Turkey
Surveillance State
Turkey is increasingly using facial recognition and AI to surveil and prosecute protesters, eroding the rule of law and strengthening the grip of authoritarianism.
Turkey’s New Political Reality
Günöl Tol, founding director of the Middle East Institute’s Turkish studies program, and Diego Cupolo, editor in chief of Turkey Recap, join Kwangu Liwewe to discuss major developments in Turkish politics.
Turkey is in Turmoil as Millions Protest the Arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor
Turkey is embroiled in a countrywide anti-government protest movement, sparked by news that police arrested Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, days before his party held primaries for the 2028 presidential campaign. Imamoglu was widely predicted to win the primary, making him Erdogan’s chief challenger for the presidency.
Kurdish Musician Hozan Cane Recalls Her Political Imprisonment in Turkey
In 2018, Kurdish musician Hozan Cane traveled from her home in Germany to northwestern Turkey to sing for a pro-Kurdish election campaign. The Turkish authorities swiftly arrested and imprisoned her on trumped-up charges. Her ordeal encapsulates a worrying trend in the country, where human rights abuses are on the rise.
The Painful Transformation of a Historic Istanbul Neighborhood
The redevelopment of the Tokludede neighborhood in Istanbul reveals how such places and their communities have been torn open by Turkey’s embrace of modernization and global capitalism, with many of its former residents cast out to be replaced with a new culture and lifestyle.
The Untold History of Turkish-Kurdish Alliances
Turks and Kurds have shared a common history for centuries, and have often been united by alliances that helped to reshape power in Anatolia and the wider region. Yet since the foundation of modern Turkey, this history has been overshadowed by political dynamics and a breakdown of relations.
Inside Turkey’s EU-Funded Deportation Machine
The EU has provided Ankara with at least 200 million euros in funding to set up and operate a vast network of removal centers, a joint investigation has found. Yet as Turkish sentiment turns against refugees, Erdogan's government is using the centers to detain, abuse and forcibly deport them.