January 31, 2014

CSOs continue to condemn hate speech against Hizmet movement

More civil society organizations from various parts of Turkey held press conferences on Friday to slam hate speech used by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government against the Hizmet movement, saying that top government officials should refrain from using hateful rhetoric.

Gülen's lawyer: Systemic, illegal wiretaps taking place in Turkey over last six months

The lawyer of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has said there has been systematic eavesdropping on unsuspecting citizens for the last six months which led to a smear campaign against his client that included edited and doctored voice recordings.

Oligarchic clique's devious plans

İhsan Yılmaz

As I have previously written in this column, when former Interior Minister Idris Naim Şahin resigned from his party, he said in his resignation letter, “When it comes to governing, it is understood that [the party] prefers the guidance of a small oligarchic clique comprising politicians and bureaucrats whose intentions are uncertain.”

Deputy says AK Party tainted by corruption as he resigns

Another deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Muhammed Çetin, slammed the party for being tainted by corruption as he resigned in protest of the government's response to a graft scandal that has implicated the sons of three ministers and businessmen close to the government as well as the chief of a state bank.

Deputy Bal says did not resign from AK Party on anyone's orders

Responding to speculations put forward by circles close to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) that independent Kütahya deputy İdris Bal resigned from the party on an order from Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, Bal has said he did not resign from the party on anyone's orders, stating that if they could prove this, he is also ready to resign from his post as deputy.

'Parallel state' and 'theft of national will'

Bülent Keneş

The recent developments have demystified the millions of people living Turkey who have long been deceived by lies about the country being an "advanced democracy" and a "strong economy." But the "parallel state" and the "theft of the national will" are still here. But take it easy! Do not be easily concerned! Just bear with me to see if I am saying the same thing as the inventors of the parallel state and theft-of-the-national-will arguments....

Ministers deviate from Erdoğan's discourse on pineapple, interest lobby

Two prominent members of the Cabinet have refused to go along with two main keywords Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has frequently resorted to in order to demonize the opposition against him amidst escalating pressure on his government stemming from allegations of corruption and bribery.

Turkey: A victim of imperial overreach

Lale Kemal

There are, on the one hand, the Turkish security forces and judiciary, and on the other, the government and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), who are engaged in a bitter power struggle in front of the public over the search and seizure of trucks destined for neighboring Syria, which has been engulfed in a civil war for nearly three years. The government says the Syria-bound trucks contain humanitarian goods, while the opposition parties say they contain arms carried secretly to Syrian extremist groups such as the al-Nusra Front.

Meet Pakistan's real Tahirul Qadri

Naveed Ahmad*

The prayer leader of yesteryear fancies himself as the savior of today's Pakistan. Brandishing himself as the sheikh-ul-Islam, clad in Turkish cap and Arabic attire, Allama Tahirul Qadri quit hibernation in his cozy Canadian apartment late 2012.