Headscarf discussion in Dutch TV-show, with yours truly
Today, Thursday 13th of May, I was one of the three correspondents in a Dutch TV-show that discussed the position of the head scarf in their countries. Besides me, Maarten Veeger, Dutch correspondent in Italy, was in the programme, and Stefan de Vries, Dutch correspondent in France.
You can watch the show here, but sorry, …
Turks commemorate mass killings of Armenians
ISTANBUL – For the first time Turks in Turkey have commemorated the mass killings of Armenians in 1915. A few hundred people joined together in ceremonies organized by IHD, one of the biggest human rights organisations in the country.
One of the commemorations took place by the train station from where on 24 April 1915 an initial convoy of Armenians left …
Dutch in Turkey go home by bus
ISTANBUL – A handful of Dutch at the airport in Turkey’s main city Istanbul are getting ready for their trip home. By bus, for around thirty hours to Düsseldorf in Germany, and from there they will take a train. They didn’t get any help from KLM or their travel agent. Diana van Raampt, a woman in her fifties from Amsterdam: …
Baby in Turkey killed for ‘honour’
ISTANBUL – In the far west of Turkey a 2 day old baby has been killed to save the ‘honour’ of the family. The mother was not married to the father of the child, and this brought shame upon the family. Several Turkish papers report this story on Saturday.
The 25 year old mother got pregnant by her boyfriend before he …
Kurdish allowed in election campaign
ISTANBUL – The Turkish parliament has passed an amendment legalising the use of Kurdish in election campaigns, and thus removing an important restriction on the use of the language. This is according to reports in several Turkish media on Thursday. In parliament Turkish remains the only language allowed.
During last year’s local government elections, several Kurdish politicians got into trouble for …
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 …
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. …
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 …
‘Tensions Turkey are fight for democracy’
ISTANBUL – The current tensions in Turkey are often seen as a power struggle between the army and the government of Prime Minister Erdogan. Unjustified, say several Turkish opinion makers: it’s a struggle for real democracy.
Earlier this week, once again dozens of (high-ranking) military personnel, some retired and some still on active duty, were arrested for alleged links with Balyoz …
ISTANBUL – Does Ilker Basbug, the top general of the Turkish armed forces, want to modernize the army, or is he a hawk who would do anything to keep the institution as powerful as it is? Both, so it seems. He supports the investigation into military personnel supposedly linked to coup plans, but also believes that civilian judges shouldn’t try …
Recent Comments