Monthly Archives: April 2014
Turkish opposition welcoming Erdoğan as president
Here is my comment for Today’s Zaman, April 30: In case you have been wondering, the latest news from Ankara is the same old news. After a month of not much happening, the two opposition parties at the Kemalist-Nationalist axis … Continue reading
AKP: from victim to oppressor
Here is my comment on the metamorphosis of the AKP: “Turkey is currently an authoritarian regime,” warned a respected political scientist from Sabancı University yesterday. According to Professor Ersin Kalaycıoğlu: “The issue is whether or not we will be able … Continue reading
Reuters: Golden Loophole – How an alleged Turkish crime ring helped Iran
In this city’s Grand Bazaar, sellers along labyrinthine passageways hawk carpets, jewelry and souvenir knick-knacks to tourists. Turkish police believe that until recently, the area around the market also sat at the center of an audacious, multi-billion-dollar scheme involving bribery and … Continue reading
Prof Özbudun, Venice Commission: Turkish Gov’t fighting very institutions it shaped
Prominent professor of constitutional law and one of the writers of a draft constitution for the government in 2007 Ergun Özbudun has said the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is fighting against the very institutions it shaped with … Continue reading
Venice Commission concerned about attacks against Turkey’s Constitutional Court
Venice Commission President Gianni Buquicchio said that he is concerned about attacks against the Constitutional Court of Turkey, in a statement released on Wednesday. Buquicchio stated that he was informed about statements by representatives of the Turkish government harshly criticizing the … Continue reading
Turkish journalist sentenced to prison over twitter insult to PM; daily censored
A Turkish journalist has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by an Ankara court for “insulting” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Twitter.The Ankara 1st Criminal Court of Peace sentenced investigative journalist Önder Aytaç, a former police official, to … Continue reading
Turkey: AKP gov’t mulls over further controversial changes to public procurement law
After changing Public Procurement Law 32 times since 2002, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has prepared 10 draft bills for amendments to be made to the Public Procurement General Communique and related regulations, the Cumhuriyet daily reported … Continue reading
Turkey: Supreme Judge says judiciary under tutelage, holds gov’t responsible
In what is seen as a significant challenge to the government, Constitutional Court President Haşim Kılıç has said the judiciary in Turkey is under a “new form of tutelage,” implying that the government is behind the tutelage. In a speech marking … Continue reading
Erdogan geht überraschend auf Armenier zu
Deutsche Welle: Die Beileidserklärung des türkischen Premiers an die Armenier signalisiert eine Abkehr von der bisherigen Haltung des Landes zu dem schwierigen Kapitel der Geschichte. Experten sehen darin ein “taktisches Spiel” — Die Erklärung kam für die türkische und internationale Öffentlichkeit … Continue reading
Remembrance of April 24: Serj Tankian’s letter
Dear People Of Turkey, My name is Serj Tankian. I’m a Lebanese born Armenian American New Zealander. All four of my grandparents come from the area known as modern day Turkey. My grandfather Stepan hailed from Efkere in Kayseri, while … Continue reading