December 21, 2014

Who is Fethullah Gülen?

Şahin Alpay

The leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, rightly called it “a coup against democracy” when Zaman Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı and STV network executive Hidayet Karaca, together with a number of screenwriters and television producers, were detained on Dec. 14 on the incredible charges of founding or belonging to “an armed terrorist organization aiming to seize the sovereignty of the state.”

Turkey’s structural democratic deficit

Ömer Taşpınar

In times like this, when there is a growing sense of despair about the future of liberal democracy in Turkey, it is important to take a long-term view and calmly reflect on how the country will weather the current developments.

Bigger picture

Bülent Keneş

Turkey is moving headlong towards disaster. Having turned into a full-fledged dictator, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has taken under his control not only the fundaments of democracy such as the executive, the legislature and the media, but the judiciary as well.

Embattled Turkish cleric's influence felt in Tulsa

Fethullah Gulen is not exactly a household name in Tulsa.

But the influence of the Turkish Muslim cleric — who is living in self-imposed exile in the United States — is felt here and in cities around the world.

The new Turkey: tyranny and oppression

Amanda Paul

Today, the words dictatorship and authoritarian rule are becoming increasingly popular both inside and outside Turkey when referring to its leadership. Why has this happened? The answer is simple -- President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his new order and new rules of governance.

‘Reasonable suspicion’ paves way for crackdown on media

The recent detainment of managers from two of Turkey's leading media outlets following the enactment of a law that allows the judiciary to issue arrest warrants based only on “reasonable suspicion” of wrongdoing is a sign that the government -- hard-pressed by allegations of corruption -- will use the law to repress the media and dissidents.

AK Party’s media crackdown exacerbates Turkey’s isolation

As a NATO ally which professes to share NATO's core principles about democracy, human rights and press freedom and as a candidate country for European Union membership, the Turkish government's recent crackdown on opposition media outlets has shocked many outside observers and contributed to the country's isolation and increasing distance from its allies.

Gov’t raids imperil Turkey’s vibrant TV industry

The detainment of media personnel, including journalists and even screenwriters, on charges of attempting to overthrow the Turkish government by broadcasting soap operas and publishing news articles constitutes a move that does not bode well for Turkey's flourishing TV industry.