Secularism in Turkey

The Moscow meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was a manifestation of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government's foreign policy failure, Turkey's main opposition leader has said.

The leader of Turkey's main opposition party has said he was prepared to visit the controversial presidential palace in the case of a national security issue or being elected as the new ruling party in the Nov. 1 snap elections.

Insistent accusations from opposition leaders over a security failure leading up to the Oct. 10 double suicide bomb attack in Ankara have put Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu on the defensive, as he accused the main opposition leader of not lending support to the interim government.

A media ban on the investigation into the twin bombings in Ankara on Oct. 10 has been criticized by politicians from the three opposition parties and jurists, while the Ankara Bar Association took legal action against the ban.

Turkey's top business group has announced it will hold open meetings with political party leaders ahead of the Nov. 1 elections in a written statement on Oct. 13. 

First guest of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜS?AD) will be Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu on Oct. 15 in Istanbul. 

What began like a lazy Monday morning in Izmir, a city that defines itself as "the largest bastion against the Justice and Development Party (AKP)," turned into a major show of unity and solidarity after Oct. 10's suicide bomb attacks in Ankara. 

The Republican People's Party (CHP) has specified its communication guidelines ahead of the Nov. 1 general election, asking members to "avoid all statements that intimidate ethnic or religious minorities." 

It also requested that party members avoid placing placards and posters at historic, cultural or religious buildings for propaganda purposes. 

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu has accused the Turkish government of misreading regional developments, saying the Justice and Development Party (AKP) failed to "understand the importance of Syria for Russia." 

Turkey's Kurdish problem cannot be solved solely by military means, but with consensus and "brotherhood," Republican People's Party (CHP) head Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu has said. 

Speaking at a party meeting during his election campaign trip in Europe on Sept. 25, K?l?çdaro?lu said the issue could not currently be resolved because politicians have "endorsed the case to the military."

As part of his campaign for the Nov. 1 snap election, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu, will gather with Turkish citizens during consecutive visits to six European countries, where he will also meet top European politicians in order to discuss the growing refugee crisis the EU has encountered.