Witnesses of the Armenian Genocide

Remembering the 'treason' of Mehmet Akif

Yesterday, Dec. 27, was the anniversary of the loss of a prominent figure in Turkish history: Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the poet who wrote the national anthem. Naturally, many remembered him, especially Islamists and religious conservatives who sympathize with Ersoy for his Islamic credentials. Little did they know, however, the historical irony this put them in. 

Turks form long lines outside Kemal Ataturk’s house in Theassaloniki (photos)

Turkish tourists formed long queues outside a house in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, where the founder of the modern Turkish state, Mustafa Kemal, is believed to have been born. The large tourist groups, mainly from Andrianopolis, Marmara and Constantinople, are visiting the house-shrine commemorating the day of Kemal’s death on November 10.

Ottoman prince Naz Osmanoğlu visits former realm to spread laughter in Istanbul

It's not every day Turkish comedy fans get to laugh at a descendant of the sultan. "I've got this fancy title but don't have the riches," said Naz Osmanoğlu, a British comedian and member of Turkey's former ruling family, at his first-ever gig in Turkey last week.