Tatvan

In response to the burgeoning demand for the iconic Eastern Express among avid travelers, two new tourist trains are set to embark on their inaugural voyages to southeastern routes next week, with one destined for Diyarbakır and the other for Tatvan, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu has said.

As the beloved Touristic Eastern Express continues to captivate travelers and culture enthusiasts, anticipation builds for two exciting alternative routes to Türkiye's southeast set to debut in April, offering immersive experiences to explore more of the country's rich landscapes.

The Lake Van Express, stretching from the capital Ankara to the eastern province of Bitlis' Tatvan district, has become a focal point for photographers, particularly during the winter months.

A protester outside the Turkish embassy in Berlin, Germany, May 2017. Photo: EPA/CLEMENS BILAN

On June 17, Aygul, who is also the chairperson of the Bitlis Association of Journalists, wrote on Twitter that security guards employed by the mayor of the eastern Turkish city of Tatvan, Mehmet Emin Geylani, physically assaulted him in the street.

A military helicopter crashed in southeast Turkey, killing nine soldiers and injuring four, the defense ministry said on March 4. 

The helicopter crashed in the town of Tatvan, in the Bitlis province.

The Cougar type helicopter was on its way to Tatvan from the nearby province of Bingöl when it disappeared from radar at 2:25 pm (1125 GMT), the ministry said.

A 5,000-year-old ancient city on the shores of Lake Van is in danger of vanishing because it has not been taken under protection.

Bitlis Eren University academic Associated Professor Mehmet Demirta? said the ancient city was registered by the Culture and Tourism Ministry in 1986.

The massacre of cartoonists coming on the top of vicious terrorism by Islamists has generated two responses among Muslims: 1) "The West asked for it! They deserve it!" 2) "This is not Islam! Islam is a religion of peace."

Let us take a look at these responses, which are sometimes articulated together. Then, let us think about how Islam came to this state and how it can get out of it.