Two weeks to go, and the referendum on the constitutional changes as proposed by the AKP will be held. Even though it’s not an election, the campaigning is intense. So is the debate on the street, even going as far as physical fights between supporters and opponents of the changes. Whenever I join the debate, whether online or in real …
There it was, on a huge rock in the middle of a village: oruç tut sıhhat bul, meaning ‘Get healthy by fasting’. It seems the connection between fasting during Ramadan and getting healthy is being made more and more often.
In the first place, it is of course crap to say that fasting during Ramadan makes you healthier. On the contrary: …
Murdered journalist Dink wins court case
ISTANBUL – The European Court for Human Rights has ruled in favour of the (murdered) Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and his family. Dink filed the case almost four years ago. The Turkish state didn’t do enough to protect Dink’s life and didn’t respect Dink’s freedom of expression. The news appeared in several Turkish media outlets on Monday.
Sources say the verdict …
Will the real Turkey please rise?
The Turkish government of Prime Minister Erdoğan keeps saying it still wants to be an EU member. But in the meantime, they become friends with Iran and Syria and agitate in strong emotional words against Israel. What does the country really want?
The story goes that at the Turkish ministry of Foreign Affairs people start tearing their hair out …
Every, really every foreign journalist working in Turkey, writes about the Kurdish question. It’s one of the most urgent topics in the country, there are a lot of interesting developments to report about and the stories are usually pretty sellable as well. And I haven’t heard of any foreign journalist getting into trouble (the last couple of years) with the …
A blessing in polygamy disguise
So, is Prime Minister Erdogan against adultery and polygamy or not? As far as I know, Erdogan hasn’t reacted yet to the debate that is going on. The subject: an advisor he appointed earlier this year, Ali Yuksel, who has three wives and intends to marry a fourth. It’s not possible to officially marry more than …
Roof sleeping causes deaths in Turkey
ISTANBUL – In Turkey this summer already dozens of people have died after not taking precautions when sleeping on the roof. The youngest victim is a ten year old girl in the western province of Bursa, who slept on the roof with her family because of the heat: she woke up at night and feel from a height of 3 …
Tension over military promotions in Turkey
ISTANBUL – Turkish President Gül rejected the promotion of eleven high officers because of possible complicity in an alleged coup plot, it is reported in several Turkish media on Thursday.
The planned promotions were to be made official during the four day long Supreme Military Council, the yearly meeting of top military personnel chaired by Prime Minister Erdoğan. Usually promotions are …
It would have been too cruel, of course, to take Istanbul off the World Heritage List in the year that the city is European Capital of Culture. UNESCO decided not to transfer Istanbul to the World Heritage in Danger List. Just like last year, and the year before. And it doesn’t look like the yearly decision-making meeting of UNESCO is …
Kosaner made new Turkish Commander-in-Chief
ISTANBUL – Isik Kosaner will succeed Ilker Basbug as Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish army at the end of August. Basbug will retire as planned. The decision was made during the annual meeting of the Supreme Military Council, presided over by Prime Minister Erdoğan, as reported in the Turkish media on Monday.
That Kosaner (65) would succeed Basbug was in fact already …
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