An Ankara academic and teacher who have been on hunger strike for over four months after being sacked in the wake of Turkey’s failed coup have emerged as symbols of the biggest purge in the country’s history. Academic Nuriye Gulmen and teacher Semih Ozakca were fired by a government decree under the state of emergency … Read more
The Syrian foreign minister has set out conditions for any UN investigation into the deaths of dozens of people from a chemical agent on Tuesday. Walid Muallem told the BBC it would have to be non-political, involve “many countries” and “start from Damascus” before his government could accept. He denied Syria had dropped chemical weapons … Read more
Autopsy results have revealed that chemical weapons were used in an attack which killed more than 80 people in Syria’s Idlib province, according to Turkey’s justice minister. Thirty-two victims of Tuesday’s attack were brought to Turkey where three subsequently died. “Autopsies were carried out on three of the bodies after they were brought from Idlib. … Read more
Western powers pushed ahead Thursday with efforts to take action over the suspected chemical attack in Syria after US President Donald Trump warned the “affront to humanity” would not go unanswered. France said it was determined to pursue a UN Security Council resolution to investigate dozens of civilian deaths in a northwestern Syria town, which … Read more
Chemical weapons were used by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in an attack in rebel-held northwestern Syria, Turkey said on Thursday after carrying out autopsies on three people killed in the massacre. ‘Autopsies were carried out on three of the bodies after they were brought from Idlib. The results of the autopsy confirms that chemical weapons … Read more
Turkey said Thursday the autopsies of three Syrians killed in an attack in rebel-held northwestern Syria confirmed that chemical weapons had been used by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, state media reported. “Autopsies were carried out on three of the bodies after they were brought from Idlib. The results of the autopsy confirms that chemical weapons … Read more
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has described Turkey as a trusted ally after meeting its leaders in Ankara. His visit comes amid worsening relations between the two Nato allies. Speaking after meeting his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, Mr Tillerson said the US wanted strong links between the two countries. They are at odds over … Read more
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in Ankara on Thursday for talks on the Syria conflict, just a day after Turkey announced that its military offensive was over. Tillerson, the most senior US official to visit Turkey since President Donald Trump took office in January, is seeking to turn around recently rocky relations between … Read more
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued his rhetorical attacks on European leaders on Monday by accusing German Chancellor Angela Merkel of “supporting terrorists”. Merkel called the accusations “clearly absurd” after Erdogan made the comments in an interview with Turkey’s A Haber TV. “The chancellor has no intention of taking part in a game of provocation,” … Read more
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has withdrawn a bill that would pardon men convicted of sex with underage girls if they had married them. The government acted just before the controversial legislation went to a final vote in parliament, which is dominated by the ruling AK Party. The bill sparked protests and was met with … Read more
Thousands have protested in Istanbul in Turkey against a bill that would let off men who assaulted underage girls if they marry their victims. The government insists the legislation is aimed at dealing with the widespread custom of child marriage, but critics say that it will legitimise child rape. Protesters clapped and chanted: “We will … Read more
A bill which would allow men accused of raping underage girls to be cleared if they marry the girl has been preliminarily backed by Turkish MPs. The government says the bill is aimed at pardoning men who did not realise they were engaging in underage sex. Critics say it legitimises rape and child marriage, and … Read more
Turkey has removed 24 mayors accused of links to Kurdish separatist fighters, replacing them with state-appointed trustees in a major shake-up under emergency powers enacted after a failed coup attempt. The mayors were suspended from their posts over the past month on suspicion of links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group that has … Read more