Those who lost their lives 3 years ago in Turkey’s February 6 earthquakes centered in Maraş that affected 11 provinces were commemorated in many cities across the country. During the commemorations, banners reading “No forgetting, no forgiving, no reconciliation” were displayed. In the statements, it was recalled that more than 53,000 people lost their lives […]
A total of 110 people were detained, including Murat Çepni, Co-Chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP); Tanya Kara from the Socialist Women’s Assemblies (SKM); İleri Devrim Yurtsever, General President of Limter-İş; Cemil Aksu from Polen Ecology; Ruşa Sabur from Beksav; journalist Pınar Gayıp; and Berfin Polat, a Central Executive Board (MYK) member […]
Migros workers who have gone on a de facto strike at many warehouses across Turkey are demanding humane working conditions. Thousands of Migros workers who do not accept the 28% raise that was announced are also calling for improvements in working conditions. Work stoppage actions that began in Migros warehouses under the leadership of the […]
Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) has written to the UK Prime Minister to express our grave concern at the escalating violence faced by Kurdish civilians in northern and north east Syria, and to urge the UK government to take immediate and decisive action. Kurdish-majority areas — including Kobani and the Jazira region — […]
Solidarity with the People of Turkey stands with the people of Palestine and with progressive organisations worldwide calling for an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. A new report by the Palestinian Youth Movement, Energy Embargo for Palestine and Filistin İçin Bin Genç exposes the Turkish state’s false claims of a trade embargo on Israel. […]
Jihadist forces surround Kobani as international silence deepens The Kurdish population in northern Syria is facing an escalating threat of massacre amid renewed military attacks and growing international indifference. Attacks on Kurdish Regions Backed by International Powers In Syria, the ruling jihadist group HTS has launched attacks on Kurdish-controlled areas with the backing of the […]
According to January figures published by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, only one in every seven workers in Türkiye is a member of a trade union. Official data show that out of 16.6 million workers in the country, just 2.4 million are union members. The unionisation rate remains at 14.45 per cent, once […]
The Research Center of the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK-AR), affiliated with the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), made a striking statement regarding Turkey’s Unemployment Insurance Fund. According to the statement, over the past three years only 27 percent of the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s expenditures were allocated to workers in the […]
19th–21st December 2025, Ankara, Turkey The Women’s Congress was held at Ankara Bilkent Hotel from the 19th to the 21st of December with the slogan “We Have a Mark in the Past, We Have a Promise for the Future!”. The congress started with a moment of silence with applause in memory of the women lost […]
SPOT condemns and adds its voice to those protesting against Trump’s attack on Venezuela. Trump’s military has now bombed seven countries within a year, and we need to mobilise alongside the people of Venezuela to put an end to this barbarism. All decisions regarding Venezuela must be made by the people of Venezuela. The U.S. […]
For days, reports had been circulating that ISIS was planning a massacre in Turkey during the New Year period. Turkish police carried out operations at a total of 108 different addresses in 15 cities. During an operation conducted last night in the city of Yalova, near Istanbul, ISIS members opened fire on the police. As […]
Another massacre carried out against the Kurdish people is being covered up. On December 28, 2011, Turkish warplanes bombed villagers in the Roboski area of Şırnak in eastern Turkey. Thirty-four people were massacred, 19 of them children. Despite years of legal struggle, no one has been punished for 14 years. Who within the military decided […]
Eleven thousand metal workers who are members of the United Metalworkers’ Union (Birleşik Metal-İş) carried out a one-hour work stoppage at their workplaces on December 25 in protest against the employers’ association MESS imposing a 10% wage increase. The action was implemented with full participation across three shifts in 43 factories. The United Metalworkers’ Union, […]
In Turkey, drug operations targeting celebrities have been carried out over the past week. Dozens of people were detained, including Sadettin Saran, the President of Fenerbahçe Sports Club. While Saran was released, many others were arrested. During the operations, journalist Mehmet Akif Ersoy and many television series and film actors were also detained, with authorities […]
At least one journalist is detained every day. While pressure on certain television channels and newspapers has increased recently, journalist Barış Terkoğlu, who produces independent YouTube broadcasts, spoke about corruption carried out in public spaces. Despite the fact that it was a report approved by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Terkoğlu was detained on […]
According to the new law passed in parliament as the 11th Judicial Reform Package, many criminals—including murderers—are being released from prison. It is stated that a total of 65,000 people, including thieves, pickpockets, and fraudsters, will be freed. Under the new Judicial Package, political offenders will continue to remain in prison by being classified as […]
Hunger threshold in Turkey: 29,828 TL Announced minimum wage: 28,075 TL The minimum wage, which is set at the end of each year and comes into force from February, has been announced. The minimum wage, covering 8.5 million workers, has been set at 28,075 TL. This means that these workers and their families will face […]
At least 91 child workers have lost their lives while working so far this year. Seventeen-year-old Afghan worker Zahra Hosseini died after her headscarf was caught in a machine at the factory where she worked. Zahra Hosseini, a 17-year-old Afghan national employed at Yıldızbaş Cold Storage Facility in the Karaman Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ), died […]
The resistance of approximately 1,000 workers at the Şık Makas textile factory, located in Tokat in central Anatolia, continues. The struggle of the Şık Makas workers has so far achieved significant gains: ☑️ Nearly all accumulated and unpaid wages have been paid, ☑️ The Code 22 practice has been abolished, and the vast majority of […]
On Saturday 25 October, activists, trade unionists, and community organisers gathered at the National Education Union (NEU) Headquarters in London for the annual SPOT Conference, united by a vital question: Has Turkey waved goodbye to democracy? Throughout the day, speakers from Turkey and the UK explored the growing threats of authoritarianism, right-wing populism, and fascism. […]
The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has signed an £8 billion deal to sell 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey, following his visit to Ankara to meet President Erdoğan. The deal is being celebrated by both governments as a boost to NATO cooperation and a win for the defence industry, with up to 20,000 British […]
Espionage Investigation Targets TELE1 The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Friday that a trustee has been appointed to ABC Radyo Televizyon ve Dijital Yayıncılık A.Ş., the company that owns the television channel TELE1. According to the statement cited by Ekonomim, the appointment was made as part of an espionage investigation that also involves […]
İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has sharply criticized the espionage investigation launched against him, calling the accusations “a complete fabrication” and “an insult to reason and justice.” Speaking to reporters, İmamoğlu described the investigation as a politically motivated attempt to undermine him ahead of future elections. “This is such a slander that even […]
As political repression deepens and democratic freedoms continue to erode in Turkey, questions about the country’s democratic future have never been more urgent. The Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) campaign invites you to its Annual Conference to explore these critical issues and discuss how international solidarity can make a difference. The conference, titled […]
Following Turkey’s local elections on March 31, a wave of judicial operations initiated by the pro-Kurdish DEM Party and later expanded by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has led to sweeping actions across the country. These operations have now affected 25 municipalities, resulting in the arrest of 12 mayors and the disenfranchisement of […]
The ongoing strikes highlight the challenges workers face in securing fair wages and working conditions. In both cities, 3500km apart, rubbish piled up on the roadsides, and the workers were targeted by the local authority and police for exercising their legal right to strike. Propaganda against the workers was rife, with mainstream media outlets and […]
Date: 31 May 2025 Location: NEU, Hamilton House, London On May 31st, the Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) Annual General Meeting brought together trade unionists, activists, and supporters committed to international solidarity and workers’ rights. Held at NEU Hamilton House in London, the meeting underscored the shared struggles of workers in Turkey, the […]
Although Erdoğan repeatedly calls Netanyahu a “terrorist” and Israel a “terror state,” police still attack demonstrations held in support of Palestine. A march in Istanbul under the slogan “End the genocide and massacre in Palestine” was blocked by police, and the marchers were assaulted. Most recently, Trump said he was good friends with Erdoğan and […]
Mahir Polat is the Deputy Secretary General of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. He is one of dozens of people arrested along with Ekrem İmamoğlu as a result of baseless accusations made against İmamoğlu. The accusation is that Mahir Polat donated 100 TL (about 2 pounds) to a charity campaign started by Trabzonspor fans 12 years […]
EMEP MP Iskender Bayhan has drawn attention to the situation of socialist prisoners who were transferred from Silivri Prison to high-security prisons, including those categorized as “well-type” prisons, and are being held under aggravated life imprisonment conditions. Bayhan noted that in some prisons, socialists are subjected to the torture of strip searches, and also stated […]
Solidarity actions are taking place in many parts of the world, including England, as millions in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul and other cities, demand justice and democracy. In addition to solidarity demonstrations held in European countries such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden, similar actions have also taken place in England, with more planned […]
The detention of journalists who were covering the protests following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu continues. This morning, journalists Nisa Sude Demirel from the Evrensel newspaper and Elif Bayburt from ETHA were detained by the police after their homes were raided.
BBC reporter Mark Lowen, who was in Turkey to cover the protests following Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest, was detained and later deported. For the past few days, Lowen had been in Turkey reporting on the ongoing protests sparked by İmamoğlu’s arrest. On Wednesday, March 26, he was taken from his hotel and held in custody for […]
Following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, seven journalists who were covering the protests in front of the municipal building in Istanbul have been detained. Most of these journalists are photojournalists who were there solely to report on the demonstrations. While millions of people across Turkey are protesting against Erdoğan and his […]
Mass protests are sweeping across Turkey as people take to the streets against the oppressive rule of President Erdoğan, which has made life unbearable for many. For years, tens of thousands have been imprisoned on fabricated charges, facing relentless repression and attacks. Most recently, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was added to this long list of […]
Universities across Turkey are facing major disruptions today as professors refuse to hold classes in a nationwide protest against increasing government control over higher education. The one-day strike, organized by Eğitim Sen, comes in response to what critics describe as politically motivated rector appointments, centralized oversight on diplomas, and restrictive policies that undermine academic freedom. […]
In Turkey, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) dictates how broadcasters should operate. RTÜK President Ebubekir Şahin has even instructed channels not to air live broadcasts, threatening to revoke their licences. RTÜK warned that news coverage of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest could lead to long-term shutdowns if they included “insults to senior state […]
The Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, Ekrem İmamoğlu, has been arrested in an unprecedented judicial process. President Erdoğan is using this method to eliminate his biggest rival in the next election, Ekrem İmamoğlu. Everyone knows that the corruption allegations against İmamoğlu are nothing compared to the massive corruption scandals involving Erdoğan and his party. […]
The authoritarian Erdoğan administration has removed the İstanbul Bar Association’s board, which was elected by thousands of lawyers in September 2024. The ruling AKP government continues to use the judiciary under its control to dismiss or imprison anyone who opposes it. Today, the İstanbul 2nd Civil Court of First Instance ruled to remove İstanbul Bar […]
President Erdoğan has facilitated the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was preparing to run as a candidate in the 2028 presidential elections. Despite not holding a university degree himself, Erdoğan had previously annulled İmamoğlu’s diploma from Istanbul University, claiming he did not possess a valid degree. As this situation unfolded, İmamoğlu […]
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Turkish politics, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has orchestrated the annulment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s university diploma—effectively barring his strongest rival from challenging him in future elections. This blatant political maneuver comes at a time when Erdoğan faces dwindling public support, as opinion polls indicate that İmamoğlu, […]
Unlawful Detention of BİRTEK-SEN President Mehmet Türkmen Solicitor Tugay Bek has stated that BİRTEK-SEN President Mehmet Türkmen, who was arrested about a month ago, is being unlawfully held in prison. Bek emphasised that workers who provided testimony confirmed that Türkmen had committed no crime. Türkmen had participated in a workers’ resistance movement in the Gaziantep […]
For months, Alawite civilians in Syria have faced brutal killings, forced displacement, and persecution at the hands of extremist groups. Entire villages have been destroyed, families massacred, and innocent people targeted simply for their religious identity. Yet, the world remains silent. This is a crisis that cannot be ignored. We are calling on the United […]
With a sense of great triumph, the new Syrian government, backed by Erdoğan, continues its massacres. Forces under the administration of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have killed at least 745 Alawites, while the Turkish government continues to support this terrorist organisation. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has reported that the number of […]
Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdish freedom movement PKK, which was founded nearly 50 years ago with the aim of establishing an “Independent Kurdish State,” has called on the current leadership of the PKK to lay down their arms and convene a congress to dissolve the organisation. Öcalan’s appeal was made public through […]
In Turkey, the will of the people has once again been disregarded. The Erdoğan government has appointed another trustee to a municipality, continuing a controversial practice that has drawn widespread criticism. Over the past 11 months, trustees have been appointed to 12 municipalities. Most recently, Mehmet Alkan, the elected mayor of Kağızman from the DEM […]
On 18 February, Turkish authorities detained 50 people, and 30 of them have now been formally arrested. Their alleged crime? Being part of a democratic alliance that was founded 13 years ago with the aim of promoting a peaceful and just future. Crackdown on Leftist and Pro-Democracy Figures The arrests targeted members of various leftist […]
Since the local elections held on 31 March last year, the Turkish government has appointed trustees to 11 municipalities. The latest intervention took place in Van, the second-largest Kurdish-majority province in the country. The Justification for the Trustee Appointment The government justified the appointment by citing a prison sentence given to the elected mayor, Abdullah […]
A protest took place outside the Turkish Embassy in London, organized by the Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) campaign. The demonstration, attended by numerous trade unionists and organization representatives, called for the immediate release of BİRTEK-SEN General President Mehmet Türkmen and others who have been unlawfully detained. Unions and Organisations Stand in Solidarity […]
The Turkish government has launched a sweeping crackdown on opposition voices, with at least 282 people detained between February 14 and 18. This wave of repression has now extended to the business community, as authorities open an investigation into Orhan Turan, President of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD). TÜSİAD President Under Investigation The […]
The Turkish government has launched a mass anti-democratic crackdown against the opposition with at least 282 people seized between 14 and 18 February. Many others are expected to be arrested in the next few days. British trade unionists and supporters of democracy and civil liberties need to act now to raise a storm of protest […]
The Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP, has intensified its crackdown on political opposition, journalists, and activists. In a series of coordinated operations across ten provinces, numerous journalists, artists, and politicians were detained, and their access to legal representation was blocked. Mass Arrests Target Opposition Figures The Istanbul Chief Public […]
Fighting for workers rights is not a crime Solidarity with the People of Turkey condemns the arrest of leading trade unionist Mehmet Türkmen, chair of the Textile, Weaving and Leather Workers’ Union (BİRTEK-SEN). Following a ban on demonstrations against low wages in the Başpınar Organized Industrial Zone, Türkmen, who was detained on 14 February and later released, was taken into custody […]
In Turkey’s southern city of Antep, tensions continue to rise as labor protests face government crackdowns. Following the Antep Governor’s ban on demonstrations against low wages in the Başpınar Organized Industrial Zone, BİRTEK-SEN General Secretary Mehmet Türkmen, who was detained on February 14 and later released, was taken into custody again today at the union […]
President Erdoğan continues to seize municipalities he couldn’t win through elections. A government-appointed trustee has now been assigned to the municipality of Van, one of the largest cities in eastern Turkey. Abdullah Zeydan, the elected co-mayor of Van, was unlawfully sentenced to prison, and in his place, the government appointed the provincial governor as trustee. […]
In Turkey, the right of workers to seek justice and demand wage increases has been banned. All forms of worker protests have been prohibited. Earlier detained union leader Mehmet Türkmen of BIRTEK-SEN has now been released. Over 3,000 workers across 20 workplaces were set to strike, but their action was halted by the Governor of […]
As worker protests continue in Başpınar, Antep, the Gaziantep Governor’s Office has imposed a 15-day ban on demonstrations and events across the city. Workers, who had gone on strike demanding better working conditions and fair wages, now face legal restrictions aimed at curbing their resistance. Workers Fighting Against Harsh Conditions With the start of the […]
Press freedom continues to be under attack, as recent incidents in Turkey and the Kurdistan region of Iraq highlight the dangers faced by journalists. One journalist was killed in a drone strike allegedly carried out by Turkey, while three others were detained in Turkey simply for reporting the news. Journalist Killed in Suspected Turkish Drone […]
Allowed for Erdoğan’s Son, Banned for the Opposition In Turkey, the Istanbul Governor’s Office has refused to permit the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), to hold a solidarity march for Palestine. The event, titled “Free Palestine Walk: From the River to the Sea,” was planned to take place on the Galata Bridge […]
The massive earthquake that struck Turkey on February 6, 2023, affected more than 11 million people. According to official figures, 54,000 people lost their lives, and 107,000 were injured. However, local sources indicate that the actual numbers are much higher. Government Intervention and Rescue Efforts In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, people mobilized to […]
The Turkish government prohibits civil servants from joining political parties, yet teachers were enlisted as members of the ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party). This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred. Mehmet Aydoğdu, President of Eğitim-Sen Ankara Branch No. 1, stated that while prosecutors dismissed complaints, teachers were left dealing with administrative […]
A legal system has been created in Turkey where it is unclear who will be accused, when, and for what reason. While every criticism of Erdoğan results in detention and arrest, artists are also being accused because of the roles they play. The latest example is Melisa Sözen. Actress Melisa Sözen was questioned due to […]
In a troubling crackdown on press freedom, journalists critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are being systematically targeted in Turkey. Those who expose corruption, injustice, and government restrictions face detentions, imprisonment, and even violence. Opposition-Aligned Journalists in Custody The latest wave of arrests includes producers from Halk TV, a station closely associated with the main […]
A tragic fire at a hotel under the supervision of Turkey’s Ministry of Tourism has claimed the lives of 79 people, many of them children. The incident occurred in Bolu, a city located 260 kilometers from Istanbul and 190 kilometers from the capital, Ankara. The fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the […]
Solidarity with the People of Turkey is alarmed and outraged by the recent British police and state attacks against the Palestinian movement and its activists. We stand with all those who faced repression on the day. Our solidarity is with those who oppose injustice. On Saturday 18 January, the Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity […]
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has banned a strike by metalworkers organized by the United Metalworkers’ Union (Birleşik Metal-İş), who rejected a 40% wage increase imposed by the employers’ association MESS. The decision, published in the Official Gazette, claimed the strike posed a threat to “national security and public order.” The workers had called for the […]
What is Happening in Syria: A Call for Justice and Accountability SPOT stands with the people of Syria and their right to determine their future, free from outside actors. At this critical point, we call for genuine democracy and respect for the rights of all Syria’s citizens and those Syrians who have been forced abroad. […]
In a controversial statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appeared to praise the progress of jihadist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toward the Syrian capital, Damascus. HTS has been officially designated as a terrorist organization by both Turkey and the United Nations. Erdoğan’s Comments Spark Debate During remarks about the recent escalation in Syria, Erdoğan […]
In Istanbul, workers from Polonez, a sausage-producing company owned by a Jordanian investor, have once again been subjected to police violence as they continue their 140-day resistance after being fired for unionizing. The workers, demanding their constitutional rights, attempted to march to Ankara, but their efforts were thwarted by a heavy-handed police intervention. The Struggle […]
The war in Syria has once again escalated, with devastating consequences for innocent civilians. SPOT (Solidarity with the People of Turkey) highlights that the primary actors fueling this conflict are the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Turkey. These nations must immediately cease their interference in Syria and end their support for jihadist terrorist […]
The Turkish government, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has once again appointed a trustee to a democratically elected municipality, continuing a controversial trend that many see as undermining local democracy. This time, the trustee was assigned to the Bahçesaray’s Municipality in the province of Van, raising the number of such appointments since the March 31 […]
The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the ruling AKP has escalated its crackdown on dissent, targeting individuals and groups that oppose its rule. In a coordinated operation conducted overnight, Turkish authorities detained 231 people across several cities. A Government Tightening Its Grip Over recent years, Erdoğan’s administration has shown little tolerance for democratic […]
On November 25, women across Turkey mobilized to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In nearly every city, women’s groups and activists took to the streets to protest the alarming rise in violence against women. However, their right to demonstrate was met with severe restrictions, detentions, and police violence. Protests […]
The Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has appointed trustees to two more municipalities governed by opposition parties, intensifying criticism over its handling of local governance and democratic principles. Trustees were installed in the Tunceli and Ovacık municipalities on Tuesday, following a string of similar appointments in other opposition-controlled cities. Both municipalities had […]
Furkan Karabay, a reporter for 10Haber, has been arrested over his reports and social media posts regarding the investigation into Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, sparking reactions from journalist organizations. Karabay was detained following his coverage of the investigation into Ahmet Özer, who was removed from his position and arrested on charges of “membership in a […]
A German-flagged cargo ship named Kathrin, reportedly carrying weapons bound for Israel, has stirred controversy as it navigates through Turkish ports. After a recent stop at Haydarpasa Port in Istanbul, the vessel is now reported to have altered its course toward Antalya Port, a major Turkish hub along the Mediterranean coast. The route and cargo […]
The government dismissed the pro-Kurdish mayors of the Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Batman Municipality, and Halfeti District Municipality in Urfa, effectively removing mayors from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. Following the news of the trustee appointment for Mardin, police cordoned off the municipality building early in the day. In Batman, Sanliurfa and Mardin […]
The AKP government wants to take over municipalities it couldn’t win through elections by appointing trustees. Ahmet Özer, the CHP mayor of Esenyurt, was arrested after being detained on fabricated charges. After giving his statement to the prosecution, Özer was referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with an allegation of “membership in a criminal […]
The leader of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, a coalition partner of President Erdogan, recently made controversial remarks regarding Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed PKK leader held in isolation on Imrali Island. “If the isolation of the terrorist leader is lifted, let him come and speak at the DEM Party group meeting in […]
Despite denials from the Erdoğan administration, data shows that trade with Israel is continuing under the guise of Palestine, with barbed wire used against Palestinians being supplied from Turkey. Although the government insists that trade with Israel has ceased, official records tell a different story. Claims about halting trade with Israel, coupled with calls for […]
A major healthcare scandal has emerged in Istanbul, where 47 suspects, including 22 currently in custody, are accused of exploiting newborn patients for financial gain by collaborating with Turkey’s 112 Emergency Service to direct infants to private hospitals. The suspects allegedly extended hospital stays and exaggerated medical conditions to inflate claims to the Social Security […]
Charlie Kimber, representing SPOT, spoke on the “Importance of International Solidarity in Combating the Rise of Authoritarianism and the Far Right” at the 2024 National Education Union International Solidarity Conference: First of all, thanks to the NEU, who has long been a good friend of Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) and […]
Despite having changed the constitution multiple times during his 22 years in power, Erdoğan now says, “a more democratic constitution is needed” and wants to change it again. To make changes, he needs the support of the opposition in parliament, even though he has been attacking all democratic rights for 22 years. Strikes are being […]
In a growing outcry against what many are calling a grave injustice, Members of the European Parliament have urged Turkish authorities to release Can Atalay, a prominent human rights lawyer and elected representative of Hatay, who remains in prison despite being elected to the Turkish Parliament over a year ago. Atalay, known for his work […]
It has been revealed that Erdoğan has lied once again. Last week, in his speech during the opening of Parliament, Erdoğan claimed that after attacking Palestine and Lebanon, Israel would attack Turkey next. Opposition parties, saying “If there is such a state secret, let us know as well so we can unite,” requested a closed […]
Industrial contraction is accelerating in Turkey, unemployment is rising, and monthly inflation remains high. The government’s economic policies continue to hit workers hard. While protests continue across various sectors in Turkey, Fernas Mining workers marched from Soma to Ankara in protest of unsafe working conditions and low wages. Despite police attempts to block them, the […]
Turkish President Erdoğan claimed that Israel would attack Turkey following its assaults on Palestine and Lebanon. While opposition parties believe there is no factual basis for this statement, they called for an extraordinary closed session of parliament. Erdoğan, who has yet to comment further on this issue, aims to regain lost public support by suggesting […]
Narin Güran, 8 years old girl was brutally murdered at Tavşantepe, a southeastern village of Turkey, a crime that shocked the nation. The case has dominated public attention due to the horrific nature of the murder and the alarming details surrounding it. Salim Güran, the main suspect and the uncle of the victim, is a […]
The AKP government does not want to investigate who murdered the 8-year-old child. In Turkey, last month, an 8-year-old girl named Narin went missing on August 21. On September 8, her body was found inside a sack by a riverbank. Her older brother, mother, and uncle are the main suspects, yet it remains unknown who […]
Although Turkish President Erdoğan repeatedly condemns Israel and refers to it as a “terrorist state,” the reality seems different in practice. Due to the massacres in Gaza, the public has demanded for months that all trade relations with Israel be cut off. Initially, Erdoğan did not halt this trade. Later, he announced that the trade […]
Since 2002, under the policies of the ruling AKP, workers and labourers in Turkey have become poorer and have lost many of their rights. Over the past 20 years, unionisation rates among workers have plummeted. Around 200,000 workers were affected by twenty strikes that were banned. In Türkiye, every year, more than 1,500 workers die […]
It has been revealed that New York Mayor Eric Adams engaged in corruption with Turkish officials and businesspeople. He reportedly used Turkish Airlines for nearly all of his trips around the world and purchased tickets with layovers in Istanbul. The cost of these tickets was covered by Turkish Airlines. Many corrupt activities were carried out […]
Two opposition members of Turkey’s parliament were injured during a session that devolved into a fistfight over a jailed MP who had recently been stripped of his status. The scuffle began when Alpay Özalan, a lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and a former professional footballer, physically attacked Ahmet Şık, a deputy […]
Following the enactment of a law permitting the ‘slaughter’ of stray animals, disturbing reports of mass killings have emerged from various cities across Turkey. In the Altındağdistrict of Ankara, numerous dogs were discovered buried, revealing signs of torture and severe bodily harm. An investigation into this tragic incident is currently underway. The controversial legislation, proposed by […]
SPOT, Solidarity with the People of Turkey, urgently demands the immediate repeal of the newly approved law targeting millions of stray dogs across Turkey. This law, widely condemned as the “massacre law,” has sparked outrage and resistance among Turkish citizens, who view it as a cruel and inhumane approach to animal welfare. The government’s decision, […]
Minister Yusuf Tekin unveils ‘Turkey Century Education Model’ amidst scrutiny over its ideological underpinnings In a move that has ignited widespread debate, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin has introduced a new educational curriculum titled the ‘Turkey Century Education Model’. This announcement comes amid criticism from various quarters regarding its content and approach, with detractors […]
A trustee was appointed once more to the Hakkari Municipality, located in the easternmost part of Turkey where Kurds predominantly live. Hakkari Co-Mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış was detained in Van in the morning hours. While the police raided the municipality, the Ministry of Interior announced that a trustee had been appointed in place of Akış. […]
Selahattin Demirtas, the former Co-Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), along with other Kurdish politicians, has been convicted and sentenced to prison on charges related to the case involving the 2014 Kobani protests. A total of 108 HDP members were prosecuted in relation to the nationwide incidents that occurred on October 6-8, 2014. The trial […]
In Turkey, under the AKP and Erdogan government, approximately 33 thousand workers lost their lives in work-related accidents. During the 22-year reign of the AKP, Turkey witnessed some of its worst work-related accidents in history. Despite significant negligence on the part of the government and state institutions, not a single resignation has been tendered to […]
Turkey’s partisan President (from the Islamist/Nationalist Justice and Development Party – AKP), Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, signalled a “softening process” aimed at compensating for his party’s defeat in local elections a few days ago by stating, “I want to initiate a softening process in Turkish politics.” Erdoğan’s move resonated with the main opposition party, the Republican […]
In the past two weeks, approximately 20 journalists have been detained in Turkey. As the latest example of this trend, two journalists were detained in Diyarbakır last night following raids on their homes. Concerns over press freedom in the country are escalating. Journalists’ right to report critically is continuing to be restricted. Nurcan Yalçın and […]
On May 1st, police attacked workers who wanted to demonstrate in Taksim Square in Istanbul and detained a total of 288 people. 38 people were arrested and placed in prison. Although demonstrating in Taksim Square is a constitutional right, the Erdoğan government arbitrarily banned it. On May 1st, 247 people were detained, and yesterday and […]
According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), exports to Israel have reached a record level since the conflicts began in October 2023. In March, exports to Israel amounted to $436,928,000. Export figures between October 2023 and February 2024 were as follows: $347,868,000; $319,207,000; $429,054,000; $349,481,000; $422,059,000; $436,928,000. So, while Erdogan declares support for […]
Taksim Square, known for its historical significance as the site of the Gezi resistance in 2013 and the tragic May Day demonstration in 1977 where 37 workers lost their lives, has been banned for this year’s May Day demonstration. The decision has faced criticism from labour unions, who argue that workers should have the right […]
This morning, police operations were carried out against journalists in Istanbul and Ankara. In a house raid conducted in Ankara, Mehmet Aslan, a reporter for Mezopotamya Agency (MA), was detained. In house raids conducted in Istanbul, MA reporter Esra Solin Dal, Enes Sezgin from Yeni Yaşam newspaper, as well as journalists Saliha Aras, Yeşim Alıcı, […]
Another journalist in Turkey is confronting criminal prosecution for the publishing of news and opinion. Journalist Oktay Candemir faces investigation following complaint filed by Abdulahat Arvas, the AKP Van Metropolitan Municipality Candidate, resulted in an investigation being launched against journalist Oktay Candemir on charges of “insulting a public official” during the local elections. However, it […]
Burcu Köksal, from the main opposition social democratic party CHP, who became the mayor of Afyon City in the local elections held on March 31, closed the unlicensed shops of migrants. Köksal also said she would send the migrants back to their home countries. During the election campaign, Burcu Köksal, who said that if she […]
The Turkish government and AKP’s response to public calls for cutting trade with Israel has stirred significant interest. Nihat Zeybekci, AKP Vice Chairman and Head of Economic Affairs delivered a notable response by drawing a line between the atrocities and commercial ties, stating, “Massacre is one thing, trade is another.” Zeybekci’s remarks highlighted the complexity […]
The detention of political prisoners, including HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, continues as the court rejected the request for their release. The decision hearing has been postponed to May 16 due to procedural deficiencies and time constraints. Despite being held for nearly 8 years, the reasons for their detention remain unclear. This situation raises concerns about […]
The Ministry of Treasury and Finance clarified that the loans provided by the World Bank in cooperation with Turkey do not have any relation to the Istanbul Convention and LGBTI+ issues. In a written statement released by the Ministry, it was emphasised that the allegations circulating on social media regarding the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), […]
Solidarity with the People of Turkey was established to support those struggling for democracy and fundamental freedoms in Turkey, whilst also contributing to the working people’s struggle in the UK. People often ask why international work has anything to do with trade unions in the UK. As trade unionists, we understand the need for solidarity. […]
The recent police beating and arrests of over 40 people in Istanbul for protesting the genocide in Gaza underlines the rank hypocrisy of the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Those demonstrating had embarrassed the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) by highlighting Turkey’s continued economic ties to Israel. Another march in the city of […]
In Taksim, Istanbul, 43 individuals expressing their desire to sever trade relations with Israel were apprehended. President Erdogan and the AKP government’s strong rhetoric against Israel has consistently sparked reactions. However, the recent developments have caused a significant backlash in Turkey, which has also been reflected in the election results. Despite widespread public support for […]
Turkish authorities have yielded to significant protests in the southeastern city of Van, reversing their decision to disqualify an opposition politician who secured victory over the candidate from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling party in Sunday’s election. Van, a vibrant city situated near Turkey’s border with Iran, erupted into jubilant celebrations on Wednesday and Thursday […]
Turkey has been governed unlawfully for years. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who obtained a majority in the government, tries to do as he pleases in the country. He disregards judicial decisions and does not grant any freedom to his people. Even in elections, he always stayed in power through various fraudulent means. However, he suffered […]
Trade unions and professional organizations made a statement regarding the fire that broke out during renovation at the Masquerade Club, a nightclub on the ground floor of a 16-story building in Beşiktaş Gayrettepe, resulting in the deaths of 29 workers. The Istanbul Regional Representation of DİSK, the Istanbul Branches Platform of KESK, the Istanbul Coordination […]
Search and rescue operations are currently underway for the nine workers who are trapped in the collapsed heap leach at the Çöpler Gold Mine, which is owned by Anagold Mining in the İliç district of Erzincan. This incident has once again brought attention to the country’s poor safety record, as previous calls to shut down […]
Turkey’s parliament revoked the status of the jailed opposition MP today after the judicial crisis between two of the country’s top courts. Can Atalay was elected to parliament as an MP for Hatay from TIP in the May 2023 elections. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison in the Gezi trial. Atalay’s applications for […]
The discriminatory policies of Erdogan’s AKP government have created a hostile environment that led to the unfortunate armed attack during the Sunday mass at the Saint Maria Italian Catholic Church in Sarıyer district of İstanbul on January 28, where one person died. The Islamic State jihadists claimed responsibility for the attack. The organisation stated that […]
We once again call for solidarity with the Özak Textile workers, whose hearts beat with courage in different countries around the world! Özak Textile workers have been exercising their right to choose a union in the face of oppression, mobbing, and slave-like conditions at the workplace since the 27th of November. The voices of these […]
As in previous years, the SPOT conference will discuss a range of issues generated by the experiences and struggles of workers and campaigners in Turkey. It will address the most recent attack on trade unions, women’s rights, LGBT+ people and climate activists. It will seek to put this in a wider context of the drive […]
SPOT stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine and calls for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the siege of Gaza. We condemn the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas and the response of the Israeli government to collectively punish the Palestinian people. Following the attacks on the 7th of October, Benjamin Netanyahu […]
The Turkish government’s bombardment of the autonomous Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava), which began two days ago, amounts to the collective punishment of the Kurdish people in the region. Erdogan’s Islamist regime is targeting infrastructure facilities and civilian settlement areas in Rojava. “The infrastructure in the north and east of Syria is a legitimate […]
The arrest of TELE 1 editor-in-chief Merdan Yanardag is the latest intimidation operation by the Turkish government against the opposition press. In a televised speech over the weekend, Yanardag said: “[PKK leader Abdullah] Öcalan is the longest-serving political prisoner in Türkiye. If normal execution laws were applicable, he should actually be released… The isolation imposed […]
This panel is organised by SPOT and Day-Mer and is a part of the 34th Day-Mer Culture and Arts Festival. Speakers: Labour MP Kate Osamor Bir-TEK Sen general secretary Mehmet Turkmen EMEP MP Iskender Bayhan Unison international officer Mark Beacon Day-Mer MCM Ceren Sagir To register your interest, visit: eventbrite
On Monday 5th June a delegation of ten international observers, four from UK trade unions, attended the hearing of eight trade unionists in Ankara, Turkey. This is the sixth trial and details of the allegations and people charges are below. One of the defendants Gonul Erden joined remotely as she is still being held under […]
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been managing Turkey like his own family business for 21 years, will remain in power for another five years after the recent elections. Erdogan, who received 49.5 per cent of the votes in the first round, secured 52 per in the run-off elections last month. Main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu […]
Huda-Par (Free Cause Party), a radical jihadist “political party” in Turkey, has announced its support for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his People’s Alliance (the religious and nationalist alliance) in the upcoming May 14 elections. Huda-Par has roots in the outlawed Kurdish-Hezbollah which is responsible for the horrific executions in southeast Turkey during the 1990s. […]
Millions of people are living in tents and informal settlements across earthquake-hit areas in Turkey. It has recently emerged that the Turkish Red Crescent sold tents to the earthquake victims after the quake. As a result, there are thousands of people who could not find any shelter, even a tent, in freezing weather conditions. Among […]
Solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria. This is an urgent appeal for Solidarity and assistance. Tens of thousands of people are dead, and hundreds of thousands are injured after earthquakes hit parts of Turkey and Syria. Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) is calling for donations to fund direct support and Solidarity […]
Videos of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, taken during a campaign stop of Turkey’s March 2019 local elections, have resurfaced showing him boasting about the amnesty programme in the earthquake epicentre that allowed contractors to ignore the safety codes and forgave faults in millions of buildings across Turkey. While campaigning ahead of local elections in 2019, […]
We, United Textile Workers Union (BIRTEK-SEN), with our members, executives and numbers of volunteers have been mobilized, day and night, to relieve the injuries caused by the earthquake chiefly in central Gaziantep and its districts as well as other affected cities such as Maras, Adiyaman and Malatya. In collaboration with Nar Art Society, we set […]
The Chamber of Mining Engineers of Turkey has participated in the search and rescue operations in the earthquake zone and published the “Preliminary Investigation Report for the Earthquakes of February 6, 2023” on February 11, 2023. The report from the ground points out that the poor disaster response of the government and organisational structure of […]
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), yesterday said in a statement: “I saw the state of our people with my own eyes. I refuse to accept that this situation is above contemporary politics and I refuse to align with the government (discourse).” Kilicdaroglu stressed that this catastrophe is exactly […]
Turkey’s government officials have waged a war on the media. Fahrettin Altun, Turkey’s Presidential Communications Director, yesterday proudly announced that a smartphone application called “Disinformation Reporting Service” is available to report people who are sharing “fake news” or “disinformation” online. The Directory also banned “nonaccredited” journalists’ access to the disaster area. Twitter – which has […]
It is known that terrorist incidents are frequently seen at the beginning of every election period in Turkey. In previous elections, the Erdoğan government received the electorate’s support through such events. This week, the Consulate of Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium and Switzerland in Istanbul were closed due to a new terrorist threat.
Turkey’s general elections, which were supposed to be held on 18 June, will be held on 14 May. According to the election law, a person can only be president for a maximum of two terms. But President Erdoğan is looking for ways to take on the role for the third time by using a constitutional amendment […]
Turkey has launched deadly airstrikes on the Kurds in Kobani, and various areas of North Eastern Syria. These latest aerial attacks on Kobani and various other places in North East Syria are yet further examples that radical Islamists and their ideology are favoured and supported by Erdogan regime. The Kurdish groups in the region previously […]
Starting as Prime Minister and cementing his premiership through rigged elections, referendums and an executive presidency, Tayyip Erdogan has managed to demolish the fundamental apparatus required for the rule of law and democracy since 2002. He is responsible for Turkey’s economic, cultural, political and ecological demise. At its 4th conference, SPOT invites you to join […]
Makbule Ozer, an 80 year-old mother is in prison in Turkey on so-called charges of “aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation”. She has been denied an application for release made by her lawyers on grounds of her serious illness and deteriorating health. Ozer’s case was not reviewed at Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) on the grounds […]
Evrensel Daily, a Turkish daily workers’ newspaper which has been subjected to considerable harassment from the establishment since it first went to print in 1995, recently received Press Advertising Agency (BIK) decision revoking its right to receive public ads. BIK is the authority in Turkey responsible for the distribution of state advertising and which is […]
A Turkish pop star, Gulsen was jailed on Thursday in relation to a joke she made on stage about religious schools in Turkey. She was jailed for commenting about one of her musicians, in particular saying that he is a pervert since he graduated from a “imam hatip” school (a type of islamic religious school). […]
Nureddin Nebati, Minister of Treasury and Finance, said in a live broadcast that while chatting with a foreign country’s minister about the rocketing inflation in Turkey, he told him that “I can go out and mingle with the public even with this high inflation rate while you cannot do it with 10%”. Nebati’s remarks have […]
According to various Turkish outlets hundreds of thousands of men have attended a so-called cleric’s funeral in Turkey on 24 June. Mahmut Ustaosmanoglu, a notorious Islamic sect leader was mostly known for his hostility towards women. He wouldn’t want women in his funeral and his sect said “please obey his wishes” in a press release. […]
Pinar Gultekin (27), was brutally killed by Cemal Metin Avci on July 21, 2020. The charge filed for the murderer Cemal Metin Avci was “killing with monstrous feeling or by tormenting”. There were also other collaborators charged with “destroying, hiding or tampering with criminal evidence” in the case, namely murderer’s brother Mertcan Avci, his mother […]
In Diyarbakir, a Kurdish-majority south-eastern province of Turkey, 20 journalists who were working in various media outlets such as Dicle Firat Journalists Association (DFG), Mesopotamia News Agency and Jin News have been under arrest since 8 June. No official charges have been pressed. Erol Onderoglu, the Turkey representative for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that […]
President Erdogan once again used cheap words to insult the dissidents in Turkey. On the 9th anniversary of the Gezi protests, the fiercest anti-government unrest in Turkey for years, he branded the protestors as “sluts”, “terrorists” and “rotten”. Erdogan, who is known as the “most insulted” head of state, did not hesitate when using offensive […]
Kurdish musicians and actors are being banned from performing in Turkey. Prominent Kurdish singer and composer Aynur Dogan – who recently performed at the Barbican as part of the London Jazz Festival- was one of the banned artists. An Islamist-Nationalist municipality in Kocaeli cancelled Dogan’s concert without specifying any reason. Soon after leading Kurdish duo Metin […]
Canan Kaftancioglu, a leftwing leading Turkish politician who challenged the ruling Islamist AKP’s power during 2019’s mayoral campaign has been banned from politics. Kaftancioglu has been sentenced to 4 years 11 months in prison for insulting “the President of Turkey” via her tweets in 2013 and 2014. Kaftancioglu was expecting this sentence for sometime since […]
Signatories of a petition released today in Turkey sent a message of solidarity with the Gezi 8. “Whatever they said or did during the Gezi movement, we did the same, we said the same words. If they are convicted, we must be convicted too. If they are considered guilty, we are guilty too. We are […]
Saturday 7 May 2022 at 11am / Turkish Embassy, London Join the protest against Turkey’s criminalisation of Gezi and help strengthen the call for the Gezi 8 to be released. On 25 April, a Turkish court sentenced Osman Kavala to life imprisonment for allegations of “attempting to overthrow the government by force” during the 2013 […]
Pegasus Airlines – a privately owned economy airline in Turkey – sacked their workers due to a shared photo of a social gathering. Workers from the airline shared a photo on social media showing them drinking alcoholic beverages with a note saying “may God accept” and a tag related to a holy Islamic day. The […]
A Turkish court in Istanbul has sentenced Osman Kavala to aggravated life imprisonment on the account of allegedly “attempting to overthrow the government” in 2013. The court also sentenced seven activists to 18 years imprisonment with an order for their immediate detention for “aiding the attempt. ” The trial, widely referred to as the Gezi […]
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of Turkey’s ruling Islamist-nationalist coalition recently said that “We are trying to send migrants by their own will. ” Erdogan’s statement came amid rising hostile environment towards migrants in Turkey in recent times. Public misery due to the soaring living economic conditions accompanied by social polarisation has made the hostility more […]
A school head teacher in Turkey has formally announced an arbitrary classroom sitting plan which bans interaction between boys and girls. Haydar Akin, the Islamist head teacher in Bursa (a northwestern province in Turkey) ordered the school staff in official correspondence not to allow girls to sit next to boys in the classroom. The Bursa […]
Mahire Yenturk, a council worker in Turkey has lost her job for sharing a photo of Selahattin Demirtas’, former co-chair of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), on her personal social media account. Yenturk was forced to resign after she was labeled as a “terrorist” on a local newspaper that published a story about her social media […]
Healthcare professionals across Turkey, represented by the Turkish Medical Association(TTB) are on a one-day strike today. Doctors say that they are calling on the government for new regulations since they are suffering from the worsening economy and the dysfunction of the national health care system in Turkey. TTB made a statement saying “We are on […]
Isparta, a southwestern city in Turkey has been without electricity since Thursday 3 February. The Governer’s office made a statement saying “There is a delay in restoring power due to disruptions on power transmission lines.” This power cut is solely because of the privatisation policies. Eighty percent of the electricity distribution has passed to private […]
In Turkey workers from all branches of the labour force are demanding that employers pay the price of the failures of the ruling class. Do not expect us to pay for the crisis, say workers from various cities. From couriers to metal workers, you can follow the resistance all over Turkey on this workers’ protests […]
Turgay Deniz, 39, a prisoner in Turkey, passed away on 1 February. Deniz, was a tuberculosis patient with a tube inserted into his left lung for nearly 12 years. According to Meltem Akyol’s report from Evrensel daily, Deniz was imprisoned pending trial since February 2021. Turgay Deniz was one of many in Turkey’s overcrowded prisons […]
Workers at the Farplas in Gebze occupied the factory on January 31. They urged employers to respect the right to join a trade union and to reinstate their dismissed unionised co-workers. Protests at the factory began last week after Farplas, which manufactures components for the major automotive brands, fired 150 workers for leading an unionisation […]
Abdulgaffar Dayan, 23, died on 26 January after being hit by a state-owned vehicle on January 24 in the Sirnak province in the southeast of Turkey. Mezopotamya News Agency (MA) reported that the vehicle which hit him was an escort vehicle of the trustee mayor of municipality of Cizre, located in Sirnak. Mehmet Sait Dayan, […]
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey yesterday issued a circular designed to muzzle the media under the pretext of protecting “youth and the family values.” President says “necessary measures” will be taken against media outlets that endanger “family and common values.” Erdogan’s Islamist rule systematically assaults media by shutting down critical outlets and by […]
Sezen Aksu, a famous Turkish pop star is the latest target of the ruling Islamist-nationalist alliance of Turkey. Bigoted Erdogan supporters targeted Aksu on the pretext of “insulting religious values” citing lyrics in a song recorded five years ago. In the song, the lyrics references are “Say hello to the ignorant Eve and Adam…”. Fanatics […]
Suleyman Ekici, a 63 year old street vendor, set himself on fire and last week died in a hospital in Muğla, in the southwestern province of Turkey. According to Health and Safety Labour Watch bulletin, Ekici burnt himself to death after police did not allow him to work on the street. He was living in […]
Women activists demanding sanitary products to be free of charge, were arrested in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey on January 18. “Sanitary towels and tampons are basic necessities, they are not luxury products” said the protestors who were gathered in front of the parliament. The number of women who are unable to afford sanitary […]
Racists have attacked a shopping mall with shops owned by Syrians at Esenyurt district of Istanbul on January 9, Sunday. A dozen racists chanting anti-Syrian slogans threw stones at the shops. According to the shop owners, the attack in the neighbourhood came after a refugee from Palestine who was escaping the attackers took shelter in the shopping mall.“Two people were injured and seven people, including four children, were taken into custody.” according to the Istanbul Governor’s Office in a […]
Enes Kara, a 20 year old medical student, killed himself two days ago. In his final note Kara says that poverty forced him to resort to a dorm run by an Islamist sect and he can not stand the compulsory “religious” practices and degrading treatment anymore. As the political and economic conditions deteriorate in […]
The Human Rights Association Izmir branch (IHD) reported that three Syrian men were burnt alive in a racially motivated killing on 16 November 2021 in Turkey. According to the press release of IHD, a Turkish man (identified just as Kemal) set alight Mamoun al-Nabhan (23), Ahmed Al-Ali (21) and Muhammed el-Bish (17) after pouring gasoline […]
Garibe Gezer, a Kurdish woman has died in a suspicious way in the Kandıra F-Type Prison, which is known as one of the most notorious secure prisons in Turkey. Garibe, a member of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) died in solitary confinement after speaking out about the sexual assaults and torture she was subject to […]
A court in Turkey has sentenced Basak Demirtas, former People’s Democratic Party (HDP) co-leader Selahattin Demirtas’s wife to 30 months in prison on “document forgery charges” due to a date typo in a medical report for sick leave. She had medical operations to resolve complications of a miscarriage and her physician is also convicted on forgery. The lawyers stated that the verdict was made deliberately when […]
“Our language, identity and Kurdistan are denied.” said Cemil Taskesen, a Kurdish worker (Turkish citizen) who is living in Siirt, a province in the South East of Turkey. He spoke to Meral Aksener during her visit to the region. Aksener is leader of The Good Party (IYI Party) which is affiliated with the nationalist far […]
Suleyman Soylu, Turkey’s Interior Minister, once again used hate speech aimed at the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ was one of the targets in his speech at Hak-Is confederation, a pro-Islamist AKP trade union, meeting. The Minister said that they (AKP government) have prevented LGBTQ activities so that “they will not spoil Turkish family values.” Soylu said […]
The Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) has called for a change in the current political system of Turkey. TUSIAD criticised the current presidential system in Turkey which they’ve paved the way for by supporting President Erdogan for many years. The Businessmen’s Association called for the need of democratisation and secularism in Turkey at […]
TUGVA (Turkish Youth Foundation), which is affiliated with TURGEV (Turkey Youth and Education Service Foundation) is the latest scandal linked to President Erdogan in Turkey. Erdogan founded TURGEV in the 1990s, and his close family members and his inner circle sit on the board of the foundation. After the corruption scandal about Erdogan’s family in […]
“Cihannuma Kız Ogrenci Yurdu”, a public funded dormitory for higher education in Turkey’s İzmir distict has announced a “moral” dresscode for students. Administration ordered the residents to dress “morally. ” According to Derya Dogan’s report from Yeni Yasam, a public funded dormitory announced to the students that they could no longer walk inside the perimeters […]
Ali Kismir, President of the Press Workers’ Union (Basın-Sen) of northern Cyprus, was detained at Istanbul Airport and deported for “security reasons.” The journalist said that he was deported due to his support for the presidential candidate Mustafa Akinci in the latest election in northern Cyprus. At the time of the elections there were serious […]
A strike involving workers at the Baldur Factory in Sekerpinar Organised Industrial Zone in Gebze, has been called off after a massive win for workers. Baldur workers who manufacture suspension components and other parts for the automotive industry went on strike for 281 days in order to push for recognition of their trade union rights. Along with the determination of the striking workers, the powerful solidarity of representatives of major labour organisations both from Turkey and abroad paved the way for the victory. Further background:
Turkish police raided waste warehouses yesterday in Istanbul on the pretext of public order and attacked workers with tear gas and rubber bullets. Three waste pickers have been arrested. There has been tension for some time between the Governor Office and waste pickers about the recent regulations on waste which are in favour with some big investors in recycling sector. Ali Mendillioglu, […]
President Erdogan once again targeted the Bogazici Resistance and branded the students as terrorists in a speech yesterday. The Turkish president said: “I cannot accept a Turkey where there are students stamping on the rector’s car. We don’t need such students (…) these are terrorists who have infiltrated the university.” Since the start of 2021, Bogazici university students, staff, alumni […]
“Separatist kebab shops” said Devlet Bahceli, “are one of the reasons of unemployment”. Speaking at parliament today Bahceli, Chair of extremist right wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), incomprehensibly blamed the kebab shops for “aiding and abetting terrorism” and argued that they are one of the reasons of unemployment among the country. No one could understand what Bahceli is talking about and soon this nonsense statement became a topic […]
Tulay Hatimogullari, Deputy Co-Chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) was attacked at her home last Friday by two armed men claiming to be undercover police officers. MP Hatimogullari said that this is not an isolated event since abductions of dissidents became widespread recently in Turkey. She also stated that they (HDP) have a pretty […]
Levent Tuzel, the former MP and the former chair of the Labour Party of Turkey (EMEP) faces trial and up to 15 years jail over charges of terrorism and propaganda for participating in the activities of DTK. DTK stands for the “Democratic Society Congress”, a non- governmental organisation that aims to draw attention to democracy […]
There is a growing “Movement of the Unsheltered” protests against rising living costs and lack of affordable accommodation for students who are enrolled in universities in Turkey. Since last week students in seven cities are sleeping outdoors and camping, mainly at parks where they conduct their vigil. Students also have launched a campaign on social […]
Ercument Akdeniz, the chair of the Labour Party of Turkey (EMEP) said on Tuesday, that the Kurdish question is a fact in Turkey and “the denial of the democratic demands of the Kurdish people is the main source of this question.” Akdeniz made his statement on Twitter regarding the current discussions about who will be […]
Emine Senyasar, who lost her husband and two sons three years ago is calling for solidarity on Friday, September 24 which marks the 200th day of her vigil for justice. The Senyasar family were subjected to a brutal attack on 14 June 2018 which was launched by the relatives of Ibrahim Yildiz, an MP from […]
Mihrac Miroglu (7) was killed by a Turkish policeman while riding his bicycle in front of his house in Sirnak province in the southeast of Turkey. According to Mezopotamya News Agency, Mihrac died shortly after the crash of an armoured vehicle on 3 September 2021. “The deaths involving the security forces and the vehicles they […]
Seven Kurds from the same family were brutally murdered today in a racist attack in their home in Konya; a central province in Turkey. The Dedeoglu family was threatened and racially abused by a gang of 60 grey wolf members earlier this month. The racist group said to the Kurdish family, “We are nationalists, […]
Deniz Poyraz, a party employee at the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Izmir branch was killed today in a brutal attack at the party office. An armed attacker has been identified as Onur Gencer. It is believed he entered the building in the early hours despite the presence of constant police force at the gate of […]
Turkish gendarmerie opened fire against villagers protesting the demolition of their barns for a marble quarry in the village of Gurpinar in Van eastern province of Turkey on 26 May 2021. “Where shall we go?” said the villagers stressing that their only source of income is livestock and they are afraid of the death of […]
Trade union leaders and the members of the Turkish Health and social service workers union (SES) were arrested last week. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office claims that the SES members “operated under the name of ‘the public health committee’ but were connected with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).” It is believed that the prosecution’s […]
Sedat Peker, who was convicted for organised criminal activity in 2007 in Turkey, has broadcast a series of videos via his personal YouTube account. He has been in exile in Dubai for the last two weeks. He released allegations against well-known figures in Turkey including Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, former Interior Minister Mehmet Agar and […]
SPOT Statement on Palestine Israel is attempting to ethnically cleanse Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, occupied Jerusalem. As Palestinians protest in Jerusalem against these evictions, and Israel’s ongoing programme of ethnic cleansing, Israeli forces have responded with brutality, including an assault on worshippers at Al Aqsa Mosque that has wounded hundreds. Israel […]
Murat Yildiz, a 28-year-old Kurdish man was killed by Turkish soldiers in Dersim (Tunceli) in eastern Turkey on 7 May 2021. Local sources said that Yildiz may have been killed by a drone (UAV) attack which occurred near the village of Agacpinar. Tunceli Gendarmerie Command said in a written statement that three members of Kurdistan […]
On Tuesday, May 11th over 50 Parliamentarians co-signed a joint letter by Crispin Blunt MP and Hilary Benn MP regarding Britain’s relationship with Turkey. The letter outlines the sharp decline in human rights under President Erdogan’s leadership. It called for the Government to take a more active stance in seeking to prevent human rights violations […]
On the 10th Anniversary of the Istanbul Convention SPOT sends solidarity to the hundreds of thousands of women in Turkey fighting back against the Turkish State’s attacks on women’s rights and gender equality. Violence against women has intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey and gender inequality has been rife, with women workers more likely […]
The AKP and Erdogan’s regime has banned the sales of alcohol as part of its announcement that there will be a complete “lock down” between 29 April and 17 May in the effort to fight the spread of Covid-19. No support is to be available for workers and those living in poverty. The decision to ban sales […]
The Constitutional Court in Turkey has rejected another application seeking accountability for the deaths of civilians who died in the basements of buildings in the Kurdish town of Cizre (in the province of Sirnak) during the imposition of curfew 5 years ago. Cizre was turned into a war zone under a round-the-clock military lockdown lasting […]
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Turkey has accused Erdogan and his party of misuse of central bank foreign reserves to uphold the Turkish Lira in 2019-20. Economist have calculated that back then the sales by state banks to support the Turkish lira totalled $128.3 billion. “Where is the $128 billion?” question […]
“We don’t give up our right to life, stop deaths” protests, a growing movement of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), were due to take place across Turkey today. In Istanbul representatives from various Medical Associations came together in front of the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate to make a press statement about increasing concerns over the […]
Turkish police detained Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, former People’s Democratic Party (HDP) MP on Friday at his home. Gergerlioglu’s parliamentary status was revoked last month due to a prison sentence on “terrorism” charges and he was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison based on his social media post in 2016 where he retweeted […]
Evrensel, a daily newspaper in Turkey, has once again been fined for using the word “attack” while reporting about the Bogazici resistance. The newspaper has been subjected to considerable harassment since it first went to print in 1995 but recently the AKP government has put the paper on its punishment agenda. The Public Advertising Agency (BIK) -the authority in Turkey responsible for the distribution of […]
Bogazici University students in Istanbul are still under the attack of the reactionary AKP Government in Turkey and its police force. 12 students were detained on Thursday on campus as they gathered to protest against a university investigation into a student for carrying a rainbow flag during the earlier demonstrations. In addition to yesterday’s detentions, […]
Turkey’s President Erdogan is using executive powers, including arbitrary decrees to imprison politicians, declare anybody he disagrees with as terrorists, and shut down political parties. He is taking decisions in the middle of the night on issues in which he has no authority. In a country where at least 400 women were killed in the […]
Erdogan and the AKP’s attacks on elected democratic opposition, particularly the HDP have reached new heights. Many HDP MPs were already in prison and facing false charges of “terrorism”, including the former co-chairs of the HDP Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag. In recent weeks we have witnessed prominent HDP MP Gergerlioglu stripped of his MP […]
Turkey has pulled out of the Istanbul Convention -which protects victims of domestic and gender-based violence and prosecutes offenders- by an abrupt midnight presidential decree. The Council of Europe “Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence” entered into force in 2011. At the time Erdogan proudly announced the treaty by saying […]
Ozturk Turkdogan, Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD) Co-Chair was taken into custody in the early hours of today in Istanbul. He has since been released. “This is the latest and obvious example of the pressure on human rights defenders. We will keep informing the public about the process.” said IHD in a statement and […]
A Turkish prosecutor filed a case demanding the closure of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) which won 11.7% support with nearly 6 million votes in the 2018 parliamentary election. Turkey has a long history of shutting down pro-Kurdish political parties. The People’s Labour Party (HEP) in 1993 and People’s Democracy Party (HADEP) in 2003 were […]
A court in Turkey has sentenced Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) MP to 2 years 6 months in prison on terror charges. Turkey’s parliament also stripped Gergerlioglu of his MP status today. Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a written statement yesterday urging Turkey to not expel Gergerlioglu from the Parliament. Hugh Williamson, Europe […]
Seven students from Bogazici University, two of whom had been held in detention, have been acquitted at the first hearing in which they were charged with “publicly provoking the public to hatred and hostility”. The trial was held today in Istanbul. The prosecutor had demanded that the seven students be sentenced to between 1 and […]
As we celebrate international women’s day, your growing resistance against government attacks on women’s liberty, exploitation and discrimination in the workplace, gender inequality and violence against women is an inspiration to women all over the world. We stand with you and will continue to amplify your fight for democracy, freedom and equality in Turkey for […]
Berat Albayrak, Erdogan’s son-in-law, had resigned publicly on social media from his position as Treasury Minister on 8 November. Since then Albayrak has not been seen and suspicions mounted that Erdogan is punishing him. The opposition party expressed concerns about how 128bn dollars had been spent by the treasury whilst Albayrak was minister and began […]
A group of women congregating to set up the “8 March women’s resistance” exhibition, organised by Avcilar Women’s Platform, were blockaded by the police. The women who were kept waiting under blockade held up photos from the exhibition and staged a sit-in protest. The Avcilar Women’s Platform met today at Marmara Street at the Egitim […]
Dilan Dirayet Tasdemir, HDP MP for Agri spoke out in response to Suleyman Soylu, Home Affairs minister, who described her as the “MP that went to Gare”. Tasdemir, reacted to Soylu’s claim that she had previously been to Gare where 13 people recently died, saying “If you have this evidence, why didn’t you pass this […]
Hundreds of academics, students, activists and trade unionists joined us in a day of action in solidarity with the Bogazici students in Turkey. Messages of support flooded in and a virtual rally was live-streamed on our facebook page. Chaired by Baroness Christine Blower, speakers included Tariq Ali (Journalist and Writer), Jeremy Corbyn MP, Umut Turem […]
The illegal assault of Turkish military in the Iraqi region of Gare has devastating consequences both for Turkey and the region. The attack on Gare, where 13 Turkish security personnel held captive by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and 53 Kurdish guerrillas lost their lives alongside 3 high-ranking Turkish military officials conducting the assault, has raised […]
Anybody who dares to criticise or defend the truth faces arrest and imprisonment in Turkey. The oppression of opposition groups, particularly HDP members continues. In the past 24 hours house raids and police operations have taken place in 40 provinces. 718 people, including HDP members and leadership, have been arrested. The arrests in provinces such as […]
The deep socio-economic crisis under the AKP regime has led to working families and individuals facing poverty and desperation, with an increase in suicides particularly amongst young people. Unal Cetinkaya, a 25 year old construction worker killed himself in what appears to be one of a series of five suicides in the last five days in Kocaeli, Turkey. “These are my final hours. I […]
Aysen Sahin, writer at Evrensel newspaper and women’s rights activist was arrested at her home today and taken to İstanbul Police Headquarters. She shared news of her arrest on Twitter saying “Friends police are at the door, I am being taken to Vatan Police Station. I will get changed and leave. I was unable to […]
Beyza Buldag, a fine arts student at Mimar Sinan university, has been arrested in relation to the Bogazici protests. In her questioning by prosecutors, she was accused of “insulting the president” and inciting the public to hatred and hostility through her posts on Twitter. The reason cited for the allegation was the use of account […]
Tariq Ali, sends solidarity message to the Bogazici resistance in a special interview with Evrensel. TARIQ ALI: I salute your courage. How and when the struggle for academic and other freedoms for minorities of every sort will end I cannot predict. But this moment in the history of modern Turkey will not be forgotten thanks to […]
President Erdogan once again branded the students of Bogazici University as terrorists in a speech to members of his ruling Islamist party today. Throughout his speech, Erdogan took several shots at the protestors who are demanding academic freedom. “This country will not be run by terrorists. We will do whatever is necessary to prevent this. […]
Boğaziçi University staff and students are under government attacks. As SPOT we support their demands for academic freedom and freedom of expression, and call on academics to join our statement confirming our commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression as global values that should be upheld in Turkey and all over the world. The statement […]
Students at Bogazici University in Istanbul began their protests nearly a month ago against the appointment of a new rector by President Erdogan. As resistance grows, more than 220 people were detained over the solidarity protests in Istanbul and Ankara in the last two days. There are numerous posts on the social media displaying torture […]
Bogazici University students gathered today following a call from the campus solidarity group to protest in support for the students who were arrested on 30 January. The students were arrested over a collage illustration at a campus exhibition last week. The exhibition where the mentioned artwork was displayed was part of the ongoing protests against […]
Students from Bogazici University have been arrested because of a collage at a campus exhibition. The artwork illustrates LGBT rainbow symbols alongside an image of a sacred Islamic site. Arrests come on the heels of academics and students at Bogazici University protesting against a government appointed rector since the early days of January 2021. […]
Farmers across Turkey will march to the capital city on 2 February to protest the agricultural policies of AKP. This is their fifth protest in the last two months. According to Dilan Kutlu’s report from the ANKA Agency, farmers are warning that farming is no longer a viable livelihood and Turkey will face a devastating […]
Gokhan Gunes, a left wing activist has returned to his home six days after he went missing. At the time Gunes’ family had accessed a surveillance camera footage which captured the abduction of the 23 years old worker and stated that Turkish security forces were involved in his disappearance. As the incident created a public outcry, Gunes was dropped off blindfolded in a remote district of Istanbul yesterday morning. “The people who kidnapped and tortured me for days were calling themselves ‘the invisibles’” […]
Gokhan Gunes, a member of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) in Turkey has been missing since 20 January 2021. The disappearance of Gunes, a left wing activist, has brought to the fore the increase in disappearances in Turkey and there is now a widespread call for accountability as to the whereabouts of Gunes. […]
At least 27,493 people were subjected to torture and ill-treatment by the police or the gendarmerie in Turkey during the 2002-2020 period. A total of 86 people have died as a result of torture under the ruling AKP government according to a report prepared by Sezgin Tanrikulu, regarding torture and ill-treatment in the country. Tanrikulu, […]
In April 2020, the Ankara Bar Association criticised the Ministry for Religious Affairs for claiming that homosexuality and extramarital relationships spread illness in society. At the time, the Ankara Bar Association, criticised Ali Erbas’ retention of his position as the Chair of the Ministry for Religious Affairs after his comments about homosexuality and noted that “having […]
Didar Bozan, Merve Nur Isleyici and Ceylan Bozkurt were imprisoned for “terrorism” offences for attending press conferences and posting on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) social media group while they were university students. The three Kurdish women were convicted of “disseminating propaganda for an outlawed organisation” in 2016 as part of the politically motivated crackdown […]
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) criticised Erdogan on the occasion of January 10 Working Journalists Day in Turkey for targeting an opposition daily newspaper. “If, in 2020, a country’s so-called president is directly targeting a newspaper and telling people, ‘I am not reading that newspaper, you should also […]
Health and Safety Labour Watch (ISIG) published its “Year 2020 Report of Workplace Manslaughters”. According to the report, last year, at least 2,427 workers lost their lives in workplace manslaughters. The report is compiled using information from the national press (66%) and workplace safety specialists, workplace doctors, trade unions and local press (34%). The number […]
In 2018 it was revealed that Erdogan’s AKP, which governed Istanbul for 25 years, was responsible for embezzling 15 million Turkish Lira. In March 2019, the CHP, the opposition party which won the local elections in Istanbul began legal proceedings against the AKP. Following this development the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoglu, banned […]
President Erdogan has claimed that under his rule media has become “more vocal and more free” in Turkey. The reality is that Turkey remains the worst jailer of journalists globally and is 154th inin the 2020 World Press Freedom Index. Speaking on the occasion of January 10 Working Journalists’ Day, Erdogan said “As Turkey, we […]
Bogazici University academics and students continued their fifth day of protests, which were sparked by the latest appointment of the rector Melih Bulu (a member of Erdogan’s Islamist AKP party). Erdogan accuses protestors, who are defending academic autonomy, and those supporting them of being “terrorism-related.” Meanwhile, students are rejecting the accusations and have posted a […]
Evrensel, a daily newspaper in Turkey, which has been under intense pressure since it first went to print in 1995, has been fined for an advert featuring a girl holding a yellow, green and yellow scarf. The advertisement commemorated the 25th anniversary of the newspaper. The Ministry of Trade issued the fine alleging that featuring […]
President Erdogan tightens his grip on universities as he directly appoints Professor Melih Bulu as the rector of Bogazici University, which is one of the most respected universities in the country. Bulu has extremely close connections to Erdogan’s ruling party and is not from the university’s own academic community. The appointment has sparked reaction and […]
Lawyers have criticised police in Turkey who have been waiting for Hacer Yildirim to be discharged from the hospital where she has just given birth. The decision to take into custody relates to the Bylock investigation (which concerns the use of a messaging app the government believes is linked to the Gulen movement). 34 year […]
Baris Yarkadas, ex-opposition MP and journalist continues to release regular reports on attacks on journalists and the media. The latest report paints a tragic yet unsurprising picture with respect to press and media freedom in Turkey, showing that in December 2020 alone: 35 journalists were brought before the courts, 4 journalists were sentenced to 42 […]
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chairman of the main opposition the Republican People’s Party (CHP), warns that Turkey is on course for a deeper economic and social disaster and reiterated his call for a snap election. “At present Turkey is ruled by a dictator. All Erdogan’s features are in keeping with the definition of a dictator by any […]
Privately owned Olay TV has been subject to intense questioning by pro-government circles over its nonpartisan coverage of news stories and has been shut down after just 26 days on air on National TV. Suleyman Sarilar, Chief Editor of the channel said that Cavit Caglar (the channel’s owner) claimed he is under “great pressure from […]
Workers at the Baldur Factory in Sekerpinar Organised Industrial Zone in Gebze, which manufactures suspension components and other parts for the automotive industry, were fired in 2016 for joining a branch of Birlesik Metal Is (United Metal Workers) Union, a progressive labour union. At that time the workers were forced to become members of […]
Can Dundar, a prominent journalist in exile since 2016, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison. This sentence is considered a continuation of the imprisonment of journalists through the use of arbitrary terrorism charges, as well as persistent harassment and suppression of media freedom by Turkey’s ruling AKP. The sentence issued to Dundar relates […]
Özcan Yaman, an Evrensel journalist in Turkey has been fined 10 thousand lira for an article in which he criticises the Turkish President Erdogan’s son. The article concerned the 2014 telephone calls between the President and his son, Bilal Erdogan, which were leaked to the press. The phone calls revealed the bribes and corrupt way that […]
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has ordered Turkey to immediately release from prison the prominent opposition politician Selahattin Demirtas (former co-chair of Peoples’ Democratic Party – HDP). The grand chamber ruling found that Demirtaş has had his freedom of expression, liberty and right to free elections breached, stating that his […]
Leyla Guven, former Peoples’ Democratic Party MP (HDP) and co-chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), has been sentenced to 22 years and 3 months in prison under the pretext of “establishing and leading a terrorist organisation.” The ruling AKP accuse all progressive democratic opposition of terrorism as a means of silencing and suppressing growing […]
Recently the declarations of an increasing number of woman detained on terrorism charges show that Turkish security forces are using strip searches systematically to enforce fear and to humiliate. Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, MP from Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), who brought up the claims regarding strip searching of female detainees across Turkey, said that in some […]
Known for his closeness to AKP, Sakarya University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Ebubekir Sofuoğlu targeted young people by saying ‘Universities are brothels’ In the program named “Derin Kutu”, presented by Sabri Balaman on Akit TV (a mouthpiece for AKP and Erdogan’s propaganda), Prof. Dr. Ebubekir Sofuoğlu, speaking about the generation Z, said that participation in […]
Turkey’s President Erdogan has given a clear instruction to the judiciary to keep the jailed former co-leader of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtas, and the human rights campaigner, Osman Kavala, behind bars. When asked to comment on the unjust ongoing detention of Kavala and Demirtas, Erdogan said “Demirtas is a terrorist” and the “judiciary […]
Recently colours of the rainbow have become a political issue in Turkey. A few months ago Egitim-Sen, the Teachers’ Trade Union in Turkey announced that school principals were receiving orders from local education directorates raising concerns about rainbow drawings. According to the Union’s statement, the Ministry of National Education has ordered teachers not to allow students to draw rainbows during the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
It has been reported that on 12 November 2020, a 15 year old child reported that she had been raped and got pregnant, to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in the southeastern Batman province of Turkey. Further revelations about the sexual abuse experienced the minor were uncovered by Jinnews, a women-centered news agency, however many […]
Ozcan Erbas, a 16-year-old Kurdish boy was killed by Turkish soldiers in Hakkari -a southeastern province of Turkey- on 30 November 2020. According to the Mezopotamya News Agency (MA), SabriErbas, the victim’s uncle, said that Ozcan Erbas was having picnic at Anadag district with his two friends when the soldiers opened fire on them. “We went to take him after learning about the incident, soldiers did not allow […]
A female Kromsan factory worker in Manisa named Selma Cetin shared her story on social media, after she experienced violence at the hands of an assistant foreman and then had her rights infringed by factory management. The factory management declined to watch the security camera footage and instead decided to fire Selma Cetin by alleging […]
Turkey’s Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) has appointed 11 judges and prosecutors as new members to the Supreme Court of Appeals. The appointment came shortly after President Erdogan’s highly debated announcement about new judicial reforms aimed at stabilising the legal situation – one of the most fiercely debates topic in the country. In the […]
Five years ago, on 28 November 2015, Diyarbakır Bar Association Chair Tahir Elçi was murdered while making a statement to the press in Sur, Diyarbakır. Elci was a highly respected lawyer who was well known for representing victims at the European Court of Human Rights in a cases relating to forced evictions of Kurdish villages, […]
Turkish authorities, who are notorious for breaching the international labour standards, continue to violate fundamental labour rights through illegal tactics. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, unpaid leave has been used as a stick against workers which reveals the unequal impact of the pandemic in the labour market compared to the other segments of […]
Violence against women and gender inequality have intensified in Turkey in the past year, even as the women’s resistance has grown in Turkey against the relentless attacks on women’s rights and failure of the judiciary and police to bring to justice perpetrators. On 17 November, we met with women in Turkey to better understand the […]
Kemal Kurkut, 23 year old university student at the Fine Arts Faculty, was killed by police during the Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır -a southeastern province of Turkey- on 21st March 2017. According to the Dicle News Agency (DIHA) Kurkut was shot despite a “Don’t shoot” order of the police chief. The published photos of the murder were documented by DIHA editor Abdurrahman Gok at the […]
Economic and social inequality, and violence against women and girls continues to rise in Turkey, but women refuse to bow to the AKP’s regressive policies and attacks on women’s rights. In preparation for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, SPOT, together with Day-Mer Women, have organised an online webinar […]
Kudret Yener’s throat was slit by two men during a violent robbery in the southern Turkish city of Adana in 2017. A criminal court yesterday sentenced the defendants, İsmail and Vural Yetik to aggravated life imprisonment for the murder of the 72 year old woman. Aggravated life sentences of the offenders were reduced to a […]
The deputy mayor of Istanbul’s Kucukcekmece district – which is led by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) – has been suspended from his duty following an investigation related to a playground renewal in the region. The investigation is about the colours and shapes on the rubber surfacing of the playground allegedly resembling the colours […]
Berat Albayrak, Turkey’s finance minister, and also the son in law of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, yesterday announced his resignation in an Instagram post. Albayrak, who mentioned health reasons for his resignation also deleted his Twitter account at the same time. Albayrak -who was previously Turkey’s energy minister for nearly three years- resigned a day […]
Omer Yeğit, a Turkish policeman crashed an armoured vehicle into a house in Silopi -a town in Şırnak province in the southeast of Turkey- killing siblings Muhammed (7) and Furkan Yıldırım (6) as they were sleeping inside their house on 3 May 2017. Shortly after, Ali İhsan Su, who was then the governor of […]
As of today at least 111 people died and 1034 people have been injured in İzmir, the coastal city of Turkey, after a strong earthquake struck in the Aegean Sea on Friday 30 October. According to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.6, on the other hand the United […]
As Solidarity with the People of Turkey, we stand with Jeremy Corbyn and condemn his suspension from the Labour Party. Corbyn has a strong record of campaigning against racism in all its forms and repeated this week that one antisemite in the Labour party is one too many. He has actively stood up for the […]
Turkey’s coast (Izmir) and north of the Greek island of Samos were struck by a 7 magnitude earthquake yesterday, in which homes were destroyed and many have been killed and injured. Turkey claimed the magnitude was lower, at 6.6, but it is widely accepted that this is inaccurate. Prof Dr Övgün Ahmet Ercan from Istanbul Technical […]
Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magasine, caused a stir by publishing a cartoon, mocking Turkey’s President Erdogan. The front page caricature of the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo, depicts Erdogan in underpants and lifting up the skirt of a woman wearing a hijab to reveal her naked bottom and his speech bubble says “Ooh, the […]
Turkey’s Health Ministry issued a circular today announcing that “due to the coronavirus pandemic measures” resignations of the health workers would not be accepted. According to the document, healthcare workers will not be allowed to take their annual leaves and retirement procedures were also suspended with mandatory exceptions. Healthcare workers in Turkey were resigning to […]
The governor of Turkey’s eastern province of Van, has once again issued an order which bans all protest marches, open-air meetings and press statements within the boundaries of the city for 15 days as of October 21. The ban which supposed to be temporary under exceptional circumstances has been extended for multiple times since […]
Turkey’s president, Erdogan, has criticised the projection of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad onto buildings following the beheading of a teacher in France and targeted Macron. Erdogan said of Macron that he needs “mental health treatment”. French president Emmanuel Macron, recalled Herve Magro, his ambassador in Ankara to Paris to consult. In relation to Erdogan’s […]
Turkey’s parliament discussed the country’s 2021 budget which aims to allocate 24 billion Turkish lira (£ 2.4 billion) for expenditures of the Ministry of Justice. According to Turkish media the Ministry of Justice plans to spend significant portion of this amount for the construction of 39 new prisons. This means that Turkey’s already extremely high […]
Ali Fuat Atik, the governor of Denizli -southwestern province of Turkey- has stirred a debate on the social media about his attitude towards shopkeepers and workers. As seen on the videos uploaded to various Twitter accounts, Atik was visiting shops as part of Coronavirus inspections and a worker at a restaurant did not recognise him. […]
German authorities have raided the offices of FinFisher, a Munich software company, which makes surveillance tools and has been accused in the past of providing software to oppressive regimes. German prosecutors launched the investigation upon the criminal complaint of GFF (Society for Civil Rights), a Berlin based non-profit human rights organisation. According to “zdnet.com” – […]
Today a Turkish court refused to comply with a retrial order by the Constitutional Court, despite being legally required to do so. The retrial order states that Enis Berberoğlu’s (a former MP from the main opposition Republican People’s Party – CHP) right to be elected and engage in political activities and right to personal liberty […]
Four people from the northern Syrian city of Heseke have died in a border minefield at the Kızıltepe district of Turkey’s Mardin province. According to Mezopotamya News Agency (MA), the horrendous incident was revealed when the survivors of the refugee group were taken into custody and were brought to the public prosecutor’s office for deportation. […]
Mustafa Akıncı, Turkish Cypriot leader, who is running for a second term for presidency, said in a TV interview today that he has been threatened for being a candidate, by an authority who is affiliated with Turkey’s leadership. Akıncı said that they conveyed their message through his own executive assistant and told him that it […]
Turkish police have raided the office of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) and the homes of several journalists in Turkey’s eastern Van province on October 5. MA reporters Adnan Bilen and Cemil Uğur and Jin News reporters Şehriban Abi and Nazan Sala have been detained. Police forcibly deleted the other reporters’ camera shootings of Cemil Uğur’s detention. […]
Despite public outcry in July, the Turkish government has passed a controversial bill which changes the Turkish Bar Associations election procedures. The main purpose of this legislative amendment is to disempower bar associations in larger cities in the country. Bar associations are fierce critics of the government and their violations of human rights. The amendment […]
Utku Çakırözer, MP from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has published the Press Freedom Report in Turkey for September 2020. Çakırözer said that “September is the darkest month of this year with regard to freedom of press.” According to the report, during September more than 60 journalists were on trial and 14 journalists face […]
Ayhan Bilgen, ex-MP from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and the co-mayor of Kars province in the east of Turkey, was detained on 25 September for participating in the October 2014 protests against the siege of the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani by Islamic State, alongside of many other prominent members of the party. And […]
Turkey, the world’s worst jailer of journalists, continues its crackdown on dissident voices. Turkey has introduced new legal provisions, which controls and monitors use of social media platforms. Social media is currently the main channel for opponents and campaigners, and these new rules threaten the existence of social media platforms in the country both through costly […]
Halk TV in Turkey has been ordered to black out its screen for 5 days by the TV and Radio governing body (RTUK) for a program they broadcasted. The body accuses the channel of offending and underestimating the Turkish Armed Forces. It also accuses the channel of going against the rules set by the governing body which […]
In the early hours of 25 September in Turkey, 82 people, including former executives and prominent members of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), were arrested for participating in the October 2014 protests against the siege of the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani by Islamic State. Back then huge protests took place in Turkey’s southeast in which protestors […]
Every day Turkey is becoming a more eco-destructive country and a highly controversial project is again on the country’s agenda. The Biogas plant project at Çapaklı, a village in Turkey’s western Manisa province, is another example of the Turkish government’s support of construction with no regard for the environmental impact. Residents of Çapaklı, a village […]
The resistance against the mining operations of Canada-based Alamos Gold Inc and its Turkish subcontractor Doğu Biga Mining at Mount Ida (Kazdağları) in Turkey’s north western Çanakkale province has been continuing for 425 days. Activists say that the mining project will harm the natural cycle irreversibly by contaminating soil and water sources to extract gold. […]
Yusuf Karatas, columnist for Evrensel Newspaper has been sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for participating in the Democratic Society Congress (known as the DTK) panel in 2011. Karatas spoke at the DTK as a member of the executive of the Labour Party of Turkey (Emek Partisi, or EMEP). Like Karatas, other executives […]
Servet Turgut and Osman Şiban were detained on September 11 by soldiers conducting an operation in the Çatak district of Van province in the east of Turkey. According to eyewitnesses the two men were subjected to torture in the village square and then detained in a military helicopter. Other villagers who defied the detention were […]
Turkish courts have ruled in favour of confiscating Can Dündar’s property. Can Dündar was imprisoned for espionage in Turkey after exposing the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation’s (known as MIT) complicity in the provision of arms to ISIS. Dündar had taken the decision to publish the story when he was the chief editor of Cumhuriyet. During […]
100 musicians commit suicide in Turkey It has been announced that 100 musicians and singers have committed suicide in Turkey since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has caused significant hardship for those employed in the music industry. Throughout the pandemic there has been no government support provided to artists and musicians, many […]
Like countries all over the world, coronavirus continues to threaten lives in Turkey. Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the racist MHP (nationalist movement party) has called for the shutting down of the Turkish Medical Association. The Turkish Medical Association had said previously that the Government are withholding the truth from the public and that the […]
Doğan Çetin, who was doing his compulsory military service in the western Turkey in Edirne was physically attacked by two soldiers for saying “wish we had been educated in Kurdish”. The attack took place on 15th August during which Çetin fractured his nose and forehead. Çetin, who filed a complaint with the police, said […]
In Mardin, a city in the south east of Turkey, where the people’s democratic party (HDP) won the local mayoral election, the government has dismissed the elected representatives and appointed Mustafa Yaman as the new administrator and also appointed a male administrator to the Women’s Office within the council. The appointed Abdurrahman Sahin is also […]
The Bar Human Rights Committee (“BHRC”) has published the Turkish version of its trial observation report of the “Gezi Park” trial of sixteen leading civil society individuals in Turkey. The report was first published in English in May 2020. BHRC closely monitored the “Gezi Park” trial of sixteen leading civil society individuals in Turkey and […]
We stand in solidarity with the SF Trade workers who were sacked for their membership of Deriteks and are now facing a compensation claim for 200,000 TL SF Trade in Izmir Turkey, which produces luxury goods for international brands, has taken to court four leather workers who they previously unfairly dismissed for union membership. The women […]
Following a decision by Ankara 4. Criminal Court Judges Journalist Muyesser Yildiz is to remain in prison. It was noticeable that the judges made a decision without waiting for Yildiz’ lawyer to attend the trial. Muyesser Yildaz was the Ankara News Director of OdaTV and has been in prison for the past three […]
The AKP government claims to “bring to life new projects” and is having bridges, hospitals, tunnels, airports, dams and roads built all over the country. Private companies are carrying out these works which are being presented as “government services” to the public. But all of these companies have “customer guarantees”. When the companies building these […]
A mother and daughter were arrested yesterday in Munzur for protesting the police failure to find their daughter and sister Gulistan Doku, a student at Munzur university who has been missing since 5 January. Gulistan’s mother, Bedriye Doku and her sister, Aygul Doku began a peaceful sit-in protest against the failure of the authorities […]
The President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Robert Spano paid a controversial visit to Turkey and met with President Erdogan. Many members of the judiciary and lawyers have criticised the visit. Spano, after a number of engagements, met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had previously said that the ECHR decision calling […]
Despite warnings workers continue to die in workplace accidents. This year already there have been 1306 workplace deaths in Turkey. In August 208 workers died in workplace accidents because of lack of safety precautions. The construction industry had the highest number of workplace deaths, but “accidents” are killing workers in mines, agriculture and factories too […]
It is reported that 16 workers from the Kurdish region of Mardin Mazidagi, who went to Western Sakarya as hazelnut pickers were attacked by their employers and villagers. The workers had to return to Mardin after the attack. One of the victims of the attack, Baris Demir, said that they did not have any issues […]
As of 3rd September access to all news stories relating to the arrest of Uşşaki Cult Leader Fatih Nurullah’s sexual abuse of a 12 year old girl have been blocked in Turkey. Nurullah, who is known for his closeness with Erdogan and the AKP, is reported to have offered 70,000 Turkish Liras to the child’s […]
Media freedom is quickly becoming a thing of the past in Turkey. TELE1, a television channel that is not aligned with the Government, has been punished with a five-day black-out for critiquing President Erdogan and the AKP government. The Supreme Council for Radio and Television (RTÜK) , which is known for its close […]
The Turkish state is destroying historical sites belonging to Assyrians, Jews, Armenians, Kurds and Christians across the country. Just recently the world famous Hagia Sofia Museum was converted into a mosque, and buildings of worship belonging to minority faiths Turkey regularly face either forced conversion into a mosque or wilful neglect and disrepair by the State. […]
On 1st September the 2020-21 judicial year was opened with a ceremony at the presidential palace in Turkey. The Bar Associations were not invited to the ceremony. In their absence, President Erdogan boasted about the reforms to “rights and freedoms” they had implemented and justified the purge of lawyers who stood in solidarity with the […]
The Platform for Ending Femicide in Turkey has published their report on the murders of women in Turkey in August 2020. The report reveals that in August, 27 women were killed by men, and 23 women were found dead under suspicious circumstances. Of the 27 women murdered, the motivation was unclear in 16 cases. In […]
Baris Yarkadas, ex opposition CHP MP and journalist, released a report on attacks on journalists and the media in August. Yarkadas publishes the report monthly, which shows that attacks on the media have been significant in August. The report shows that in August: 2 journalists were arrested, 2 journalists detained, 4 journalists faced trial, and […]
Countries all over the world have been recognising World Peace Day and calling for peace on 1st September. Meanwhile in Turkey calling for peace is considered as “terrorism”. The People’s Democratic Party (HDP) wanted to call for peace in Diyarbakir, Van and Ankara but were met with police prohibitions and many people were arrested. The […]
The Turkish Interior Minister, who had previously protected Musa Orhan (Ipek Er’s rapist), publicly attacked Worker’s Party MP Baris Atay. Soylu accused Baris Atay of being a rapist on social media. On the same evening (30 August) Atay was physically assaulted by 5 people and taken to hospital where he is recovering. Ironically, the Interior […]
A number of Local Authority leaders in Turkey, including the Mayors of Ankara and Istanbul have publicly stated that the true number of Covid-19 cases and related deaths are not being disclosed. For some time medical chambers across the country and local authorities in areas such as Diyarbakir, Antep and Adana had been stating publicly […]
The Turkish President Erdogan and his party the AKP, are meddling with their neighbours again with the aim of extending their time in government. A few years ago Erdogan used the Assad regime as a pretext for two major military operations targeting the Kurds in Northern Syria and occupying the area. In recent days the […]
Media outlets that are not pro-Erdogan and the AKP continue to be penalised in Turkey. Most recently TELE1 (which has previously aired Evrensel newspaper adverts) was fined for airing an Evrensel advert which contained Kurdish colours. This blatant racism and interference in media freedom is unacceptable. The Supreme Council for Radio and Television (RTÜK) in […]
Military Seargent Musa Orhan raped 18 year old Ipek Er in the Batman in Eastern Turkey. Ipek Er committed suicide as a result. Musa Orhan, who is responsible for the death of this young woman, is being protected by the Turkish state because he served in the military and comes from a nationalist racist family. […]
Ebru Timtik, who was on indefinite hunger strike demanding a fair trial, has died in Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Hospital after 238 days. Timtik’s only demand was a right to fair trial and she had called on the Minister for Justice to intervene, but despite numerous warnings the government stood idly by – choosing instead to […]
Floods hit the shores of Giresun in the Blacksea region of Turkey. Huge devastation hit the area of Dereli in particular. So far 8 people have died and 11 are missing. 17 buildings have collapsed and 351 buildings are damaged. Over 100 villages have become blocked off and 78 residential areas have lost their electricity. […]
The health of two lawyers, Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal, on indefinite hunger strike demanding a fair trial has reached a critical point. Ebru has been on indefinite hunger strike for 240 days and Aytac for 210 days. Their health is at risk and the Turkish government is standing idly by. The Justice Minister has […]
The Turkish Bar Associations stand firm against attacks on their independence Last week the main agenda across Turkey was the Government’s plan to change the way that the Turkish Bar Associations are organised and their electoral system. The Bar Association’s believe that the legal changes proposed would make the Bar Associations undemocratic and would result […]
20 international and local media freedom groups sent a joint public letter to the General Director of Turkey’s Public Advertising Agency, Rıdvan Duran, regarding the suspension of public ad bans imposed on the newspapers. The International Press Institute (IPI) and 19 other international press freedom and freedom of expression groups sent a joint public letter […]
Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) Chairwoman Şebnem Korur Fincancı and Human Rights Association (İHD) Chairman Öztürk Türkdoğan evaluated the police violence cases for Evrensel. Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) Chairwoman Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı and Human Rights Association (İHD) Chairman Öztürk Türkdoğan reacted to the incidents of police violence from various parts […]
The leaders of the ’68 youth movement Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan, Hüseyin İnan were commemorated on the 48th anniversary of their executions. People’s Liberation Army of Turkey (THKO) and the leaders of the youth movement of ’68, Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan and Hüseyin Inan were executed by the junta on March 12. They were commemorated […]
10 Members of the European Parliament called on Turkey’s Public Advertising Agency to lift the indefinite ban on Evrensel. In a letter addressed to Rıdvan Duran, the general director of the Public Advertising Agency (BİK), the authority in Turkey responsible for the distribution of state advertising, ten members of the European Parliament called for the […]
Cengiz Bektaş, one of Turkey’s leading architects who for long years wrote articles in our newspaper, has lost his life. We have lost our newspaper’s columnist, architect and poet Cengiz Bektaş. Holder of the Aga Khan and Mimar Sinan Grand Awards, Bektaş had been undergoing treatment for diabetes-related heart failure in an intensive care unit […]
The Turkish state’s attacks on human rights, workers rights and democracy is relentless, and President Erdogan’s war politics is fuelling further tension and instability, not just in Turkey but across the region. It is in this context that we have pulled our sleeves up and are finalising preparations for SPOT’s 4 th Annual Conference, which […]
As President Erdoğan’s Idlib obduracy and AUAV strikes continue, the ruling media is making “national pride from national arms” propaganda, and son-in-law Selçuk Bayraktar is making money, too. Object of the power holders’ relentless obduracy, Idlib remains high on the agenda. Compared to before, it has become tougher to air the voice of truth among […]
The Labour Party (EMEP) made a written statement after the soldiers’ deaths in Idlib, demanding the withdrawal of all foreign forces in Syria, including the Turkish soldiers. The Labour Party (EMEP) made a written statement after the soldiers’ deaths in Idlib, demanding the withdrawal of all foreign forces in Syria, including the Turkish soldiers. The […]
With it now apparent that the Erdoğan administration’s aims are no longer feasible, one could describe the way it has become bogged down thanks to its obdurateness over its Syria policy as its “jihadist impasse and Kurdish quandary.” There is no let-up in either the Erdoğan administration’s obdurateness over Idlib or the deaths of soldiers […]
Turkey is pushing refugees over the border and Greece is pushing them back. What we are watching is a Turkish-Greek jointly produced film of shame. The refugees are like a ping-pong ball toing and froing across the tennis table. The right-wing government in Greece is pitiless towards refugees. Be they old, children or handicapped, the […]
Former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş has made a statement following the death of 33 soldiers in Idlib. Former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, detained for more than three years in Edirne Prison, has sent a message regarding the 34 soldiers who were killed in the air raid staged by the Syrian army in the Syrian town […]
Erdoğan appears to have reached the stage of holding “martyrs” in a tighter embrace and saying, “God willing, the mound of martyrs will not remain empty” in accentuating the religious-ideological grounds for his policy. Speaking at a foundation-laying ceremony for the tram line in Izmir’s Kınık sub-province, for the second time in the past two […]
Prof. Dr. İlhan Uzgel and Russia expert Kerim Has assessed the latest developments in Syria and Idlib for Evrensel. The Idlib tension continues to mount. The Ministry of National Defence announced the deaths of two soldiers and the wounding of another five soldiers in İdlib. At around the same time, the Anadolu Agency intimated that […]
The International Press Institute (IPI) has announced that the announcement ban given to BirGün has been lifted by the Press Notices Institute and appealed for the same ban issued to Evrensel to be lifted at once. The International Press Institute (IPI) has announced that the announcement ban given to BirGün has been lifted by the […]
The Press Advertisement Agency has dismissed our objection to the announcement and advertising decision it issued whereby more than one newspaper may not be purchased. The Press Advertisement Agency (PAA) has once more dismissed the objection we made to the announcement and advertising ban penalty it imposed premised on newsagent sales. The Press Advertisement Agency […]
The Board of Judges and Prosecutors has authorized a probe into the judges which ordered acquittal in the Gezi trial. Prior to the decision authorizing the probe, Erdoğan said, “They set out with a manoeuvre to have him acquitted.” Chamber One of the Board of Judges and Prosecutors has authorized a probe into the bench […]
The court panel in the Gezi case gave the verdict of acquitting 9 people and discharging Osman Kavala, the only defendant of the case in detention. The files of 7 people abroad were set aside. The sixth hearing of the Gezi court case of 16 people accused of “attempting to do away with the government […]
President Tayyip Erdoğan said: “Whoever says, ‘What business does Turkey have in Syria?’ is either unaware or intentionally an enemy of this people.” In the speech he made at his party’s parliamentary group meeting last tuesday, President and AKP General Chair Tayyip Erdoğan targeted those who criticize Turkish troops coming under fire and a state […]
IPI-led international press freedom mission called for an immediate end to the ban on public advertising on the two independent newspapers Evrensel and BirGün. The International Press Institute (IPI), Reporters without Borders (RSF), the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), called for an […]
CEREN SAGIR reports on an important workers’ struggle at SF Trade Leather in Izmir, Turkey BRITISH luxury fashion company Mulberry says it prides itself for being “ethically sourced.” Volkswagen Group UK Ltd says it has a “zero-tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery.” And Mercedes-Benz UK claims to have a “zero-tolerance policy towards violations […]
According to Press Advertisement Agency (BİK) reports, readers buying more than three newspapers presented as a reason for cutting ads off for Evrensel. Press Advertisement Agency (BİK) refused our appeal against the decision to stop allocating public sector advertisements in our newspaper. The reasons put forward for the decision were scandalous. One reader buying two […]
Lawyer Ahmet Ergin discusses rulings the Constitutional Court has passed on strike bans: “Constitutional Court case law provides guarantees to workers intent on striking.” A fresh strike is in the offing for metal workers, their wages eroding day by day under conditions of economic crisis. Disagreement reigned at the Turkish Employers’ Association of Metal Industries […]
The cancelled press cards of Evrensel newspaper staff have been restored. The cancelled press cards of Evrensel newspaper staff have been restored. When some Evrensel staff members consulted the “Press card search” section today, they saw the wording “in use” in place of the comment “annulled” they had previously seen. However, no comment in this […]
As all know, is it not Erdoğan and the AKP who has not only been “the political wing of the coup” or Gülen but its partner? Was there not a partnership of power? First and foremost, my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the Elazığ earthquake. And my get-well-soon wishes […]
END TURKEY’S ATTACKS ON DEMOCRACY AND MILITARY AGGRESSION NOW As the general election approaches voters are looking to our Parliament to recognise the impact that our foreign policy is having on the safety of innocent civilians not just in the UK but all over the world. Democracy is under attack in Turkey, with trade […]
EMEP Chairwoman Selma Gürkan was sentenced on the count of ‘terrorist organization propaganda’ for her critics on the Afrin operation. Eylem NAZLIER İstanbul In a case brought for the speech she made in front of the judicial complex at the hearing of EMEP members who had been detained for handing out “No to war” leaflets, […]
Saying, “I’ve been living in Turkey for about six years. I’ve learnt about both labour and exploitation here,” a Syrian worker calls for workers’ unity. A Syrian refugee worker I’m a 22-year-old Syrian refugee textile worker in Çağlayan. Fighting IS in Syria while aged sixteen, I fled Syria and came to Turkey at seventeen […]
With the proclamation of a ‘Turkey alliance’, Erdoğan wants to force the opposition to unite around his policies in such matters as the Kurdish problem. Not long after President Erdoğan’s comment, “In issues pertaining to our country’s survival, we must put our political views and differences to one side and act in a unity of […]
Opposition CHP’s İstanbul candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu takes office as İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor. After 25 years, the İstanbul Metropolitan Mayoralty has passed from the AKP to the CHP. İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor-elect for the CHP, Ekrem İmamoğlu, gets the certificate of election from provincial election council. Following seventeen days of objections, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has […]
The international ‘I Subscribe’ campaign’s second round supports the daily newspapers Evrensel and BirGün in Turkey. The second round of the international I Subscribe campaign, which encourages reader subscriptions to support independent newspapers in Turkey, is now open. I Subscribe is an initiative backed by the International Press Institute (IPI) and several other leading press […]
Prosecuted for having signed the peace declaration titled, “We will not be party to this crime,” 27 peace academics have been handed down jail sentences. The joined case of 27 academics being prosecuted for having signed the peace declaration titled, “We will not be party to this crime” was heard at Istanbul Serious Crime Court […]
The bringing to prominence of both Cumhuriyet and the “Gezi trial” on the eve of the elections is most certainly no coincidence and it would be no mistake to view it. Under normal conditions, even in Turkey, the political climate would soften as elections approached. Events such as protests, meetings and rallies, which normally encountered […]
Aggravated life imprisonment is being sought for sixteen people including Osman Kavala under the investigation conducted into the Gezi Park Resistance. The investigation involving sixteen people, including Osman Kavala who has been in prison for fifteen months and actor Mehmet Ali Alabora, into the Gezi Park events has been completed. Aggravated life imprisonment is sought […]
The Appeal Court has upheld the sentences handed down in the Cumhuriyet newspaper trial. The ruling sees eight people who were sentenced to less than five years returning to prison. The Appeal Court has upheld the sentences that Istanbul Serious Crime Court No 27 imposed on Cumhuriyet newspaper’s former managers and columnists. The ruling sees […]
The period set by the SEC for announcing local election candidates has ended. Final adjustments have been made to the alliances. Birkan BULUT Ankara The Supreme Electoral Council (SEC)’s deadline for nominating local election candidates has ended. The picture to emerge following last-minute adjustments is that the AKP-MHP has broadened the alliance as its electoral […]
Because they live in palaces, they see unemployment, poverty and deteriorating living conditions for common people as just a rule of the game that they are playing. The unemployment statistics in Turkey from November show not just the shocking growth in unemployment but also signal that unemployment will reach intolerable levels in 2019. Unemployment consistently […]
Former Evrensel responsible editors Çağrı Sarı and Cem Şimşek appeared before the judge. Çağrı Sarı’s hearing was adjourned while Cem Şimşek was acquitted. The adjudicatory hearing took place in former Evrensel responsible editor Çağrı Sarı’s trial over the Paradise Papers being heard at Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 2, brought under a complaint […]
Why have vegetable and fruit prices gone up in Turkey? Will direct sale points cure citizens’ woes? Are market traders to blame? We made a collation of the points of concern. Sinem UĞUR İstanbul The direct sale points proposed by the AKP-Erdoğan government with the purported aim of reducing fruit and vegetable prices have been […]
We are publishing the statement submitted to the court by our Editor-in-Chief Fatih Polat, who is on trial charged with “defaming the President.” Our Editor-in-Chief Fatih Polat, who is being tried on the charge of defaming the President for one of his articles and whose imprisonment for between one year and four years is sought, […]
Dr Deniz Yıldırım: “The CHP gives the appearance of a party that has succumbed far more to a quarrel over the internal sharing of power absent the ability for a broad, encompassing political line to be charted.” The main opposition CHP party, subject of great speculation for months especially as to who its provincial and […]
The prosecutor has called for EMEP Chairwoman Selma Gürkan’s punishment on “terrorist organization propaganda” charges for her Afrin comments. Making his recommendations at the proceedings in which Labour Party (EMEP) Chairwoman Selma Gürkan is being tried on “terrorist organization propaganda” charges, the prosecutor sought Gürkan’s imprisonment for up to seven and a half years. A […]
Description Our 3rd Annual SPOT Conference provides an opportunity to hear from those who have seen and experienced the reality of life under Erdogan’s authoritarian regime and invites you to find out more about what we are already doing to build international solidarity and call to account both the Turkish state and the complicity of […]
Claims of bogus voters have been brought into parliament before the local elections in Turkey on March 31, 2019. HDP Iğdır Member of Parliament Habip Eksik has brought the irregularities and bogus voter records detected on the voters roll announced for the local elections in Turkey on March 31, 2019 onto the parliamentary agenda. Eksik […]
A further 501,000 people joined the ranks of the jobless to make a total of 3.788 million. The youth unemployment rate rose by 3% in October to 22.3%. In October 2018, the unemployment rate in Turkey registered a year-on-year rise of 1.3% to stand at 11.6%. In the period in question, the records showed a […]
Put to one side such advertising as ‘Turkey displayed its strength against the US’ and ‘Erdoğan has become world leader’ and look at the reality. Following US President Trump’s announcement in the phone call he had with President Erdoğan that they would withdraw their troops from northern Syria, I inquired, “Is Trump’s withdrawal decision Erdoğan’s […]
Looking ahead from 2018, it appears that Turkey’s neo-Ottoman Syrian policy involving two ‘red lines’ will have a very hard time of it in 2019. Apart from deeply embroiling Turkey in “Syrian crisis,” Trump’s announcement in the final days of 2018 that he would withdraw US troops has turned 2019 into a year of “dealing […]
Last year in Turkey, 440 women killed. 131 of the deaths entered the records as being suspicious and the perpetrators were not found. The We Will Stop Femicide Platform has produced a report quantifying violent incidents against women in 2018. The report points to an increase in women murders as against previous years. According to […]
Bahçeli, Erdoğan and Yıldırım’s fears, on both the national scale and in İstanbul, about the local election appear not to be without foundation. President Tayyip Erdoğan announced the AKP and MHP’s İstanbul Metropolitan Mayoralty candidate today. Their candidate is Parliamentary Speaker Binali Yıldırım! The first question this invites is, “Can no metropolitan mayoral candidate for […]
What are Syrian refugees living in Diyarbakır’s Bağlar sub-province going through? Syrians living in the area told us. Fırat TOPAL Orhan KURUL Diyarbakır Disputes that have been raging of late between Syrian refugees and the Turkish population are turning into a lynch campaign against refugees both on social media and in the streets, and attacks […]
2018 saw unemployment, insecurity, poverty and death becoming cloaked in acceptability, the erosion of wages and an increase in workers’ deaths. The CHP Labour Offices under the coordination of CHP Deputy General Chair Veli Ağbaba have compiled a report on developments that took place in the world of labour and work. The report, which draws […]
The minimum wage stays at the hunger level. The minimum wage, directly affecting ten million workers, has been set at 2,020 lira in 2019. The Minimum Wage Determination Commission has convened for the fourth time to set the minimum wage effective in 2019. The Minimum Wage Determination Commission has set the minimum wage, directly affecting […]
We spoke to Gebze Trade Union Alliance Term Spokesperson Süleyman Akyüz about the minimum wage and struggle against the crisis. We spoke to Gebze Trade Union Alliance Term Spokesperson Süleyman Akyüz about the minimum wage, crisis and struggle against the crisis. The key points from Süleyman Akyüz’s observations were as follow: “Although the crisis started […]
An investigation has launched into well-known actors Metin Akpınar and Müjdat Gezen, who spoke critically of President Tayyip Erdoğan. Actors Metin Akpınar and Müjdat Gezen, who spoke critically of President Tayyip Erdoğan while appearing on a TV programme, came under fire from President Erdoğan following a roasting in the regime press. With them singled out, […]
Steve Sweeney from the Morning Star wrote an article about the pressure on media in Turkey and called for solidarity with Evrensel. Steve Sweeney Fatih Polat gives me a warm welcome at Evrensel’s main offices in Istanbul. I have met the newspaper’s editor-in-chief a number of times over the years and we have built a […]
How will Trump’s withdrawal decision from Syria and its potential consequences affect Turkey’s regional policies? News of Trump’s decision to withdraw his troops from Syria following the phone call he made with Erdoğan seems to have created an atmosphere of a great victory on the ruling front and in its media. “Experts” strutting their stuff […]
Turkey: Fighting for democracy under authoritarian rule Description Our 3rd Annual SPOT Conference provides an opportunity to hear from those who have seen and experienced the reality of life under Erdogan’s authoritarian regime and invites you to find out more about what we are already doing to build international solidarity and call to account both […]
Government fears another Gezi: we stand with the people’s artists, journalists and academics. Turkey has become a country where anybody that protests, refuses to obey and is not one of the ruling government is declared as an enemy. It has been over 5 years since the Gezi resistance but the Public Prosecutor of Ankara has […]
We are publishing the text submitted to the court by Evrensel columnist Prof. Dr Şebnem Korur Fincancı, who was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. We are publishing the text submitted to the court by Evrensel columnist, academic & chair of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, Prof. Dr Şebnem Korur Fincancı, who was sentenced to thirty […]
The German Federation of Journalists, the German Journalists Union and Reporters Without Borders have launched a campaign in support of Evrensel. In a display of sensitivity over the repression of the press in Turkey, German journalism organizations and journalists have launched a campaign in support of Evrensel, an independent labour-movement-focussed daily and one of the […]
Turkey ranks 130th for sexual inequality in the World Economic Forum’s 2018 Global Gender Gap Report. The World Economic Forum’s 2018 Global Gender Gap Report shows the level of social sexual inequality has reached in Turkey. Ranked 105th in 2006, Turkey has dropped by 25 places over twelve years. The countries ranked lower than Turkey […]
Evrensel columnist, academic & chair of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, Prof. Dr Şebnem Korur Fincancı gets 30-month prison. Evrensel columnist, academic & chair of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, Prof. Dr Şebnem Korur Fincancı gets 30-month prison. Fresh documents have been appended at the decision stage to the file of Evrensel columnist Prof. Dr […]
Terrrorism charge has been laid against our reporter Cansu Pişkin citing as grounds her report on the detaining of the Bosphorus University students. A further trial has been added to those brought against Evrensel for our news coverage. A charge has been laid against our reporter Cansu Pişkin citing as grounds her report on the […]
Evrensel is facing court and a penalty of 100,000 TL because of a news story, criticizing the government’s economic programme. Evrensel is facing court and a penalty of 100,000 TL because of a news story published on 13 July 2018 arguing that the government’s economic programme signalled an attack on worker’s rights. The responsible editor […]
If there is going to be a winner in the escalating tensions in Manbij and East of Euphrates, this is not going to be Turkey – will be Russia and Iran. For some time, the government-controlled media have been broadcasting programmes aimed at escalating the tensions surrounding Manbij and the East of Euphrates. They are […]
The Labour Party (EMEP) Chairwoman Selma Gürkan is on trial, because of criticising the Erdoğan government’s war policies. Turkish government started a military intervention in Afrin in January 2018; fanning the flames of war in Syria. This was an operation named ‘Olive Branch’. The Labour Party (EMEP) has always been critical of this intervention in […]
One of President Tayyip Erdoğan’s priority objectives of the visit to Germany is to attract more German investments in Turkey. Which compromises and commitments took place in Erdogan’s interviews with the German monopolies providing investing more in Turkey? Getting economic relations back on the track and attracting more German direct investment to Turkey was at […]
We have 10 questions about Syria to President and AKP Leader Tayyip Erdoğan, who argued, they did not do anything wrong in Syria. The president and AKP leader Tayyip Erdoğan, in assessing the agreement he made with Putin in relation to the Idlib issue during the parliamentary group meeting of his party the previous day, […]
EMEP Chairwoman Selma Gürkan: New Economic Plan (NEP) creates new opportunities for monopolies and poverty for the people. “President Tayyip Erdoğan and many government representatives deny the crisis triggered by the drop in the value of Turkish Lira, as “foreign manipulation”, saying “there is no crisis, there is psychological problems”. But the New Economic Plan […]
Several trade unionists in Britain called on the Turkish government to release 24 workers who protested for their basic rights, including edible food. Arif BEKTAŞ London Several trade unionists in Britain including RMT, UNITE, BFAWU and TSSA called on the Turkish government to release 24 workers, who protested for their basic rights, including edible food, […]
Unite supports exiled Kurdish journalist Following its support of a TUC Congress motion against the authoritarian tactics of the Turkish government, Unite has spoken in support of a young Kurdish journalist who is exiled in London after her home was raided by Turkey’s authorities. Under the county’s dictatorial president Recep Tayyip Erdogan the state has […]
The owners of Hayatın Sesi TV, Mustafa Kara and İsmail Gökhan Bayram and General Director Gökhan Çetin, charged with 3 years, 9 months imprisonment. The owners of the Hayatın Sesi TV, Mustafa Kara and İsmail Gökhan Bayram and General Director Gökhan Çetin, charged with 3 years and 9 months imprisonment with claims that they have been […]
A Turkish court has arrested 24 workers after protests over labour conditions at the construction of İstanbul’s new airport. A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered 24 workers and union activists to stay in jail after they were detained in a mass crackdown over protests on working conditions at İstanbul’s new airport. WHAT HAPPENED? Police and […]
Saturday Mothers subject to police violence on 700th week of vigil for disappeared loved ones On the 700th week of one of the longest running peaceful protests in Turkey, the Saturday mothers and their supporters congregated in Galatasaray Square at midday. Across Europe solidarity vigils were held to support the demands of the Saturday mothers and […]
Trump cannot be held responsible if a country’s leader cannot find any example to turn to when he talks about ‘domestic and national goods’. I stated before that, there will be sharp decreases in the value of Turkish Lira (TL) beginning in autumn, and the government will head to the local elections with a quite […]
Erdoğan and his rulership brought the country to the economic and political crisis and ruin and worthless isolation. Having attempted in 2011 to become the leading country in the intervention in Syria, and becoming enemies with its neighbours, Turkey was also abandoned by imperialist powers that initially supported this policy. At the time, to cover […]
‘The U.S.’s sanctions against Turkey must be ceased’, states Selma Gürkan, chairman of EMEP, but also makes a call to stand against AKP’s policies. “The U.S.´s sanctions against Turkey must be ceased”, states Selma Gürkan, the chairman of the Labour Party (EMEP), and argues that the expansionist policies of AKP must also come to an […]
Political Scientist Süreyya Algül: There is no condition that Erdoğan can govern the country under the ordinary rule of law any more. In our interview with Dr. Süreyya Algül, we discussed the 15 July coup attempt, which will be in the second year in a few days, with the role of restructuring the state. How […]
What are the powers of Tayyip Erdoğan who was elected as the first president of the new system on 24 June 2018? How will the government take form? What is “Presidential System of Governance” which was brought about by the election on 16 April 2017? What are the powers of Tayyip Erdoğan who was elected […]
One of the important questions of the post-election period is foreign policy… Where is Turkey to steer towards? With the ending of election period in Turkey, the road is now paved for the presidential system. In the new system, most of the function of the Assembly is due to be slashed with the office of […]
Regardless of what the figures say about the results; this is in fact the rulership of those who lost and are destined to lose. Historical examples have shown that a weak rulership is more oppressive and aggressive. A ruler that dresses every word with the clatter of chain and sword, the sound of guns and […]
The Labour Party (EMEP) called for the struggle to establish a new state order on the basis of a constitution, securing democratic rights and freedoms The Labour Party (EMEP) Executive Board (GYK) assessed the results of the June 24th elections. During the two-day meetings, the election process, the election day, and the events that followed […]
Following Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections Turkey has moved into a dangerous period of one-man rule, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan taking on unprecedented powers as the country shifts from a parliamentary democracy to an executive presidency. The role of prime minister has been deleted and Erdogan can now appoint ministers, the judiciary and set […]
İhsan Çaralan analysed the winners and losers of the June 24th elections in Turkey. The “raid election” for deputy and presidency on 24th June resulted in the Erdoğan’s and the AKP-MHP alliance’s win. In the election, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan got 52.4 per cent of the votes and Muharrem İnce got 30.8 per cent. So, Erdoğan […]
People are saying that there will be a repeat of the terror environment after the 7 June elections, and repetition of the elections like on 1 November HDP was revealed as the real reason for the transition to the presidential system. With 80 MPs and the number of MPs projected to grow, it was assumed […]
All facts point to the same direction about the reasons for the championing of the Qandil operation by the government: Operation to win the elections! In the background of the decision to have a raid election on 24 June were government calculations to save itself before both the nationalist wave generated by the Afrin operation […]
While the picture in Afrin is so clear, let’s ask this question: Do you still believe Turkey was the winner in Afrin? 4 months ago, the Afrin operation was brought by the government as the “national survival” problem of the country and the operation was initiated in a “national mobilization” atmosphere. Such an atmosphere was […]
During uncertain times like today, vast media monopoly in the service of the ruling power makes it much more difficult to get a clear picture. Despite the turbulence of serious economic problems in Turkey, prior to the June 24 elections, the observed political response to the situation and interpretations on the street do not reveal […]
The accepted shared formula of the election propaganda is that ‘these are the most important elections of the Turkish Republican history.’ The accepted shared formula of the election propaganda is that “these are the most important elections of the Turkish Republican history.” What renders the 24th June elections so important is the ambition to facilitate […]
We can thwart the AKP-MHP alliance calculations and reveal the carelessness of the ‘National Alliance’. Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş’s attorneys’ application for release was rejected by the court. The court rejected the application stating that “at this stage, the conditions of the legal control would be insufficient”. In this way, […]
Co-chair of HDP, Pervin Buldan: If HDP fails to surpass the electoral threshold, this will be a problem for the other political parties in Turkey. Serpil İLGÜN With the confirmation of candidates for the presidency, the focus for the elections shifted to which party will have the majority in the Parliament. It is accepted by […]
Erdogan’s visit to the UK is an opportunity to whitewash his government’s dire human rights record and detract attention from Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian anti-democratic politic. Without international pressure Erdogan will continue unhindered, using the state of emergency and the anti-democratic decrees to maintain his authoritarian rule. The purge of public sector workers, clamp down on […]
If the robots have been exploited by capitalism, will they attend May Day marches for that reason? An interesting caricature appeared on Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of the most prominent newspapers in Germany. In this caricature by Oliver Schopf, four robots are marching with a May Day banner. One of the robots appear to be holding […]
There’s not even a single pledge for women at Erdoğan’s manifesto for elections but expects the women to shoulder the entire burden of the government. A lot has been scribbled about Erdoğan’s “Covenant Manifesto”; let us take a look at what is said under the “women” section… 1- Asserting that “we have women awaiting a […]
’24th June is a critical point in strengthening the one-man regime. It is important that HDP surpasses the electoral threshold to stop this advance.’ Serpil İLGÜN Those that will be running against Erdoğan in the Presidential election and which parties will enter alliances in the parliamentary elections were decided within the last week. As expected, […]
More than a million people tweeted to call time on President Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday, making the word ‘Tamam’ (Enough) a trending topic worldwide. More than a million people tweeted to call out President Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday, making the word ‘tamam’ (meaning ‘enough’) a trending topic worldwide after he said, “If one day our […]
The people who came together around the values of May Day clearly stand opposed to a ‘one party, one-man regime’. Workers all over the world, from Tokyo to Paris, Sydney to Havana declared not just their demands against capitalist exploitation but also protested imperialist war ambitions. Of course 1 May 2018 was also celebrated in […]
The case of Hayatın Sesi TV, which was shut down based on a Decree of Law issued under the State of Emergency has been postponed to 19 September. The fourth hearing of the Hayatın Sesi TV, accused of propagating for ISIS, PKK and TAK, took place on Tuesday. Birol Sarıkaş, President of Cam Keramik- […]
It is very clear that the AKP-MHP partnership has been preparing itself for an election since last year with a ‘raid election plan’. Just hours after the “raid election” election was declared by the Erdoğan – Bahçeli coalition, the state of emergency was prolonged for another 3 months by the Turkish Parliamentwith the support of […]
Tensions with Europe are rising again in the build-up to the election. Germany, Austria and Netherlands will not permit election campaigns. The election campaign and voting in the Turkish elections, to be held on 24 June, is again planned to start with Germany and other European countries. Approximately three million voters originating from Turkey have […]
The court sentenced 14 journalists and executives from Cumhuriyet newspaper to various prison terms over terrorism-related charges. The 27th High Criminal Court of İstanbul on Wednesday sentenced 14 journalists from Cumhuriyet daily to various prison terms over terrorism-related charges. Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Murat Sabuncu, CEO Akin Atalay, and Orhan Erinc, plus journalists Ahmet Sik, Aydin Engin, […]
A school teacher, Ayşe Çelik, who said ‘do not let children die’ was sent to prison with her baby daughter in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır. Ruken SÜPHANDAĞ THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE On 08.01.2016, a school teacher by the name of Ayşe Çelik called a popular talk show presented by Beyazıt Özturk on Kanal […]
Demirtaş’s trial and his defence is very important and should not be lost within the wide range of other ongoing issues. At a time when Turkeys, ‘security’ policies are aimed at decimating the limited freedom that is left in the country, the century-old Kurdish Question is going through a critical period in terms of its […]
EMEP Chairwoman Selma Gürkan: We call on the working class and all other oppressed and exploited classes to teach a lesson to the Government. The statement released, regarding the decision to go to a snap election on 24 July, from Selma Gürkan, chairwoman of EMEP, read: “Turkey entered a hurried election period with a decision […]
President Tayyip Erdoğan announced early elections in Turkey on June 24, 2018. President Tayyip Erdoğan announced early elections in Turkey on June 24, 2018. Erdoğan says the legal process for early elections, including preparations by Supreme Electoral Council, to begin immediately. Erdoğan made this announcement after he met with his ally, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) […]
EMEP Chairwoman Selma Gürkan criticised MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s call for early elections: Troubled government seeks a solution in early election. Labour Party (EMEP) Chairwoman Selma Gürkan criticised Erdoğan’s ally, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli’s call for early elections. Selma Gürkan’s statement is here: “Call for an early election made by government partner […]
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli called for early elections on Aug. 26, 2018. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli called for early elections on Aug. 26, 2018. “It should be known that the MHP wants early elections after the adjustment laws are enacted,” said Bahçeli, speaking at the party’s parliamentary group on […]
Labour Party: These attacks aim to materialise their imperialist interests in Syria and in the Middle East, and they target the peoples of the region. The Labour Party (EMEP) condemned the attacks on Syria initiated by the US, Britain and France. EMEP’s statement is here: “In the early hours of Saturday, 14th April, the US, […]
Turkey, which is allied to Russia in Afrin, is working with the USA in Ghouta. Can Turkey really ally itself with Russia and USA? The power struggle within the “fields” of Syria between USA and Russia is spreading with aggression. The aggression does not stop with the exchange of words, it is spreading throughout the […]
One of the questions that arise at this juncture is the kind of position Turkey will take on the face of a possible conflict between US and Russia. Tensions escalated following the claim that the regime forces conducting an operation against jihadist groups have used chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta in Syria have brought […]
At least 11 people were detained across Turkey over social media posts on the charge of ‘propagandising for an illegal organisation’. Social media users including the Labour Party (EMEP) executives and the Federation of Opinion Clubs (FKF) members were detained on charge of “propagandizing for an illegal organisation” in a raid launched this morning in […]
Who can argue that the jihadi group placed (by Turkey) on the borders does not or will not pose a risk in the future? A few days ago, some agencies reported on an agreement that the most important radical Islamist group Jaysh al-Islam in East Ghouta (Army of Islam) would relocate to Jarabulus which is […]
English PEN presents a report on the situation of freedom of expression in Turkey and engages in a critical evaluation of the violation of the rights. English PEN launched a report, ‘Turkey: freedom of expression in jeopardy. Violations of the rights of authors, publishers and academics under the State of Emergency’. Researched and written by […]
Evrensel Editor-in-chief, Fatih Polat, assesses the sale of Doğan Media Group to the Demirören Group, known with its ties to the government. The sale of Doğan Media Group to the Demirören Group is of critical import in many respects within the field of media. The tension in between President Erdoğan and this group, reflecting media […]
The whole of the Doğan Media Group owned by Aydın Doğan (including CNN Turk, Posta Daily and Channel D) has been sold to Erdoğan Demirören. The flagship of the Turkish press, Hurriyet Daily, has been sold to a group close to the AKP government. But the sale is not just limited to Hurriyet, the whole […]
The Turkish Parliament approved a new law giving the Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) the authority to regulate all kinds of internet broadcasting. According to the new legislation, all broadcasters that want to provide radio, television, and other types of broadcasting services on the internet will have to obtain a licence from RTÜK, […]
Hundreds of thousands of people celebrated Newroz in towns and cities across Turkey, including Diyarbakır, İstanbul, Van and İzmir. People gathered in Van, Urfa, Cizre, Nusaybin, Mardin, Siirt, İstanbul, İzmir and the Turkish capital of Ankara, among other cities, marking the holiday. Celebrations in some towns and cities, including Kars, Ağrı, Iğdır, Muş, Doğubayezit, Derik, […]
We talked the 2019 elections and the discussions on alliances with the Labour Party (EMEP) Chairwoman Selma Gürkan. AKP [The Justice and Development Party] and MHP [Nationalist Movement Party] declared that they will enter the elections in 2019 as a ‘Presidential Alliance’; this led to an escalation in the attempts to introduce legal changes to […]
Perhaps, I should start with what should be said at the end. Just as the start of the military operation in Afrin cannot be explained by the determination of Turkey, the withdrawal of the Kurdish forces from Afrin and the fall of Afrincannot be explained by the situation of the Kurds alone. The struggle for […]
Administrators and members of Turkish Medical Association (TTB) who were pointed as a target by Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan for calling for peace against Afrin operation have been detained. Turkish police conducted raids on the homes of 11 administrators and members of TTB, including TTB President Raşit Tükel and members of TTB Central Council. […]
On Saturday, 20th January, Turkish war planes launched air strikes on Afrin, one of the three Kurdish cantons in Northern Syria. We oppose all outside intervention in Syria, from whatever side. We see this latest intervention as one which can only worsen the situation, while in particular targeting the Kurdish YPG. We note that the […]
Urgent call for the people of UK, politicians, trade unionists, campaign groups, democrats, intellectuals and all those who side with peace, freedom and justice to take immediate action to protest the bombing of Afrin. Background On Saturday, 20th January, Turkish war planes launched air strikes on Afrin, one of the three Kurdish cantons in Northern Syria. A ground […]
We are pleased to announce that Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) and Academics for Peace – UK (BAK-UK) organised a fantastic fundraising event at the NEU / NUT Head office on 23rd November. The event was attended by more than 100 people including academics, teachers, trade union representatives and political activists. There were speeches from […]
We stand with the Alevi communities in Turkey Last week members of the Alevi community in Turkey’s Malatya province voiced concerns after, at least, 13 houses were marked with red cross by “unknown” individuals. Red crosses marked with red paint were spotted on the outside walls and doors of several households belonging to Alevi people […]
Press freedom and democracy are under attack in Turkey. The situation has intensified since last years failed coup attempt. A third of the worlds total jailed journalists are in Turkish prisons and many newspapers and media outlets have been closed down by the government. Legitimate organisations including the Democratic Society Congress (DTK)- which operated freely […]
DO NOT BE A PARTY TO CRIMES IN TURKISH HIGHER EDUCATION A group of academics are calling on all institutions of higher education, funding councils, academic and professional associations, and individual faculty members to boycott the Turkish higher education system. The aim of the academic boycott is to put pressure on government so that all dismissals are […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
(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 […]
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, […]
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. […]
(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 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 […]
(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. […]
(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 […]
Evrensel (24 April 2017) Serpil Ilgun from Evrensel Daily talked to Murat Somer, Associate Professor of Political Sciences and International Relations from Koc University in Istanbul about the Turkish referendum and its social outcomes. Somer: The ‘No’ bloc owes its success to its calm. The results have given them self-confidence and this needs to be […]
(Fatih Polat, Evrensel, 19.4.17) Due to its extremely oppressive atmosphere, the very public vote rigging and the unravelling political picture in its aftermath, the referendum of 16 April 2017 has been the most controversial vote in Turkish political history. High Election Council’s (YSK) decision to accept unsealed envelopes and ballots while voting still continued – […]
(Mustafa Yalciner, Evrensel, 18.4.17) Scarcely 51.4% of ‘yes’ vote has been reached! 48.6% said “no.” All the big cities, the industrial regions, with the exception of the city of Bursa and Kocaeli, declared “No, We Will Not Accept a One Man Dictatorship.” Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Mersin, Diyarbakir… have all said its not possible but […]
Approximately 50 million voters headed over to the ballot boxes on 16 April to vote on the referendum for constitutional changes in Turkey. The public were presented with manipulated figures, purporting to show a victory for the Yes vote, equivalent to 51.4% ‘yes’ and 48.6% ‘no’. All big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, […]
Ihsan Caralan (Evrensel, 17.4.17) The referendum for a constitutional amendment that will take Turkey to a “one party, one man regime” was held last Sunday. Initial reports show a 51.4 “yes” and 48.6 “no” vote. Both the close results and the fact that the two big parties of the “no” camp, People’s Republican Party (CHP) […]
The 16 April constitutional referendum in Turkey was contested on an unlevel playing field, and the two sides in the campaign did not have equal opportunities, the international observers concluded in a statement released today. While the technical aspects of the process were well administered, voters were not provided with impartial information about key aspects of the […]
Steve Sweeney, SPOT Steering Committee member reports from Turkey on the aftermath of the referendum. I was part of the demonstrations in Besiktas last night where people were opposing the outcome of the referendum result. The result cannot be given any credibility and should not be legitimised. Opposition CHP and HDP have announced they will […]
Press release and public announcement on the outcome of the referendum in Turkey We will continue our struggle against the shady referendum outcome and one-man rule! This was a referendum held under a state of emergency and oppressive policies. This was a campaign full of inequalities and injustices. As if this was not enough, the […]
As you know tomorrow is a hugely significant day for Turkey, where citizens are being asked to make a significant decision about the future of their country. The people of Turkey will tomorrow vote on a new constitution which, if passed, will result in the granting of ultimate executive powers to the President and will […]
In the face of rising authoritarianism and right-wing populism, academic freedom is under severe threat in contemporary Turkey. Governmental repression on academics became all too apparent when the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, instigated a campaign of persecution against academics – Academics for Peace (BAK) – who signed a peace petition in January 2016. The […]
As Turkey’s constitutional referendum is approaching, we are, once again, witnessing an intensification of state violence in the Kurdish provinces of Turkey. For more than a week, there has been no communication with the people of Xerabê Bava (Koruköy), a village in Mardin-Nusaybin. The village is under round-the-clock military curfew and there have been claims […]
In the last seven months, following the failed coup attempt, nearly 100,000 civil servants have been removed from their posts in Turkey. This includes teachers, police officers, soldiers, academics and lawyers. Among these there have been many academics known for being signatories to the [“We will not be a party to this crime”] peace petition. […]
LEADING trade unionists have demanded that Theresa May stop selling arms to Turkey, accusing her of propping up one of the world’s most oppressive regimes.The call was made at an emergency press conference on Wednesday night, organised by Solidarity with the People of Turkey (Spot), after a new decree issued under the state of emergency […]
The policies of the AKP government, which have been ruling the country for the last 14 years, have pushed democracy to the edge. The severity of the situation exceeds even the circumstances of the military coup in 1980.By using the failed coup attempt of July 15th as a pretext, the government is arresting and firing […]
The planned strike action by steel workers in Bursa, namely Asil Celik, has been banned for “security reasons” according to the Council of Ministers. However, we believe that the emergency state which has recently been extended is used as a pretext to deny workers the right to protest or strike. The decision by the minsters […]
Over the Christmas period we convened a delegation of journalists and activists from the UK. This delegation travelled to Istanbul last week to meet with prominent individuals and groups that are being persecuted for opposing the politics of the ruling AKP government. The delegation, which included journalists from the Guardian, Morning Star, The Telegraph, PEN […]
The rise in unemployment and the fall of Turkish Lira against the dollar has prompted the president to name those who hold dollars instead of Turkish Lira as terrorists and attacked institutions for not releasing cash into the markets. In the same breath, without a hint of irony, the president threatens to remove the citizenship […]
A new constitution has been passed by the Turkish Parliament. The new controversial constitution substantially expands the powers of the presidency under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and removes the office of the Prime Minister. The new constitution, which is expected to be put to a referendum in the spring, is opposed by pro-democracy groups and politicians […]
Özgür Gündem guest editors’ trial adjourned until 21 March 2017 The trial took place today at Çağlayan High Criminal Court, İstanbul of Ahmet Nesin, Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Financı and RSF reporter Erol Önderoğlu. The three acted as guest editors in support of the pro-Kurdish newspaper Özgür Gündem in association with which Aslı Erdoğan […]
Even as extremist groups gain momentum across the country and innocent citizens die at the hands of brutal terrorists, the AKP government intensifies its attacks on democratic rights and freedoms. On 29 December 2016,a prominent investigative journalist Ahmet Sik was arrested over his social media posts. Ahmet Sik was due to join a photo in […]
During the New Year celebrations last night, a gunman stormed the well-known Reina nightclub in Istanbul killing 39 people and injuring a further 65. The attacks followed a series of statements in preceding weeks by Turkish officials and ultra-nationalist muslims denouncing Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations as evil and anti-Islamic. Mehmet Gormez of the […]
The Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) will be sending a further delegation to Turkey on 11 – 14 January 2017. The aim of this delegation is to: • meet with prominent progressive individuals and organisations in Turkey, • observe the effects of the ongoing state of emergency, • create wider public awareness in the UK, and […]
A delegation of representatives including PEN International, Morning Star and SPOT travelled to Turkey last week to observe the trial of two Evrensel journalists (Cemil Ugur and Halil Ibrahim Polat), who faced 15 years in prison and were accused of being members of terrorist organisations following their reporting of a rally in Diyarbakir earlier this […]
Prior to terror attacks in Turkey and following the consensus between AKP and the nationalist party MHP, formal proceedings to introduce the executive presidential system in Turkey have been presented to the parliament. Proposed changes seek to give the president extended executive powers while abolishing the prime ministry.
On 10 December 2016 two terror attacks in Istanbul resulted in the death of 46 people and injured 166. On 17 December another terror attack took place, this time in the city of Kayseri, killing 14 people and injuring a further 56. Whilst the relatives of the deceased and the injured were still recovering from […]
Aysen Guven, Television presenter at Hayatin Sesi TV and arts editor at Evrensel Daily Newspaper. 5 July 2016 Aysen Guven shares her observations of developments in Turkey in relation to press freedom. In terms of press freedom we are witnessing one of the most difficult periods in Turkey. Everyday someone is put on trial, […]
On Friday, 15th July 2016, Turkey witnessed an unprecedented example of a failed coup with more than 300 killed and over a thousand injured. The coup is said to be attempted by a section of officers within the military, judiciary and police. 9,000 people have been arrested and further arrests are expected in connection with […]
CONFERENCE REPORT 29 October 2016 @ NUT Headquarters, London As Turkey heads towards a dictatorship, standing up for democracy is not just in the interests of the people of Turkey, it is also essential for the future peace, security and democracy of Europe and the Middle East. A message from SPOT The […]
17 November 2016 will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of Turkey for women and girls. On the evening of 17 November, AKP MPs proposed and voted in favour of draft legislation which paves the way for the normalisation of sexual violence and legalises the marriage of survivors with perpetrators […]
Supporters of SPOT are encouraged to attend a solidarity demonstration with Turkey at 12:00 noon on Sunday 11 December 2016 outside the Turkish Embassy, 43 Belgrave Square, SW1X 8PA London to condemn the attacks on the progressive forces in Turkey, including MPs, journalists, workers and the NGOs. The protest is organised by Britannia Democratic Union […]
The Austrian parliament has unanimously adopted a motion calling for a ban on selling arms as well as dual-use products for military or police purposes to Turkey. The move provoked an outcry among politicians and civil servants in Turkey. The motion called on the Austrian government to consider the threat of armed conflicts, as well […]
This week the European Parliament voted to suspend accession talks with Turkey while the state of emergency continues. In response to this decision President Erdogan of Turkey threatened to open the Turkish borders and allow migrants to enter EU. Turkey also threatened to join the Shanghai Pact instead of the EU, despite the fact that […]
The Turkish government was forced to do a U-Turn on a proposed new bill which, if passed, would have allowed rapists to avoid punishment if they married their victims. Hundreds of thousands rallied against the proposed new law, which was widely condemned across the world. Nonetheless, the prime minister has the audacity to claim that […]
There are growing concerns in Turkey due to the rise in unemployment (11%), interest rates and the record breaking rise of the dollar against Turkish Lira. Government representatives have tried to downplay the deteriorating economic conditions but have failed to reassure the people or the global markets.