Bilal Erdoğan

An attorney defending two men who were fined for unfurling a “thief” banner at a rally for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is now the subject of a legal complaint after arguing that his clients simply expressed their “democratic reaction” against corruption claims.

Hundreds of relatives and friends of Cabinet members and ruling party MPs have been appointed to state positions without passing the required examination, a spokesperson for Turkey's main opposition party has claimed, also producing a list detailing these recently-appointed public officials and their relations with the ruling party.

As Turkey marked Teachers’ Day on Nov. 24, the country’s main opposition party has claimed that the administration of the Education Ministry has been seized by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son, Bilal Erdoğan, and an Islamic-leaning foundation with which he is closely involved.

Athletes from Morocco and Ethiopia on Nov. 16 won the 36th Vodafone Istanbul Marathon, dubbed “the only intercontinental race in the world.”

Hafid Chani won the men’s competition, finishing the 42-kilometer course in two hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds, becoming the first athlete from Morocco to win the race in its history. Chani will a $50,000 prize for finishing first.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appointed Professor Yekta Saraç as new head of Turkey’s Higher Education Board (YÖK) on Nov. 12.

Saraç, who was the acting head of YÖK after former head Gökhan Çetinsaya was removed from his post, was appointed as the new head of YÖK by President Erdoğan.

Five police officers were arrested by an Istanbul court Sept. 4 for “attempting a coup” as part of the third wave of an operation into allegations of wiretapping and plotting against the government.

Turkey's presidential election was historic on many levels, but these oddities may have passed under the radar...
1) Uncle Mehmet, ‘the 130-year-old voter’

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has suggested that Turkey’s education policy was being designed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son, Bilal Erdoğan, in close coordination with five Islamist-leaning foundations.

Istanbul’s Sevda Tepesi (Love Hill), which has belonged to the king of Saudi Arabia since 1984, has returned to the agenda after the main opposition said a construction permit for the hill was granted only after Saudi Arabia sent $100 million to a charity that counts the prime minister’s son as one of the board members.

Istanbul's newest stadium opened late July 27 with an exhibition match that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan scored three goals.

Surprising most of the crowd, Erdoğan announced in the ceremony before the match that the stadium in Başakşehir neighborhood is named after Fatih Terim, the current director of Turkey's national football teams.