Analysis – Turkey In Depth – Smart, informed focus on the stories that matter

Deep Dive May 29, 2026

CHP SEES HOPE IN ANKARA DECISION BUT FUTURE STILL IN LIMBO

An Ankara court on Sept. 11 overturned the ruling that appointed an interim committee to run the main opposition party’s Istanbul branch. According to the CHP, the decision from the Ankara 3rd Civil Court of First Instance effectively nullified the earlier ruling of the Istanbul 45th Civil Court, in line with CHP’s argument that only an Ankara court can rule since the party’s headquarters are in Ankara. Yet, the decision can be appealed in a higher court.

Editorial Team

Guest Voices May 29, 2026

MAY DAY CLAMPDOWN OVERSHADOWED BY ERDOĞAN’S ITALIAN CHARM OFFENSIVE

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a one-day official visit to Italy on April 29. He was received in Rome with pomp by his counterpart Sergio Matarella as well as Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. This was a visit of niceties on each side. To Erdoğan’s satisfaction, the Italians did not raise any political issues, especially those pertaining to his iron fist authoritarian rule and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoglu’s arrest.

Editorial Team

Foreign Affairs Apr 17, 2026

AS GOVERNMENT SIGNALS CONTINUITY, OPPOSITION SEES SHARED POLITICAL FATE WITH HUNGARY

Ankara’s signal that its “institutionalized good relations” with Hungary will continue even as the Turkish opposition congratulated Magyar as observers draw parallels between Orbán’s rule and Erdoğan’s.

Editorial Team

Foreign Affairs Apr 12, 2026

TURKEY KEEPS AN EYE ON PARALLELS IN HUNGARIAN POLLS

Hungary’s parliamentary elections on April 12 — described as the toughest test of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule — will be closely watched not only in Europe but also in Turkey by both the AKP and the opposition.

Editorial Team

Media, Internet and Culture Apr 3, 2026

JOURNALIST ULUDAĞ CASE SHUTTLES BETWEEN ANKARA AND ISTANBUL

An Istanbul court accepted an indictment against DW Turkish correspondent Alican Uludağ, ruled it had no jurisdiction over the case, and then transferred the file to Ankara.

Editorial Team

Inside Turkey Apr 3, 2026

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ISSUES SECOND VIOLATION RULING FOR GEZİ DEFENDANT KAHRAMAN

Although its initial decision was overlooked by a local court, the Constitutional Court once again ruled a violation since its ruling was not applied for the jailed city planner Tayfun Kahraman, finding that its earlier decision had not been implemented.

Editorial Team

Deciphering Turkish Diplomacy Feb 19, 2026

CHP’S FOREIGN POLICY DILEMMA: RULES OVER PERSONALITY IN A TRUMP ERA

The CHP emphasizes moving away from personalized, leader-to-leader foreign policy toward one grounded in formal institutions, rules, transparency, and oversight.

Barçın Yinanç

Economy and Finance Jan 22, 2026

‘MADE IN EUROPE’ PROPOSAL: BAD NEWS AND GOOD NEWS FOR TURKEY

The EU’s draft “Made in Europe” proposal to support European producers of green technology excludes Turkey from “Europe” but allows the European Commission to determine which non-EU countries can be included in the scheme on a sectoral basis. The Turkish business community is alarmed at the new rules aimed at strengthening European manufacturing against rising competition from China and the U.S., Turkey in Depth learned. Fearing this would create a new hurdle in Turkey’s trade with the EU, business leaders have been lobbying in Brussels, urging officials to consider Turkey as part of Europe. Turkey in Depth has learned that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a letter to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen regarding the decision.

Editorial Team

Inside Turkey Jan 16, 2026

COURT TO RULE ON İMAMOĞLU’S DIPLOMA CASE WITHIN 15 DAYS

An administrative court is expected to issue a ruling within 15 days in the case filed by jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu challenging Istanbul University’s revocation of his university diploma — a decision that will determine his eligibility to run as a presidential candidate.

Editorial Team

Guest Voices Jan 8, 2026

THE WORLD ORDER IS BEING DISMANTLED—NOT REFORMED: TURKEY MUST READ THE MOMENT CLEARLY

The post–Second World War international order is no longer being reformed. It is being deliberately and systematically dismantled. The assumption that today’s turbulence represents a temporary deviation from a rules-based system misses a more uncomfortable reality: the system itself is being hollowed out by its original architects.

Guest Voices

Inside Turkey Nov 27, 2025

EARLY PAROLE EXPANDED: UP TO 115,000 PRISONERS MAY BE RELEASED UNDER 11TH JUDICIAL PACKAGE

The ruling AKP submitted its 11th Judicial Package to Parliament, reviving a pandemic-era execution rule that could lead to the release of up to 115,000 inmates. The clause concerning juvenile offenders was removed from the final draft. Although the bill originally included prison sentences for LGBT+, this was also dismissed.

Editorial Team

Media, Internet and Culture Nov 26, 2025

FATİH ALTAYLI CONVICTED OF THREATENING PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN, SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS

A Turkish court has handed a four-year prison sentence to journalist Fatih Altaylı after he was convicted of threatening President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Altaylı, known for his popular YouTube programs, denies the charges and plans to appeal, after prosecutors accused him of physically threatening the president based on remarks he made on his channel. He was arrested on June 22 and appeared before the judge for the second time at this week’s hearing. He was sentenced to four years and two months in prison for threatening the president. The court ruled that judicial control would be insufficient and ordered that his detention continue. Altaylı threw the notes and files in his hand after hearing the decision and left the courtroom.

Editorial Team

In-Depth Analysis