SPOT: We will not be divided

As Solidarity with the People of Turkey campaign group we are horrified by the terrorist attack on young concert goers in Manchester on Monday nightand condemn those responsible. We would like to send our condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and to the injured. The hard work and courage of the emergency […]

How the “dream” summit became the summit of “fractures”

Evrensel / Ihsan Caralan The “Trump–Erdogan” Summit which took place the previous day, described by president Erdogan as a milestone, lasted for only 20 minutes. If we consider that this dialogue included the need for translators between the two, there remains a maximum of 5 minutes each to discuss important issues between Erdogan and Trump. […]

The Turkish teachers are on hunger strike for 73 days

A Turkish academic, Nuriye Gulmen and primary school teacher Semih Ozakca, have been on hunger strike in Ankara for the last 73 days to protest against their dismissal by the government. They are among the more than 150 thousand public workers who were dismissed from their jobs by government decrees following the failed coup attempt […]

Turkey seeks arrests at opposition newspaper Sozcu

Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for the owner and three employees of the opposition daily Sozcu. The office of the newspaper was raided yesterday. Officials accuse the newspaper of supporting people allegedly involved in last July’s failed coup. The newspaper is accused of having ties to the so-called “Hizmet” movement led by the self-exiled […]

The role given to Turkey: to be the protectorate of jihadists

10 May 2017 Unfortunately, Turkey is doing the opposite of what it needs to do. Maybe before even it realises what troubles this might bring. Fehim ISIK In Syria, we have moved onto the stage of delicate calculations. Proxy wars waged by use of various organisations have for some time been replaced by those who […]

14,000 TL fine for news in Evrensel

Evrensel newspaper’s ex-editor in chief Vural Nasuhbeyoglu and ex-publisher Mehmet Arif Kosar were each served with 7 thousand Turkish Liras. Meltem AKYOL İstanbul Journalists have been swamped with imprisonment and fines just 2 days after President Tayyip Erdogan’s announcement that they fully defend freedom of expression. Evrensel newspaper’s ex-editor in chief Vural Nasuhbeyoglu and ex-publisher […]

Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Kaboglu: Individual, party and state are merged

Why was the President Erdogan re-joining his party and the judicial restructuring prioritised? What should we expect in 2019? Serpil İLGÜN Work on the restructuring of HSYK (Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors) as HSK (Council of Judges and Prosecutors), one of the first articles brought to TBMM (the Turkish Parliament) following the referendum on […]

Erdoğan-Trump meeting interpreted by political analysts from Turkey

(Evrensel, 16 Mayıs 2017) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump had their first face to face meeting on Tuesday, 16 May. This is how political scientists Sinan Birdal, Sezin Öney and Fatih Yaşlı interpreted this meeting. ‘Aim of this visit was to be photographed together’ Sinan BİRDAL – Guest Associate Professor […]

What does the New Hamas Line mean?

08 May 2017 Chairman Khaleed Mashaal announced the new political programme of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Why is a change in line? Kamil Tekin SUREK First the new Charter was introduced on 1 May, followed by the change in Political Leadership. Despite the Hamas leadership statement that the changes were a result of long-term discussions, […]

“A homeland that wants to kill us”

30 years ago, I was a leftist university student, living in exactly the same house that I am living now, then with my mother. I remember how much my mother would be worried each time our doorbell rang from downstairs. Neither her nor I were feeling safe in our own house. And the threat came […]

People feel unsafe in the area, says Diyarbakir Human Rights Association

Serpil Berk, Diyarbakir Raci Bilici, the Chairman of the Diyarbakir Human Rights Association (IHD) evaluates the human rights violation report for the first quarter of 2017. In the past few days the Diyarbakir IHD shared with the public in the regional provinces its report of rights violations that occurred in the first quarter of 2017. […]

The role given to Turkey: being the protectorate of jihadists

(Fehim Işık, Evrensel, 10 May 2017) In Syria, we have moved onto the stage of delicate calculations. Proxy wars waged by use of various organisations have for some time been replaced by those who have designated the proxies. It seems that it is now the time of “correction”, and one of the main issues is […]

NO and Beyond April 16, 2017 Constitutional Referendum Report

No and Beyond was established as an independent citizen organization, to contribute to the creation of a healthy electoral environment, before and after elections against possible infractions of the rules in the April 16, 2017 referendum. No and Beyond received voluntary applications in almost 50 cities and served at the polling place with close to […]

Big, jubilant, mass May Day demos in Turkey despite the state of emergency

(İhsan Çaralan, Evrensel, 02 May 2017) Celebrations were held in many countries yesterday, on May Day, the day of unity, solidarity and struggle of the working class. Workers chanted their demands, claiming the values of May Day and the ideals for a world without  exploitation and wars and for fraternity of humanity as a whole. […]

Leaping backward 13 years in the war of norms

(İhsan Çaralan, Evrensel, 27 April 2017) Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided to put Turkey on “political and legal monitoring”. The resolution was passed with 113 votes, with 45 against and 12 abstaining. “The absence of European standards in the functioning of Turkey’s democratic institutions” was presented as the reason for PACE’s […]