PACE: 'REPRESSION IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAMILY PROTECTION'
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on Oct. 1 condemning what it called a coordinated campaign against LGBTQ+ people and rights defenders in Turkey.
Analysis
In-Depth Analysis
Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.
FRENCH EGIS NOW EYES BOSPHORUS BRIDGES
Foreign and domestic infrastructure companies are showing interest in the upcoming highway and Bosphorus bridge privatizations. French operator Egis is reportedly emerging as a leading contender for the 30-year operating rights.
LGBTQ+ OPERATION: ELECTION CAMPAIGN LOADING
Before me is the “LGBTQ+ Rights Monitoring Report” on the 2023 elections, prepared by University Queer Research and LGBT+ Solidarity Association (ÜniKuir) whose website was blocked as part of the “My Family Is Safe” operation.
OSMAN KAVALA’S UNENDING TORMENT
Osman Kavala will turn 70 next year. He has been in prison for nine years. During those nine years, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled three times that his detention and conviction violated his rights and called for his “immediate release.” Most recently, just three days ago, the ECHR once again called on Turkey to “release him.”
HIGHWAY PRIVATIZATION AT A CROSSROADS: ONE BUNDLE OR SEPARATE PACKAGES
The government plans to privatize state-operated highways and bridges under a 25-year transfer of operating rights model, while officials weigh whether to sell the assets as a single bundle or divide them into separate packages.
CUSTOMS UNION LEFT OUT OF JOINT EU-TURKEY STATEMENT DESPITE ŞİMŞEK'S PUSH
In a July 2 joint statement with the European Union following the High-Level Economic Dialogue, Turkey agreed that EU-Turkey relations “should continue to be guided by values, such as respect for the rule of law, fundamental rights, democracy and media freedom.”
DEADLOCK OVER COMMISSION’S VISIT TO ÖCALAN CONTINUES
The parliamentary commission formed to pave the way for a new Kurdish peace process remains stuck over whether its members should visit jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. A planned session of the commission has been postponed once again, even as hopes rise for the release of imprisoned Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş following a third ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
DEFENDANTS CONTINUE CHALLENGING CORRUPTION INDICTMENT ON İMAMOĞLU CASE
The sixth week of the mass corruption trial of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and more than 400 co-defendants produced some of its most dramatic courtroom exchanges. İmamoğlu and the presiding judge continued sharp exchanges while the municipality’s housing company, KİPTAŞ, chair Ali Kurt implicated senior government figures in a land scheme, and the European Court of Human Rights formally demanded answers from Ankara.
UN URGES TURKEY NOT TO USE ANTI-TERROR LAWS AGAINST RIGHTS DEFENDERS
The excessive use of anti-terror laws came under renewed criticism in Geneva as five United Nations special rapporteurs issued a joint statement urging Turkey to stop criminalizing human rights defenders and lawyers.
PRIVATIZATION DEBATE REIGNITES AS ANKARA REPORTEDLY TAPS GLOBAL ADVISORS FOR BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS
A report regarding the privatization of the bridges on the Bosphorus and public highways has revived a debate in Turkey. The plan reportedly involves the sale of operating rights for the two Bosphorus bridges and at least nine major highways.
DEMIRTAS SENTENCED AGAIN DESPITE FINAL ECHR RULING
Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of the HDP, has been sentenced to one year, five months and 15 days in prison over speeches he delivered in 2015–2016 despite a final and binding European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling calling for his release.
ECHR GIVES PRIORITY TO İMAMOĞLU'S APPLICATION
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will give priority to a review of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's detention.