Today In Crackdown

Men accused of attempting to rape 6 teachers: We thought they were Gulenists

Three suspects accused of attempting to rape 6 female teachers in İzmir have told a court they “wanted to force” the teachers to leave the town because they thought that the victims had links to the Gulen movement, which the government accuses of masterminding the July 15 coup attempt. The suspects are being tried at […]

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Turkish gov’t appoints trustees to district municipality in Van

The Ministry of Interior Affairs on Friday appointed a trustee to the Bahçesaray Municipality in Van province, which was run by a pro-Kurdish Democratic Regions Party (DBP) mayor. Bahçesaray district governor Serhat Karabektaş was appointed as a trustee to replace Bahçesaray Mayor Mehmet Garip Aykut. The number of local municipalities that have been taken away

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HDP deputy Ferhat Encü arrested two days after his release

Pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Ferhat Encü who was released from jail on Wednesday, was arrested once again on Friday after Şırnak Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office objected to his release. Encü was first arrested in a police operation on Nov. 4 along with eight other party deputies including the party’s Co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen

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Gov’t-seized municipality asks personnel to vote ‘Yes’ in presidential referendum

Diyarbakır’s Sur Municipality which was earlier seized by the government has sent a text message to all its personnel to vote “Yes” in the upcoming presidential referendum that is set to boost President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s powers. Turkey has stepped up its crackdown on Kurdish politicians in recent months. Trustees have been appointed to dozens of

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Court arrests 12 doctors, nurses over coup charges in Eskişehir

A total of 12 health workers, incuding doctors, nurses and midwives were detained in Eskişehir as part of an investigation into the Gülen movement, which the government accuses of masterminding the July 15 coup attempt. According to the pro-gov’t daily Karar, on Feb. 12, police carried out simultaneous operations in Eskişehir, Bursa, Giresun and Isparta

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Another four academics detained over coup charges

Four academics from the Rize-based Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University were detained in an operation on Wednesday that targeted followers of the Gülen movement for their use of a smart phone application. The detainees include Prof. Dr. Ekrem A., the former dean of the university’s medical faculty. The detainees are accused of using the ByLock smart

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Turkey calls on parents to report Erdogan critics at German schools

Turkish consulates in Germany have been organizing events for Turkish parents and asking them to spy on critics of the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkey at German schools, according to an education trade union, GEW (Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft). “The Turkish consulates are pushing parents to intimidate teachers and to report teachers who criticize

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Imprisoned pro-Kurdish MP says being held under tight isolation

Pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Adana deputy Meral Danış Beştaş said she is being kept under tight isolation in the prison. As part of a parliamentary question she submitted from Silivri prison, Beştaş said she has been kept under solitary confinement for the past 15 days. Turkey has stepped up its crackdown on Kurdish politicians

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Turkish municipal hearse displays pro-gov’t slogan on LED message sign

The outspoken Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP) deputy Mahmut Tanal has shared a video on his Instagram account showing a funeral vehicle which displays a popular pro-government message on a LED sign installed onto the back of the hearse. “The national will cannot be blocked,” read the sign while Tanal commented: “Is doing politics through funeral

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