Secularism in Turkey

Turkey's Council of State has rejected a request for the continuation of Turkey's stay in the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe treaty designed to eradicate violence against women, and the annulment of the president's decision to leave the agreement despite an avalanche of opposition from women and feminist groups.

A member of the Turkish Parliament from the Republican People's Party (CHP) has resigned over ideological reasons to join the Turkish Workers' Party (TİP).

Opposition İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener has criticized the government for not doing enough to protect the environment.

"Today, there is a government that does not protect its trees, forests and seas," she said, addressing her party's parliamentary group meeting on June 9.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has criticized an indictment by a top prosecutor's office for the dissolution of the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), stressing that his party does not embrace any move aiming to close any political party.

The Nation Alliance should agree on a common candidate for the presidential elections, the İYİ (Good) Party leader has said, stressing that the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) should nominate its own contender as it is not a member of the oppositional alliance.

İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener criticized the controversial remarks on Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, by an imam in Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque.

"He curses the founder of our republic. May Allah corrects those who do this and those who condone it," she said, addressing the İYİ Party parliamentary group meeting on June 2.

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu renewed his call for snap elections in Turkey and accused President Recep Tayyip of running away from the idea of early polls.

Speaking at his party's parliamentary group meeting on June 1, Kılıçdaroğlu criticized Erdoğan for "running away" from his call for snap elections.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said a verbal attack against İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener in the Black Sea province of Rize is an organized act.

The perpetrators of the incident "have not taken their share of democracy" he said, speaking to private Sözcü TV on May 20.

The political parties of the Nation Alliance and the People Alliance have agreed on the candidates for the Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), the first consensus between the two rival camps.

Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül on May 20 announced that the People Alliance and the Nation Alliance have agreed at the commission of parliament.

A politician who once ran as a presidential challenger to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, formed a new political party on May 17, months after he broke away from Turkey's main opposition party.

Muharrem Ince, 56, formally applied to the Interior Ministry to establish the Memleket Partisi, or Homeland Party, and was immediately chosen as its chairman.