Contents: Burundi follows the genocidal path of Mugabe’s Zimbabwe; Turkey’s PKK militants end ceasefire after Erdogan vows to ‘liquidate’ them; Turkey plans major winter operations against both ISIS and PKK
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) ended its ceasefire with Turkey on Thursday after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development (AKP) Party swept parliamentary elections.
Those who suspect the surprise victory of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey’s national elections Sunday was fraudulent may have more evidence to support their theory: the astronomical increase in registered voters between the last election in June and Sunday’s referendum.
Contents: Erdogan’s party in Turkey wins landslide victory; How Turkey changed in five months
Turkish President’s Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party, or AKP, has declared victory in Sunday’s parliamentary election. After 95 percent of the votes were counted from the 175,000 polling stations, AKP is estimated to have won over 50 percent.
With 95 percent of the vote in, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) appear to have solidified their control of the nation’s Parliament, with significant losses for Kurd-friendly leftist People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Kurd-friendly opposition People’s Democratic Party (HDP) of using the “top minds” of both Barack Obama presidential campaigns to spread “lies” intended to win them parliamentary seats in Sunday’s election.
“Insulting the president” is a crime in Turkey, punishable by up to 28 months in prison—even if the offenders are 12 or 13 years old.
Turkish newspapers Bugün and Millet have painted their front pages black in protest of a Wednesday morning police raid on their offices, as well as the offices of Bugün TV and Kanaltürk. Police shut down the Kozi-Ipek media network and attacked journalists and protesters with tear gas and water cannons in what many claim is an abuse of government power.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has responded to accusations that his party has not made enough of an effort to eradicate the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) from Turkey by asking of his detractors, “Look at me, look at my face. Do I have the face of someone who would support ISIL?”
Turkey is banning relatives of those killed or wounded in Saturday’s twin bombing of a peace protest in Ankara from assembling and protesting the government, citing “sensitivities at this time.”
Contents: Turkey blames ISIS for Saturday’s massacre as anti-government anger grows; Turkey is seen as increasingly unstable after massacre
Following a suicide bombing in the nation’s capital, Ankara, thousands took to the streets Sunday to condemn the Islamist government for encouraging the anti-Kurdish hate they believe prompted the worst terrorist attack in Turkey’s history.
Contents: Massive terror attack in Ankara called worst in Turkey’s history; Kurdish politicians in Turkey blame Erdogan government for Ankara terror attack
Ahmet Hakan, a columnist for the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, has been discharged from the hospital with broken ribs and a broken nose following a beating by four men on Thursday night, two of whom have ties to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Hakan has received death threats in the past for criticism of the AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey’s escalating crackdown on journalism has gone well beyond incarcerating the odd foreign journalist for covering stories the government wanted to ignore.
Turkish authorities are now targeting Doğan Media Group for “terrorist propaganda,” only days after mobs attacked the offices of Doğan-owned Hürriyet Daily News.
The head of Turkey’s People’s Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş, stated this week that his Kurdish-friendly party had experienced more than 400 attacks by Islamists and Turkish nationalists in the last two days.
Supporters of Turkey’s Islamist ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) attacked the headquarters of major newspaper Hurriyet on Sunday night. In response, the government is seeking not to investigate the attacks, but Hurriyet, for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A mob self-identifying as outraged Muslims attacked a Turkish street band in Istanbul this week for playing the Italian left-wing fight song “Bella Ciao,” complaining that the song was a “Jewish march” and that bands should not be allowed to play “Israeli music” freely in Turkey.
New details are emerging about Monday’s suicide bombing in southeastern Turkey, including the allegation that the Turkish government had intelligence warning about the attack. The explosion took place in the town of Suruc, which is across the border from the Syrian town of Kobani. Both towns are major centers for the region’s Kurdish minority.
At least one Turkish columnist, described as pro-government by the newspaper Hurriyet, is blaming an aggressive Internet strategy to smear critics of the majority AK Party for its own losses during Sunday’s parliamentary election.
Turkey’s parliamentary elections on Sunday have resulted in a fragmented legislature that has significantly weakened the power of ruling Islamist AK Party, while bringing to power a record number of Kurds, Christians, women, Yazidis, and even members of the Roma minority.
Contents: Israeli residents near Gaza border expect war soon; Israel launches fresh air strikes on Gaza; In major election setback, Turkey’s Erdogan loses support as Kurds gain seats
As Turkey nears its national election on June 7, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has managed to spark a national conversation regarding the material out of which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s toilet is made. Erdogan has sued the party’s leader to the tune of 100,000 Turkish Lira for claiming that members of his incumbent party enjoy the luxury of golden toilets.
The Islamist government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sentenced two cartoonists to 11 months in prison for drawing a magazine cover in which some claim it is implied that Erdogan is homosexual. The cartoon also overtly depicts Erdogan discussing killing journalists.
Fuat Özgür Çalapkulu, the head of Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), raised many eyebrows when he tweeted that Turkey, a member of NATO, needs to be ready for ‘Caliph’ Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A 13-year-old boy in Turkey was swept out of class by police in an arrest his father was later informed was the result of a Facebook post in which his son allegedly insulted the nation’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A second all-out fist fight broke out in the Turkish parliament this week after a debate over national security bill opponents claim would significantly hinder the national right of assembly. Numerous legislators were hurt, particularly opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) representative Orhan Düzgün, who fell down a staircase ruling party AKP deputy Suat Önal pushed him.
A legislative floor debate on a controversial homeland security bill rapidly descended into chaos in Turkey late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, with ruling Islamist AKP party members fiercely beating opposition party members and using the ceremonial gavel to break ribs.
