The Turkish government has failed to convince Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency that United States based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, was behind last summer’s failed coup in Turkey, the BND head told a German magazine. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish government accuse Gulen of orchestrating Turkey’s failed coup on July 15 2016, in which … Read more
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel of using ‘Nazi measures’ as a war of words threatens to spiral out of control. In a speech broadcast on television yesterday Erdogan said: ‘When we call them Nazis they (Europe) get uncomfortable. They rally together in solidarity. Especially Merkel. ‘But you are right … Read more
“The Europeans should hear us, empathize with our suffering and help us Around 9,000 Kurdish supporters demonstrated in the German city of Frankfurt on Saturday against Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and an April referendum that would give him sweeping new powers. Protesters chanted “Erdogan terrorist” and “freedom for Ocalan”, referring to Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed … Read more
The Turkish government is to ban several popular television dating shows which do not fit in with ‘traditions and customs’. Matchmaking reality shows like Ne Çikarsa Bahtina (Luck of the Draw) are very popular in Turkey but there have been tens of thousands of complaints and the ruling AKP sees them as out of kilter with … Read more
Dutch investment in Turkey is not at risk from the diplomatic row between the two countries as Ankara’s ire is focused on the Dutch government, not its people or businesses, Turkey’s minister for EU affairs told Reuters. Turkey suspended high-level diplomatic relations with the Netherlands on Monday, banning the Dutch ambassador from the country and … Read more
Turkey’s war of words with the Netherlands has worsened after the Turkish president accused the Dutch of carrying out a massacre of Muslim men at Srebrenica, Bosnia, in 1995. Bosnian Serb forces were in fact behind the massacre but Dutch UN peacekeepers failed to protect the victims. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the failure, still a … Read more
The Turkish foreign ministry has rejected a call by top EU officials to show restraint in a row with the Netherlands over political campaigning. It described as “worthless” an appeal by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn. The row erupted after the Dutch barred Turkish ministers from campaigning among … 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
The Netherlands has warned its citizens over travel to Turkey as a row between the countries shows no sign of abating. Germany, Austria and the Netherlands blocked Turkish attempts to hold rallies in those countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed retaliation, accusing them of “Nazism”. On Monday, the Dutch foreign ministry issued a new … Read more
Several EU leaders have criticised Turkey, amid a growing row over the Turkish government’s attempts to hold rallies in European countries. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Germany and the Netherlands of “Nazism” after officials blocked rallies there. Dutch PM Mark Rutte called his comments “unacceptable”, while Germany’s foreign minister said he hoped Turkey would “return … Read more
Dutch riot police have clashed with protesters in Rotterdam, amid a diplomatic row that saw a Turkish minister escorted out of the country. Water cannon and police on horseback were used to disperse about 1,000 people outside the Turkish consulate. The minister was trying to win support among expatriates for a referendum on expanding Turkish … Read more
The Netherlands barred a plane carrying Turkey’s foreign minister from landing to stop him from addressing a political rally Saturday in Rotterdam. The Dutch government announced that Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s flight permit was revoked amid concerns over public order at the expected large gathering of Turkish expatriates. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted angrily … Read more
Istanbul authorities on Thursday said 2,000 Syrian families in the city could be set for Turkish citizenship but the government insisted approval would only come after an April referendum on boosting the president’s powers. “Until now in Istanbul, documents have been prepared and sent for further processing to the (interior) ministry for 2,000 families,” Istanbul … Read more
On the night of July 15, 2017, Turkey went through the most catastrophic tragedy in its recent history as a result of the attempted military coup. The events of that night could be called a serious terror coup. Turkish people from all walks of life who thought the era of military coups was over showed … Read more
In the heart of Ankara, Turkish communications lecturer Sevilay Celenk gives a lecture to dozens of attentive students. But her lecture is not taking place on a campus, or even in a hall, but at a park, where the crowd has braced the bitter cold to hear her. Celenk is one of about 5,000 Turkish … Read more
A ban on female army officers in Turkey wearing the Muslim headscarf has been lifted by the government. The military is the last Turkish institution to see the ban removed. It has long been seen as the guardian of Turkey’s secular constitution. Wearing headscarves in public institutions was banned in the 1980s. But Turkey’s Islamist-leaning … Read more
Diplomatic tensions escalated Tuesday between Turkey and Iran as the countries traded accusations over their roles in the Syria conflict and the Middle East. The pair have been regional rivals for centuries but have sought to forge a pragmatic relationship in recent years, with the Islamic Republic strongly supporting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after last … Read more
The trial opened on Monday of almost 50 suspects accused of plotting to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a luxury Aegean hotel on the night of the botched July 15 coup. Forty-four suspects, mainly soldiers, are under arrest, while three others still on the run are being tried in absentia at the court in … Read more
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Saudi Arabia’s top leadership on Tuesday during a visit to further strengthen ties as part of a Gulf tour ahead of Syria peace talks. King Salman hosted a luncheon banquet for Erdogan, who arrived in Riyadh late Monday, the official Saudi Press Agency said. It gave no details of … Read more
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived for talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday to further strengthen ties as part of a Gulf tour. The two Sunni powers have become increasingly close over the past year, sharing in particular a backing for the opposition in Syria’s war. Before beginning his Gulf trip in Bahrain on Sunday, … Read more