Teenage Children Arrested for Tearing Down Erdogan Posters in Turkey
“Insulting the president” is a crime in Turkey, punishable by up to 28 months in prison—even if the offenders are 12 or 13 years old.
Tag: Turkey
Turkey: Erdogan Threatens to Attack Kurds, Accuses Them of ‘Ethnic Cleansing’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told the Syrian Kurdish PYD forces, who have worked with the United States in the past, “Pull yourself together” and keep east of the Euphrates River–or face military attack by Turkish forces.
Turkey: 200,000 Have Tried to Illegally Cross Border into Syria Since Last Year
Almost 200,000 people have attempted to illegally cross from Turkey into Syria over the past year, and many of those individuals are seeking to join terrorist groups such as the Islamic State, Turkish intelligence announced in a report Wednesday.
Opposition Turkish Newspapers Dress Front Pages in Black After Police Storm HQ
Turkish newspapers Bugün and Millet have painted their front pages black in protest of a Wednesday morning police raid on their offices, as well as the offices of Bugün TV and Kanaltürk. Police shut down the Kozi-Ipek media network and attacked journalists and protesters with tear gas and water cannons in what many claim is an abuse of government power.
Syria: Assad Regime Open to ‘Any Political Solution’ to Civil War
The office of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad issued a statement Tuesday claiming to welcome “any political solution” to the Syrian civil war, days after insisting that an election is out of the question until Assad achieves “victory over terrorism.”
Turkish Police Storm Offices Of Opposition Media Group Days Before Election
Turkish riot police firing tear gas and water cannon on Wednesday stormed into the Istanbul headquarters of a media group linked to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival, just days before a weekend election. The action triggered widespread concern about
Turkish Police Hunt For Beautiful ISIS Terrorist With a ‘Mona Lisa Smile’
Turkish police are hunting for an ISIS operative who certainly seems to break the mold: 20-year-old Walentina Slobodjanuk, originally from Kazakhstan, who has been described as “the beautiful terrorist with a Mona Lisa smile.”
Turkish Prime Minister to Critics: ‘Do I Have the Face’ of an ISIS Supporter?
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has responded to accusations that his party has not made enough of an effort to eradicate the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) from Turkey by asking of his detractors, “Look at me, look at my face. Do I have the face of someone who would support ISIL?”
Kurd Sets Himself on Fire upon Learning Daughter Left Home to Fight ISIS
A Kurdish man from the beleaguered Syrian border town of Kobani set himself on fire upon learning that his daughter had left home to join the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, the all-female YPJ, in the war against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL).
Turkey: ‘Islam’ Tea House Owned by Suicide Bomber Was ISIS Recruiting HQ
An article in Monday’s Hurriyet Daily News pinpoints an unassuming tea house called “Islam,” in the eastern Adiyaman province, as a pivotal location in the Islamic State’s assault on Turkey.
Assad Open to Elections in Syria, but Only After ‘Victory over Terrorism’
Russian lawmakers meeting with Syrian head of state Bashar al-Assad on Sunday claim he is open to holding elections that may result in his removal from power, but only after “terrorists”–a word Assad has often used as a blanket term for any Syrian opposition–are defeated.
World View: European Union Nations in Crisis Agree on Migration Plan for Refugees
Contents: Eurosceptic party in Poland wins election overwhelmingly; European Union nations in crisis agree on a migration plan for refugees; Hey kids, what time is it? In Turkey, it’s Erdogan Time!
Six Killed In Shootout Between Turkish Police And IS Suspects
DIYARBAKIRT, Turkey (AFP) – Four suspected Islamic State militants and two Turkish police officers were killed Monday in a shootout in Diyarbakir, the main city in the Kurdish-majority southeast, security services said. Police had launched dawn raids on several houses in a
Uncle Arrested in Acid Attack on Toddler in Turkey
Turkish authorities arrested a man for throwing sulphuric acid on his three-year-old nephew at a high-end Istanbul restaurant.
European Commission Suppressing Turkey Civil Rights Report Ahead of Erdogan Elections
The European Commission is allegedly suppressing a critical report into the worsening civil rights situation in Turkey, ahead of national elections next Sunday, November 1st. German newspaper Die Welt Am Sonntag reports the Commission, headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, is sitting
Syrian Arab Fighters Complain Kurds Have Taken U.S. Ammo
A dispute has arisen in Syria over the disposition of a fifty-ton ammunition shipment from the United States, supposedly intended for Syrian Arab rebel groups. The munitions were instead taken by the Kurdish YPG militia, according to both Arab and Kurdish commanders, although the Pentagon officially insists the shipment reached its intended recipients.
Putin: Assad Ready to Work with Rebels, Especially Kurds, Against ISIS
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, reacted “positively” to the idea of working with some rebel groups in the region against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), particularly the Kurds.
Qatar Considers Military Intervention Against Assad Regime in Syria
Syrian rebels supporter Qatar said it is considering a direct military intervention in Syria following Russia’s airstrikes in support of dictator Bashar al-Assad but added that it still prefers a political solution to the civil war.
Turkish Government: Assad Can Stay in Syria (for Six Months)
The Turkish government made it known on Wednesday they could accept a transition period for Syria where President Bashar al-Assad stays in power for six months before another person takes over.
Officials: Ankara Bombing Originally Targeted Kurd-Friendly Opposition Party Headquarters
Turkish state-run media outlet Anadolu Agency is reporting that police have evidence the original target of the bombing of a Kurdish peace rally in Ankara on October 10 was the headquarters of the Kurd-friendly People’s Democratic Party (HDP).
John Kerry to Discuss Syria Strategy with Russian Counterpart Sergei Lavrov
Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet in Vienna Friday to discuss Syria before they both meet with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Turkey Has Arrested 1,000 More Suspected PKK than ISIS Members Since Suruç Bombing
Turkey has arrested upwards of 1,000 more suspects linked to the Kurdish PKK than to the Islamic State (ISIS) or Al Qaeda since the July bombing of a meeting of Kurdish socialist youth in Suruç, despite declaring war on ISIS following that incident.
US, Russia Ink Syrian Airstrike Deal
The United States and Russia have agreed on new rules to avoid any confusion or conflict in Syria as both countries lead different coalitions. The Iraqi government also agreed not to ask Russia for help in its airspace.
Syria’s Assad Thanks Putin Personally in Surprise Trip to Moscow
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Russian head of state Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in a surprise visit to Moscow to personally thank Putin for airstrikes that have significantly weakened the Syrian opposition.
Turkey Announces In Absentia Trial for Controversial Cleric Fethullah Gülen
A Turkish court will try an influential cleric in absentia on terrorism charges and seek life imprisonment.
