Latest News from Turkey
New era with old concerns
Turkey is going through some very challenging times. Will it be possible to steer the Turkish transatlantic ship smoothly through the drastically difficult Kurdish problem's rough waters with icebergs floating around or laden with mines?
Turks losing battle against government on social media
Social media opened up a new realm for Turkish citizens to access news due to the heavy government control of mainstream media, but the state's increasing control over the Internet means citizens are losing the censorship battle to the state, according to communications scholar Asl?
Turkish gov't confusing minds as PKK leader calls for disarmament
Abdullah Öcalan?s March 21 message, sent from ?mral? Island prison where he has been kept since 1999 and read in Diyarbak?r addressing the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK), which he founded in 1978, to take a decision to leave arms and shift to a non-violent strategy was something that the Turkish government had been expecting for more than six months.
Turkish gov't confusing minds as PKK leader calls for leaving arms
The March 21 message of Abdullah Öcalan sent from ?mral? island-prison where he is kept since 1999 was rad in Diyarbak?r addressing the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) which he had founded in 1978 to take a decision to leave arms and shift to a non-violent strategy was something that the Turkish government has been expecting for more than six months.
Gov't, HDP shouldn't be in the same picture, says Turkish president
President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has said he did not approve of a meeting and joint press conference between the government and the Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) at Istanbul?s Dolmabahçe Palace on Feb. 28, which was presented as a turning point in the Kurdish peace process.
Turkish PM urges burying guns, not youths
Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu urged people to bury guns in the ground instead of youths, referring to the decades-old conflict between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Turkey, at a spring festival organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul on March 21.
Flamingos surprisingly settle in Ayval?k
Flamingos, which generally take shelter in Lake Tuz and ?zmir?s Çamalt? salt marsh in Turkey, have been coming to the popular Turkish tourism resort town of Ayval?k in the western province of Mu?la since the beginning of spring.
Nine British medical students believed to have crossed into Syria from Turkey: Report
Nine British medical students have travelled to Syria, apparently to work in hospitals controlled by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Britain's Observer newspaper reported on March 21.
Nine British medics entered Syria via Turkey, MP confirms
Nine young British medical students have travelled illegally to Syria through Turkey and are believed to be working in hospitals in areas controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Observer has reported. A Turkish deputy, meanwhile, has claimed that the nine individuals crossed the border in order to serve Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters.
More PKK militants surrender as peace process continues, data shows
The number of outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants who laid down arms and surrendered to security forces has reached 988 since the beginning of 2013, when the Kurdish peace process began, according to data collected by the Interior Ministry.
Turkey's top religious body says in vitro fertilization contains adultery elements, is not acceptable
Turkey?s top religious affairs body has said surrogate motherhood was religiously unacceptable, as it contained elements of adultery.
The Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) announced on March 20 in vitro fertilization between unmarried individuals was not religiously acceptable, as it offended humane feelings and contained elements of adultery.
Turkey's top religious body says surrogate motherhood contains adultery elements, is not acceptable
Turkey?s top religious affairs body has said surrogate motherhood was religiously unacceptable, as it contained elements of adultery.
The Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) announced on March 20 in vitro fertilization between unmarried individuals was not religiously acceptable, as it offended humane feelings and contained elements of adultery.
Turkey's Changemakers: Abdullah Oskay working for young people raised in government care
The Sabanc? Foundation?s Turkey?s Changemakers Program continues in its 6th season to share the unique stories of extraordinary people who contribute to social development. The 11th Changemaker of the 6th season is Abdullah Oskay.
Turkey's nationalist opposition leader accuses ruling AKP of treason
The leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has accused the government of treason as he was re-elected to the party's top post.
"The ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) has openly betrayed the Turkish history, Turkish nation and the state of the Republic of Turkey," Devlet Bahçeli told during the MHP's 11th Congress in Ankara on March 21.
Turkish President Erdo?an mum on gov't criticism, PKK leader's call
President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has avoided thorny issues related to Turkey's Kurdish peace bid during his speech in a western city, confined himself to congratulating Nevruz with broad remarks.