The Gezi Park events marked a turning point in the global unrest we’re living through. Though not officially a Bric country, Turkey has most of the attributes of one – high growth, a young population, a repressive state prone to corruption and arbitrary action. So after Gezi it was no surprise to see Brazil’s protest movement spiral into a million people on the [...] → Read the full article…
Another major worry for Mr. Erdogan now is that anger with his administration will spread to the streets, as it did in the summer with the violent suppression of demonstrators trying to protect a beloved Istanbul park from development. On Wednesday night sporadic protests erupted in some neighborhoods of Istanbul and other cities, with people calling on the government to [...] → Read the full article…
Remember “Riot Granny” from Istanbul? She has been in jail for two months now. Emine Cansever (53), a.k.a. Riot Granny, was arrested with 18 other people in home raids in Gülsuyu neighborhood two months ago. Emine Cansever is accused of being a member of a “terrorist organization”. Pro-government media started a smear campaign right after her image with a sling [...] → Read the full article…
A United Nations human rights expert and the World Medical Association (WMA) today urged the Turkish parliament to reconsider a draft law that would criminalize the provision of medical care by qualified independent practitioners during emergencies after the arrival of a state ambulance. “If adopted, Article 33 will have a chilling effect on the availability and accessibility of emergency medical [...] → Read the full article…
Interview with Sayfi Sarısülük, the mother of Ethem Sarısülük (26) who was shot dead by a police bullet during Gezi protests in Ankara. Police attacked people who gathered for his funeral in Kızılay Square, and his hearing in Ankara courthouse. Plainclothes policemen harassed and threatened the Sarısülük family. Court refused to arrest his killer, policeman Ahmet Şahbaz. The killer is protected by [...] → Read the full article…
The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner has blasted Turkish authorities for widespread human rights abuses in a stark review of the anti-government protests in Turkey earlier this year. The report by Nils Muiznieks published Tuesday also says that many allegations of abuse by Turkish police are not being investigated. “The Commissioner considers that impunity of law-enforcement officials committing human [...] → Read the full article…
Political cartoons as a form of graphic protest still have an effect on the body politics of Turkey. Even those who may not understand Turkish can see the message in a caricature. Cartoons make us not only smile, but promptly locate the undeniable truth in our minds. Erdogan is aware of this power, hence there is a Wikipedia entry in Turkish, ”Cartoons [...] → Read the full article…
While police detained artist Barış Atay and 7 individuals for their “connection with Redhack” in Istanbul, the toll exceeded 10 along with other detainees across Turkey. While police detained artist Barış Atay and 7 individuals for their “connection with Redhack” in Istanbul, the toll exceeded 10 along with other detainees across Turkey. Suspects have been ordered to make a statement [...] → Read the full article…
3 detainees have been arrested for demonstrating to support Berkin Elvan, a 14 year old boy who has been been in coma for 156 days due to a police gas bomb canister. Several injuries were reported during police intervention. Berkin Elvan (14) is in coma for 156 days. Following an appeal from Taksim Solidarity group, dozens of activists have organized [...] → Read the full article…
AKP might or might not be paying for the recent campaigns of insult and abuse on critics, but there is no doubt that Erdogan, who boasts of “setting up the news agenda,” is now keen to dominate the social media, too. As the 2014 elections approach, the social media offensive of the emerging “conservative industrial complex” is generating the risk of [...] → Read the full article…