NEWS - Bianet

NEWS

Page 304

Turkey's Youth Offers "Window of Opportunity"

Turkey's Youth Offers "Window of Opportunity"

The fact that 12 of Turkey's 70 million are aged between 15 and 24 offers the country a golden opportunity to create a better future. However, this is only possible if there is investment - otherwise, poverty and social unrest lie ahead.

Prosecutor: Ergenekon Not Related to Other Trials

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin has released a written statement saying that the investigation into the Ergenekon gang is unrelated to any other current trials.

25 March 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

The Real Injustice…

The Real Injustice…

While some are railing at the "injustice" of raiding the house of an 83-year old journalist at dawn or the arrest of a party leader, their sense of "justice" is hypocritical.

25 March 2008 Ertuğrul Kürkçü

More Detentions and Arrests in Ergenekon Case

More Detentions and Arrests in Ergenekon Case

After 37 people were arrested in the Ergenekon case in January, there was a new wave of police detentions on Friday. Journalist Selcuk, former university rector Alemdaroglu, and party leader Perincek were among those taken into custody.

24 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Women Oppose Categorisation into Covered/Uncovered

Under the slogan “We look out for each other,” over 1,000 women have signed a statement condemning the categorisation of women into those who are covered and those wo are not.

19 March 2008 Emine Özcan

AKP Closure: What Do the People Think?

Bianet asked people in the street what they thought about the attempt to close the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

18 March 2008 Emine Özcan

AKP’s Defense against Closure is Hypocritical

AKP’s Defense against Closure is Hypocritical

The ruling AKP has been in power for six years, but has not made any attempts to change the Law on Political Parties or the constitution. Its current defense smacks less of democracy than of fascism.

18 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

AKP: “Closure Trial will Give Us 70 Percent of the Vote”

Members of the ruling AKP have reacted indignantly to the closure demand by Prosecutor Yalcinkaya, saying that the AKP would get even more support in the next elections.

17 March 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

Reactions to AKP Closure Request

Reactions to AKP Closure Request

President Gül said that he was “above politics” as president. The CHP and MHP have responded cautiously, while the DTP has condemned efforts to close both the AKP and the DTP.

17 March 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

Prosecution Wants to Close Ruling AKP

Prosecution Wants to Close Ruling AKP

The prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals has filed a court request to close the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), alleging that it is antisecular.

15 March 2008 Tolga Korkut,Erhan Üstündağ

37 Years after Military Coup

On 12 March 1971, a military coup took place in Turkey. Although it has been the topic of a popular TV series, Turkey needs more than one TV programme to face up to its past.

13 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Compulsory Religious Education is Hypocritical Violation of Rights

Constitutional law expert Gürcan has criticised the continuing obligation of school children to attend Religious Education classes and has described the attitude of the AKP as hypocritical.

11 March 2008 Tolga Korkut

Turkey Mourns Death of Academic Sadun Aren

Prof. Dr. Sadun Aren, co-founder of the Turkish Workers’ Party and formerly lecturer in Political Sciences at Ankara University, died in hospital on Saturday.

10 March 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

“Ergenekon” Gang Linked to Several Murders

The investigation into the ultra-nationalist Ergenekon gang is looking at three murders. A photo proving connections between retired general Kücük and the suspect in the State Council murder has been found.

6 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

IPS Communications Foundation and Press Now Organised Workshop in Antalya

25 reporters and journalists from local radio stations, TV channels and newspapers joined the workshop organised by IPS and Press Now in Antalya at the weekend.

3 March 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

Headscarves Not “In the Clear” Yet

Headscarves Not “In the Clear” Yet

The opposition CHP has appealed to the Constitutional Court to overrule the headscarf amendments, and university rectors have called for the resignation of Higher Education Council President Özcan.

28 February 2008 Gökçe Gündüç,Gökçe Gündüç

Displaced Children Regain Confidence

Children forcibly displaced by the armed conflict in the southeast of Turkey have found a ray of hope with the Basak Foundation.

28 February 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

Ultranationalist Ergenekon Gang Everywhere…

On Tuesday, the police arrested a further six people as part of the Ergenekon operation. There are three academics, a journalist, and a gold dealer among them.

27 February 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

President Gül Ratifies Headscarves at University

On 22 February, President Gül ratified the constitutional amendments of Articles 10 and 42, which allow women with headscarves to attend university.

25 February 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

Yet More Deaths at Tuzla Shipyards!

According to the trade union LIMTER-IS, two more shipyard workers have died, raising the death toll since the beginning of the year to six.

20 February 2008 Tolga Korkut

Women Can Not Rely on The Army for Their Gains

Women Can Not Rely on The Army for Their Gains

Those who believe that the issue of headscarves at university is a “legal issue” are totally mistaken. We are faced with a historical question: Does the new block of Islamist AKP and ultranationalist MHP with the passive consent of the army represent a moment of freedom?

18 February 2008 Ertuğrul Kürkçü

Tuzla Shipyards: Accident, Death and Dismissal

Tuzla Shipyards: Accident, Death and Dismissal

On Friday a shipyard worker in Tuzla was injured, and another died on Saturday. Trade union and association members have been dismissed.

17 February 2008 Emine Özcan

Former Minister Will Be Tried for Underground Operations

Former Minister Will Be Tried for Underground Operations

The 1st Chamber of the State Council has decided that former minister and police chief Mehmet Agar should be tried in the Susurluk case for "forming a criminal organisation."

14 February 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

Opposition to Nuclear Energy Raising Its Voice

As the rest of the world is trying to find alternatives to nuclear energy, Turkey is just launching its plans for the first two sites. Environmentalists and local groups are protesting.

13 February 2008 Emine Özcan

Constitutional Change for Headscarf at University Passed in Parliament

The second vote on constitutional amendment on Saturday was passed with 411 votes. The opposition CHP is applying to the Constitutional Court.

11 February 2008 Tolga Korkut

Government Supports Headscarf but Ignores Women’s Rights

Government Supports Headscarf but Ignores Women’s Rights

Although the AKP proposal to allow women wearing headscarves access to higher education has been couched in language about “freedoms” and “rights”, the government is actually not promoting women’s rights at all.

7 February 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Parliament Passes Headscarf Changes in First Round

Parliament Passes Headscarf Changes in First Round

Amendments to Articles 10 and 42 of the constitution were passed in the first round of debates and votes yesterday. The second round of votes is on Saturday.

7 February 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

European Support for Anti-Corruption Programme

With the support of the Council of Europe and the EU Commission, Turkey is launching a two-year anti-corruption programme.

6 February 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Anti-Headscarf Rally at Atatürk’s Mausoleum

In reaction to the prospect of the headscarf being allowed at university, tens of thousands of people gathered at Atatürk’s mausoleum in Ankara on Saturday.

4 February 2008 Tolga Korkut

Explosion in Illegal Fireworks Factory: 23 Dead, 117 Injured

Explosion in Illegal Fireworks Factory: 23 Dead, 117 Injured

An explosion in an illegal firework production complex has killed twenty people and injured 117. The factory owners have disappeared. Trade unions have accused employers and the government of "work murders."

31 January 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

"Ergenekon" Conspiracy is Rooted in "Susurluk" Says Former Minister

Fikri Sağlar, former minister and a member of the parliamentary investigation committee into the Susurluk affair urges for persistent investegitation into the "Ergenekon" conspiracy, in order to relieve Turkey from "deep state cancer."

30 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

19 Arrests after Al-Qaeda Operation

Of the 25 suspects in custody after operations in Gaziantep, 19 have been arrested. The trial will take place in Adana.

30 January 2008 Murat Güreş