March 26, 2014

‘It is not a battle of Gülen vs. Erdoğan, it is Erdoğan vs. democracy'

A panel discussion held at the House of Commons in London on Monday highlighted the recent developments in Turkish politics especially focusing on the relationship between the Gülen movement and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Constructs

Hasan Kanbolat

I do not like conspiracy theories. So, my goal with this column is certainly not to create any new conspiracy theories. It is just to try some broader thinking.

AK Party promises more despotism if it wins big in local polls

The existing political indications and thought-provoking remarks made by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suggest that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) may well get more despotic under a discourse of "advanced democracy" if it wins a big victory in the March 30 local elections.

Former police chief says anti-Hizmet operation to be based on fake evidence

Although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been threatening a police operation against the faith-based Hizmet movement for several months, he has taken no concrete steps so far, which suggests continuing efforts to fabricate evidence on which to base the would-be probe, according to former İstanbul Police Department Intelligence Bureau Chief Ali Fuat Yılmazer.

CHP candidate for Istanbul mayor, Sarıgül: Hizmet is not a political rival to Erdoğan

Q: What do you think about the insults of Erdoğan and AK Party politicians against the Hizmet movement?

Pro-government journalist resigns over daily's hate speech

The editor-in-chief at the pro-government Star daily announced on Wednesday that he has resigned from his duty on the grounds that he could no longer bear the hate speech the daily used for defamation.

Early general elections

Oğuzhan Tekin

Turkey's problem has turned into a regime crisis. Turkey's exit from the crisis is the coming elections. Therefore, the March 30 local elections are evaluated as general elections and a referendum for approval of the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) rule.

Kimse Yok Mu reaches out to Pakistan with food assistance

Turkish charity organization Kimse Yok Mu, which has been operating in many countries of the world for years, went to city of Tharparkar in Pakistan to distribute food boxes people who suffer from starvation.