NOOSE TIGHTENS AROUND TURKEY'S OPPOSITION
Clouds are gathering over opposition politicians. Each new development makes them darker. Judicial rulings block opposition parties at every turn.
Analysis
In-Depth Analysis
Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.
CRACKDOWN HAND IN HAND WITH 'FAMILY SAFE' OPERATION FOR OBSCENITY
After years of demonizing rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people, Turkish authorities launched a nationwide operation named 'My Family Is Safe,' detaining hundreds of people from civil society. The crackdown continued with arrests and access bans targeting dissidents, media outlets and civil society organizations' X accounts, widening to include broader opposition voices who spoke out against the operations. The main charge in the investigation was 'obscenity.'
A 'VALLEY OF THE WOLVES' CONNECTION
An investigation into the death of Turkish intelligence official Kaşif Kozinoğlu also reached into one of the country’s most watched television series, 'Valley of the Wolves.”
ERDOĞAN REMARKS CAUSE ELECTION RUMORS BUT IT REMAINS UNLIKELY
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks during a meeting in his hometown of Rize sparked debate over an early election, though officials quickly downplayed the likelihood of an imminent vote.
ARMENIA TO HOLD INDEPENDENCE DAY RECEPTION AFTER A DECADE
Armenia will host its 35th Independence Day reception in Istanbul on Oct. 14. The event marks a rare diplomatic event in Turkey as the two neighbors work to normalize long-strained ties.
CONTROVERSIAL MAYOR’S HUSBAND GETS TOGG DEAL, COURT BLOCKS REPORTS
A Turkish court has imposed a blackout on news reports concerning a lucrative deal involving the husband of controversial Aydın Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu, citing 'national security and public order.'
VIDEO REVEALS LEGAL FEUD BETWEEN FORMER PRIME MINISTERS
Former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım won a defamation lawsuit against his predecessor Ahmet Davutoğlu, pro-government columnist Abdülkadir Selvi revealed.
FUND CRISIS HAMMERS MARKETS, SPARKS INTERVENTION
The central bank and other regulator bodies stepped in to stabilize financial markets after alleged market manipulation, fraud and fund mismanagement sparked a major equity sell-off and corporate defaults.
NO MORE TAX BREAKS
The government will discontinue its 'sliding scale' fuel tax offset mechanism at the end of 2026, shifting focus toward boosting budget revenues ahead of potential elections in 2027 or early 2028.
PROSECUTORS LAUNCH CRACKDOWN ON PRODUCE WHOLESALERS
Authorities have launched a judicial operation against major produce distributors, detaining scores of executive-level figures for artificially inflating wholesale fruit and vegetable prices amid high food inflation.
CHINESE TRAVEL PLATFORM PREPARES TURKEY ENTRY
Fliggy, Chinese tech giant Alibaba’s travel platform, is preparing to enter the Turkish market as parliament considers new legislation to regulate foreign digital booking platforms.
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.