Secularism in Turkey

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has visited the Cuban Embassy in Ankara to pay tribute to Cuba's late President Fidel Castro, who died at the age of 90 on Nov. 25. 

"Fidel Castro is a leader who wrote history, a leader who fought for the freedom and independence of his nation," Kılıçdaroğlu wrote in the condolence book at the embassy. 

The leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) met 300 religious representatives in Istanbul on Nov. 27. 

"We need to get to know each other. Don't hear about us from others, listen to us instead," CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said, adding that there were "certain people making false accusations against the CHP."

The government and opposition parties have locked horns over a controversial child abuse code, which is scheduled to be debated once again in parliament on Nov. 22, with the government asking critics to formulate a new proposal or it will continue with the current draft.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has warned members of his party not to engage in debates regarding the presidential system with members of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). 

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will "defend democracy" in Turkey against government attempts to change the political system through a constitutional draft introducing a shift to a presidential system, CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has vowed.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is trying to bring a dicta regime to the republic through a shift to presidential system that would grant more powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the main opposition has said, reiterating his opposition in changing "the regime of the republic".

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) spokesperson Selin Sayek Böke recently drew attention to the rapid devaluation of the Turkish Lira, suggesting that it weakened Turkey's economy and left it unprotected against global developments. According to Böke, companies will lose out and bankruptcies will rise for as long as foreign exchange rates increase. 

Launching legal proceedings against daily Cumhuriyet on accusations of support for terrorism is an explicit indication of a witch hunt against dissidents, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has stated, in a report prepared after a party visit to the newspaper's imprisoned journalists. 

We were at a place in Pera, old Istanbul, on Oct. 29. It was a nice coincidence that the event we were there for overlapped with the anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Turkey.  

At one point during the night, the 10th Year March started playing. Everyone hugged each other with enthusiasm. We sang together, chanting the march in loud voices.  

What's left in Turkey to make Turks with a democratic mindset believe that growing authoritarianism in the country is a seasonal phenomenon and that tomorrow will be a bright day for Turkish democracy? Unfortunately, not much.