Today In Crackdown

University student detained for wearing ‘part time hero’ T-shirt

A Canakkale-based university student, identified as U.A., was rounded up for wearing a T-shirt bearing the words “part time hero,” Turkish media reported on Sunday. The incident came amid consecutive detentions of people who wore ‘hero’ T-shirts across the country. Gendarmerie forces detained U.A. in Sevketiye village where he had reportedly come for work, upon […]

University student detained for wearing ‘part time hero’ T-shirt Read More »

Germany-based Turkish national detained for insulting Erdoğan while on vacation

A Turkish man resident in Germany was detained at the Turkish border due to his social media posts allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Deutsche Welle reported on Friday. A 45-year-old Turkish expatriate in Germany, Kadim D. was going to his hometown of Sivas for vacation. However, when he was entering Turkey by car at

Germany-based Turkish national detained for insulting Erdoğan while on vacation Read More »

Psychologist sentenced to 10.5 years in jail for using ByLock

An Istanbul psychologist, identified as E.E., was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison on accusation of membership to a terrorist organization on Thursday. The reason for the conviction, Istanbul 29. Heavy Penal Court said, E.E.’s alleged use of ByLock, a controversial mobile app that Turkish authorities claim to be the top communication

Psychologist sentenced to 10.5 years in jail for using ByLock Read More »

Factory worker given 6-year jail sentence for ByLock use

Under pre-trial arrest since Apr 1, 2017, M.C., a factory worker from Kayseri was sentenced to 6 years plus 3 months in prison on accusation of membership to a terrorist organization on Thursday. The reason for the conviction, Kayseri 4. Heavy Penal Court said, M.C.’s use of ByLock, a controversial mobile app that Turkish authorities

Factory worker given 6-year jail sentence for ByLock use Read More »

Journalist sent to jail over pro-Kurdish forum gathering

Yusuf Karataş, a columnist at Evrensel daily newspaper, was put in pre-trial arrest as part of an investigation into the Democratic People’s Congress (DTK), the largest political forum gathering held by Kurdish non-governmental organizations in the recent past. Diyarbakır 1. Criminal Judicature of Peace arrested Karataş for attending DTK’s gatherings and sent him to Diyarbakır D

Journalist sent to jail over pro-Kurdish forum gathering Read More »

Turkey issues detention warrants for 38 at Customs Ministry

A Turkish prosecutor has issued detention warrants for 38 former Customs and Trade Ministry staff members over the use of a smart phone application known as ByLock. The detention warrants were issued as part of an investigation in nine provinces into Turkey’s Gülen group, which is accused by the Turkish government of having masterminded a

Turkey issues detention warrants for 38 at Customs Ministry Read More »

Turkey strips two pro-Kurdish deputies of parliamentary status

The Turkish Parliament has stripped two more pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputies of their parliamentary status due to their “absence” from the parliament. HDP’s Van deputy Tuğba Hezer Öztürk and Şırnak deputy Faysal Sarıyıldız were removed in a vote on Thursday. The parliamentary status of HDP Co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ was removed in February after the Supreme

Turkey strips two pro-Kurdish deputies of parliamentary status Read More »

Villagers under custody for protesting felling of 10-year-old pine trees

A group of some 200 villagers have been detained by police for blocking a developer from cutting several 10-year old pine trees in Manisa’s Yunusemre district, Birgün daily reported. The villagers reportedly started camping out to save the pine trees from clear-cut by the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI). Following a 10-hour long vigil around

Villagers under custody for protesting felling of 10-year-old pine trees Read More »

At least 275 including elderly woman detained over Gulen links over past day

At least 275 people were detained over their alleged links to the Gulen movement, according to Turkish media. Turkish government accuses the movement of masterminding the July 15, 2016 coup attempt while the latter denies involvement. In Hatay, 33 people including the former public employees who were dismissed from their jobs were detained for having

At least 275 including elderly woman detained over Gulen links over past day Read More »