(REUTERS) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan mocked European Union overtures for help with its migration crisis during a long-awaited visit to Brussels on Monday that in the end was partly overshadowed by Russia’s violation of Turkish airspace near Syria. Erdogan,
In separate incidents, Russian warplanes appeared to threaten Turkey this weekend, reportedly crossing five miles into Turkish airspace in one incident and harassing two Turkish F-16s in another.
Ahmet Hakan, a columnist for the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, has been discharged from the hospital with broken ribs and a broken nose following a beating by four men on Thursday night, two of whom have ties to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Hakan has received death threats in the past for criticism of the AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey was surprisingly quiet during the first day of Russian bombing in Syria, but they were certain to denounce the action, because they have long criticized the regime of dictator Bashar Assad and have insisted his removal was crucial to resolving the Syrian crisis. The Turks are not terribly fond of the Russians either.
Contents: Mahmoud Abbas’s United Nations ‘bombshell’ something of a dud; Russia humiliates US again as it begins striking Syria
ANKARA, Oct 1 (Reuters) – A prominent Turkish journalist was hospitalised after an attack by unknown assailants outside his home, his newspaper said on Thursday, in the latest sign of deteriorating conditions for the media under President Tayyip Erdogan [pictured above].
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who represents the nation most vocally opposed to the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, reportedly met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and American President Barack Obama at the UN General Assembly to discuss the Syrian civil war.
The masked gunmen who kidnapped 16 Turkish construction workers from their job site in Baghdad at the beginning of September have released a video of their hostages, showing them alive and well, and they claimed that the captives will be released soon.
A damning report written by senior British lawyers has found Turkey’s government inflicts “systematic human rights violations” on its judiciary, police and media. At 95 pages long the dossier sets out allegations that the government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has interfered
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for years one of the most vocal voices against supporting Syrian head of state Bashar al-Assad, said on the record that “a transition process” in Syria involving Assad “is possible.” He is now walking back the statement, asserting that Assad must be overthrown.
The government of Turkey is expressing “deep concern” regarding Russia’s prodigious military buildup in Syria, allegedly intended to keep Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in power against the jihadists of the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS).
The dedication ceremony of Moscow’s new Muslim landmark, reportedly Europe’s largest mosque, took place today in the presence of foreign leaders and President Putin. The Moscow Cathedral Mosque (pictured above) made of white and green granite from Canada and marble from
Turkey’s escalating crackdown on journalism has gone well beyond incarcerating the odd foreign journalist for covering stories the government wanted to ignore.
Turkish authorities are now targeting Doğan Media Group for “terrorist propaganda,” only days after mobs attacked the offices of Doğan-owned Hürriyet Daily News.
Hundreds of attacks by Turkish nationalist mobs on Kurdish-friendly parties, Kurdish businesses, and even knowing Kurdish individuals in the wake of the nation’s struggle against the Marxist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group threaten the peaceful coexistence of Turks and Kurds, leaders warn.
Police officers raided Turkish magazine Nokta after they published an illustration of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan taking a selfie next to a soldier’s coffin. The officers also seized remaining copies from the newsroom.
During a week in which the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has fought off three violent mobs at two of its headquarters, a rival columnist supportive of Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has threatened the life of Hurriyet writer Ahmet Hakan, noting that the AKP has “been merciful today and you are still alive,” but that can always change.
Turkey has sent ground forces into Iraq to chase down Kurdish militants for the first time since a ceasefire deal was reached more than two years ago.
Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper has suffered a second, bolder attack on headquarters in both Istanbul and Ankara, following an attack earlier this week in which Islamists broke office doors with stones and sticks, while yelling, “Allahu akbar.”
The head of Turkey’s People’s Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş, stated this week that his Kurdish-friendly party had experienced more than 400 attacks by Islamists and Turkish nationalists in the last two days.
Contents: Egypt’s army starts ‘The Martyr’s Right’ operation in North Sinai; Turkey’s troops enter northern Iraq to hunt PKK after terror attacks; Violence spreads in cities across Turkey; Pro-government mobs in Turkey storm Hurriyet offices for alleged Erdogan misquote; Turkey appears to be approaching civil war.
Supporters of Turkey’s Islamist ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) attacked the headquarters of major newspaper Hurriyet on Sunday night. In response, the government is seeking not to investigate the attacks, but Hurriyet, for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Marxist terror group, has claimed 31 Turkish soldiers were killed in the latest clashes with national authorities, a death toll Turkey denies. Violence continues unabated in PKK-controlled areas, as Turkey’s government vows to eradicate the Kurdish group.
A swarm of angry pro-Justice and Development Party protesters led by an Istanbul member of Parliament attacked Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper with stones, shouting “God is great” and asserting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would continue ruling the country regardless of the upcoming election’s outcome.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered an angry speech on Thursday condemning Europe and “the West” for its responsibility in creating the migrant crisis currently consuming Europe, accusing Western countries of turning the Mediterranean Sea into a “graveyard.”
Turkish state media is confirming that three Vice News journalists, arrested on “terrorism” charges in the Middle Eastern nation, had ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), possessing footage of members of the group making molotov cocktails while being interviewed. Turkey has moved the journalists to a facility five hours away from their legal representation.
Islamic State social media accounts have uploaded a fatwa to the Internet calling for the death of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, himself politically an Islamist, for collaborating with the United States on airstrikes against the jihadist terror group.
An ISIS “web portal” has released a statement in response to Turkey announcing its first airstrikes against the terrorist group alongside the American government, calling Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an “infidel” and threatening retribution for Turkey’s “crimes” against them.
Two British journalists arrested in Turkey for covering the conflict between the national government and the Marxist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group may not have had any ties to the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS), reports indicate, but did have sources within the PKK.
The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS) has released its first Turkish-language video, a fiery rant by an unidentified graybeard surrounded by the usual armed thugs in which the Turkish people are urged to reject democracy, overthrow the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, fight the United States, and do everything they can to assist the Islamic State and its “Caliph,” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
A mob self-identifying as outraged Muslims attacked a Turkish street band in Istanbul this week for playing the Italian left-wing fight song “Bella Ciao,” complaining that the song was a “Jewish march” and that bands should not be allowed to play “Israeli music” freely in Turkey.
A planned Tuesday visit to Turkey by Iran’s Foreign Minister, and top nuclear negotiator, Mohammad Javad Zarif has reportedly been “postponed” due to “scheduling problems.”
The U.S.-Turkey coalition appears already in trouble, even before American F-16s take to the Syrian skies out of Turkey to fly anti-ISIS missions. The Turkish military allegedly only gave Americans ten minutes to leave the site of an imminent airstrike on alleged PKK territory in Iraq.
A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter named Mamend Rasul claims that, while he was off fighting against ISIS, serving as a company commander, a force supported by the Western powers and heavily relied upon to keep the rapacious terror state in check, Turkish F-16s bombed the Iraqi village of Zergaly where his family lived, killing his 63-year-old sister, 61-year-old brother, and a cousin.
A month after Turkey agreed to allow U.S. and allied forces to use its airfields for operations in Syria, the first armed drone strike has been conducted by the United States.
In his latest book, Christian Persecution in the Middle East: A 21st Century Tragedy, author George J. Marlin explores the fall of Christianity in its birthplace, documenting the suffering of those people who face death simply for being a Christian.
The conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, continues to intensify, with reports of three more Turkish soldiers killed by mine and missile attacks from PKK militants.The U.S. State Department has called on both sides to resume peace talks.
The general who presides over the Turkish armed forces is expected to be replaced by the current commander of land forces, who is expected to be more hawkish in combating the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), reports Al Monitor.
According to the Kurdish Rudaw news agency, Turkish airstrikes against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets destroyed a health clinic in the Amediye district of Duhok. The clinic is said to have serviced several nearby villages. No casualties were reported.
A Turkish national whistleblower known on Twitter only under the alias Fuat Avni is claiming that the Suruç suicide bombing attributed to the Islamic State (ISIL/ISIS) was planned by the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to allow for military action against Kurds. While the account is anonymous and provides no corroborating evidence, it has sufficient following to provoke a loud national response.