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Turkey Today
@turkeytoday.bsky.social
Breaking news, major stories, articles, reports, deep analysis. Epicenter of all you need to know about Turkey.
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We are here, to serve the. public interest. Our social role is based firmly on remaining independent, with equal distance to all the power circles, no matter what the cost would be.
Three expert observers sat down to discuss the key aspects of the talks between Ankara and Öcalan, and whether or not there are any prospects for a lasting resolution on the Kurdish issue. 👇

open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
Does Turkey’s “Kurdish Initiative” stand a chance? -- Turkey Today Talk
Three observers discuss the key aspects of the talks between Ankara and Öcalan and whether or not there are any prospects for a lasting resolution on the Kurdish issue.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:27 PM
"Against the backdrop of a ‘process’ that bears no resemblance whatsoever to conflict resolution, Ankara’s Kurdish tangle once again strains the very fabric of its system.”

@mediapartblogs.bsky.social @mediaparten.bsky.social

blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...
"The Öcalan Initiative": Turkey’s High-Stakes Gamble Faces Increasing Challenges
Against the backdrop of a ‘process’ that bears no resemblance whatsoever to conflict resolution, Ankara’s Kurdish tangle once again strains the very fabric of its system.
blogs.mediapart.fr
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Turkey 2025 Report:

"Accession negotiations with Türkiye have remained at a standstill since 2018. The EU’s serious concerns about the
continued deterioration of democratic standards, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights were not addressed."

enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
November 4, 2025 at 5:16 PM
A Deep-Rooted Crisis Unfolding Beyond a Single Scandal

open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
Rot on the Field: The Football Corruption Scandal Exposes a Profound Crisis of Morality in Turkey
A Deep-Rooted Crisis Unfolding Beyond a Single Scandal
open.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 6:40 PM
"By prolonging the pain, the judge’s ruling adds fuel to Turkey’s deepening crisis and leaves even more questions hanging."

By @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
CHP Trial Delayed, Stakes Undiminished
By prolonging the pain, the judge’s ruling adds fuel to Turkey’s deepening crisis and leaves even more questions hanging.
open.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 9:48 AM
"The AKP-MHP alliance is demonstrating for the world how to neutralize opposition through a potent cocktail of judicial abuse, psychological warfare, “carrots” and coercion."

Update and analysis by @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social 👇

open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
Refining the Authoritarian Playbook: Turkey’s Opposition Under Siege
The AKP-MHP alliance is demonstrating for the world how to neutralize opposition through a potent cocktail of judicial abuse, psychological warfare, and old-fashioned coercion.
open.substack.com
August 17, 2025 at 7:14 AM
"Do the best-laid plans go awry? That question is once again looming over Syria’s transition agenda, entangling Ankara in a growing web of challenges."

open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
Turkey’s Kurdish Tangle
Do the best-laid plans go awry? That question is once again looming over Syria’s transition agenda, entangling Ankara in a growing web of challenge.
open.substack.com
August 3, 2025 at 9:14 AM
"L’idée : rassembler tous les partis sous la bannière d’une « Turquie sans terrorisme », afin de consolider un régime de plus en plus autocratique."

Une analyse de @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social 👇

blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...
Le Piège Kurde d’Ankara
Les plans les mieux préparés finissent-ils toujours par échouer ? Cette question revient avec insistance alors que l’agenda de transition en Syrie se complexifie, piégeant Ankara dans un enchevêtreme…
blogs.mediapart.fr
August 2, 2025 at 6:46 AM
A Turkish archeologist said that the “Ani Kathedral” (Surp Asdvadzadzin), a prominent monument in the ancient city of Ani, and a symbol of Armenian identity, at the Turkish-Armenian border, will be reopened as a mosque, after restoration.

www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazi/3511...
Ani Katedrali restore ediliyor, cami olarak ziyaretçilere açılması düşünülüyor | Agos
Ermeni tarihinin en önemli merkezlerinden olan Ani'deki kiliselerden Ani Katedrali, restore ediliyor. Restorasyondan sonra kilisenin cami olarak ziyarete açılması düşünülüyor.
www.agos.com.tr
July 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Arrest wave at CHP-run municipalities has widened today, confirming a massive purge of the main opposition party.
The mayors of Antalya, Adana and Adıyaman have been taken into custody on corruption charges.

Zeydan Karalar, Mayor of Adana: “Whoever is with impact will be silenced, for sure."
July 5, 2025 at 8:14 AM
We are here, to serve the. public interest. Our social role is based firmly on remaining independent, with equal distance to all the power circles, no matter what the cost would be.
July 1, 2025 at 11:26 AM
In a latest development, access to Leman’s internet site has been banned by the authorities.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Clashes and arrests in Turkey over magazine cartoon allegedly depicting prophet Muhammad
Turkey police face demonstrators after prosecutor orders arrests at LeMan magazine, whose editor-in-chief denies allegation and says image has been deliberately misinterpreted
www.theguardian.com
July 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Selon Tuncay Akgun, le rédacteur en chef du magazine, l’offensive judiciaire contre le magazine, bastion satirique de l’opposition lancé en 1991, est « incroyablement choquante, mais pas très surprenante ». « C’est un acte d’annihilation », a-t-il dénoncé.

www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Turquie : un dessin de presse controversé conduit à l’arrestation de son auteur et d’un rédacteur en chef ainsi qu’à des affrontements à Istanbul
Le responsable du magazine « Leman » nie que l’image incriminée représente le prophète Mahomet. Des dizaines de manifestants en colère ont voulu s’en prendre à des employés de la revue satirique, prov...
www.lemonde.fr
July 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
As the news broke, several dozen angry protesters attacked a bar often frequented by LeMan staffers in downtown Istanbul, provoking angry scuffles with police, which quickly degenerated into clashes involving between 250 to 300 people, an AFP correspondent said.

www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Clashes in Istanbul over alleged 'Prophet Mohammed' cartoon
Clashes erupted in Istanbul Monday with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas to break up an angry mob after allegations that a satirical magazine had published a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed,…
www.france24.com
July 1, 2025 at 11:01 AM
"Four days after its release, the image went viral on social media, sparking outrage. Hundreds of protesters marched down Istanbul’s main tourist avenue, chanting “Allahu Akbar”."

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
Journalists at satirical magazine in Turkey arrested over Prophet Muhammad cartoon
Clashes erupt in Istanbul as police fire rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protestors demonstrating against Turkish magazine
www.independent.co.uk
July 1, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Having chaired the Socialist International (SI) meeting in Istanbul - where the delegates called President Erdoğan to release Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from prison - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Erdogan for a closed-door meeting, to discuss economic relations between Turkey and Spain.
May 25, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Turkey set to join EU defense programs

"Despite objections from Athens – and Nicosia – Turkey’s participation in new European defense programs is expected to move forward, as final decisions will be made by qualified majority voting rather than by unanimity."

www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...
Turkey set to join EU defense programs despite objections | eKathimerini.com
Despite objections from Athens – and Nicosia – Turkey’s participation in new European defense programs is expected to move forward, as final decisions will be made by qualified majority voting within ...
www.ekathimerini.com
May 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
"With my friend Trump taking office, we reached a more open, more constructive, more sincere communication."

www.reuters.com/business/med...
Erdogan says U.S. CAATSA sanctions on Turkey defence sector easing under Trump
President Tayyip Erdogan said he believed the United States' 'CAATSA' sanctions on the Turkish defence sector would soon be "overcome" thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump's "more open, more constructive" approach.
www.reuters.com
May 17, 2025 at 10:37 AM
USA lifts CAATSA sanctions on Turkey?

"President Donald Trump is leaning toward removing the restrictions that have for nearly five years obstructed the US-Turkey defense ties, a publicly stated goal of both governments, sources in Washington tell Kathimerini.”

www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...
Fresh momentum seen in Washington for lifting sanctions on Turkey | eKathimerini.com
After weeks of relative stagnation, momentum appears to be building in Washington around the potential lifting of CAATSA sanctions imposed on Turkey, a development that could transpire in the near fut...
www.ekathimerini.com
May 15, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Here is the statement by the PKK, on its dissolution:

""At its extraordinary 12th Congress, the PKK declares that its struggle has dismantled the policies of denial, annihilation imposed on the Kurdish people; brought the Kurdish issue to a stage where it be addressed through democratic politics.+
May 12, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Zafer Partisi Genel Başkanı Ümit Özdağ hakkında hazırlanan iddianamede "Zincirleme şekilde basın yoluyla halkı kin ve düşmanlığa tahrik" suçlamasıyla 7 yıl 10 ay 15 güne kadar hapis istendi.
April 8, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Gov’t controlled Radio/TV regulator RTUK bans the opposition channel SozcuTV for 20 days from brosdcasts.

BBC reporter Mark Lowen, covering the protests, is deported for “being a security threat”
March 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
"The European Union is set to keep pumping billions of euros into Turkey despite President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s sweeping crackdown on political opponents."

Ankara is too important an ally to alienate, no matter what happens on the streets of Istanbul, politicians and officials tell POLITICO.
March 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is to meet with his US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington today.
On the agenda:
The end of Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 advanced fighter program.
Sanctions against Turkey, (CAATSA), lifted.
Kurdish forces YPG in Syria eliminated.
Gaza discussed.
March 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
BREAKING: Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, is detained (pre-trial detention), to be sent to prison, probably Silivri (where hundreds of political prisoners, including Osman Kavala, are held).
The detention ruling is based on the graft probe, reports say.
March 23, 2025 at 7:24 AM