Analysis
Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.
International outrage erupted following the state-supported funeral ceremony for convicted Serb war criminal Ratko Mladic in Serbia. Critics worldwide denounced the honors as an attempt to glorify a perpetrator of genocide. Turkey joined the global backlash on Sept. 8, a day after the ceremony.
Four stars descended from the EU in full dress, Kallas, Kos, Brunner, Dombrovskis, no less, Suitcases of talking points, Customs Union too, Connectivity, the new buzz-word, gathering diplomatic dew.
The rift between court-appointed CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and ousted Chair Özgür Özel deepened this week, even as the two crossed paths at a funeral — while notably failing to appear together at an Ashura gathering the same day.
As the CHP’s criminal court case on its 2023 party congress nears, speculation that the former administration under Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu will replace the chairmanship of Özgür Özel has resurfaced. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks fueled the flames, as did Kılıçdaroğlu’s snub of Özel at a funeral.
Though not an official cleric, İhsan Eliaçık drew public attention when he led the funeral prayer for Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a prominent member of the İmralı delegation.