Latest News from Turkey

Erdo?an sets mission impossible for Davuto?lu

During a public rally in the northwestern city of Bursa on Feb. 6, President Tayyip Erdo?an demanded 400 seats in the 550-seat Turkish Parliament in the June 7 elections, saying this target was necessary in order to secure a strong presidential system, a solution to the Kurdish problem, a new constitution, and a ?New Turkey.? 

Princely doodling in the 15th century

In a book recently published, through sketches and drawings, one catches a glimpse into the mind of a young Fatih Sultan Mehmed as a schoolboy with big dreams Doodling has been around for centuries, maybe millennia; at its simplest, it is defined as sketching aimlessly or mindlessly. In spite of this "art" form, there does not seem to be an equivalent word in Turkish, just a definition.

How to fight Istanbul's hillbillies - II

Wow? What a reaction-filled week. Thanks for writing, enjoying and laughing regarding my piece last week. Thanks for also not liking and letting me know this with your ?kindest? words.

Why does Erdo?an want a 'presidential system?'

These days, one of the hottest topics in Turkey is the campaign to shift to the ?presidential system? with a new constitution after the upcoming elections on June 6. If this really happens, it will amount to the greatest systemic transformation Turkey has had since the beginning of the republic in 1923.

Self-esteem of imams comes before scientists

In the PISA test, which is research on education conducted in 65 countries comparing their achievements, Turkey was at the 44th place recently on secondary education quality. 

Number of Istanbul deputies increases due to population rise

The Turkish High Election Board (YSK) has fine-tuned the number of lawmakers to be elected from each province at the June 7 polls in accordance with updated population data, increasing the number of Istanbul deputies to be elected by Istanbul residents.

Hard to find such unproductive justice

I wrote earlier in the week: ?Our prosecutors completed each of the investigations they launched in 2013 in an average of 90 days. Out of every 100 investigation, they opened 49 civil law suits. Our criminal courts, after trying these 49 people for 210 to 260 days, convicted 20 of them. These 20 convictions were taken to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Bulgaria Radical Imam 'Helped People into Syria'

Ahmed Musa Ahmed, an imam accused of preaching radical Islam in the Bulgarian town of Pazardzhik, provided logistic support to two Bosnian Muslims who wanted to cross the Bulgaria-Turkey border, officials say.

CHP applies to visit chief of Samanyolu media group

A group of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies, under the leadership of CHP deputy chairman Sezgin Tanr?kulu, has applied to the Justice Ministry to visit Hidayet Karaca, the CEO of the Samanyolu Media Group, on Feb. 9.

Large bridge may be named after Erdo?an

The Turkish authorities are planning to name a major new bridge across the Euphrates River in the southeast of the country after President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, daily Hürriyet?s columnist Vahap Munyar reported on Feb. 6.

Erdo?an wants 400 deputies for his former AKP at Turkish elections

Disregarding opposition criticism of his direct involvement in politics, President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an once again appealed for votes for his former Justice and Development Party (AKP) without explicitly giving the party?s name, declaring that ?400 lawmakers? are needed for a ?new Turkey.?  

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