Turkish authorities have detained wife of a critical Turkish journalist and will keep her as a hostage until her husband surrenders to police, an episode that has long symbolized police states in the Middle East and Africa, but not Turkey. Bülent Korucu, longtime top editor of Turkish weekly magazine Aksiyon and editor-in-chief of Yarina Bakis […]
Turkish police detain wife of critical journalist as a hostage Read More »
The Turkish government has cancelled the passports of around 50,000 people to prevent them leaving the country as a crackdown continues following a failed coup. Efkan Ala, the interior minister, said more than 18,000 have so far been detained over the attempt to oust President Tayyip Erdogan, while thousands of government staff are under investigation.
Turkey cancels 50,000 passports amid international concern over crackdown Read More »
In the previous post, we tried to dissect the testimony Lt. Col. Levent Turkkan and laid bare many contradictions that basically rendered the confession useless. In that testimony, Turkkan mentions about Major Mehmet Akkurt and particularly highlights his ties to Gulenists. As soon as he reveals that Akkurt is allegedly a Gulenist, the major turns
Major Akkurt: First Hero, Then Traitor Read More »
This week, Turkish state news agency Anadolu published the confession of Lt. Col. Levent Turkkan, aide-de-camp of Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar. Turkkan’s confession is considered to be the highest-level ‘evidence’ that Gulenists are behind the coup. We have to emphasize that Turkkan’s remarks were shared with this photo that shows bruises and injuries
Levent Turkkan’s Testimony: Contradictions Read More »
Since the coup attempt on July 15, the Turkish authorities sacked, fired or suspended tens of thousands of public employees and detained thousands of army officers, police officers, judges, prosecutors along with hundreds of civilians. The pace of the purge in the state bureaucracy suggests that it was well-planned way before the coup attempt took
Turkey suspends dead prosecutor on coup charges Read More »
This blog is primarily designed to uncover who were behind the coup attempt in Turkey on July 15. The government was quick to blame Gulenists for the failed coup attempt. Gulen and his followers deny that they conspired against the government through the military intervention. It is difficult to identify real perpetrators, the driving force
Uncovering Turkey’s July 15 Coup Attempt Read More »
In a letter to Turkey’s Ambassador to Canada, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CIFE) denounced Turkish government’s recent crackdown on the free media. CIFE, urged Turkish government to ‘show restraint, uphold the rule of law and respect the right of Turkish citizens to a free press and freedom of expression.’. Same letter was also sent
CJFE Condemns Purge of Turkish Media by President Erdogan Read More »
Ali Bulaç, Mümtazer Türköne, Ahmet Turan Alkan and Şahin Alpay, veteran journalists for both Zaman and Today’s Zaman before they were seized by the government, have been detained due to allegedly being involved in the recent failed coup attempt, in the aftermath of which the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) crackdown on the media
Veteran journalists handcuffed behind back whilst taken to courthouse Read More »
In a telephone call with the Turkish Foreign Minister today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sought an update on current investigations and measures to hold those responsible for the attempted coup to account, and reiterated his expectation that Turkey adhere to its international human rights obligations. “Heartened by the Government and opposition rallying around upholding
Ban Ki-moon expresses ‘deep concern’ about arrests in phone call with Turkish FM Read More »
Two top media freedom experts of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) today condemned the ongoing crackdown on journalists and the media launched by Turkish Government in the wake of the attempted coup. The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye,
UN deplores crackdown on journalists in Turkey Read More »
