Turkey
Turkey: Crackdown on Kurdish Opposition
The Turkish government has jailed 13 members of the pro-Kurdish democratic opposition in parliament on terrorism charges and taken direct control of 82 municipalities in the Kurdish southeast region, suspending and incarcerating elected mayors, Human Rights Watch said today. The crackdown on democratically elected officials not only violates their rights… »
Understanding the situation of the Middle East today. From one world war to another (1/3)
To understand the situation of today’s Middle East, it’s necessary to review a century of history. It’s necessary to go back to the aftermath of the First World War to see a large part of the geopolitical data that explains the multiplicity and entanglement of the present conflicts. One thing… »
Save Shabbir and #StopTheDeal between the EU and Turkey
This is more than a man’s story. This is a chance to save a man’s life and end the shameful refugee deal between the EU and Turkey. We need you to make it possible. Shabbir is 40 years old, an electrical engineer by trade. He is married and has two… »
EU lawmakers urge suspension of Turkey membership talks
A broad majority of EU lawmakers have called for ceasing membership talks with Turkey due to its post-coup purges and President Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian actions. But EU’s top diplomat has warned against it. The European Parliament debated Turkey’s EU membership issue on Tuesday – the second day of a four-day… »
Turkey: “We are drifting towards a fascist dictatorship”
Interview with Erkin Erdogan, co-chair of HDK Berlin-Brandenburg, with the help of Peter Vlatten. This Monday several hundred people – men, women and children – protested once again in front of the Parliament in Berlin with the slogan “It’s enough” and “When will Germany react?” because of the arrests of… »
German government backs Deutsche Welle in Turkey dispute
German diplomats have spoken out after Turkey’s Youth and Sports Ministry confiscated a DW interview. Media and Culture Commissioner Monika Grütters has also made a strong public statement. On Wednesday, German Media and Culture Commissioner Monika Grütters received resounding applause in the Bundestag for criticizing the Turkish Youth and Sports… »
2016, Deadliest Year for Refugees Crossing to Europe via Central Mediterranean
Human Wrongs Watch The United Nations refugee agency on 2 September 2016 flagged that while the number of deaths of refugees seeking safety via the Turkey-Greece route into Europe has fallen dramatically, the use of the North Africa-Italy route has remained constant – with… »
The Global Power Imbalance
Johan Galtung* This editorial 444–the number calls for attention–is dedicated to a global overview, the world “right now”, so unstable with imbalances everywhere that what we are living is fluxes and jumps. Let us start with two major relations: nature-human, USA-Rest. Look… »
Turkish tanks clash with Kurd-backed forces in Syria, monitor group reports
Turkish troops have clashed with pro-Kurdish militiamen for the first time since Ankara sent tanks across the border, a monitor group said. Previously, the rebels accused Turkey of bombing civilians in the area. Pro-Kurdish troops were fighting the Turkish army after it moved deeper into the Kurdish region in Syria,… »
The story behind post-coup siege mentality in Turkey
Turkish politicians and media were quick to blame the West for the failed July 15 coup. The idea that world powers have designs on Turkey has been around for over a century – and it’s not totally without basis. In the weeks since the July 15 coup, Turkey’s government has… »