not to sell political products or items associated with any party. About 90 percent of our products consisted of books and items bearing cultural motifs."

Reduced scores over Kurdish books

Berşev's store was handed two "violation points" by Trendyol on Jun 12 over the book "History of Kurds and Kurdistan." This happened despite the fact that the book had its own product page on Trendyol and was sold by other sellers before them, said Berşev.

"A day later, the products in the store were put under a collective review," he added. "Around 1,200 to 1,300 of our products, including books, Kurdish novels, children's books, paintings, posters, Kurdish balloons, and mugs, were suddenly closed to sale. Then, the store was given 48 violation points and was completely closed."

Berşev added that the removed books included works from the Avesta, Nûbihar, Dara, and Dipnot publishing houses, the latter of which publishes books by Selahattin Demirtaş.

Trendyol's response

Berşev stated that they filed an appeal through Trendyol's seller support system after the store was closed, and they were informed of the justifications of "brand error" and "possible counterfeit products."

Even though all of their products have invoices and that they offered to submit these documents, Berşev said they received automated responses to their objections. "We stated that we could send all invoices if requested. However, we were constantly given the same automated response, and we were told that the decision to close the store would not change."

Berşev alleged that products with Kurdish writing are accepted as "suspicious" without their content being evaluated.

"A proverb in Kurdish is written on a mug," Berşev said. "Because they do not know what is written, they prefer to completely close all products instead of reviewing them."

Sales continue on other marketplaces

Berşev said that the same products continue to be sold on other online marketplaces and that they have not encountered any similar sanctions there.

He argued that Trendyol's practice a discriminatory policy that limits the visibility of the Kurdish language and culture.

"We have been selling on marketplaces for five years," Berşev said. "If an illegal product is in question, it can be removed. However, these are all legally published books and cultural products. The problem is not that the products are illegal, but that they are in Kurdish or carry expressions related to Kurds."

Trendyol has not yet made a public statement regarding the closure of Berşev's store. (NÖ/VK)

The incident occurred on Jul 14 in the visitor section of the historic site, with police detaining the individuals identified as I.F., 32, and V.F., 36, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA). Russian media first reported the incident, stating that it incident happened on Jul 13.

Authorities initiated legal proceedings against the tourists on charges of "inciting the public into hatred and enmity," and subsequently handed them over to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management.

Russia’s consulate in İstanbul had contacted the couple’s attorney, according to reports in the Russian media.

'The endless suffering': What is happening in Hagia Sophia?

13 May 2022

Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985, was re-converted into a mosque by a decree from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2020.

It was built as an Orthodox cathedral under the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. Following the Ottoman conquest of İstanbul in 1453, it was converted into a mosque. In 1934, it became a museum under the secularization policies of the new republic. 

Steps to convert the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque began in Jun 2020, when the Council of State, Turkey's top administrative court, annulled the 1934 cabinet decree that had granted the structure its museum status.

Hagia Sophia’s cat Gli has passed away

9 November 2020

Following this ruling, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a decree on Jul 10, 2020, transferring the administration of the site to the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) to open it for worship.

With this decision, the 1,500-year-old structure officially regained mosque status. The first Friday prayers in 86 years were held at the site on Jul 24, 2020.

The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Assembly subsequently updated its zoning plans, changing the designation of the building from a museum to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and Complex. 

Eid al-Fitr prayer at Hagia Sophia after 87 years

13 May 2021

(VK/TY)

Rapidly evolving forms of abuse include AI-generated sexual content, image-based exploitation, online harassment, digital stalking, and doxxing. As digital technologies become part of daily life, online violence takes on new dimensions. This shift highlights the urgent need for stronger legal frameworks and survivor-centered support.

In response, the association translated the UN Women and SVRI report, "Global Trends to Prevent and Respond to Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls: A Compendium of Emerging Practices." The Turkish edition was introduced during the webinar.

Webinar organizer Nurgül Öz said the report was chosen because it offers a comprehensive global overview. It brings together emerging research and promising policy practices from different regions.

Supported by the German Consulate General in İstanbul, the event convened international researchers and advocates. Discussions focused on artificial intelligence risks, international policy developments, and survivor-centered prevention models.

'Violence itself is not new, its tools are changing'

Hazal Sipahi, a board member of the Association for Struggle Against Sexual Violence, said digital technologies do not change the nature of violence. Instead, they change how it is expressed and perpetrated.

"Sexual violence is changing form alongside technology and finding new tools," Sipahi said. "Today, the digital realm is not a virtual world separate from the real world, it is real life itself. The impact is also real."

Sipahi stressed that online abuse is not just a series of isolated incidents. She noted that it reflects and reinforces existing gender inequalities, making digital platforms another arena where violence is reproduced.

'Knowledge production and partnerships are of critical importance'

Aysel Ergün, program analyst at UN Women Turkey, highlighted efforts to strengthen the local conceptual framework. She noted that UN Women Turkey worked with civil society to develop common terminology and launch public awareness campaigns.

Ergün emphasized that online violence directly affects the safe participation of women in digital life. This makes joint knowledge production and cross-sector collaboration increasingly important.

"We have created a conceptual network for digital violence," Ergün said. "This is an ongoing effort because as technology evolves, the concepts we use will also change."

She added that combining international knowledge with local experience creates valuable opportunities for evidence-based policymaking and civil society capacity building.

'Evidence-based policies must be developed'

Raphaëlle Rafin, policy specialist with UN Women in New York, said rapid digital evolution has outpaced the response capabilities of many countries.

"To ensure that prevention mechanisms keep pace, we need reliable data collection and knowledge sharing," Rafin said. "Half of all women worldwide experience digital violence. It must be addressed as a global policy issue."

She noted that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence underscores the need for updated legal frameworks and coordinated international standards.

'A solution is not possible without global solidarity'

Ayesha Mago, global advocacy director at SVRI, said technology-facilitated gender-based violence requires a coordinated international response.

Mago noted that research from the Global South is often underrepresented. She said translating reports into different languages helps ensure knowledge justice. She added that the Turkish edition will serve as a valuable resource for organizations in Turkey.

"The compilation features best practices in prevention, advocacy, and launching movements," Mago said. "International networks that bring together researchers and feminist movements play a decisive role in developing effective policies."

She pointed to initiatives from Africa and Latin America, as well as SVRI's international network promoting collaboration among researchers and practitioners.

'Technology can also be a tool for healing'

Carolina Cal, support services facilitator at Chayn, highlighted how technology can support survivors when designed with a trauma-informed approach. Presenting the Bloom platform, she emphasized its positive role in recovery.

"When designed properly, technology enables survivors to access reliable information and continue healing at their own pace," Cal said.

Cal noted that these digital tools help bridge critical gaps in support, adding that the Bloom platform will soon be available in Turkish.

Building a collective response in Turkey

The webinar concluded with discussions on AI-assisted violence and ethical research methods. Participants underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration and international knowledge exchange in addressing these threats.

The Turkish translation of the report will serve as a reference for lawyers, researchers, and civil society organizations. It aims to support common terminology and evidence-informed policies in Turkey.

The Association for Struggle Against Sexual Violence said it will continue working to bring international expertise to Turkey, strengthening collaboration among civil society, academia, and policymakers.

(VK)

Numerous motorcycle couriers gathered in Güzelyurt and rode in a convoy to the cemetery Silivri Çanta New Cemetery. Representatives from the Courier Rights Association, Motorized Courier Workers Association, KASK-DER, Helmet Assembly, Tourism, Entertainment and Service Workers Union (TEHİS), and the Esenyurt district branch of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), an opposition party, attended the commemoration.

At least 44 moto couriers killed on the job in Turkey in 2025

14 January 2026

'We will never let go of them'

TEHİS Chair Kubilay Çelik and Courier Rights Association Board Member Bekir Güç spoke during the vigil at the graveside. They speakers emphasized that despite the discrimination she faced due to her gender identity, Yılmazelli "never gave up and earned her living with dignity on two wheels":

"We all came here today to bid farewell to our colleague Merve and to commemorate her. We are here to fulfill our final duty to her as fellow couriers. We have said one thing from day one: We will never leave any colleague alone. Merve will never be alone either."

"Today at her graveside, we promise on behalf of all colleagues here that we will never let go of the reckless driver who hit Merve and fled," the statement continued. "We will follow her case until the end and continue our fight for justice. We die while working, but these deaths are often recorded merely as traffic accidents. The speed pressure imposed by digital platform companies unfortunately costs us our lives.

"Merve was a highly loved colleague," the groups said. "Her coworkers who shared shifts and carried packages on two wheels are here. She was remembered fondly by everyone. Due to her identity, she perhaps had to struggle even harder in life.

"We are here today not only for Merve, but for all couriers who lost their lives in occupational homicides disguised as traffic accidents. According to Courier Rights Association data, 265 colleagues died over the past five years while trying to earn a living on motorcycles. In the last six months alone, 22 couriers lost their lives. None of these deaths are recorded as workplace homicides. We are not data, we are not statistics. We die in traffic every day. The state constantly demands new certificates and fees, yet it remains silent when it comes to regulating working conditions, auditing platform companies, and enforcing sanctions.

"Why must we die just to stay alive while working? Can one die to survive? We will bring the reckless driver who caused Merve's death to justice. We will do everything in our power to ensure they receive the harshest punishment."

Trans Pride: 'We want to die of natural causes'

The İstanbul Trans Pride Week Committee also released a statement on the incident highlighting labor discrimination faced by trans people:

"This is not an accident, it is murder. In June alone, 228 workers died, including six children and 14 migrants. While the right of 18-year-old trans people to make decisions about their own bodies is banned, the deaths of children in workplace murders at vocational education centers are legitimized. While trans people are pushed completely out of employment, high school children are forced to work like slaves.

"We as trans people, workers, and women want to live, grow old, and die of natural causes," the statement added. "We will build a free world where neither men, bosses, nor the state steal or occupy our bodies, lands, and lives. Rest in peace, Merve. We offer our condolences to her family, friends, everyone who knew her, and our community." (TY/VK)

Özel told Sözcü TV during a live broadcast that official steps would be taken around late July or early August. "We are working on the name and logo. Let us call it the 'New Party' for now," he said.

The announcement comes amid a widening rift within the main opposition party following Özel's removal from office following a court decision in May that found irregularities during a Nov 2023 congress where he was elected the party chair. The court reinstated former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who took office after police stormed the party's headquarters and removed those who resisted the ruling.

Police storm CHP headquarters after leadership ouster

24 May 2026

In response, Özel’s faction appealed the court's decision of "absolute nullity" to the Court of Cassation and requested an extraordinary congress in a separate application to a civil court of peace. If these processes do not concluded before the judicial recess beginning Jul 20, the group plans to accelerate their efforts for the new party.

"Of course, Jul 20 is being expected. We are also waging a legal battle," Özel said. "After that, we will talk to our elected provincial heads and proceed in a coordinated manner," he added, referring to the provincial leaders who sided with him and dismissed by the Kılıçdaroğlu administration. 

Court removes leadership of Turkey's main opposition party

21 May 2026

Özel explained that one group of supporters is working on establishing a new party while another group is keeping an existing party ready as an alternative. "The bylaws are being written, the program is being drafted, and the founders' board is being decided," he said.

Özel accused Kılıçdaroğlu of stalling the process despite 833 party delegates having joined him demanding a congress. "They are not holding the congress despite the signatures we delivered," he said.

Background

The internal division within the CHP traces back to the May 2023 presidential election, where Kılıçdaroğlu lost to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in what was considered the president’s most challenging race in his two-decade rule. Following the defeat, Kılıçdaroğlu faced internal opposition led by Ekrem İmamoğlu, the now-suspended mayor of İstanbul, who initiated a "change" movement within the party.

Özel, backed by İmamoğlu, won the leadership election in Nov 2023, ending Kılıçdaroğlu’s 14-year tenure. The losing faction subsequently filed multiple lawsuits, alleging that the Özel-İmamoğlu bloc purchased delegate votes with money and positions in the party.

The tension escalated when İmamoğlu, who was declared the party's presidential candidate by Özel, was detained in March last year during a large-scale corruption investigation just as he was declared his party’s presidential candidate. He has been imprisoned since then and is being tried in multiple cases, facing more than 2,000 years in prison.

The crackdown extended to other municipalities, leading to the arrest and suspension of several CHP mayors, including those of big cities like Antalya, Bursa and Adana. CHP has kept control of these municipalities as its members were elected as acting by city councils.

Thirty-one opposition mayors removed from office since 2024 elections

2 April 2026

The Özel-İmamoğlu bloc views these operations as an attempt by the ruling coalition to weaponize the judiciary against the CHP’s rising popular support. The ruling bloc denies the allegations, pointing out that those testifying in the corruption cases and alleging irregularities at the congress are themselves CHP members. (VK)

The killed workers included six children, with three employed in construction, two in agriculture, and one in the glass industry.

Six killed workers were aged 15-17, 33 were aged 18-29, 97 were aged 30-49, 65 were aged 50-64, and 22 were aged 65 and over. The ages of five workers remained unidentified.

At least 10 women workers also lost their lives in June. Four worked in agriculture, three in municipal and general works, one in commerce, one in education, and one in healthcare.

Fourteen of the workers killed last monrh were migrants. These included five citizens of Azerbaijan, three of Syria, two of Egypt, and one each of China, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

Sectors and causes of death

By sector, 75 industrial, 56 construction, 54 agricultural, and 43 service sector workers died in the last month. These were followed by 24 deaths in transportation, 19 in the metal industry, 14 in municipal and general works, and 12 in commerce, office, education, and cinema.

The leading cause of death in June was crushing and collapse, which claimed the lives of 55 workers. Other causes included 35 falls from heights, 35 traffic and shuttle accidents, 33 heart attacks and brain hemorrhages, and 18 electrocutions. Violence caused 10 deaths, while nine workers died by suicide, seven by poisoning or drowning, five by explosion or fire, three by falling objects, and one by cuts or amputation. Another 17 workers died of other causes.

Only 12 of the workers killed in June, or 5 percent, were union members. The remaining 216 workers, representing 95 percent of the total, were non-union. Among the unionized workers, four worked in metal, three in municipal works, two in mining, and one each in education, energy, and transportation. (FY/VK)

The dismissed academics released a statement noting a broader pattern of such dismissals at private universities, with similar practices recently occurring at Maltepe, Arel, Bilgi, Gelişim, and Atlas universities in İstanbul. None of those instances were on this scale though.

Academics at private universities faced with insecure work amid constant cost-cutting efforts

13 July 2026

The academics alleged that increased course loads, unpaid overtime, low food allowances, administrative appointments lacking merit, pressure, and workplace harassment have worsened their working conditions.

The academics criticized the management, claiming the university has long been run "like a family business."  They demanded that universities be run on labor, academic freedom, merit, and human dignity, rather than a corporate mindset. They called on the university management to end the layoffs and reinstate all dismissed scientific workers.

Working conditions at the university had previously drawn public scrutiny in March, when substantial salary deductions affected hundreds of academics. The issue was subsequently brought to the Turkish parliament in April.

Academics at private universities faced with insecure work amid constant cost-cutting efforts

13 July 2026

(EMK/VK)

Lila, who spoke about the rights violations she faced, was joined by Eren Keskin, former co-chair of İHD and a founding member of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), and Lila's lawyer, Furkan Yurt.

Following the press conference, the Private Sector Teachers' Union, the Education and Science Laborers' Union (Eğitim Sen), and LGBTI+ organizations emphasized their solidarity with Lila, pledging to continue following the case.

The Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch LGBTI+ Commission held a press conference in Taksim today regarding trans woman teacher Zoe Lila being left unemployed.

Lila, who spoke about the rights violations she faced, was joined by Eren Keskin, former co-chair of İHD and a founding member of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), as well as Lila's lawyer, Furkan Yurt.

Following the press statement, the Private Sector Teachers' Union, the Education and Science Laborers' Union (Eğitim Sen), and LGBTI+ organizations also emphasized their solidarity with Lila and stated they would continue to follow the process.

In her speech, Lila thanked Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party İstanbul MPs Özgül Saki and Kezban Konukçu for bringing the issue to the parliament, as well as the Private Sector Teachers' Union, Eğitim Sen, human rights defenders, LGBTI+ organizations, and members of the press for showing solidarity with her.

'What happened is no different from racism'

Speaking before Lila, Eren Keskin described what happened to Lila as "ihnumane":

"As the Human Rights Association LGBTI+ Commission, we are holding this press conference to support Zoe. However, this will not be limited to a statement. As long as she continues her struggle against the injustice she has experienced, we will stand by her side.

"Zoe is a trans woman teacher. While successfully performing her duty, she was forced to leave her position at Açı Schools as a result of pressure exerted on the school administration by the National Education Ministry, which is dominated by male-dominated, militaristic, and feudal values.

"What happened is no different from racism. The Republic of Turkey is a party to international conventions pledging not to discriminate between people on the basis of language, religion, gender, belief, and identity. By constitutional requirement, it has accepted these conventions as superior to domestic law.

"However, in an environment where the rule of law is not operational, written law is practically not implemented. We find this practice inhumane. We oppose the dominant and oppressive gender regime, as well as the discrimination and pressure this regime imposes on every aspect of life. We stand by Zoe to the very end."

'The right of trans women to work cannot be prevented'

Speaking after Keskin, Lila pointed out that she exercised her legal rights as a transgender person:

I am Zoe Lila. I graduated from Marmara University Atatürk Education Faculty, Department of English Language Teaching. Following my graduation, I pursued the teaching profession with dedication, in line with legal and ethical principles. For the past five years, I worked as an English teacher at Sarıyer Private Açı Secondary School. However, my right to work and professional existence, which are under constitutional protection, have been turned into a systematic barrier, targeting, and rights usurpation mechanism through the non-renewal of my employment contract following a process of targeting, exposure, and pressure that began after my trans identity.

This hate-based injustice I suffered and the discriminatory administrative process initiated against me have been brought to the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey through two separate parliamentary inquiries. As explicitly asked in the third question of the parliamentary inquiry submitted to the National Education Ministry by İstanbul MP Özgül Saki: 'Is being trans or having gone through a gender transition process considered an obstacle to practicing the teaching profession by the ministry?' The entire process I was subjected to has been recorded at the highest level through the parliamentary inquiry submitted directly with my name, 'Zoe Lila,' by İstanbul MP Kezban Konukçu.

We ask: On what legal grounds do inspectors ask discriminatory questions like 'Why did you change your name?' to an education laborer whose name was officially changed by a legal court decision, and initiate investigations based on complaints submitted to CİMER [Presidency Communications Center]?

Updating my diploma and official records after my identity change, which I carried out by exercising my legal rights, is my most natural and legal right. The duty of state institutions is not to make legal processes difficult for trans citizens or to push them out of working life, but to guarantee their rights under the principle of equality. The situation I faced has been the turning of the exercise of a legal right into a transfobic 'ban on work' and professional punishment at the hands of official institutions and government media.

As a teacher and human rights defender, I cry out:

My identity and labor as a woman and a teacher cannot be usurped by discriminatory and transfobic barriers.

This discriminatory practice, which has also been brought to the parliament's agenda, must be stopped immediately. This usurpation of rights, hidden behind bureaucratic update processes or targeting rhetoric in the press, must end immediately.

Official institutions should prioritize restoring my usurped rights by applying the principle of constitutional equality, rather than discriminating based on gender identity.

I will not surrender my labor, my profession, and my identity to any bureaucratic barrier or discriminatory mindset. I am determined to continue my struggle on legal and legitimate grounds until I get my rights back. The right of trans women to work cannot be prevented. We will resist for our labor, our identity, and our dignity.

(TY/VK)

Leyla Şahin Usta, the deputy chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) parliamentary group, announced the content of the bill today during a press conference at the parliament.

The proposal comes amid ongoing public debates regarding what are described as "new-generation criminal organizations" that frequently utilize individuals under 18, particularly in metropolises like İstanbul. These organizations, which have become much more visible in recent years, also use social media to spread propaganda and recruit new members.

What is in the bill?

The proposal introduces the possibility of removing age-based sentence reductions for children aged 15 to 18 for certain crimes, potentially allowing for life or aggravated life imprisonment.

• Prison term limits

According to the proposal, Article 31 of the Turkish Penal Code will be amended to increase the lower and upper limits of prison sentences that can be handed down to children in the 12-15 and 15-18 age groups.

• Penalties for murder

In cases of intentional murder and aggravated injury causing death, the age reduction applied to children aged 15 to 18 can be lifted by a judge's decision. The judge will evaluate criteria such as the manner in which the crime was committed, the purpose and motive, the gravity of the child's intent, and whether they have previously received a prison sentence for an intentional crime. If the age reduction is not applied, children could face life or aggravated life imprisonment.

• Repeat offender rules

The proposal also changes the age limit for recidivism provisions, which apply when a person has a finalized sentence for a previous crime. 

Under current rules, if a child under the age of 18 commits a crime, their previous offenses are not treated under repeat offender rules in the same way they would be for an adult. The proposal reduces this limit to the age of 15.

The justification for this regulation was stated as preventing children from being used by criminal organizations and providing a deterrent effect.

Official figures show increase in criminal incidents involving children in 2022

2 August 2023

'Aggravating sentences makes real issues invisible'

Lawyer Seda Akço told bianet that solutions aimed at aggravating sentences for children prevent discussions on crime prevention policies and the problems of the execution system. "The demand of society is seemingly met by aggravating the sentence. Thus, the real issue is not discussed," she said.

Regarding the public debate on the issue, Akço pointed out that there is a perception of impunity regarding crimes committed by children among the public, while others argue that the problem is not impunity and that increasing the sentences in the law will not be a solution.

She emphasized that what happens in the execution system after a child is sentenced must also be questioned:

"What kind of interventions exist in the execution system for children that will truly ensure behavioral change and eliminate the reasons driving them to crime? Can the execution system succeed here? Does it have appropriate psychosocial programs, or a suitable and adequate number of personnel? We need to talk about these.

"The purpose of the penal execution system should not only be to deprive the child of liberty, but to create the conditions that will prevent them from being associated with crime again."

CILDREN PUSHED INTO CRIME SPEAK OUT

'Everyone looks at us from the outside, they should see from the inside too'

13 January 2026

Conditions driving children into crime

Stating that the factors leading children to engage in criminal behavior are largely known, Akço pointed to problems such as the inadequacy of public services, parental attitudes, school absenteeism, and the inability to access mental health services.

She noted that the difficulties adolescents face in accessing mental health services, the situation of children left outside of education, and the support offered to families should be discussed:

"There is a young population that is neither in education nor at school. Some of them are of childhood age. What should we do to ensure their continuation in education? There are negative parental attitudes. What services must society offer to ensure that parents can provide adequate care? We need to look for the answers to these questions.

"One of the important reasons why aggravating sentences is adopted as a solution is that preventive policies cannot be implemented with a single legislative amendment and require much more comprehensive work.

"Dealing with root causes is not something that can be solved with a single law amendment. Making a legal regulation that increases sentences seems to be an easier way to fulfill public demand."

‘There is no state inside prison, I saw people setting each other on fire’

23 December 2025

'Advocacy methods must be reviewed'

Akço said that child rights organizations and segments of society opposing the bill must also review their advocacy methods.

Instead of merely pointing to wrong practices, Akço argued that rights advocates must share concrete solution proposals with society, and develop a language and method that will raise public awareness and convince decision-makers:

"There is a problem here. It is also necessary to say how this problem will be solved. Saying 'people are unjustified in this demand, this cannot be solved this way' is not a sufficient defense. It is necessary to answer the question, 'so what will we do?'

"Civil society organizations, academics, and everyone fought hard to explain the wrongness of the trend toward increasing sentences, but it was not enough. We need to handle this as a case and draw a lesson to improve ourselves."

Convincing the public is not only the responsibility of decision makers but also of rights advocates, according to Akço:

"Advocacy is done to convince. If we cannot convince, we cannot say, 'we told them, they did not understand.' Finding the way to convince is also our job. We need to feel responsible for where our advocacy leads.

"If advocacy is not effective enough, the methods used must be re-evaluated."

Number of child prisoners reaches 2,157

10 August 2023

'Distancing from a permanent solution'

Akço further said she does not think those who prepared the proposal acted with the intent to harm children, and that the regulation is the result of a search for a solution to a social problem:

"Everyone is trying to find a solution to a social wound from their own perspective. We think the solution found is wrong. Then what we need to do is to find the way to explain this correctly."

Stating that the applicability of aggravated life and similar sentences and leaving this to discretion carries serious risks for children, Akço argued:

"This regulation attempts to find a solution to the problem through a method that contains risks. It is risky both in terms of the children who will be subjected to it and because it distances us from the solution. However, it is necessary to see that this is the result of a search for a solution, and to create some time and opportunity for joint work to think together.

"The problem before us is a matter that can neither be solved with this proposal nor by finding this proposal wrong and getting angry at it. Knowing that a better solution definitely exists, it is necessary to create space to do sufficient work to reach it." (NÖ/VK)

Before the scheduled concerts of the British music group Gorillaz in İstanbul on Jul 14 and Jul 16, Souleyman, who has collaborated with the group for many years, was planned to take the stage at the Roxy İston Jul 15.

No detailed explanation was provided regarding the reason the artist was barred from entering the country. No statement has yet been issued by the authorities on the matter either.

A message sent to ticket holders stated that the event was canceled due to issues the artist experienced during the visa process:

“Dear participant, the Omar Souleyman event scheduled for July 15 has been canceled due to problems the artist experienced in the visa process. Refund processes will be initiated immediately. Thank you for your understanding.”

(TY/VK)

During the performance in question, Ulu had remarked, "Even Kanuni [Sultan Suleiman] married his fuck buddy," referring to the sultan's relationship with Hürrem, an affair widely popularized through TV series and programs over the years.

Video clips of this segment began circulating on social media in April as part of a targeted campaign Ulu, which followed by a criminal investigation. Ulu was briefly detained and accused of insulting historical, national, and spiritual values. 

The comedian was indicted in May for "inciting the public to hatred and hostility." In the previous hearing of the case, the prosecution had requested a prison sentence of up to three years for this offense.

Comedian Deniz Göktaş detained after new show goes viral

2 July 2026

Ulu's defense

Ulu attended the final hearing held today at the İstanbul 13th Penal Court of First Instance alongside her lawyers.

In her defense, she denied that she intended to degrade a section of the public while also making an argument against the indictment which accused her of degrading women:

“I had no intention of committing a crime. I never intended to belittle or divide any segment of the public. On the contrary, I have always been a unifying figure. 

"I do not accept the allegations in the prosecutor's opinion that I had actions aimed at insulting women. As a woman living in Turkey who believes she struggles in every field, it is not possible for me to commit this crime. I definitely did not commit such an act. I demand my acquittal.

"I have performed shows with positive discrimination toward women. I believe my statements were definitely not intended to insult a segment of society or a gender, and I believe my words are unifying, not divisive."

The court sentenced Tuba Ulu to five months in prison for "publicly degrading a segment of the public" and deferred the announcement of the verdict. (VK)

Examination times, normally 5 to 10 minutes, were increased to 20 minutes in the capital city in late June, resulting in a decrease in the total number of examinations.

Doctors' groups claimed the move was an attempt to ease hospital crowds during the NATO summit on Jul 7-8, for which many cosmetic arrangements were made in the city, including renewing asphalt on the roads and painting building facades along the routes of foreign delegations.

Ankara taxis to offer Turkish delight during NATO summit as city makeover draws ire

30 June 2026

While no official statement has been released regarding the changes, the Ankara Medical Chamber previously announced that daily appointments per doctor fell from 43 to 21 between Jul 6 and Jul 8, resulting in increased examination times.

The chamber had criticized the decision, noting that doctors had long demanded increased examination times and that the temporary regulations proved such changes were possible. They argue that these brief consultations disrupt treatments and force patients to repeatedly return to clinics.

However, patients in Turkey routinely struggle to find hospital appointments despite short average examination times. (VK)