Ankara backtracks on freedom to commemorate Armenian murders

Turkish liberals commemorated the Armenian massacres with significantly lower participation and faced police restrictions on using the word 'genocide'. Nicolas Tavitian, director of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Europe, expressed that the inability to publicly say 'Armenian genocide' marked a regression in freedom.

Syrian Refugees in Turkey: Scapegoats and Exploited Workers

Hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in Turkey are employed without work permits, leading to exploitation and resentment. Despite new regulations allowing work permits, only a small fraction of Syrians have obtained them, leaving the majority vulnerable to underpayment and poor working conditions. The Turkish economy's downturn and rising unemployment have made Syrians convenient scapegoats. Efforts by organizations like IMPR Humanitarian and the International Labour Organization are noted, but the government's lack of effective control and support is heavily criticized. The article highlights the systemic issues and the need for greater awareness and enforcement of labor rights for refugees.

AKP vote share has fallen more than election results show

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey has seen a significant decline in its national vote share, dropping 9% since the local polls on March 31. Analyst Ali Akarca from the University of Illinois at Chicago suggests that if the AKP continues on its current trajectory, it may lose more voters, similar to the political shift in 2002. This decline is seen as a positive sign for the opposition ahead of the Istanbul election rerun on June 23. The AKP claims electoral fraud in the March 31 election, but Akarca argues that the party actually received more votes than it deserved due to conservative voters marking ballots for alliance candidates.

New Diyarbakir mayor backs opposition candidate in Istanbul election rerun

Adnan Selcuk Mizrakli, the new mayor of Diyarbakir, expresses strong support for the opposition in the upcoming Istanbul election rerun, urging Kurds to stand against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its candidate Binali Yildirim, whom he labels as a thief. The Supreme Electoral Council's decision to invalidate the March 31 election and call for a new poll on June 23 is a significant development.

Ankara plays down US ultimatum on S-400

Turkey has responded with indifference to the US decision to remove it from the F-35 program unless it cancels its purchase of Russian S-400 air defense missiles. The US ultimatum, announced by Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, means Turkey will lose its four F-35s and billions in revenue from manufacturing components. Turkish personnel involved in the program must leave the US by the end of July.

Turkey's opposition protests, plans as date set for Istanbul re-vote

In Istanbul, residents protested the decision of the Supreme Electoral Council to void the election for Istanbul’s mayor by banging pots and pans. This form of protest was reminiscent of the Gezi Park protests in 2013, where people expressed their discontent with then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a similar manner. The sound of the cookware being used as instruments of protest was captured in a video from the night of the announcement.

Boys' rescue from forest provides bright spot for Turks

Two young boys, Selim Yagiz Ozkan and Baris Yildirim, went missing in a forest near their village in northeastern Turkey. Their disappearance prompted a large-scale search involving police, volunteers, and clerics, who called on the community to assist. The rescue effort provided a moment of unity and hope for the local population.

Turkish election board disqualifies pro-Kurdish mayors in southeast

Two weeks after the elections, the Supreme Electoral Council has yet to declare the mayor of Istanbul, with the ruling AKP frequently challenging the provisional results favoring the opposition. In southeastern Turkey, the government is pressuring the council to withhold certificates of electoral victory from the winners, despite undisputed results.