MILLIONS WATCH EMPTY SEAT ON YOUTUBE
After the arrest of journalist and YouTuber Fatih Altaylı, one of Turkey’s most-watched commentators, millions continued to view his channel as Turkey’s media watchdog RTÜK warned him to apply for a license.
Analysis
In-Depth Analysis
Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.
SAÇ EKTİRME
Now that the summer season is on, Turkey loves to market itself with the usual package: sun, sea, sand and the occasional sex. But for over a decade now, the country’s most reliable tourism magnet has been a silent fifth S: saç/hair. Or more precisely, saç ektirme/hair transplant.
FATİH ALTAYLI: WHEN A JOURNALIST IS JAILED
This week, Fatih Altaylı joined the list of jailed journalists. A veteran of mainstream media, Altaylı had turned to his YouTube channel as the media landscape shifted. He was arrested over remarks made in his most recent broadcast. The charge: “threatening the president.”
TURKEY’S STAKES IN THE IRANIAN CRISIS
The Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023 gave Netanyahu a golden opportunity to eliminate Israel’s adversaries in the region.
NATO SHIELD ENABLES TURKEY’S RISKY STRATEGIC STRETCH
The unintended consequence of U.S. interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan has been the assertion of Iranian power. “We are in power in four capitals,” Iranians used to brag of their presence and clout in Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus and Yemen.
GOVERNMENT’S NEW MOTTO: DOMESTIC FRONT
The ruling AKP and MHP chairs continued calling for a strong “domestic front,” urging the opposition not to voice objections as the Kurdish process continues.
OPPOSITION WANTS KURDISH COMMISSION DECOUPLED FROM CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has launched consultations with party group leaders on a proposed commission to address the Kurdish issue, aiming to establish the body before Parliament goes into recess.
Deep Dive
A lawsuit seeking to annul the results of the CHP’s 2023 congress—based on allegations that delegates were bribed—has triggered a renewed power struggle between current Chair Özgür Özel and his predecessor, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
TATİL
In Turkey, tatil (holiday) is a prism through which one can observe culture, class, and politics. It conjures images of mosque courtyards and family dinners or bustling resort towns thrumming with booked-out hotels and overpriced beaches.
TURKEY’S TOURISM BOOM: A SUCCESS STORY AT A CROSSROADS
Turkey has risen to become one of the world’s top tourism destinations, welcoming over 56 million international visitors in 2023. Its appeal lies in a rare combination of sun-soaked beaches, rich cultural heritage, world-class cuisine, and warm hospitality—all easily accessible from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. But as prices surge and market dynamics shift, industry insiders warn the sector may be heading toward a critical inflection point.
TURKEY EYES EU DEFENSE FUNDS, BUT TRUST ISSUES LOOM
A few days after the new U.S. envoy to Germany took up office in Berlin in 2013, news broke out that Washington had been spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone since 2002.
KÖPRÜ
In Turkey, a köprü (bridge) is never just a bridge. This week, the Bosphorus Bridge—officially renamed the “15 July Martyrs Bridge” after the 2016 coup attempt—became a stage for protest. A group of CHP deputies climbed onto the structure and unfurled a massive banner reading: “Free İmamoğlu” right before the CHP leader and his guests from the Socialist International would cross it. The message was direct: release Istanbul’s elected mayor, jailed on charges widely condemned as political. Only a few hours before that, the members of the Socialist International had raised a similar banner in their meeting.