Memri Latest Blogs Turkey

Loud Cheers Of “Allahu Akbar” During Turkish Soccer Game

In the final game of Fortis cup, between the Turkish teams Genclerbirligi and Kayserispor, a total of 28 penalties were shot to break the tie. Throughout the shots crowds that filled the stadium loudly chanted “Ya Allah ...
May 9, 2008, 12:47 pm

Opposition Motion To Censure PM Erdogan

MPs of Turkey’s opposition parties CHP and MHP lashed at the AKP government for police violence that targeted workers on May Day in Istanbul. The Republican People's Party (CHP) accused Prime MinisterTayyip Erdogan of ...
May 9, 2008, 12:02 pm

Turkey’s Top General: “Turkey Does Not Need EU Advice On Adjectives”

During Israel’s national day reception in Ankara, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit answered reporters’ questions about EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn’s remarks that European Commission supported ...
May 9, 2008, 11:54 am

Turkish Cartoons On Police Violence on May Day

Beating ofPress Worker: Religious Affairs [Islamist Ismailaga Sect], State Affairs [the Police]

Source: Cumhuriyet, Turkey, May 6, 2008

Source: Cumhuriyet, Turkey, May 7, ...
May 7, 2008, 3:04 pm

PM Erdogan Defended Police Violence

"Democratization Package from AKP to EU: Gas bomb, pepper gas, baton " (Cumhuriyet, May 7, 2008)

Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the labour unions of exploitation, and ...
May 7, 2008, 2:01 pm

Turkey-EU Troika Meets In Ankara; EU Reiterates Support To AKP; Urges Investigation Of May Day Events

The bi-annual meeting that brings together three senior EU officials and Turkish leaders took place in Ankara today. EU’s current president Slovenia’s FM Dimirtij Rupel, the Minister of EU Affairs Jean Pierre Jouyet of the ...
May 6, 2008, 11:59 pm

Islamist Zaman: “Retired Chief Of Navy Endorses Fethullah Schools At Home And Abroad”

The Islamist Fethullah Gulen community’s daily Zaman reported today that it had conducted an interview with a retired Turkish admiral who formerly had commanded the Naval Forces who allegedly said that he admired the Fethullah ...
May 6, 2008, 11:54 pm

Mainstream Media Reacts To NYT Article On Fethullah Gulen As Propaganda; Islamist Media Celebrates The Praising Of The Influential Islamist Leader

The New York Times article of May 4, 2008 praising Fethullah Gulen schools for spreading “moderate Islam" [vs radical Islam] caused mixed reactions in Turkey. While large mainstream dailies criticized NYT article and its ...
May 6, 2008, 11:51 pm

Anti-Islamist Statements At Turkish Cinema Awards Ceremony

At last night’s awards ceremony of the Cinema Actors Association, Turkish film makers and actors were presented with trophies. Two veteran actors, Kadir Inanir and Tarik Akan, who were awarded for their long-time contribution ...
May 6, 2008, 9:13 pm

Imam In Trabzon:"No Lapel Pin Of Ataturk In Mosque"

Sezai Yasar, the imam of the Central Mosque in a Trabzon district told a congregant, Omer Atalar who always wears a lapel pin of Ataturk that he should not come to the mosque wearing that pin, and that he was committing a sin. He ...
May 6, 2008, 9:05 pm