It was quite a shock, I have to say: my neighbourhood in the Istanbul suburb of Üsküdar is an area in danger of demolition and ‘forced eviction’. I learned about it when visiting an exhibition on urbanisation in Istanbul which showed a map of all areas that were in some stage of radical change, so to …
I think it’s safe to say there is going to be a referendum in Turkey at the end of June or the beginning of July. The referendum will be about the package of constitutional reforms that the AKP is about to send to parliament. The package will most likely not get the required two thirds majority, which automatically means the …
A modern, non-Islamic Turkish woman usually doesn’t go shopping at Tekbir. Tekbir? That is the fashion brand of one of the most famous designers in Turkey, Mustafa Karaduman. He designs clothes for the upcoming devout Islamic middle class of Turkey – for example the wife of president Gül wears Tekbir. It offers modern clothes, stylish, but decent, very …
Turkey wants to prosecute coup participants
ISTANBUL – The Turkish government plans a constitutional change to make possible the prosecution of military personnel involved in the coup of 1980. Several Turkish online media report this on Thursday.
In Turkey the constitution of 1982 is still valid, written by the military rulers and including an article that makes prosecution of the coup participants impossible. The Erdogan government wants …
Some Roma even cried with happiness during their meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan this weekend. It was the first time ever a Turkish Prime Minister addressed a large group of Roma directly and vowed to solve the problems they face: discrimination, and a lack of education and good housing. The 12,000 Roma who attended came from all over Turkey, and …
A 100 hours of living in Istanbul
Of course, highlights like Aya Sofia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi palace are definitely worth a visit, but after that of course you want to get away from the crowds of tourists. Strolling through city parks where no tourists come, to a traditional drink and dinner room, and to a neighbourhood hamam instead of to an impersonal touristy one. …
‘That is, if Turkey meets the Copenhagen criteria’, says Judith Sargentini, Dutch Green Party representative in the Europarliament. She just attended the first meeting of an informal group of MEP’s who call themselves ‘Friends of Turkey’. They are pro Turkey’s accession to the European Union, but of course, not without the mantra: ‘if Turkey meets the Copenhagen criteria’.
Later this month, …
Prefab houses and tents are being sent to Elazig, the area in the east of Turkey that was hit by an earthquake early yesterday morning. And in the coming months, the people affected by the earthquake will have better houses than they had before. Not built of sun dried mud bricks like before, but of solid concrete.
In all the stories …
I’ve had some emails this week about the House Committee on Foreign Affairs voting on the ‘Armenian Genocide Bill’. Both groups pro and anti informed me about their stance and some asked me to write letters to the Committee to support their point of view.
Now the resolution is accepted. I always thought I was against it mainly because politicians shouldn’t …
Turkish army acknowledges possible coup plan
ISTANBUL – The general staff of the Turkish army has admitted that one of the possible coup plans against the AKP government could be genuine. It concerns ‘Operation Cage’, an action plan against the AK government and the religious Gülen movement that was revealed in June last year. Several Turkish media report this after a declaration was placed on the …
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