With Erdogan Rival Detained, Critics See Democracy Eroding in Turkey

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Opponents say President Recep Tayyip Erdogan manipulates the courts and the media to tighten his grip on power, and now is trying to prevent a top contender from running for president.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan entered this year facing a knot of political problems with little precedent in his two decades at the summit of power in Turkey.

Voters were angry about persistently high inflation. His political party’s popularity had sunk. And his opponents had coalesced around the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, who made it clear that he was gunning for the presidency.

Then on Wednesday, just four days before the mayor was set to be designated as the political opposition’s presidential candidate, dozens of policemen arrested him at his home on accusations of corruption and terrorism.

Mr. Erdogan’s foes consider the arrest a ploy to abort Mr. Imamoglu’s presidential campaign before it even begins. At stake is not only who will be Turkey’s next president, analysts, opposition leaders and foreign officials say, but to what extent Turkey, one of the world’s 20 largest economies and a U.S. ally in NATO, can still be considered a democracy. » | Ben Hubbard and Safak Timur | Reporting from Istanbul | Saturday, March 22, 2025

Related material in English and French here.

Turkey Detains President Erdogan’s Main Rival Days before Becoming Candidate | BBC News

May 19, 2025 | Turkish authorities have detained the mayor of Istanbul, just days before he was due to be selected as a presidential candidate.

Ekrem Imamoglu, from the secular Republican People's Party (CHP), is seen as one of Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan's strongest political rivals.

Prosecutors accused him of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a "criminal organisation leader suspect".

Imamoglu said online "the will of the people cannot be silenced".


Vidéo connexe ici.

Dozens Dead as People Jump from Windows to Escape Fire at Turkish Ski Resort Hotel

THE GUARDIAN: Witnesses say people used bed sheets or jumped to try to get out of the 12-storey Grand Kartal hotel after fire broke out early in the morning

Seventy-six people have died and 51 others were injured after a fire engulfed a popular ski resort hotel in Turkey’s Bolu mountains, forcing guests to jump out of windows or attempt to use bed sheets to flee the building.

The fire broke out at about 3.30am on Tuesday in the restaurant of the 12-storey Grand Kartal hotel in the resort of Kartalkaya in Bolu province, north-west Turkey.

“We are in deep pain,” Turkey’s interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, told reporters after inspecting the site.

Yerlikaya said at least 51 other people had been injured. » | Angela Giuffrida in Rome, and agencies | Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Süleyman the Magnificent, 1987 | From the Vaults | The Met

Jul 31, 2020 | Süleyman (or Süleiman) the Magnificent was the longest-reigning emperor of the Ottoman empire. Known for his military campaigns spanning three continents, as well as his religious tolerance and masterful diplomacy, he was also a poet, goldsmith, and dedicated patron of the arts.

His rule brought a golden age of artistic and literary production to the Ottoman empire, exemplified by richly patterned textiles, pottery, calligraphy, and several monumental buildings by the architect Sinan.

Shot on location in Istanbul, Edirne, and the Turkish countryside.
Narrated by Ian McKellan.

Controversial Turkish Cleric Fethullah Gulen Dies Aged 83 | DW News

Oct 21, 2024 | The Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen has died aged 83. Ankara accused him of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016 in which around 250 people were killed. Gulen always denied any involvement. He was a former close ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before a major falling-out, and had lived in the United States since 1999. The Turkish government has confirmed his death.

NYT:

Fethullah Gulen, Turkish Cleric and Erdogan Rival, Dies at 83: Mr. Gulen, who lived in self-imposed exile in the United States, was accused of plotting a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey in 2016. »

Turkey Parliament Descends into Chaos as Dozens of MPs Take Part in Fistfight

THE GUARDIAN: Staff were left cleaning bloodstains from the floor after brawl which started when one MP called the ruling majority ‘terrorists’

Dozens of lawmakers became embroiled in a fisticuffs brawl in Turkey’s parliament on Friday as they argued over a jailed opposition deputy stripped of his parliamentary immunity this year.

The 30-minute ruckus, which left at least two lawmakers injured, forced the suspension of the hearing. Deputies eventually returned for a vote that rejected an opposition move to restore the parliamentary mandate of lawyer and rights activist Can Atalay.

Atalay won his seat in an election last year after campaigning from his prison cell. » | Agence France-Presse | Saturday, August 17, 2024

Queer Life under Erdogan | DW Documentary

Jul 10, 2024 | Today, Pembe Özkan lives in Turkey. Before that she’d lived almost her entire life in Germany, where she came out and married a woman.

After divorcing her wife, Pembe returned to her home country. Now, she lives in İzmir, known as the most liberal-minded city in Turkey. That has made it something of a magnet for gay men and women, trans people and anyone else who wishes to pursue a lifestyle different from the one Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan envisions for Turkey’s people. We meet up with Pembe, who now has to brave the repressive atmosphere in Turkey. A report by Almut Röhrl.

Activists Defy Ban to Stage Annual Pride March | DW News

Jun 29, 2024 | Millions will march in pride parades in many cities this weekend in countries around the world. But not in Turkey, where over the past decade, Pride marches have been banned. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has villified gay and trans people, and now many in the LGBTQ community fear things could get even worse. DW's Julia Hahn reports, and for more background we speak to Milena Büyüm of Amnesty International.

Our Favorite Ina Garten Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Videos | Barefoot Contessa | Food Network

Nov 5, 2023 | From roast turkey with truffle butter to herb-roasted turkey breast, these are our favorite Ina Garten Thanksgiving turkey recipe videos!

Ina throws open the doors of her Hamptons home for delicious food, dazzling entertaining ideas and good fun on Barefoot Contessa.

Is Erdogan Killing Turkey's Storied Winemaking Tradition | Focus on Europe | DW News

Nov 5, 2023 | Turkey's President Erdogan is making things hard for winemakers and brewers by imposing alcohol taxes that have risen by 1,550 percent since 2011. For Seniz Saç winemaking is a millennia-old cultural tradition.

Leftover Turkey Curry | Cooking with Zahra

Oct 4, 2023

Turkey Hits Suspected Kurdish Targets in Iraq after Ankara Blast I DW News

Oct 2, 2023 | Turkish war planes have struck suspected Kurdish targets in Iraq in response to a suicide bombing in the capital Ankara. The defense ministry says its jets destroyed 20 targets of the PKK Kurdish separatist group in northern Iraq.

Earlier, the PKK said it carried out a suicide bomb attack outside the Turkish interior ministry. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said terrorists would never achieve their aims. Viewers may find some of the images in this report disturbing.

This video is age-restricted, so it is available only on YouTube. Please click here to view it.
Related video here.

Suicide Bomber Detonates Device in Turkish Capital | DW News

Oct 1, 2023

Turkey: Two officers injured in blast outside interior ministry: An explosion outside Turkey's interior ministry in the capital Ankara was a "terrorist attack", the interior minister has said. »

Turkey’s Erdogan Says He Trusts Russia ‘Just as Much as I Trust the West’

Sep 19, 2023 | The nation of Turkey sits at a crossroads of the world, and its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is its preeminent leader. Reelected to office earlier in 2023, he has now been in power for 22 years. In an exclusive interview with Amna Nawaz, Erdogan discusses the state of NATO, Russia’s war on Ukraine and why Turkey might soon end its bid to become a part of the European Union.

Turkish Islamists Seeking Cultural Dominance Launch Bans on Festivals and Concerts

EL PAÍS INTERNATIONAL: Many artists have been cancelled for their LGBTQ+ support or for criticizing the conservative government

In June 2021, Turkish pop singer Gökçe tweeted, “Love whoever you want. Love is love.” Little did she know that this tweet would have long-lasting consequences. This year, she was scheduled to perform at a festival in the small resort town of Sandikli in western Turkey. However, less than two weeks before the August 11 concert, Islamist Mayor Mustafa Çöl cancelled the concert. Posting several screenshots of Gökçe’s supposedly offensive tweets, Çöl said, “We’ll never accept those who attack our sacred values. People who share these things won’t even be allowed to set foot in our region, let alone appear in Sandikli!”

About 20 concerts by major Turkish rock, pop and folk stars, as well as music festivals, have been canceled in the past three months as a result of pressure from government authorities and Islamist groups. Artists have faced backlash for expressing support for LGBTQ+ rights, condemning violence against women, supporting opposition parties and promoting music in minority languages. Similar events occurred last summer and many see these cancellations as an attempt by Turkish Islamists to extend their influence and promote a culture aligned with their ultra-conservative principles during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s long tenure in office. » | Andrés Mourenza, Istanbul | Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Turkey Backs Sweden's Nato Membership - Stoltenberg

BBC: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to support Sweden's bid to join Nato, the military alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg says.

He said the Turkish leader would forward Sweden's bid to the parliament in Ankara and "ensure ratification".

Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: "I am very happy, it is a good day for Sweden."

Turkey had previously spent months blocking Sweden's application, accusing it of hosting Kurdish militants.

As one of Nato's 31 members, Turkey has a veto over any new country joining the group.

Reacting to the news, US President Joe Biden said he welcomed the commitment by President Erdogan to proceed with "swift ratification". » | BBC | Monday, July 10, 2023

Glücklich über das Ende der „Basarverhandlungen“: Erleichterung in Stockholm: Der türkische Präsident Erdogan hat seine Blockadepolitik aufgegeben. Die Regierung in Stockholm betont, man habe keine neuen Zugeständnisse gemacht, um den NATO-Beitritt möglich zu machen. »

Erdogan Says E.U. Must ‘Clear the Way’ for Turkey Before It Will Support Sweden’s NATO Bid

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The Turkish president’s surprising new demand was bound to frustrate other leaders in the military alliance one day before a high-profile summit.

“Nobody should expect compromise nor understanding from me,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. | Umit Bektas/Reuters
ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said on Monday that the European Union should open the way for Turkey to join the bloc before Turkey allows Sweden to join NATO, adding a surprising new condition that could further stall the military alliance’s efforts to expand.

Mr. Erdogan’s latest demand came a day before the opening of NATO’s two-day annual summit, where leaders, including President Biden, had hoped to secure unanimous approval from member states to allow Sweden to become the 32nd member.

That outcome now appears increasingly unlikely, with Mr. Erdogan posing the main obstacle to Sweden’s membership.

“First, clear the way for Turkey in the European Union, then we will clear the way for Sweden as we did for Finland,” Mr. Erdogan told reporters before traveling to the NATO summit. » | Ben Hubbard | Monday, July 10, 2023

‘You Are the Future of Europe,’ Erdogan Tells Turks: Calling Turks the “future of Europe,” Turkey’s president on Friday implored his compatriots living on the Continent to have multiple children as an act of revenge against the West’s “injustices.” »

Erdoğan Builds Another Mega-Mosque, This Time in Germany: The City Council of Wuppertal, a municipality in western Germany with a substantial Muslim population, has voted to approve the construction of a controversial new mega-mosque that will be controlled by the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a tireless propagator of political Islam in Europe. »

Erdogan is like Janus: His face looks in two directions! One minute he looks West; the next, East.

If Europe wants to be Islamized, its leaders need to pave the way for Turkey’s accession to the European Union. If, however, they want Europe to remain largely Judæo Christian, …

Tough choices lie ahead. – © Mark Alexander

Istanbul’s Bellydancers and DJs Fight for Survival as Turkey’s Night-time Economy Takes a Hit

A bellydancer performs for guests at the Sebebi Çok Teras, a night spot in central Istanbul.
THE GUARDIAN: With inflation at more than 100%, and a ruling party hostile to Istanbul’s vibrant nightlife culture, performers and bar owners are facing severe struggles

It’s 11pm at a rooftop restaurant overlooking Istanbul and the patrons are ready to party. In a corner, neon lights illuminate a DJ pumping Turkish pop music to long tables of patrons increasingly loose on raki, Turkey’s aniseed-flavoured national drink. Some have already got out of their chairs to dance, when suddenly the music shifts: the bellydancers have arrived.

A male bellydancer in a pink crop top dances, followed by a blond bellydancer in a rhinestone bra, and then Aslı Can, who enters the room in a storm of high kicks and hair flips.

It’s a typical meyhane night – the name for a traditional restaurant where people spend hours drinking listening to music and watching bellydancing, a staple of Turkish social life for centuries.

As the trio move between the different tables, jostling and wiggling with patrons, they begin their tricks – Can at one point does a full backbend over a table as she dances. Within half an hour, her top is stuffed full of 100 lira notes. » | Ruth Michaelson and Deniz Barış Narlı. Photography by Bradley Secker for the Guardian | Wednesday, July 5, 2023

NATO Responds to Swedish Quran Burning

Jun 29, 2023 | NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that he understood the emotion caused by the burning of a copy of the Quran in Sweden but urged for a compromise over Sweden's accession to NATO.

Koran-burning Protest Could Further Delay Sweden's Bid to Join NATO • FRANCE 24 English

Jun 29, 2023 | A man tore up and burned a Koran outside Stockholm's central mosque on Wednesday, an event that risks angering Turkey as Sweden bids to join NATO, after Swedish police granted permission for the protest to take place.