Treaties and conventions are like ground rules that ensure fair play. But if you're a rogue leader like Turkish President Erdogan, then treaties are nothing but chains. They dent your global ambitions.

Last month Erdogan abandoned a treaty on gender violence. Apparently, women's safety is a distraction in power plays. But he isn't done yet.

Erdogan is planning to violate another treaty. This one was signed in 1936 during the World War. Under this agreement the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits were given to Turkey.

Turkey had control. But with a caveat. Only civilian ships would sail through these waters. The Bosporus would not be militarised. That was the rule.

But rules have seldom stopped Erdogan. He has devised a workaround. Since he can't militarise the Bosporus, he is planning to create a completely new waterway.

In effect a second Bosporus. It is expected to be a 45 kilometre-long canal to the west of the natural route.

But why is Erdogan building it? The canal is one of the president's grand projects. A re-imagination of 21st century Turkey.

It has already bankrupted the economy. And made a laughing stock of the national currency the Lira. But the president will do anything for a return to the glory days.

Turkish officials say the new canal will reduce traffic on the Bosporus. They also say that the old convention will not apply. But Turkey's battle-hardened veterans disagree.

104 former navy officers signed an open letter against President Erdogan. They say the canal project is a violation of the treaty. And that it will harm regional security.

But all the president heard was the warning bell of a coup. The response was swift. Ten retired admirals have been arrested.

The charges? Conspiring against state security and constitutional order.

This is how Erdogan's spokesman defended the arrest.

"A group of retired soldiers are putting themselves into a laughable and miserable position with their statement that echoes military coup times."

Sums up what's happening in Turkey. Free speech is laughable. And dissent equals attempted coup.

Since 2016, Erdogan sees a hostile takeover everywhere. It's the classic sign of a leader insecure about public support.

The new canal project is a destabilising act.

For instance, The Black Sea has been historically dominated by Russia. But what if American warships enter the waters? Erdogan loves playing allies and rivals.

It's something he has perfected in his dealings with the European Union.

We could get a glimpse of it on Tuesday. Top officials of the EU Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel are due in Ankara.

They are hoping to find a solution to the Turkish problem.

Here's the issue, Turkey is a candidate for EU membership. But it has disputes with existing members like Greece. And an abhorrent record on human rights to boot.

So what are the EU officials hoping to achieve? Brussels is ready to engage. But only if Erdogan takes positive steps.

So let's recount what the president has done in the last few weeks. He abandoned a treaty on gender violence. He detained dozens of university students for protesting. He approved a plan that violates an 85-year old treaty. And he arrested retired officers who opposed the move. If this is Erdogan's idea of wooing Brussels there is no hope.

There is a wide chasm between what the Turkish president says and what he does. Last year, he talked about Turkey's European destiny.

But he continues to alienate the EU with aggressive posturing. Many say Turkey's future is linked to Europe's. That's what the country's founder Kemal Ataturk believed.

But Kemal Ataturk was a statesman. He believed in International Law.

Erdogan on the other hand is what many call self-styled. His style being disruptive, intolerant and ruthless. So if geopolitics were a sport Erdogan would never qualify as a sportsman. 
&nbsp;

Treaties and conventions are like ground rules that ensure fair play. But if you're a rogue leader like Turkish President Erdogan, then treaties are nothing but chains.

Treaties and conventions are like ground rules that ensure fair play. But if you're a rogue leader like Turkish President Erdogan, then treaties are nothing but chains. They dent your global ambitions. Last month Erdogan abandoned a treaty on gender violence. Apparently, women's safety is a distraction in power plays. But he isn't done yet. Erdogan is planning to violate another treaty. This one was signed in 1936 during the World War. Under this agreement the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits were given to Turkey. Turkey had control. But with a caveat. Only civilian ships would sail through these waters. The Bosporus would not be militarised. That was the rule. But rules have seldom stopped Erdogan. He has devised a workaround. Since he can't militarise the Bosporus, he is planning to create a completely new waterway. In effect a second Bosporus. It is expected to be a 45 kilometre-long canal to the west of the natural route. But why is Erdogan building it? The canal is one of the president's grand projects. A re-imagination of 21st century Turkey. It has already bankrupted the economy. And made a laughing stock of the national currency the Lira. But the president will do anything for a return to the glory days. Turkish officials say the new canal will reduce traffic on the Bosporus. They also say that the old convention will not apply. But Turkey's battle-hardened veterans disagree. 104 former navy officers signed an open letter against President Erdogan. They say the canal project is a violation of the treaty. And that it will harm regional security. But all the president heard was the warning bell of a coup. The response was swift. Ten retired admirals have been arrested. The charges? Conspiring against state security and constitutional order. This is how Erdogan's spokesman defended the arrest. "A group of retired soldiers are putting themselves into a laughable and miserable position with their statement that echoes military coup times." Sums up what's happening in Turkey. Free speech is laughable. And dissent equals attempted coup. Since 2016, Erdogan sees a hostile takeover everywhere. It's the classic sign of a leader insecure about public support. The new canal project is a destabilising act. For instance, The Black Sea has been historically dominated by Russia. But what if American warships enter the waters? Erdogan loves playing allies and rivals. It's something he has perfected in his dealings with the European Union. We could get a glimpse of it on Tuesday. Top officials of the EU Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel are due in Ankara. They are hoping to find a solution to the Turkish problem. Here's the issue, Turkey is a candidate for EU membership. But it has disputes with existing members like Greece. And an abhorrent record on human rights to boot. So what are the EU officials hoping to achieve? Brussels is ready to engage. But only if Erdogan takes positive steps. So let's recount what the president has done in the last few weeks. He abandoned a treaty on gender violence. He detained dozens of university students for protesting. He approved a plan that violates an 85-year old treaty. And he arrested retired officers who opposed the move. If this is Erdogan's idea of wooing Brussels there is no hope. There is a wide chasm between what the Turkish president says and what he does. Last year, he talked about Turkey's European destiny. But he continues to alienate the EU with aggressive posturing. Many say Turkey's future is linked to Europe's. That's what the country's founder Kemal Ataturk believed. But Kemal Ataturk was a statesman. He believed in International Law. Erdogan on the other hand is what many call self-styled. His style being disruptive, intolerant and ruthless. So if geopolitics were a sport Erdogan would never qualify as a sportsman.

Turkey detains former navy commanders. What's Erdogan's plan exactly?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday accused dozens of retired admirals of eyeing a ‘political coup’ by attacking his plans for a canal linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

Police have detained 10 of the former navy commanders and ordered four others to turn themselves in after they published an open letter critical of the proposed Canal Istanbul over the weekend.

Turkey's post-Ottoman history is littered with putsches by a military that views itself as the last guarantor of secularism in the mostly Muslim country.

Erdogan's fury was directed at a letter published by 104 former admirals over the weekend urging him to abide by the terms of the 1936 Montreux Convention.

The treaty is aimed at demilitarising the Black Sea by setting strict rules on warships' passage through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits.

But Erdogan's plan to build a new 45-kilometre (28-mile) shipping lane running to the west of the Bosphorus leaves open the question of whether the old treaty will apply to the proposed canal.

The retired admirals said the 1936 treaty ‘best protects Turkish interests’.

Erdogan told them on Monday that ‘the duty of retired admirals, 104 of whom come together, is not to publish declarations that hint at a political coup’.

"In a country whose past is filled with coups, (another) attempt by a group of retired admirals can never be accepted," he said after chairing a meeting with his top aides.

(With inputs from agencies)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday accused dozens of retired admirals of eyeing a ‘political coup’ by attacking his plans for a canal linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday accused dozens of retired admirals of eyeing a ‘political coup’ by attacking his plans for a canal linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Police have detained 10 of the former navy commanders and ordered four others to turn themselves in after they published an open letter critical of the proposed Canal Istanbul over the weekend. Turkey's post-Ottoman history is littered with putsches by a military that views itself as the last guarantor of secularism in the mostly Muslim country. Erdogan's fury was directed at a letter published by 104 former admirals over the weekend urging him to abide by the terms of the 1936 Montreux Convention. The treaty is aimed at demilitarising the Black Sea by setting strict rules on warships' passage through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. But Erdogan's plan to build a new 45-kilometre (28-mile) shipping lane running to the west of the Bosphorus leaves open the question of whether the old treaty will apply to the proposed canal. The retired admirals said the 1936 treaty ‘best protects Turkish interests’. Erdogan told them on Monday that ‘the duty of retired admirals, 104 of whom come together, is not to publish declarations that hint at a political coup’. "In a country whose past is filled with coups, (another) attempt by a group of retired admirals can never be accepted," he said after chairing a meeting with his top aides. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkish President accuses former admirals of 'political coup'

The Turkish lira&nbsp;weakened 13 per cent after&nbsp;President Tayyip Erdogan removed a central bank deputy governor, Murat Cetinkaya, from his post on Tuesday, 10 days after he fired the bank's hawkish governor in a shocking move.

Banker Mustafa Duman was appointed to the post, according to the Official Gazette. He has held executive positions at Morgan Stanley Securities and also had treasury, risk and auditing jobs in the financial sector, the central bank said.

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The decree gave no reason for the change. Cetinkaya, a former CEO of the Istanbul stock exchange, had served since mid-2019 at the central bank, which has seen rapid turnover in its upper ranks including four governors in two years.

The lira weakened in response and touched 8.29 against the US&nbsp;dollar, before firming to 8.26 by 0652 GMT.

On March 20, Erdogan ousted Naci Agbal, an orthodox governor who hiked the key interest rate to 19 per cent&nbsp;to address double-digit inflation. Sahap Kavcioglu, who has supported the president's view that high rates cause inflation, was named the new chief.

The move led to market turmoil amid concerns&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;may return to unorthodox economic policies and rapid rate cuts. Inflation stood at 15.6 per cent&nbsp;in February.

Deutsche Bank estimated foreigners dumped between $750 million and $1 billion of Turkish equities last week, in addition to $500 to $750 million in local bonds.

In an interview with Bloomberg, new Central Bank Governor Sahap Kavcioglu dismissed "prejudiced" expectations of an early rate cut in April or the following months.

Responding to speculation that&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;could impose capital controls to protect its currency, Erdogan's chief economic adviser, however, told Reuters it was not considering them.

The Turkish lira weakened 13 per cent after President Tayyip Erdogan removed a central bank deputy governor, Murat Cetinkaya, from his post on Tuesday, 10 days after he fired the bank's hawkish governor in a shocking move.

The Turkish lira weakened 13 per cent after President Tayyip Erdogan removed a central bank deputy governor, Murat Cetinkaya, from his post on Tuesday, 10 days after he fired the bank's hawkish governor in a shocking move. Banker Mustafa Duman was appointed to the post, according to the Official Gazette. He has held executive positions at Morgan Stanley Securities and also had treasury, risk and auditing jobs in the financial sector, the central bank said. The decree gave no reason for the change. Cetinkaya, a former CEO of the Istanbul stock exchange, had served since mid-2019 at the central bank, which has seen rapid turnover in its upper ranks including four governors in two years. The lira weakened in response and touched 8.29 against the US dollar, before firming to 8.26 by 0652 GMT. On March 20, Erdogan ousted Naci Agbal, an orthodox governor who hiked the key interest rate to 19 per cent to address double-digit inflation. Sahap Kavcioglu, who has supported the president's view that high rates cause inflation, was named the new chief. The move led to market turmoil amid concerns Turkey may return to unorthodox economic policies and rapid rate cuts. Inflation stood at 15.6 per cent in February. Deutsche Bank estimated foreigners dumped between $750 million and $1 billion of Turkish equities last week, in addition to $500 to $750 million in local bonds. In an interview with Bloomberg, new Central Bank Governor Sahap Kavcioglu dismissed "prejudiced" expectations of an early rate cut in April or the following months. Responding to speculation that Turkey could impose capital controls to protect its currency, Erdogan's chief economic adviser, however, told Reuters it was not considering them.

Turkish lira drops after President Erdogan fires deputy central bank chief

Several thousand women took to the streets in Istanbul on Saturday to demand Turkey reverses its decision to withdraw from an international treaty against domestic abuse which it once championed.

Turkey was one of the first signatories of the treaty, and women say their safety has been jeopardised by the president’s surprising move.

President Tayyip Erdogan stunned European allies with last week’s announcement that Turkey was pulling out of the Istanbul Convention, named after the Turkish city where it was drafted in 2011.

On Saturday, amid a heavy police presence, protesters gathered in an Istanbul seafront square waving purple flags and chanting slogans including “Murders of women are political”. One placard read, “Protect women, not the perpetrators of violence.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows 38 per cent of women in Turkey are subject to violence from a partner in their lifetime, compared with 25 per cent in Europe.

Estimates of femicide rates in Turkey, for which there are no official figures, have roughly tripled over the last 10 years, according to a monitoring group. So far this year 87 women have been murdered by men or died under suspicious circumstances.

Conservatives in Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AK Party say the convention, which stresses gender equality and forbids discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, undermines family structures and encourages violence. 
&nbsp;

Several thousand women took to the streets in Istanbul on Saturday to demand Turkey reverses its decision to withdraw from an international treaty against domestic abuse which it once championed.

Several thousand women took to the streets in Istanbul on Saturday to demand Turkey reverses its decision to withdraw from an international treaty against domestic abuse which it once championed. Turkey was one of the first signatories of the treaty, and women say their safety has been jeopardised by the president’s surprising move. President Tayyip Erdogan stunned European allies with last week’s announcement that Turkey was pulling out of the Istanbul Convention, named after the Turkish city where it was drafted in 2011. On Saturday, amid a heavy police presence, protesters gathered in an Istanbul seafront square waving purple flags and chanting slogans including “Murders of women are political”. One placard read, “Protect women, not the perpetrators of violence.” The World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows 38 per cent of women in Turkey are subject to violence from a partner in their lifetime, compared with 25 per cent in Europe. Estimates of femicide rates in Turkey, for which there are no official figures, have roughly tripled over the last 10 years, according to a monitoring group. So far this year 87 women have been murdered by men or died under suspicious circumstances. Conservatives in Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AK Party say the convention, which stresses gender equality and forbids discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, undermines family structures and encourages violence.

Women in Turkey protest over Erdogan’s decision to exit domestic violence treaty

Turkey condemned French President Emmanuel Macron's claims that it was meddling in France's next presidential elections.

The Turkish foreign ministry said it found Macron's words "unacceptable and contrary to the friendship and alliance between our countries".

This week, Macron told French television that Turkey was "playing on public opinion" and spreading "lies" in France through the use of state-controlled media.

"There will be attempts at interference in the next (French) presidential elections" in 2022, Macron said. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan often criticise each other's countries that oppose each other in regional conflicts.&nbsp;

The barbs hit a low late last year at the time Erdogan told Macron to undergo "mental checks". He had urged France to "get rid of" their president

Months earlier, Macron had suggested that the Turkish people "deserve something else" than the policies of Erdogan.

The Turkish statement on Wednesday said Macron's "dangerous" comments threatened to alienate France's 800,000-strong Turkish community.

(With AFP inputs)

Turkey condemned French President Emmanuel Macron's claims that it was meddling in France's next presidential elections. The Turkish foreign ministry said it found Macron's words "unacceptable and contrary to the friendship and alliance between our countries".

Turkey condemned French President Emmanuel Macron's claims that it was meddling in France's next presidential elections. The Turkish foreign ministry said it found Macron's words "unacceptable and contrary to the friendship and alliance between our countries". This week, Macron told French television that Turkey was "playing on public opinion" and spreading "lies" in France through the use of state-controlled media. "There will be attempts at interference in the next (French) presidential elections" in 2022, Macron said. Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan often criticise each other's countries that oppose each other in regional conflicts. The barbs hit a low late last year at the time Erdogan told Macron to undergo "mental checks". He had urged France to "get rid of" their president Months earlier, Macron had suggested that the Turkish people "deserve something else" than the policies of Erdogan. The Turkish statement on Wednesday said Macron's "dangerous" comments threatened to alienate France's 800,000-strong Turkish community. (With AFP inputs)

Turkey slams French claim of election 'interference'

Turkey's Lira plunged 15% - after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fired the Governor of the Central Bank. This is the third Central Bank chief to be sacked in less than two years. WION's Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Erdogan sacks his third Central Bank Chief in two years

The Turkish lira tumbled on Monday as President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-erdogan-removes-turkeys-third-central-bank-governor-in-less-than-two-years-371863">Erdogan</a> sacked the country's central bank chief Naci Agbal.

Watch:

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The Turkish lira fell 17 per cent sliding&nbsp;8.47 per US dollar in early trade on Monday even though it recovered slightly later at 8.09.&nbsp;

Agbal's sacking came just a day after the country's central bank hiked interest rates by more than two percentage points to 19 per cent in a bid to fight inflation.

Agbal was appointed less than five months ago but has been replaced by Sahap Kavcioglu who has been an open critic of Agbal's policies.

In July 2019, President Erdogan had sacked central bank chief Murat Cetinkaya for not bringing interest rates down swiftly and had replaced Murat Uysal after the currency slumped to a record low.

Kavcioglu is the fourth central bank chief in five years in Turkey as the country battles economic crisis amid the pandemic.

Kavcioglu asserted that the bank would focus on lowering the double-digit inflation even though Agbal's rate hike of 200 basis-points on Thursday had sparked an over 3 per cent lira rally.

The lira has reportedly lost half its value since the 2018 currency crisis.

The Turkish lira tumbled on Monday as President Erdogan sacked the country's central bank chief Naci Agbal. Watch: The Turkish lira fell 17 per cent sliding 8.47 per US dollar in early trade on Monday even though it recovered slightly later at 8.

The Turkish lira tumbled on Monday as President Erdogan sacked the country's central bank chief Naci Agbal. Watch: The Turkish lira fell 17 per cent sliding 8.47 per US dollar in early trade on Monday even though it recovered slightly later at 8.09. Agbal's sacking came just a day after the country's central bank hiked interest rates by more than two percentage points to 19 per cent in a bid to fight inflation. Agbal was appointed less than five months ago but has been replaced by Sahap Kavcioglu who has been an open critic of Agbal's policies. In July 2019, President Erdogan had sacked central bank chief Murat Cetinkaya for not bringing interest rates down swiftly and had replaced Murat Uysal after the currency slumped to a record low. Kavcioglu is the fourth central bank chief in five years in Turkey as the country battles economic crisis amid the pandemic. Kavcioglu asserted that the bank would focus on lowering the double-digit inflation even though Agbal's rate hike of 200 basis-points on Thursday had sparked an over 3 per cent lira rally. The lira has reportedly lost half its value since the 2018 currency crisis.

Turkish Lira tumbles after Erdogan fires central bank chief

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has triggered nationwide protests for withdrawing Turkey from an international agreement to prevent violence against women.

Erdogan pulls Turkey out of Istanbul convention

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has removed the country’s central bank governor -- third in less than two years, and replaced him with an advocate of lower interest rates.&nbsp;

According to the decree published on Saturday in the Official Gazette, Sahap Kavcioglu has replaced Naci Agbal, who was appointed in November.

Agbal’s abrupt removal comes on the heels of a 200 basis-point interest-rate hike by the central bank on Thursday.

Agbal took the job as Turkey’s top banker after weeks of declines in the lira. He was able to boost the central bank’s damaged credibility among investors.

Kavcioglu is a professor of banking at Marmara University in Istanbul. He takes over after the pace of inflation accelerated for a fifth month in February to nearly 16 per cent.&nbsp;

The currency has taken one of the worst hits among peers from climbing US Treasury yields, slumping more than 7 per cent since mid-February and adding to calls for Agbal to backstop the market with higher rates.

(with inputs)

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has removed the country’s central bank governor -- third in less than two years, and replaced him with an advocate of lower interest rates.

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has removed the country’s central bank governor -- third in less than two years, and replaced him with an advocate of lower interest rates. According to the decree published on Saturday in the Official Gazette, Sahap Kavcioglu has replaced Naci Agbal, who was appointed in November. Agbal’s abrupt removal comes on the heels of a 200 basis-point interest-rate hike by the central bank on Thursday. Agbal took the job as Turkey’s top banker after weeks of declines in the lira. He was able to boost the central bank’s damaged credibility among investors. Kavcioglu is a professor of banking at Marmara University in Istanbul. He takes over after the pace of inflation accelerated for a fifth month in February to nearly 16 per cent. The currency has taken one of the worst hits among peers from climbing US Treasury yields, slumping more than 7 per cent since mid-February and adding to calls for Agbal to backstop the market with higher rates. (with inputs)

President Erdogan removes Turkey’s third central bank governor in less than two years

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday pulled out of an international accord aimed at protecting women. Campaigners have claimed that the pact is important in the fight against domestic violence, especially after the announcement by country’s official gazette.

The Council of Europe accord was forged in Istanbul to prevent, prosecute, and to end violence against women, and to promote equality.

Turkish government provided no explanation for the withdrawal. But last year, officials from Erdogan’s AK Party had said that the government was planning to withdraw from the accord for a conflict over how to end violence against women in the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/erdogan-slams-biden-for-killer-remarks-says-putins-response-elegant-371736" hreflang="en">Erdogan slams Biden for 'killer' remarks, says Putin's response 'elegant'</a>

Turkey has witnessed a rise in femicides over the last year, and had signed the accord in 2011. The accord is believed by many Turkish folks, especially among conservatives to be encouraging violence by undermining family structures.

Gender equality also irks many in the country, who claim that it promotes homosexuality for being non-discriminating on grounds of sexual orientation. Critics believe that this puts Turkey further away from the values of the European Union, which it has been attempting to join.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/europe-rights-body-urges-immediate-release-of-erdogan-critics-370065" hreflang="en">Europe rights body urges 'immediate' release of Erdogan critics</a>

Turkey is not the only country to quit. Recently, Poland’s highest court assessed the accord and suggested the country should quit it on grounds of it being too liberal.&nbsp;

According to data by the World Health Organization, 38 per cent women in Turkey face violence from a partner during their lifetime, which is much higher than the stats in Europe at about 25 per cent.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday pulled out of an international accord aimed at protecting women. Campaigners have claimed that the pact is important in the fight against domestic violence, especially after the announcement by country’s official gazette.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday pulled out of an international accord aimed at protecting women. Campaigners have claimed that the pact is important in the fight against domestic violence, especially after the announcement by country’s official gazette. The Council of Europe accord was forged in Istanbul to prevent, prosecute, and to end violence against women, and to promote equality. Turkish government provided no explanation for the withdrawal. But last year, officials from Erdogan’s AK Party had said that the government was planning to withdraw from the accord for a conflict over how to end violence against women in the country. Also read: Erdogan slams Biden for 'killer' remarks, says Putin's response 'elegant' Turkey has witnessed a rise in femicides over the last year, and had signed the accord in 2011. The accord is believed by many Turkish folks, especially among conservatives to be encouraging violence by undermining family structures. Gender equality also irks many in the country, who claim that it promotes homosexuality for being non-discriminating on grounds of sexual orientation. Critics believe that this puts Turkey further away from the values of the European Union, which it has been attempting to join. Also read: Europe rights body urges 'immediate' release of Erdogan critics Turkey is not the only country to quit. Recently, Poland’s highest court assessed the accord and suggested the country should quit it on grounds of it being too liberal. According to data by the World Health Organization, 38 per cent women in Turkey face violence from a partner during their lifetime, which is much higher than the stats in Europe at about 25 per cent.

Under Erdogan, Turkey pulls out of European treaty to prevent violence against women

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken the country out of an international treaty that was designed to protect women. The move has come in spite of the calls from campaigners against it. The treaty is seen as a key to combating rising cases of domestic violence in the country.

The Council of Europe accord, forged in Istanbul, pledged to prevent, prosecute and eliminate domestic violence and promote equality. Turkey, which signed the accord in 2011, saw a rise in femicides last year.

No reason has been provided for the withdrawal.

Conservatives in Turkey have been claiming that the pact undermines family structure, encouraging violence. They are also hostile to the principle of gender equality in the Istanbul Convention and see it as promoting homosexuality, given its principle of non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

Turkey is not the first country to move towards ditching the accord. Poland's highest court scrutinized the pact after a cabinet member said Warsaw should quit the treaty which the nationalist government considers too liberal.

Turkey does not keep official statistics on femicide. World Health Organization data has shown 38% of women in Turkey are subject to violence from a partner in their lifetime, compared to about 25% in Europe.

(With Reuters inputs)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken the country out of an international treaty that was designed to protect women. The move has come in spite of the calls from campaigners against it.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken the country out of an international treaty that was designed to protect women. The move has come in spite of the calls from campaigners against it. The treaty is seen as a key to combating rising cases of domestic violence in the country. The Council of Europe accord, forged in Istanbul, pledged to prevent, prosecute and eliminate domestic violence and promote equality. Turkey, which signed the accord in 2011, saw a rise in femicides last year. No reason has been provided for the withdrawal. Conservatives in Turkey have been claiming that the pact undermines family structure, encouraging violence. They are also hostile to the principle of gender equality in the Istanbul Convention and see it as promoting homosexuality, given its principle of non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. Turkey is not the first country to move towards ditching the accord. Poland's highest court scrutinized the pact after a cabinet member said Warsaw should quit the treaty which the nationalist government considers too liberal. Turkey does not keep official statistics on femicide. World Health Organization data has shown 38% of women in Turkey are subject to violence from a partner in their lifetime, compared to about 25% in Europe. (With Reuters inputs)

Erdogan takes Turkey out of treaty designed to protect women

We all know that there kinds of people in this world. One who speak 'Friends' and the others who have not watched the popular American sitcom ever. But there is also a 'special breed' that finds the comedy show obscene. Yes, you read that right.&nbsp; 
 
Turkey has declared a war on the hit American sit-com 'Friends.' A Turkish news outlet claims that the show promotes homosexuality, incest, infidelity, and drugs and believes human arms are obscene. So much so, that it has decided to blur the arms of the female cast - Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Anniston- from the poster.&nbsp; 
 
OTT giant Netflix announced that it would be streaming 'Friends' in Turkey. Anywhere else in the world-- this would have called for a celebration. But the publication in Turkey carried out an article titled 'Netflix aims to target young people with the depraved series 'Friends'!' The article carried a poster of the show, with bare arms of the female cast blurred out.&nbsp; 
 
The world 'depraved' means being morally corrupt. In Turkey, it means war. War on Muslim society, one being led by Netflix. 
 
This publication believes 'Friends' promotes homosexuality. It also apparently promotes incest, infidelity, drugs and child abuse.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-turkey-at-war-with-friends-371259/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Really? One can't help but wonder as to what version of the show is the editor of the publication watching? 
 
We must add here, that the outlet in question has earlier been accused of anti-semitism and homophobia. It is also reportedly closely-linked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.&nbsp; 
 
Even joey will be able to join the dots here. We get it, that Turkey is trying very hard to woo the Muslim world. But calling out 'Friends'for obscenity is a little too much. 
 
This attempt at censorship/joke comes at a time-- when Turkey is trying to scrub the social media- of everything it considers as 'Fake'.&nbsp; 
 
Erdogan's govt has announced its own fact-checking platform called Doğru mu which translates to 'Is it true?'.&nbsp; 
 
Well, calling the sitcom 'depraved' is surely not.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

We all know that there kinds of people in this world. One who speak 'Friends' and the others who have not watched the popular American sitcom ever. But there is also a 'special breed' that finds the comedy show obscene.

We all know that there kinds of people in this world. One who speak 'Friends' and the others who have not watched the popular American sitcom ever. But there is also a 'special breed' that finds the comedy show obscene. Yes, you read that right. Turkey has declared a war on the hit American sit-com 'Friends.' A Turkish news outlet claims that the show promotes homosexuality, incest, infidelity, and drugs and believes human arms are obscene. So much so, that it has decided to blur the arms of the female cast - Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Anniston- from the poster. OTT giant Netflix announced that it would be streaming 'Friends' in Turkey. Anywhere else in the world-- this would have called for a celebration. But the publication in Turkey carried out an article titled 'Netflix aims to target young people with the depraved series 'Friends'!' The article carried a poster of the show, with bare arms of the female cast blurred out. The world 'depraved' means being morally corrupt. In Turkey, it means war. War on Muslim society, one being led by Netflix. This publication believes 'Friends' promotes homosexuality. It also apparently promotes incest, infidelity, drugs and child abuse. Really? One can't help but wonder as to what version of the show is the editor of the publication watching? We must add here, that the outlet in question has earlier been accused of anti-semitism and homophobia. It is also reportedly closely-linked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Even joey will be able to join the dots here. We get it, that Turkey is trying very hard to woo the Muslim world. But calling out 'Friends'for obscenity is a little too much. This attempt at censorship/joke comes at a time-- when Turkey is trying to scrub the social media- of everything it considers as 'Fake'. Erdogan's govt has announced its own fact-checking platform called Doğru mu which translates to 'Is it true?'. Well, calling the sitcom 'depraved' is surely not.

Is Turkey at war with American sitcom 'Friends'? 

Europe's top human rights body on Friday urged the immediate release of two opponents of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying Ankara was violating rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which ordered their release.

The ECHR, which is part of the Council of Europe, had in separate rulings told Turkey to release philanthropist Osman Kavala and pro-Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas who are both jailed.

Considering both cases, the committee of ministers of the Council of Europe said that Turkey was violating the ECHR rulings by failing to free the two men.

Supporters say that Demirtas and Kavala are being punished for daring to oppose Erdogan, although Ankara insists that the Turkish judiciary is independent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-unveils-human-rights-action-plan-to-protect-freedom-of-expression-in-turkey-367527">Erdogan unveils 'human rights action plan' to protect freedom of expression in Turkey</a>

In Kavala's case, the committee called for his immediate release and said it would send a letter to Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu "conveying the Committee's deep concern about the applicant's continuing detention".

It said his situation and the violation of the ECHR ruling "reveal pervasive problems regarding the independence and impartiality of the Turkish judiciary".

For Demirtas, a charismatic Kurdish politician who stood against Erdogan in 2014 and 2018 presidential elections, the committee said his continued detention would entail a prolongation of the violation of the applicant's rights as well as a breach of the obligation of the respondent state to abide by the Court's judgement".

"It therefore urged the authorities to ensure the applicant's immediate release."

Amnesty International's Europe Director Nils Muiznieks welcomed the committee's close monitoring of their situation and said their detention "made a mockery" of a human rights action plan announced last week by Erdogan.

"Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtas have been arbitrarily and unjustly deprived of their liberty for years, despite the binding Court decisions that they be released.

"This action plan and Turkey's generic platitudes cannot hide the reality (that in Turkey) freedom of expression is ruthlessly punished," he said.

Demirtas was convicted of disseminating terror propaganda in 2018 and is facing other charges that could see him sentenced to 142 years behind bars.

The ECHR ruled in December that Turkish authorities violated Demirtas' rights to free speech and called his jailing "cover for an ulterior political purpose".

The next hearing in Kavala's trial is expected on May 21. He faces life in prison if convicted of charges of seeking to overthrow the state in 2013 protests and the 2016 failed coup bid which he denies.&nbsp;

Demirtas has been held in jail since November 2016 and Kavala since October 2017.

Europe's top human rights body on Friday urged the immediate release of two opponents of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying Ankara was violating rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which ordered their release.

Europe's top human rights body on Friday urged the immediate release of two opponents of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying Ankara was violating rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which ordered their release. The ECHR, which is part of the Council of Europe, had in separate rulings told Turkey to release philanthropist Osman Kavala and pro-Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas who are both jailed. Considering both cases, the committee of ministers of the Council of Europe said that Turkey was violating the ECHR rulings by failing to free the two men. Supporters say that Demirtas and Kavala are being punished for daring to oppose Erdogan, although Ankara insists that the Turkish judiciary is independent. Also read | Erdogan unveils 'human rights action plan' to protect freedom of expression in Turkey In Kavala's case, the committee called for his immediate release and said it would send a letter to Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu "conveying the Committee's deep concern about the applicant's continuing detention". It said his situation and the violation of the ECHR ruling "reveal pervasive problems regarding the independence and impartiality of the Turkish judiciary". For Demirtas, a charismatic Kurdish politician who stood against Erdogan in 2014 and 2018 presidential elections, the committee said his continued detention would entail a prolongation of the violation of the applicant's rights as well as a breach of the obligation of the respondent state to abide by the Court's judgement". "It therefore urged the authorities to ensure the applicant's immediate release." Amnesty International's Europe Director Nils Muiznieks welcomed the committee's close monitoring of their situation and said their detention "made a mockery" of a human rights action plan announced last week by Erdogan. "Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtas have been arbitrarily and unjustly deprived of their liberty for years, despite the binding Court decisions that they be released. "This action plan and Turkey's generic platitudes cannot hide the reality (that in Turkey) freedom of expression is ruthlessly punished," he said. Demirtas was convicted of disseminating terror propaganda in 2018 and is facing other charges that could see him sentenced to 142 years behind bars. The ECHR ruled in December that Turkish authorities violated Demirtas' rights to free speech and called his jailing "cover for an ulterior political purpose". The next hearing in Kavala's trial is expected on May 21. He faces life in prison if convicted of charges of seeking to overthrow the state in 2013 protests and the 2016 failed coup bid which he denies. Demirtas has been held in jail since November 2016 and Kavala since October 2017.

Europe rights body urges 'immediate' release of Erdogan critics

Turkish President Erdogan wants to change election rules. Why? Because he fears a defeat in the 2023 elections. He is promising to build a new 'civilian constitution'. Will the promise work?

Gravitas: Erdogan wants to change election rules

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has controlled Turkey for 17 long years. First as prime minister and now as president. In 17 years, he has made Turkey an autocracy, a one-man show.&nbsp;

This show is now getting bad reviews. So, Erdogan wants to change the rules. The poll numbers for Erdogan are dropping and supporters of his party are disenchanted. They are drifting away because economic growth has slowed.&nbsp;

The Lira has nose-dived and Erdogan's allies are breaking away to form rival parties. According to a compilation of 15 recent opinion polls, support for Erdogan's Islamist-rooted justice and development party or AKP has fallen to 36% from 42% in the last election. This is a significant drop for a ruling party, especially for one that has been in power for 17 years and one that has been on a losing spree in 2019.&nbsp;

Municipal polls were held in Turkey and Erdogan's party suffered defeat in three very important cities, Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir.&nbsp;

These are three of the largest cities in Turkey. The elections here were won by opposition parties. It's been more than a year and there are growing fears that these embarrassing losses could transform into a wider nationwide loss in the 2023 elections. Pollsters say the Turkish President should be worried and it seems he is, which is why President Erdogan is trying to change the election rules.&nbsp;

In a recent public address, he said, “We are starting extensive work regarding changing political party and election regulations to improve democratic participation.”&nbsp;

What does it mean? The Turkish President did not bother to explain. His party officials have anonymously revealed that these plans include two primary things, one dividing large urban electoral districts into smaller constituencies and two, reducing the threshold for entering Parliament from 10% to 7%.&nbsp;

The first move could significantly boost the number of lawmakers from Erdogan's party and the second one will set barriers for opposition parties in entering Parliament.&nbsp;

It's quite a smart strategy and Erdogan is already laying the groundwork for it. He is trying to win public support ahead of these planned changes. He has eased coronavirus restrictions, lifted night-time curfews for weekends and promised measures to improve human rights, press freedoms, freedom of expression and new policies to curb violence against women. Erdogan says these measures would be implemented in the next two years with the ultimate aim of drafting a new constitution.&nbsp;

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president, Turkey, said, "In order to enhance standards related to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, we are developing measures aimed at easing the professional activities of journalists."&nbsp;

"We are educating law-enforcement officials as well as shopping district and neighbourhood guards on issues that constitute ill-treatment. We are removing the statute of limitations concerning disciplinary investigations over torture allegations."&nbsp;

"The ultimate aim of our (human rights) action plan is a new and civilian constitution."&nbsp;

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has controlled Turkey for 17 long years. First as prime minister and now as president. In 17 years, he has made Turkey an autocracy, a one-man show.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has controlled Turkey for 17 long years. First as prime minister and now as president. In 17 years, he has made Turkey an autocracy, a one-man show. This show is now getting bad reviews. So, Erdogan wants to change the rules. The poll numbers for Erdogan are dropping and supporters of his party are disenchanted. They are drifting away because economic growth has slowed. The Lira has nose-dived and Erdogan's allies are breaking away to form rival parties. According to a compilation of 15 recent opinion polls, support for Erdogan's Islamist-rooted justice and development party or AKP has fallen to 36% from 42% in the last election. This is a significant drop for a ruling party, especially for one that has been in power for 17 years and one that has been on a losing spree in 2019. Municipal polls were held in Turkey and Erdogan's party suffered defeat in three very important cities, Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. These are three of the largest cities in Turkey. The elections here were won by opposition parties. It's been more than a year and there are growing fears that these embarrassing losses could transform into a wider nationwide loss in the 2023 elections. Pollsters say the Turkish President should be worried and it seems he is, which is why President Erdogan is trying to change the election rules. In a recent public address, he said, “We are starting extensive work regarding changing political party and election regulations to improve democratic participation.” What does it mean? The Turkish President did not bother to explain. His party officials have anonymously revealed that these plans include two primary things, one dividing large urban electoral districts into smaller constituencies and two, reducing the threshold for entering Parliament from 10% to 7%. The first move could significantly boost the number of lawmakers from Erdogan's party and the second one will set barriers for opposition parties in entering Parliament. It's quite a smart strategy and Erdogan is already laying the groundwork for it. He is trying to win public support ahead of these planned changes. He has eased coronavirus restrictions, lifted night-time curfews for weekends and promised measures to improve human rights, press freedoms, freedom of expression and new policies to curb violence against women. Erdogan says these measures would be implemented in the next two years with the ultimate aim of drafting a new constitution. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president, Turkey, said, "In order to enhance standards related to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, we are developing measures aimed at easing the professional activities of journalists." "We are educating law-enforcement officials as well as shopping district and neighbourhood guards on issues that constitute ill-treatment. We are removing the statute of limitations concerning disciplinary investigations over torture allegations." "The ultimate aim of our (human rights) action plan is a new and civilian constitution."

To regain control, Turkish President pushes for reforms 

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to bolster <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/practice-what-you-preach-this-is-indias-message-to-turkey-366292">Turkey's </a>judicial and&nbsp;economic system while initiating the "human rights action plan"&nbsp;to protect freedom of expression.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/targeted-by-president-erdogan-lgbtq-groups-face-hate-in-turkey-365667/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-jails-three-for-aiding-carlos-ghosn-escape-from-japan-365948">Turkey's</a> government plans to strengthen civil liberties after criticism from Western allies over erosion and suppression of human rights.

"Our aim is to strengthen even more the concept of a state of law based on human rights. We will regularly review legislation and implementation accordingly and will take all necessary precautions. Thereby, we are speeding up talks with the European Union, especially on issues that we expect to encounter in the visa liberalisation dialogue," the Turkey president said.

Erdogan outlined several new measures centering around several areas, with focus on the speeding up of trial proceedings and observation of human rights condition in prisons&nbsp;and easing the professional activities of journalists.

The Turkish&nbsp;president also spoke about improved press freedoms and freedom of expression in Turkey, which would guarantee minorities the right to take paid leave during non-Muslim holidays.

In order to curb violence against women, &nbsp;special investigation bureaus will be established, which will investigate violent crimes against women. The plan also ensures law-enforcement officials are trained in observing human rights.

The measures would be implemented in the next two years and Erdogan said that his government's ultimate goal would be to draft a new constitution.

Erdogan's pledge&nbsp;to improve the country's troubled record on human rights come ahead of a key meeting over the country's EU accession hopes.

Human rights violations have been a key obstacle to Turkey's ongoing attempts to join the bloc, with negotiations taking place on a stop-start basis since a meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen in 2002.

The bloc’s leaders will meet this month to review its relationship with Ankara, which has been further strained by a dispute over Turkish drilling in the eastern Mediterranean.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to bolster Turkey's judicial and economic system while initiating the "human rights action plan" to protect freedom of expression.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to bolster Turkey's judicial and economic system while initiating the "human rights action plan" to protect freedom of expression. Watch: Turkey's government plans to strengthen civil liberties after criticism from Western allies over erosion and suppression of human rights. "Our aim is to strengthen even more the concept of a state of law based on human rights. We will regularly review legislation and implementation accordingly and will take all necessary precautions. Thereby, we are speeding up talks with the European Union, especially on issues that we expect to encounter in the visa liberalisation dialogue," the Turkey president said. Erdogan outlined several new measures centering around several areas, with focus on the speeding up of trial proceedings and observation of human rights condition in prisons and easing the professional activities of journalists. The Turkish president also spoke about improved press freedoms and freedom of expression in Turkey, which would guarantee minorities the right to take paid leave during non-Muslim holidays. In order to curb violence against women, special investigation bureaus will be established, which will investigate violent crimes against women. The plan also ensures law-enforcement officials are trained in observing human rights. The measures would be implemented in the next two years and Erdogan said that his government's ultimate goal would be to draft a new constitution. Erdogan's pledge to improve the country's troubled record on human rights come ahead of a key meeting over the country's EU accession hopes. Human rights violations have been a key obstacle to Turkey's ongoing attempts to join the bloc, with negotiations taking place on a stop-start basis since a meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen in 2002. The bloc’s leaders will meet this month to review its relationship with Ankara, which has been further strained by a dispute over Turkish drilling in the eastern Mediterranean.

Erdogan unveils 'human rights action plan' to protect freedom of expression in Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to bolster Turkey's judicial and economic system. He has initiated with Human Rights action plan to protect the freedom of expression.

Erdogan aim's to bolster Turkey's judicial system

Turkey -- a country that loves to preach the world on what's right and what isn't, a country which in tandem with Pakistan -- has kept the rhetorical fire on Kashmir alive at global platforms.

Up until now, New Delhi responded to Ankara's adventurism keeping bilateral ties in mind. But this time, it pulled no punches.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-india-puts-turkey-in-its-place-on-kashmir-366306/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On Monday, the UN Human Rights Council began its 46th session. The foreign ministers of each country took turns to speak -- Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke about terrorism, the pandemic and vaccines, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about democracy, peace and stability, and the Turkish foreign minister decided to score a self-goal -- he spoke about Kashmir.&nbsp;

Mevlut Chavu-Shoglu tried to target India over the Kashmir issue. He claimed New Delhi was trampling on the rights of Kashmiris. But he made no mention of Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism in the region.

The Pakistani embassy in Turkey couldn't be happier. It tweeted the Turkish foreign minister's speech with the collusion evident.

And India decided to hit back. Seema Pujani, India's second secretary at the United Nations did not mince words.

She reminded Turkey of the UNSC resolution on Cyprus.

Turkey has occupied northern Cyprus since 1974. In 1984, the UNSC passed a resolution on transferring the area to United Nations administration.

But despite repeated calls, the Turkish occupation continues. So India decided to raise the issue.

The statement said, "As regards the remarks made by turkey, we find them completely unacceptable. It is ironical for a country which has trampled upon its own civil society to pass unjustified comments on other's internal matters.

"As far as the subject of un resolutions is concerned, we would advise turkey to practice what it preaches by first implementing those un resolutions that apply to it."

This is not the first time Turkey has tried to target India over Kashmir. In 2017, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdpgan travelled to India.

Even then also, he sought Turkey's role in the Kashmir conflict, and tried to intervene in a bilateral issue -- by suggesting a multi-lateral dialogue.

Two years later, Erdogan spoke at the UN General Assembly, and said that 8 million people are stuck in Kashmir.

He accused india of human rights violations; then in February, 2020, Erdogan travelled to Islamabad. There, he addressed a joint session of Pakistan's parliament, and tried justifying Islamabad's cross border-terrorism in Kashmir.

A few weeks later, he made a statement in Ankara, "India right now has become a country Where massacres are widespread. What massacres? Massacres of Muslims. By whom? Hindus. How will these people make global peace possible? It is impossible when making speeches -- since they have a large population -- they say 'we are strong' but that is not strength."

And he said this being a leader who has clamped down on the rights of Kurdish Muslims in his country.

In a nutshell, Erdogan doesn't really practice what he preaches. He may have made Islam the centre of Turkish politics and the guiding light of Turkey's foreign policy. But it's all a political stunt and a tool to keep his power intact.

He brings up Kashmir to keep his domestic audience happy. And to keep countries like Pakistan pleased.

'Practice what you preach' - is the only message that India should give to Turkey.

Turkey -- a country that loves to preach the world on what's right and what isn't, a country which in tandem with Pakistan -- has kept the rhetorical fire on Kashmir alive at global platforms.

Turkey -- a country that loves to preach the world on what's right and what isn't, a country which in tandem with Pakistan -- has kept the rhetorical fire on Kashmir alive at global platforms. Up until now, New Delhi responded to Ankara's adventurism keeping bilateral ties in mind. But this time, it pulled no punches. On Monday, the UN Human Rights Council began its 46th session. The foreign ministers of each country took turns to speak -- Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke about terrorism, the pandemic and vaccines, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about democracy, peace and stability, and the Turkish foreign minister decided to score a self-goal -- he spoke about Kashmir. Mevlut Chavu-Shoglu tried to target India over the Kashmir issue. He claimed New Delhi was trampling on the rights of Kashmiris. But he made no mention of Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism in the region. The Pakistani embassy in Turkey couldn't be happier. It tweeted the Turkish foreign minister's speech with the collusion evident. And India decided to hit back. Seema Pujani, India's second secretary at the United Nations did not mince words. She reminded Turkey of the UNSC resolution on Cyprus. Turkey has occupied northern Cyprus since 1974. In 1984, the UNSC passed a resolution on transferring the area to United Nations administration. But despite repeated calls, the Turkish occupation continues. So India decided to raise the issue. The statement said, "As regards the remarks made by turkey, we find them completely unacceptable. It is ironical for a country which has trampled upon its own civil society to pass unjustified comments on other's internal matters. "As far as the subject of un resolutions is concerned, we would advise turkey to practice what it preaches by first implementing those un resolutions that apply to it." This is not the first time Turkey has tried to target India over Kashmir. In 2017, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdpgan travelled to India. Even then also, he sought Turkey's role in the Kashmir conflict, and tried to intervene in a bilateral issue -- by suggesting a multi-lateral dialogue. Two years later, Erdogan spoke at the UN General Assembly, and said that 8 million people are stuck in Kashmir. He accused india of human rights violations; then in February, 2020, Erdogan travelled to Islamabad. There, he addressed a joint session of Pakistan's parliament, and tried justifying Islamabad's cross border-terrorism in Kashmir. A few weeks later, he made a statement in Ankara, "India right now has become a country Where massacres are widespread. What massacres? Massacres of Muslims. By whom? Hindus. How will these people make global peace possible? It is impossible when making speeches -- since they have a large population -- they say 'we are strong' but that is not strength." And he said this being a leader who has clamped down on the rights of Kurdish Muslims in his country. In a nutshell, Erdogan doesn't really practice what he preaches. He may have made Islam the centre of Turkish politics and the guiding light of Turkey's foreign policy. But it's all a political stunt and a tool to keep his power intact. He brings up Kashmir to keep his domestic audience happy. And to keep countries like Pakistan pleased. 'Practice what you preach' - is the only message that India should give to Turkey.

'Practice what you preach' - this is India's message to Turkey

Turkey was hit by a wave of student protests last month after Erdogan appointed a loyalist as the head of Bogazici University.

LGBTQ+ groups face rising hate in Turkey

The LGBTQ+ community is facing rising waves of hatred, with rising homophobic discourse this vibrant community is struggling to find its place in Turkey. In the face of growing government hostility, many have taken off in search of a more accepting space.

Targeted by President Erdogan LGBTQ+ groups face hate in Turkey

Turkish prosecutors on Sunday launched a probe into a pro-Kurdish MP suspected of having travelled to a Kurdish-controlled region of Iraq where 13 Turkish hostages were killed in a failed rescue.

President Tayyip Erdogan, his ruling AK Party, and their ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) accuse the HDP of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which the HDP denies.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkeys-erdogan-aims-for-win-win-relationship-with-biden-administration-365164" hreflang="en">Turkey's Erdogan aims for 'win-win' relationship with Biden administration</a>

The HDP has come under renewed pressure this week after the government said that fighters from the PKK had executed 13 Turkish captives in Iraq's Gara region, including military and police personnel.&nbsp;

The PKK acknowledged that a group of prisoners had died, but said they were killed in a bombardment rather than executed.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said that Tasdemir, who belongs to the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), had been in Gara in northern Iraq, where Turkish troops launched the rescue operation against the PKK group designated as "terrorists" by Ankara and its Western allies.

"The HDP is the party of the terrorist organisation. (Its elected officials) have no political personality. They are hostages of the PKK," Soylu alleged Saturday.

Prosecutors in Ankara said on Sunday that Soylu's comments were considered a notice and that an investigation had been launched into Tasdemir's links to an armed terrorist organisation.

Tasdemir, in a tweet on Saturday, had denied Soylu's comments.

"This country's interior minister made a statement giving my name based on the so-called accounts of one person. We will prove that this is a giant lie and slander," she wrote.

Many prominent HDP members have been investigated, tried and jailed over terrorism charges. Selahattin Demirtas, the party's former leader and one of&nbsp;Turkey's most prominent politicians, has been in jail for more than four years.

On Friday,&nbsp;Turkey's top appeals court approved a jail sentence against another HDP lawmaker on terrorism charges, potentially opening the way to revoking his parliamentary membership.

Turkey&nbsp;has carried out several cross-border operations into northern Iraq against the PKK, which has waged an insurgency in the mainly Kurdish southeast&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;since 1984. It is considered a terrorist organisation by&nbsp;Turkey, the United States and European Union.

Turkish prosecutors on Sunday launched a probe into a pro-Kurdish MP suspected of having travelled to a Kurdish-controlled region of Iraq where 13 Turkish hostages were killed in a failed rescue.

Turkish prosecutors on Sunday launched a probe into a pro-Kurdish MP suspected of having travelled to a Kurdish-controlled region of Iraq where 13 Turkish hostages were killed in a failed rescue. President Tayyip Erdogan, his ruling AK Party, and their ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) accuse the HDP of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which the HDP denies. Also read: Turkey's Erdogan aims for 'win-win' relationship with Biden administration The HDP has come under renewed pressure this week after the government said that fighters from the PKK had executed 13 Turkish captives in Iraq's Gara region, including military and police personnel. The PKK acknowledged that a group of prisoners had died, but said they were killed in a bombardment rather than executed. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said that Tasdemir, who belongs to the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), had been in Gara in northern Iraq, where Turkish troops launched the rescue operation against the PKK group designated as "terrorists" by Ankara and its Western allies. "The HDP is the party of the terrorist organisation. (Its elected officials) have no political personality. They are hostages of the PKK," Soylu alleged Saturday. Prosecutors in Ankara said on Sunday that Soylu's comments were considered a notice and that an investigation had been launched into Tasdemir's links to an armed terrorist organisation. Tasdemir, in a tweet on Saturday, had denied Soylu's comments. "This country's interior minister made a statement giving my name based on the so-called accounts of one person. We will prove that this is a giant lie and slander," she wrote. Many prominent HDP members have been investigated, tried and jailed over terrorism charges. Selahattin Demirtas, the party's former leader and one of Turkey's most prominent politicians, has been in jail for more than four years. On Friday, Turkey's top appeals court approved a jail sentence against another HDP lawmaker on terrorism charges, potentially opening the way to revoking his parliamentary membership. Turkey has carried out several cross-border operations into northern Iraq against the PKK, which has waged an insurgency in the mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey since 1984. It is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and European Union.

Turkey launches probe into a pro-Kurdish MP over 'Iraq visit'

Over 50 religious leaders across Ireland have condemned the persecution of Uighurs and other Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province in a statement.&nbsp;

The statement&nbsp;issued by the human rights organisation Christian Solidarity Worldwide in August 2020, has been signed by representatives of religious communities from across the island of Ireland.

According to Ireland national television and Radio broadcaster RTE, the statement said that at least a million Uighur and other Muslims in China are incarcerated in prison camps facing starvation, torture, murder, sexual violence, slave labour and forced organ extraction.

"We make a simple call for justice, to investigate these crimes, hold those responsible to account and establish a path towards the restoration of human dignity". They recalled how "after the Holocaust, the world said 'never again'.

"Today, we repeat those words 'never again', all over again. We stand with the Uighurs. We also stand with Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and Christians throughout China who face the worst crackdown on freedom of religion or belief since the cultural revolution," Irish Times quoted the statement.&nbsp;

There was "a simple call for justice, to investigate these crimes, hold those responsible to account and establish a path towards the restoration of human dignity", the religious leaders concluded.

China has been rebuked globally for cracking down on Uyghur Muslims by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities and sending members of the community to undergo some form of forcible re-education or indoctrination.&nbsp;

Beijing, on the other hand, has vehemently denied that it is engaged in human rights abuses against the Uighurs in Xinjiang while reports from journalists, NGOs and former detainees have surfaced, highlighting the Chinese Communist Party's brutal crackdown on the ethnic community, according to a report.

(With inputs from ANI)

Over 50 religious leaders across Ireland have condemned the persecution of Uighurs and other Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province in a statement. The statement issued by the human rights organisation Christian Solidarity Worldwide in August 2020, has been signed by representatives of religious communities from across the island of Ireland.

Over 50 religious leaders across Ireland have condemned the persecution of Uighurs and other Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province in a statement. The statement issued by the human rights organisation Christian Solidarity Worldwide in August 2020, has been signed by representatives of religious communities from across the island of Ireland. According to Ireland national television and Radio broadcaster RTE, the statement said that at least a million Uighur and other Muslims in China are incarcerated in prison camps facing starvation, torture, murder, sexual violence, slave labour and forced organ extraction. "We make a simple call for justice, to investigate these crimes, hold those responsible to account and establish a path towards the restoration of human dignity". They recalled how "after the Holocaust, the world said 'never again'. "Today, we repeat those words 'never again', all over again. We stand with the Uighurs. We also stand with Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and Christians throughout China who face the worst crackdown on freedom of religion or belief since the cultural revolution," Irish Times quoted the statement. There was "a simple call for justice, to investigate these crimes, hold those responsible to account and establish a path towards the restoration of human dignity", the religious leaders concluded. China has been rebuked globally for cracking down on Uyghur Muslims by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities and sending members of the community to undergo some form of forcible re-education or indoctrination. Beijing, on the other hand, has vehemently denied that it is engaged in human rights abuses against the Uighurs in Xinjiang while reports from journalists, NGOs and former detainees have surfaced, highlighting the Chinese Communist Party's brutal crackdown on the ethnic community, according to a report. (With inputs from ANI)

Irish religious leaders condemn the persecution of Uighur Muslims in China

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday sued his main opposition rival for claiming he was personally "responsible" for the deaths of 13 Turks in Iraq.

Turkey accuses outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants of executing the 13 police officers and security personnel, whom they had abducted in Turkey and held hostage in a cave in northern Iraq.

But the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies, said the 13 were killed by Turkish bombs dropped during a rescue operation Ankara launched last week.

The failed rescue attempt has piled political pressure on Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey as prime minister and president since 2003.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said in parliament on Tuesday that it was "Erdogan who is responsible for our 13 martyrs".

"You are launching an operation but all the hostages died," Kilicdaroglu said. &nbsp;

His comments infuriated Erdogan, whose lawyers are now seeking 500,000 Turkish liras ($72,000, 60,000 euros) in compensation for "moral damages", the Anadolu state news agency reported.&nbsp;

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), parliament's second-largest opposition group, also criticised Erdogan for the failed operation, arguing that negotiations would have been more effective.

But Erdogan's right-wing allies, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), threw their support behind the government.&nbsp;

"Turkey is a rising power which fought in (northern Iraq) not only against the PKK but also against strategic threats," MHP leader Devlet Bahceli tweeted.

The Turkish army regularly conducts cross-border operations and air raids on PKK bases in northern Iraq.

On Wednesday, Erdogan said more than 12,900 Kurdish militants -- 6,000 at home and 6,900 abroad -- have been killed since a ceasefire with the PKK broke down in July 2015.

The PKK have been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 that is believed to have left more than 40,000 dead.

Turkey's botched rescue attempt also caused a diplomatic spat between Ankara and Washington, which initially said it was waiting for official confirmation before blaming the deaths on the PKK.

Washington blamed the group after Erdogan accused the United States of siding with "terrorists".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday sued his main opposition rival for claiming he was personally "responsible" for the deaths of 13 Turks in Iraq.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday sued his main opposition rival for claiming he was personally "responsible" for the deaths of 13 Turks in Iraq. Turkey accuses outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants of executing the 13 police officers and security personnel, whom they had abducted in Turkey and held hostage in a cave in northern Iraq. But the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies, said the 13 were killed by Turkish bombs dropped during a rescue operation Ankara launched last week. The failed rescue attempt has piled political pressure on Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey as prime minister and president since 2003. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said in parliament on Tuesday that it was "Erdogan who is responsible for our 13 martyrs". "You are launching an operation but all the hostages died," Kilicdaroglu said. His comments infuriated Erdogan, whose lawyers are now seeking 500,000 Turkish liras ($72,000, 60,000 euros) in compensation for "moral damages", the Anadolu state news agency reported. The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), parliament's second-largest opposition group, also criticised Erdogan for the failed operation, arguing that negotiations would have been more effective. But Erdogan's right-wing allies, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), threw their support behind the government. "Turkey is a rising power which fought in (northern Iraq) not only against the PKK but also against strategic threats," MHP leader Devlet Bahceli tweeted. The Turkish army regularly conducts cross-border operations and air raids on PKK bases in northern Iraq. On Wednesday, Erdogan said more than 12,900 Kurdish militants -- 6,000 at home and 6,900 abroad -- have been killed since a ceasefire with the PKK broke down in July 2015. The PKK have been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 that is believed to have left more than 40,000 dead. Turkey's botched rescue attempt also caused a diplomatic spat between Ankara and Washington, which initially said it was waiting for official confirmation before blaming the deaths on the PKK. Washington blamed the group after Erdogan accused the United States of siding with "terrorists".

Erdogan sues opposition rival in row over Iraq deaths

United States President Joe Biden faces the ultimate challenge of foreign policy. Biden is a seasoned player at this game, but until now he operated behind the scenes - first as a US senator, and then as deputy to the US president.

Biden's first challenge is to tame a rogue ally - Turkey. American and Turkish interests don't converge anymore, and the relationship has been rocky for a while now The personal equation between Trump and Erdogan kept it intact. During trump's presidency, Turkey repeatedly provoked Washington. First - with the purchase of Russian S-400 missiles. And then, with an attack on Kurdish fighters.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-joe-biden-faces-his-first-foreign-policy-challenge-364131/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Both the times, Trump's response was reluctant. Then, Biden arrived on the scene - promising change.

"He is an autocrat. He's the president of Turkey and a lot more. I'm still of the view that we can support those elements of the Turkish leadership that still exist and embolden them to be able to take on and defeat Erdogan. Not by a coup, but by electoral process", Biden said about Erdogan recently.

Joe Biden has not spoken to Erdogan yet but his administration has rebuked Turkey multiple times. First, they demanded the release of activist Osman Kavala. Then - they condemned Erdogan's homophobic rhetoric against student protesters. But the Turkish president is unmoved. On Sunday, Turkey accused the Kurdistan Workers Party of executing 13 Turks. The US condemned the attack, but Erdogan called the statement a joke.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/biden-wants-us-congress-to-reform-american-gun-laws-363630" hreflang="en">Biden wants US Congress to reform American gun laws</a> 
 
''Now there is a statement made by the United States. It's a joke. Were you not supposed to stand against the terrorist, the PKK, the YPG and PYD? You clearly support them and stand behind them", Erdogan said. ''If we are together with you in NATO (US), if we are to continue our unity in the world and in NATO, then you will act sincerely towards us. Then, you will stand with us, not with the terrorists", Erdogan added.

For the record, the US has designated the Kurdistan Workers Party as a terrorist group. During the war against ISIS, they had allied with another Kurdish militia called the YPG. The question of Kurdish fighters will always be a thorn between Turkey and America. The Kurdish alliance was created by Barack Obama, Biden's former boss.

All indications are that Biden wants to be an activist president. He is talking about holding a democracy summit - later this year. Erdogan may not feature in Biden's plan. But the country he rules does. Turkey is a strategic ally of Washington, and both Erdogan and Biden want to reset ties.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/turkish-president-erdogan-accuses-us-of-backing-terrorists-in-iraq-363811" hreflang="en">Turkish President Erdogan accuses US of backing 'terrorists' in Iraq</a>

But a reset means different things for the two leaders. For Biden - it's a return to US-led, liberal world order. For Erdogan - it's a new geopolitical reality in Eurasia - one where Turkey is the big dog.

Beyond a rogue ally, Biden must also contend with an old foe - Iran. Biden wants to return to the Iran nuclear deal, but Tehran is not making it easy.

On Monday, a volley of rockets was fired at the American military base in Erbil, in Iraq. One civilian military contractor was killed and eight others were injured. It was the deadliest attack on coalition troops - in a year and the perpetrators were Awliya Al-dam, a little-known Shia group - one of the many proxies, paid and backed by Iran.

America's top diplomat condemned the attack and has promised action against those responsible. But Biden is reluctant to pursue military options against Iran and wants to repair the nuclear deal. But he also wants Iran to comply with the terms first. Many predicted a thaw in US-Iran ties with Biden in office. What we're getting instead is a stalemate.

United States President Joe Biden faces the ultimate challenge of foreign policy. Biden is a seasoned player at this game, but until now he operated behind the scenes - first as a US senator, and then as deputy to the US president.

United States President Joe Biden faces the ultimate challenge of foreign policy. Biden is a seasoned player at this game, but until now he operated behind the scenes - first as a US senator, and then as deputy to the US president. Biden's first challenge is to tame a rogue ally - Turkey. American and Turkish interests don't converge anymore, and the relationship has been rocky for a while now The personal equation between Trump and Erdogan kept it intact. During trump's presidency, Turkey repeatedly provoked Washington. First - with the purchase of Russian S-400 missiles. And then, with an attack on Kurdish fighters. Both the times, Trump's response was reluctant. Then, Biden arrived on the scene - promising change. "He is an autocrat. He's the president of Turkey and a lot more. I'm still of the view that we can support those elements of the Turkish leadership that still exist and embolden them to be able to take on and defeat Erdogan. Not by a coup, but by electoral process", Biden said about Erdogan recently. Joe Biden has not spoken to Erdogan yet but his administration has rebuked Turkey multiple times. First, they demanded the release of activist Osman Kavala. Then - they condemned Erdogan's homophobic rhetoric against student protesters. But the Turkish president is unmoved. On Sunday, Turkey accused the Kurdistan Workers Party of executing 13 Turks. The US condemned the attack, but Erdogan called the statement a joke. Also read: Biden wants US Congress to reform American gun laws ''Now there is a statement made by the United States. It's a joke. Were you not supposed to stand against the terrorist, the PKK, the YPG and PYD? You clearly support them and stand behind them", Erdogan said. ''If we are together with you in NATO (US), if we are to continue our unity in the world and in NATO, then you will act sincerely towards us. Then, you will stand with us, not with the terrorists", Erdogan added. For the record, the US has designated the Kurdistan Workers Party as a terrorist group. During the war against ISIS, they had allied with another Kurdish militia called the YPG. The question of Kurdish fighters will always be a thorn between Turkey and America. The Kurdish alliance was created by Barack Obama, Biden's former boss. All indications are that Biden wants to be an activist president. He is talking about holding a democracy summit - later this year. Erdogan may not feature in Biden's plan. But the country he rules does. Turkey is a strategic ally of Washington, and both Erdogan and Biden want to reset ties. Also read: Turkish President Erdogan accuses US of backing 'terrorists' in Iraq But a reset means different things for the two leaders. For Biden - it's a return to US-led, liberal world order. For Erdogan - it's a new geopolitical reality in Eurasia - one where Turkey is the big dog. Beyond a rogue ally, Biden must also contend with an old foe - Iran. Biden wants to return to the Iran nuclear deal, but Tehran is not making it easy. On Monday, a volley of rockets was fired at the American military base in Erbil, in Iraq. One civilian military contractor was killed and eight others were injured. It was the deadliest attack on coalition troops - in a year and the perpetrators were Awliya Al-dam, a little-known Shia group - one of the many proxies, paid and backed by Iran. America's top diplomat condemned the attack and has promised action against those responsible. But Biden is reluctant to pursue military options against Iran and wants to repair the nuclear deal. But he also wants Iran to comply with the terms first. Many predicted a thaw in US-Iran ties with Biden in office. What we're getting instead is a stalemate.

Biden's first foreign policy challenge - to tame Turkey, a rogue ally

Turkey has been accused of agreeing to hand over Uighur Muslims to China in exchange for access to its COVID-19 vaccines.

In recent years, China has forcefully cracked down on Uighurs around the world, using their religion to cite a national security threat. Turkey is home to the largest number of diasporic Uighurs in the world.

Opposition legislators in Turkey are accusing Ankara’s leaders of secretly selling out Uighurs to China in exchange for coronavirus vaccines. Tens of millions of vials of promised Chinese vaccines have not yet been delivered. Meanwhile, in recent months, Turkish police have raided and detained around 50 Uighurs in deportation centres, lawyers say — a sharp uptick from last year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-erdogan-has-decided-to-extradite-uighurs-to-china-316326">Also read | Why Erdogan has decided to extradite Uighurs to China</a>

Although no hard evidence has yet emerged for a quid pro quo, these legislators and the Uighurs fear that Beijing is using the vaccines as leverage to win passage of an extradition treaty. The treaty was signed years ago but suddenly ratified by China in December, and could come before Turkish lawmakers as soon as this month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-brushes-aside-fears-of-uighur-deportations-to-china-353427">Also read | Turkey brushes aside fears of Uighur deportations to China</a>

Uighurs speak a Turkic language and have cultural ties with Turkey that make it a favoured destination for avoiding persecution in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang. But news reports have accused Turkey of covertly returning Uighurs to China via third countries.

Rights activists say Xinjiang is home to a vast network of extrajudicial internment camps that have imprisoned at least one million people.

China says these are vocational training centres to counter extremism.

Ethnic Uighurs rallied for the ninth day running Wednesday to express their fears about the extradition treaty.

"God willing, we hope our state will not approve such a thing," said Omer Farah, a Uighur with Turkish citizenship who said his children are detained in China.

"But if it does, we are really worried. Because for China, all 50,000 Uighurs who live here are criminals."

(With inputs from agencies)

Turkey has been accused of agreeing to hand over Uighur Muslims to China in exchange for access to its COVID-19 vaccines. In recent years, China has forcefully cracked down on Uighurs around the world, using their religion to cite a national security threat.

Turkey has been accused of agreeing to hand over Uighur Muslims to China in exchange for access to its COVID-19 vaccines. In recent years, China has forcefully cracked down on Uighurs around the world, using their religion to cite a national security threat. Turkey is home to the largest number of diasporic Uighurs in the world. Opposition legislators in Turkey are accusing Ankara’s leaders of secretly selling out Uighurs to China in exchange for coronavirus vaccines. Tens of millions of vials of promised Chinese vaccines have not yet been delivered. Meanwhile, in recent months, Turkish police have raided and detained around 50 Uighurs in deportation centres, lawyers say — a sharp uptick from last year. Also read | Why Erdogan has decided to extradite Uighurs to China Although no hard evidence has yet emerged for a quid pro quo, these legislators and the Uighurs fear that Beijing is using the vaccines as leverage to win passage of an extradition treaty. The treaty was signed years ago but suddenly ratified by China in December, and could come before Turkish lawmakers as soon as this month. Also read | Turkey brushes aside fears of Uighur deportations to China Uighurs speak a Turkic language and have cultural ties with Turkey that make it a favoured destination for avoiding persecution in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang. But news reports have accused Turkey of covertly returning Uighurs to China via third countries. Rights activists say Xinjiang is home to a vast network of extrajudicial internment camps that have imprisoned at least one million people. China says these are vocational training centres to counter extremism. Ethnic Uighurs rallied for the ninth day running Wednesday to express their fears about the extradition treaty. "God willing, we hope our state will not approve such a thing," said Omer Farah, a Uighur with Turkish citizenship who said his children are detained in China. "But if it does, we are really worried. Because for China, all 50,000 Uighurs who live here are criminals." (With inputs from agencies)

Exiled Uighurs in Turkey fear sellout to China in exchange for vaccine

Turkish President&nbsp;Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at country's LGBT movement and accused it of "vandalism". He also said that the movement was distancing his party's youth from its cause. His comments came after Turkish police detained four people for depicting Islam's holy sites with pictures of LGBT flag amid student protests. Students organised more protests after Erdogan's remarks

"We will carry our young people to the future, not as the LGBT youth, but as the youth that existed in our nation's glorious past," Erdogan said during a televised video linkup with members of his ruling AK Party.

"You are not the LGBT youth, not the youth who commit acts of vandalism. On the contrary, you are the ones who repair broken hearts," he said.

Erdogan receives accusation of driving officially secular Turkish nation on a conservative path in last two decades.

Homosexuality has been legal throughout modern Turkey's history.

But gay people often face harassment, and LGBT events -- including Istanbul Pride -- have been blocked under Erdogan.

Turkey was hit by a wave of student protests last month after Erdogan appointed a loyalist as the head of Istanbul's prestigious Bogazici University.

They spread to some other universities before subsiding after the deployment of a heavy Turkish police presence around campuses and on the streets.

During one demonstration last Friday protestors hung an artwork opposite the new rector's office depicting the holy site in Mecca and images of the LGBT movement's rainbow flag.

Turkish police accused four people of "inciting hatred in the population". Two of them have been remanded in custody and the other two placed under house arrest. 
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu branded the suspects "four LGBT freaks".

(With AFP inputs)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at country's LGBT movement and accused it of "vandalism". He also said that the movement was distancing his party's youth from its cause.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at country's LGBT movement and accused it of "vandalism". He also said that the movement was distancing his party's youth from its cause. His comments came after Turkish police detained four people for depicting Islam's holy sites with pictures of LGBT flag amid student protests. Students organised more protests after Erdogan's remarks "We will carry our young people to the future, not as the LGBT youth, but as the youth that existed in our nation's glorious past," Erdogan said during a televised video linkup with members of his ruling AK Party. "You are not the LGBT youth, not the youth who commit acts of vandalism. On the contrary, you are the ones who repair broken hearts," he said. Erdogan receives accusation of driving officially secular Turkish nation on a conservative path in last two decades. Homosexuality has been legal throughout modern Turkey's history. But gay people often face harassment, and LGBT events -- including Istanbul Pride -- have been blocked under Erdogan. Turkey was hit by a wave of student protests last month after Erdogan appointed a loyalist as the head of Istanbul's prestigious Bogazici University. They spread to some other universities before subsiding after the deployment of a heavy Turkish police presence around campuses and on the streets. During one demonstration last Friday protestors hung an artwork opposite the new rector's office depicting the holy site in Mecca and images of the LGBT movement's rainbow flag. Turkish police accused four people of "inciting hatred in the population". Two of them have been remanded in custody and the other two placed under house arrest. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu branded the suspects "four LGBT freaks". (With AFP inputs)

Turkish President Erdogan criticises country's 'LGBT youth'

A recent online <a href="https://gamaan.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GAMAAN-Iran-Religion-Survey-2020-English.pdf">survey</a> by scholars at two Dutch universities of Iranian attitudes towards religion has revealed a stunning rejection of state-imposed adherence to conservative religious mores as well as the role of religion in public life.

Although compatible with a trend across the Middle East, the survey’s results based on 50,000 respondents, who overwhelmingly said they resided in the Islamic republic, suggested that Iranians were in the frontlines of the region’s quest for religious change.

The trend puts a dent in the efforts of Iran as well as its rivals — Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates —&nbsp;that are competing for religious soft power and leadership of the Muslim world.

Among the rivals, the UAE, populated in majority by non-nationals, is the only one to start acknowledging changing attitudes and demographic realities. Authorities in November lifted the ban on consumption of alcohol and cohabitation among unmarried couples.

Nonetheless, the change in attitudes threatens to undercut the efforts of Iran as well as its Middle Eastern competitors to cement their individual interpretations of Islam as the Muslim world’s dominant narrative by rejecting religious dogma and formalistic and ritualistic religious practice propagated and/or imposed by governments and religious authorities.

“It becomes an existential question. The state wants you to be something that you don’t want to be,” said Pooyan Tamimi Arab, one of the organisers of the Iran survey, speaking in an interview. “Political disappointment steadily turned into religious disappointment… Iranians have turned away from institutional religion on an unprecedented scale.”

In a similar vein, Turkish art historian Nese Yildiran recently warned that a fatwa issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Directorate of Religious Affairs or Diyanet declaring popular talismans to ward off “the evil eye” as forbidden by Islam fueled criticism of one of the best-funded branches of government.

The fatwa followed the issuance of similar religious opinions banning the dying of men’s moustaches and beards, feeding dogs at home, tattoos, and playing the national lottery as well as statements that were perceived to condone or belittle child abuse and violence against women.

Funded by a Washington-based Iranian human rights groups, the Iranian survey, coupled with other research and opinion polls across the Middle East and North Africa, suggests that not only Muslim youth, but also other age groups, who are increasingly sceptical towards religious and worldly authority, aspire to more individual, more spiritual experiences of religion.

Their quest runs the gamut from changes in personal religious behaviour to conversions in secret to other religions because apostasy is banned and, in some cases, punishable by death to an abandonment of religion in favour of agnosticism or atheism.

Responding to the Iranian survey, 80 per cent of the participants said they believed in God, but only 32.2 per cent identified themselves as Shiite Muslims, a far lower percentage than asserted in official figures of predominantly Shiite Iran.

More than a third of the respondents said that they either did not belong to a religion or were atheists or agnostics. Between 43 and 53 per cent, depending on age group, suggested that their religious views had changed over time with six per cent of those saying that they had converted to another religious orientation.

Sixty-eight per cent said they opposed the inclusion of religious precepts in national legislation. Seventy per cent rejected public funding of religious institutions while 56 per cent opposed mandatory religious education in schools. Almost 60 per cent admitted that they do not pray, and 72 per cent disagreed with women being obliged to wear a hijab in public.

An unpublished slide of the survey shows the change in religiosity reflected in the fact that an increasing number of Iranians no longer name their children after religious figures.

A five-minute YouTube clip allegedly related to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards attacked the survey despite having distributed the questionnaire once the pollsters disclosed in their report that the poll had been supported by an exile human rights group.

“Tehran may well be the least religious capital in the Middle East. Clerics dominate the news headlines and play the communal elders in soap operas, but I never saw them on the street, except on billboards. Unlike most Muslim countries, the call to prayer is almost inaudible… Alcohol is banned but home delivery is faster for wine than for pizza… Religion felt frustratingly hard to locate and the truly religious seemed sidelined, like a minority,” wrote journalist Nicholas Pelham based on a visit in 2019 during which he was detained for several weeks.

The survey’s results as well as observations by analysts and journalists like Mr. Pelham stroke with responses to various polls of Arab public opinion in recent years that showed that, despite 40 per cent of those polled defining religion as the most important constituent element of their identity, 66 per cent saw a need for religious institutions to be reformed.

The polls suggested further that public opinion would support the reconceptualization of Muslim jurisprudence to remove obsolete and discriminatory concepts like that of the kafir or infidel.

Responses by governments in Iran, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East to changing attitudes towards religion and religiosity demonstrate the degree to which they perceive the change as a threat, often expressed in existential terms.

In one of the latest responses, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbaqeri, a prominent Shiite cleric and member of Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts that appoints the country’s supreme leader, last month described Covid-19 as a “secular virus” and a declaration of war on “religious civilization” and “religious institutions.”

Saudi Arabia went further by defining the “calling for atheist thought in any form” with terrorism in its anti-terrorism law. Saudi dissident and activist Rafi Badawi was sentenced on charges of apostasy to ten years in prison and 1,000 lashes for questioning why Saudis should be obliged to adhere to Islam and asserting that the faith did not have answers to all questions.

Analysts, writers, journalists, and pollsters have traced changes in attitudes in the Middle East and North Africa for much of the past decade.

Kuwaiti writer Sajed al-Abdali noted in 2012 that “it is essential that we acknowledge today that atheism exists and is increasing in our society, especially among our youth, and evidence of this is in no short supply.”

Mr. Arab argues nine years later that his latest survey “shows that there is a social basis” for concern among authoritarian and autocratic governments that employ religion to further their geopolitical goals and seek to maintain their grip on potentially restive populations.

A podcast version of this story is available on Soundcloud, Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spreaker, Pocket Casts, Tumblr, Podbean, Audecibel, Patreon and Castbox.

Dr. James M. Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

A recent online survey by scholars at two Dutch universities of Iranian attitudes towards religion has revealed a stunning rejection of state-imposed adherence to conservative religious mores as well as the role of religion in public life.

A recent online survey by scholars at two Dutch universities of Iranian attitudes towards religion has revealed a stunning rejection of state-imposed adherence to conservative religious mores as well as the role of religion in public life. Although compatible with a trend across the Middle East, the survey’s results based on 50,000 respondents, who overwhelmingly said they resided in the Islamic republic, suggested that Iranians were in the frontlines of the region’s quest for religious change. The trend puts a dent in the efforts of Iran as well as its rivals — Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates — that are competing for religious soft power and leadership of the Muslim world. Among the rivals, the UAE, populated in majority by non-nationals, is the only one to start acknowledging changing attitudes and demographic realities. Authorities in November lifted the ban on consumption of alcohol and cohabitation among unmarried couples. Nonetheless, the change in attitudes threatens to undercut the efforts of Iran as well as its Middle Eastern competitors to cement their individual interpretations of Islam as the Muslim world’s dominant narrative by rejecting religious dogma and formalistic and ritualistic religious practice propagated and/or imposed by governments and religious authorities. “It becomes an existential question. The state wants you to be something that you don’t want to be,” said Pooyan Tamimi Arab, one of the organisers of the Iran survey, speaking in an interview. “Political disappointment steadily turned into religious disappointment… Iranians have turned away from institutional religion on an unprecedented scale.” In a similar vein, Turkish art historian Nese Yildiran recently warned that a fatwa issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Directorate of Religious Affairs or Diyanet declaring popular talismans to ward off “the evil eye” as forbidden by Islam fueled criticism of one of the best-funded branches of government. The fatwa followed the issuance of similar religious opinions banning the dying of men’s moustaches and beards, feeding dogs at home, tattoos, and playing the national lottery as well as statements that were perceived to condone or belittle child abuse and violence against women. Funded by a Washington-based Iranian human rights groups, the Iranian survey, coupled with other research and opinion polls across the Middle East and North Africa, suggests that not only Muslim youth, but also other age groups, who are increasingly sceptical towards religious and worldly authority, aspire to more individual, more spiritual experiences of religion. Their quest runs the gamut from changes in personal religious behaviour to conversions in secret to other religions because apostasy is banned and, in some cases, punishable by death to an abandonment of religion in favour of agnosticism or atheism. Responding to the Iranian survey, 80 per cent of the participants said they believed in God, but only 32.2 per cent identified themselves as Shiite Muslims, a far lower percentage than asserted in official figures of predominantly Shiite Iran. More than a third of the respondents said that they either did not belong to a religion or were atheists or agnostics. Between 43 and 53 per cent, depending on age group, suggested that their religious views had changed over time with six per cent of those saying that they had converted to another religious orientation. Sixty-eight per cent said they opposed the inclusion of religious precepts in national legislation. Seventy per cent rejected public funding of religious institutions while 56 per cent opposed mandatory religious education in schools. Almost 60 per cent admitted that they do not pray, and 72 per cent disagreed with women being obliged to wear a hijab in public. An unpublished slide of the survey shows the change in religiosity reflected in the fact that an increasing number of Iranians no longer name their children after religious figures. A five-minute YouTube clip allegedly related to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards attacked the survey despite having distributed the questionnaire once the pollsters disclosed in their report that the poll had been supported by an exile human rights group. “Tehran may well be the least religious capital in the Middle East. Clerics dominate the news headlines and play the communal elders in soap operas, but I never saw them on the street, except on billboards. Unlike most Muslim countries, the call to prayer is almost inaudible… Alcohol is banned but home delivery is faster for wine than for pizza… Religion felt frustratingly hard to locate and the truly religious seemed sidelined, like a minority,” wrote journalist Nicholas Pelham based on a visit in 2019 during which he was detained for several weeks. The survey’s results as well as observations by analysts and journalists like Mr. Pelham stroke with responses to various polls of Arab public opinion in recent years that showed that, despite 40 per cent of those polled defining religion as the most important constituent element of their identity, 66 per cent saw a need for religious institutions to be reformed. The polls suggested further that public opinion would support the reconceptualization of Muslim jurisprudence to remove obsolete and discriminatory concepts like that of the kafir or infidel. Responses by governments in Iran, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East to changing attitudes towards religion and religiosity demonstrate the degree to which they perceive the change as a threat, often expressed in existential terms. In one of the latest responses, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbaqeri, a prominent Shiite cleric and member of Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts that appoints the country’s supreme leader, last month described Covid-19 as a “secular virus” and a declaration of war on “religious civilization” and “religious institutions.” Saudi Arabia went further by defining the “calling for atheist thought in any form” with terrorism in its anti-terrorism law. Saudi dissident and activist Rafi Badawi was sentenced on charges of apostasy to ten years in prison and 1,000 lashes for questioning why Saudis should be obliged to adhere to Islam and asserting that the faith did not have answers to all questions. Analysts, writers, journalists, and pollsters have traced changes in attitudes in the Middle East and North Africa for much of the past decade. Kuwaiti writer Sajed al-Abdali noted in 2012 that “it is essential that we acknowledge today that atheism exists and is increasing in our society, especially among our youth, and evidence of this is in no short supply.” Mr. Arab argues nine years later that his latest survey “shows that there is a social basis” for concern among authoritarian and autocratic governments that employ religion to further their geopolitical goals and seek to maintain their grip on potentially restive populations. A podcast version of this story is available on Soundcloud, Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spreaker, Pocket Casts, Tumblr, Podbean, Audecibel, Patreon and Castbox. Dr. James M. Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion: Iranians move into front line of the Middle East’s quest for religious change

Turkey’s state-controlled top religious authority has conditionally endorsed usury in a ruling that is likely to fuel debate about the concept of Islamic finance and could weaken President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts to garner religious soft power by projecting Turkey as a leader defending Muslim causes.

The ruling issued by the Directorate of Religious Affairs or Diyanet that is part of Mr. Erdogan’s office stated that interest-based home loans were exempted from the 1,400-year-old ban on interest as a form of usury, provided they were extended by a Turkish state bank for the purchase of real estate in a government housing project.

The ruling is widely being seen as serving the interests of Mr. Erdogan’s government rather than a reform of Islam.

“The fatwa is likely to be a hot discussion for a number of weeks or months… We’ll have to see if the fatwa will really increase Islamic mortgage markets. I assume that is the main reason why they made such a controversial fatwa… It will strengthen those opposed to Islamic finance,” said Indonesian Islamic finance scholar Fauziah Rizki Yuniarti.

The fatwa was issued in the wake of reports that Mr. Erdogan had pressured commercial banks to continue granting cheap loans to boost the construction industry. Responsible for the construction of affordable housing, the government’s Housing Development Administration has become an important driver of the Turkish economy that has fuelled an increase in home sales.

The fatwa came days before Mr. Erdogan rattled financial markets by reverting for the first time in two months to his tirade against high interest rates that he asserts bankrupt businesses and fuel inflation.&nbsp;

In a surprise move, Mr. Erdogan appointed in November a new central bank governor and promised to adhere to more orthodox monetary policies that would include higher interest rates in a bid to stem the slide of the Turkish lira.

The fatwa, much like Mr. Erdogan’s hesitancy to criticise China’s brutal crackdown on Turkic Muslims in its north-western province of Xinjiang is likely to cast doubt on Turkey's religious soft power efforts that involve not only voicing support for Muslim causes but also the construction of mosques in far-flung places across the globe as well as efforts to shape the religious and political beliefs of Turkish diaspora communities in Europe.

Turkish diplomats are likely to use the fatwa to counter mounting criticism in Europe from French President Emmanuel Macron and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz who have been leading a crackdown on political Islam and pointing fingers at Turkey because it supports groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.

After swiping insults in recent months, Messrs. Macron and Erdogan have sought to dial down tensions. Mr. Macron last week responded positively to a New Year message in which Mr. Erdogan expressed condolences for several violent attacks in France last year.

The message was part of Turkish efforts to take the sharp edge off its multiple regional disputes that involve European nations as well as Israel and Saudi Arabia. The moves were in anticipation of US President-elect Joe Biden taking office and in advance of European Union and NATO summits that could censor Turkey.

“Turkey is an ally, that in many ways... is not acting as an ally should and this is a very, very significant challenge for us and we’re very clear-eyed about it,” said Anthony Blinken, Mr. Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State, during his Senate confirmation hearing on Monday.

A Turkish plan to open three schools in Germany has run into opposition from conservative and left-wing politicians. Turkey argues that the schools would be responding to community demands that students have an opportunity to opt for Turkish as an elective alongside other foreign languages.

Markus Blume, general secretary of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), the sister party of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), asserted that “we don’t want Erdogan schools in Germany.”

Left Party member of parliament Sevim Dagdelen charged that “it is fatal for the government to negotiate the opening of private schools in Germany while the Turkish autocrat drives the critical intelligentsia of his country into prison or exile.”

The school controversy came amid a heated debate about a plan to train imams of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB), one of Germany’s largest Muslim associations that maintains close ties to Mr. Erdogan’s religious affairs directorate.

The training would compete with a similar course at the University of Osnabruck that has been endorsed by Germany’s Council of Muslims whose 15-20,000 members include Muslims of German and Arab as well as Turkish descent.

The government has pressured DITIB, which operates close to 900 of Germany’s 2,600 mosques and employs 1,100 Turkish-funded and trained imams, to opt for German-educated clerics who in contrast to their Turkish counterparts are fluent in German.

The government stopped subsidizing DITIB in 2018 while Germany’s intelligence service, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, reclassified the group as a nationalist rather than a religious organisation.

It will take more than a fatwa on interest to counter increasingly deep-seated Western distrust of Mr. Erdogan even if Western elites may read the ruling as an indication that the Turkish president potentially is mellowing.

Mr. Erdogan may, however, have to explain his apparent willingness to opportunistically break with religious norms to a Muslim world in which he ranks as one of the most popular figures despite widespread elite hostility towards him.

A podcast version of this story is available on Soundcloud, Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spreaker, Pocket Casts, Tumblr, Podbean, Audecibel, Patreon and Castbox.

Dr. James M. Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute. 
&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Turkey’s state-controlled top religious authority has conditionally endorsed usury in a ruling that is likely to fuel debate about the concept of Islamic finance and could weaken President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts to garner religious soft power by projecting Turkey as a leader defending Muslim causes.

Turkey’s state-controlled top religious authority has conditionally endorsed usury in a ruling that is likely to fuel debate about the concept of Islamic finance and could weaken President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts to garner religious soft power by projecting Turkey as a leader defending Muslim causes. The ruling issued by the Directorate of Religious Affairs or Diyanet that is part of Mr. Erdogan’s office stated that interest-based home loans were exempted from the 1,400-year-old ban on interest as a form of usury, provided they were extended by a Turkish state bank for the purchase of real estate in a government housing project. The ruling is widely being seen as serving the interests of Mr. Erdogan’s government rather than a reform of Islam. “The fatwa is likely to be a hot discussion for a number of weeks or months… We’ll have to see if the fatwa will really increase Islamic mortgage markets. I assume that is the main reason why they made such a controversial fatwa… It will strengthen those opposed to Islamic finance,” said Indonesian Islamic finance scholar Fauziah Rizki Yuniarti. The fatwa was issued in the wake of reports that Mr. Erdogan had pressured commercial banks to continue granting cheap loans to boost the construction industry. Responsible for the construction of affordable housing, the government’s Housing Development Administration has become an important driver of the Turkish economy that has fuelled an increase in home sales. The fatwa came days before Mr. Erdogan rattled financial markets by reverting for the first time in two months to his tirade against high interest rates that he asserts bankrupt businesses and fuel inflation. In a surprise move, Mr. Erdogan appointed in November a new central bank governor and promised to adhere to more orthodox monetary policies that would include higher interest rates in a bid to stem the slide of the Turkish lira. The fatwa, much like Mr. Erdogan’s hesitancy to criticise China’s brutal crackdown on Turkic Muslims in its north-western province of Xinjiang is likely to cast doubt on Turkey's religious soft power efforts that involve not only voicing support for Muslim causes but also the construction of mosques in far-flung places across the globe as well as efforts to shape the religious and political beliefs of Turkish diaspora communities in Europe. Turkish diplomats are likely to use the fatwa to counter mounting criticism in Europe from French President Emmanuel Macron and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz who have been leading a crackdown on political Islam and pointing fingers at Turkey because it supports groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. After swiping insults in recent months, Messrs. Macron and Erdogan have sought to dial down tensions. Mr. Macron last week responded positively to a New Year message in which Mr. Erdogan expressed condolences for several violent attacks in France last year. The message was part of Turkish efforts to take the sharp edge off its multiple regional disputes that involve European nations as well as Israel and Saudi Arabia. The moves were in anticipation of US President-elect Joe Biden taking office and in advance of European Union and NATO summits that could censor Turkey. “Turkey is an ally, that in many ways... is not acting as an ally should and this is a very, very significant challenge for us and we’re very clear-eyed about it,” said Anthony Blinken, Mr. Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State, during his Senate confirmation hearing on Monday. A Turkish plan to open three schools in Germany has run into opposition from conservative and left-wing politicians. Turkey argues that the schools would be responding to community demands that students have an opportunity to opt for Turkish as an elective alongside other foreign languages. Markus Blume, general secretary of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), the sister party of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), asserted that “we don’t want Erdogan schools in Germany.” Left Party member of parliament Sevim Dagdelen charged that “it is fatal for the government to negotiate the opening of private schools in Germany while the Turkish autocrat drives the critical intelligentsia of his country into prison or exile.” The school controversy came amid a heated debate about a plan to train imams of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB), one of Germany’s largest Muslim associations that maintains close ties to Mr. Erdogan’s religious affairs directorate. The training would compete with a similar course at the University of Osnabruck that has been endorsed by Germany’s Council of Muslims whose 15-20,000 members include Muslims of German and Arab as well as Turkish descent. The government has pressured DITIB, which operates close to 900 of Germany’s 2,600 mosques and employs 1,100 Turkish-funded and trained imams, to opt for German-educated clerics who in contrast to their Turkish counterparts are fluent in German. The government stopped subsidizing DITIB in 2018 while Germany’s intelligence service, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, reclassified the group as a nationalist rather than a religious organisation. It will take more than a fatwa on interest to counter increasingly deep-seated Western distrust of Mr. Erdogan even if Western elites may read the ruling as an indication that the Turkish president potentially is mellowing. Mr. Erdogan may, however, have to explain his apparent willingness to opportunistically break with religious norms to a Muslim world in which he ranks as one of the most popular figures despite widespread elite hostility towards him. A podcast version of this story is available on Soundcloud, Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spreaker, Pocket Casts, Tumblr, Podbean, Audecibel, Patreon and Castbox. Dr. James M. Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion: When is usury usury? Turkish fatwa casts doubt on Erdogan’s religious soft power drive

Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority has imposed advertising bans on Twitter, Periscope and Pinterest under a new social media law, according to decisions published in the countrý's Official Gazette on Tuesday.

Under the law, which critics say stifles dissent, social media companies that do not appoint such representatives are liable for a series of penalties, including the latest move by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK).

The law allows authorities to remove content from platforms, rather than blocking access as they did in the past. It has caused concern as people turn more to online platforms after Ankara tightened its grip on mainstream media.

The latest decisions in the country's Official Gazette said the advertising bans went into effect from Tuesday. Twitter, its live-streaming app Periscope, and image sharing app Pinterest were not immediately available to comment.

Deputy Transport Minister Omer Fatih Sayan said Twitter and Pinterest's bandwidth would be cut by 50 per cent&nbsp;in April and by 90&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in May. Twitter said last month it would shut down Periscope by March due to declining usage.

"We are determined to do whatever is necessary to protect the data, privacy and rights of our nation," Sayan said on Twitter. "We will never allow digital fascism and disregard of rules to prevail in Turkey," he said, echoing tough comments by President Tayyip Erdogan.

On Monday, Facebook Inc joined other companies in saying it would appoint a local representative but added it would withdraw the person if it faced pressure regarding what is allowed on its platform.

YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc's Google, said a month ago it would abide by the new law, which the government says enhances local oversight of foreign companies.

In previous months Facebook, YouTube and Twitter had faced fines in Turkey for not complying. Companies that do not abide by the law will ultimately have their bandwidth slashed, essentially blocking access.

Erdogan said last week that those who control data can establish "digital dictatorships by disregarding democracy, the law, rights and freedoms". He vowed to defend what he described as the country's "cyber homeland".

Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority has imposed advertising bans on Twitter, Periscope and Pinterest under a new social media law, according to decisions published in the countrý's Official Gazette on Tuesday.

Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority has imposed advertising bans on Twitter, Periscope and Pinterest under a new social media law, according to decisions published in the countrý's Official Gazette on Tuesday. Under the law, which critics say stifles dissent, social media companies that do not appoint such representatives are liable for a series of penalties, including the latest move by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). The law allows authorities to remove content from platforms, rather than blocking access as they did in the past. It has caused concern as people turn more to online platforms after Ankara tightened its grip on mainstream media. The latest decisions in the country's Official Gazette said the advertising bans went into effect from Tuesday. Twitter, its live-streaming app Periscope, and image sharing app Pinterest were not immediately available to comment. Deputy Transport Minister Omer Fatih Sayan said Twitter and Pinterest's bandwidth would be cut by 50 per cent in April and by 90 per cent in May. Twitter said last month it would shut down Periscope by March due to declining usage. "We are determined to do whatever is necessary to protect the data, privacy and rights of our nation," Sayan said on Twitter. "We will never allow digital fascism and disregard of rules to prevail in Turkey," he said, echoing tough comments by President Tayyip Erdogan. On Monday, Facebook Inc joined other companies in saying it would appoint a local representative but added it would withdraw the person if it faced pressure regarding what is allowed on its platform. YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc's Google, said a month ago it would abide by the new law, which the government says enhances local oversight of foreign companies. In previous months Facebook, YouTube and Twitter had faced fines in Turkey for not complying. Companies that do not abide by the law will ultimately have their bandwidth slashed, essentially blocking access. Erdogan said last week that those who control data can establish "digital dictatorships by disregarding democracy, the law, rights and freedoms". He vowed to defend what he described as the country's "cyber homeland".

Turkey slaps ad ban on Twitter under new social media law

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to mend Turkey's ties with European Union sensing a hostile US under Joe Biden administration. Relations between Ankara and Brussells are at a low.

And while Erdogan speaks of turning "a new page", the list of European grievances is long. Most recently, Brussels began drawing up a list of sanctions over Turkey's hunt for natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean, which triggered a naval standoff with Greece last year. But older suspicions simmer.

Erdogan's direct military interventions in the Syrian and Libyan conflicts raised hackles in Europe, while his vocal backing of Azerbaijan in the six-week Nagorno-Karabakh war upset Armenia's allies across the West.

Erdogan's threats to send millions of Syrian and other refugees Turkey is hosting to Europe if the bloc fails to provide more funding are a constant menace.

'Looking for friends'

Turkey is heavily dependent on Europe. EU member states accounted for 67.2 per cent of foreign direct investment in Turket from 2002 to 2018

With foreign sentiment dented, the Turkish lira lost a fifth of its value against the dollar last year, forcing the central bank to burn through most of its reserves trying to prop up the currency. 
Then Erdogan parted ways with his powerful son-in-law, who served as finance minister and bore the blame for Turkey's economic woes.

A few days later, Erdogan first mentioned reforms and "turning a new page" in relations with Europe.

"Erdogan is looking for friends anywhere and everywhere," said Ilke Toygur, an analyst at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, and Elcano Royal Institute.

Donald Trump called Erdogan a "good friend". His loss ti Biden is understood to be the reason behind shift in Erdogan's tone.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to mend Turkey's ties with European Union sensing a hostile US under Joe Biden administration. Relations between Ankara and Brussells are at a low.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to mend Turkey's ties with European Union sensing a hostile US under Joe Biden administration. Relations between Ankara and Brussells are at a low. And while Erdogan speaks of turning "a new page", the list of European grievances is long. Most recently, Brussels began drawing up a list of sanctions over Turkey's hunt for natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean, which triggered a naval standoff with Greece last year. But older suspicions simmer. Erdogan's direct military interventions in the Syrian and Libyan conflicts raised hackles in Europe, while his vocal backing of Azerbaijan in the six-week Nagorno-Karabakh war upset Armenia's allies across the West. Erdogan's threats to send millions of Syrian and other refugees Turkey is hosting to Europe if the bloc fails to provide more funding are a constant menace. 'Looking for friends' Turkey is heavily dependent on Europe. EU member states accounted for 67.2 per cent of foreign direct investment in Turket from 2002 to 2018 With foreign sentiment dented, the Turkish lira lost a fifth of its value against the dollar last year, forcing the central bank to burn through most of its reserves trying to prop up the currency. Then Erdogan parted ways with his powerful son-in-law, who served as finance minister and bore the blame for Turkey's economic woes. A few days later, Erdogan first mentioned reforms and "turning a new page" in relations with Europe. "Erdogan is looking for friends anywhere and everywhere," said Ilke Toygur, an analyst at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, and Elcano Royal Institute. Donald Trump called Erdogan a "good friend". His loss ti Biden is understood to be the reason behind shift in Erdogan's tone.

Erdogan seeks to mend ties with EU sensing a hostile US

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday he wanted to improve relations with the European Union and was hoping for the same approach from the 27-nation bloc.

"We are ready to put our relations back on track," Erdogan said during a televised meeting with EU ambassadors in Ankara. "We expect our European friends to show the same goodwill."

After talking to Erdogan on video call&nbsp; President of the EU Commission&nbsp;Ursula von der Leyen tweeted she had a ''Good exchange with Turkish President''.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Good exchange with Turkish President <a href="https://twitter.com/RTErdogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RTErdogan</a>. 
 
We exchanged on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> situation, the economic recovery and the implementation of tasking of the European Council of December 2020. <a href="https://t.co/uiWY5g58Nx">pic.twitter.com/uiWY5g58Nx</a>
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1347943142528589824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Turkey&nbsp;and Greece will resume long-suspended exploratory talks over territorial claims in the Mediterranean Sea that brought them close to conflict last year, on Jan. 25 in Istanbul, the NATO members said on Monday.

Ankara and Athens held 60 rounds of talks from 2002 to 2016, but plans for a resumption of talks last year foundered after a disagreement over a Turkish seismic exploration vessel deployed to disputed waters. The ship has since returned to Turkish shores.

"The 61st round of the Exploratory Talks will take place in Istanbul on 25 January 2021," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, without elaborating. The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed the date and location in a statement but provided no further details.

Earlier on Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he was inviting Greece for talks by the end of January on all issues, adding that Athens "has no excuse" since the Oruc Reis returned to&nbsp;Turkey.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said later that Athens was seeking a "fertile and productive" relationship with its neighbour&nbsp;Turkey, adding his government would join the talks once finalised.

Turkey&nbsp;and Greece are at odds over the extent of their continental shelves in the Mediterranean, energy rights in the region, air space and the status of some islands in the Aegean Sea.

Their dispute threatened to spill into open conflict when Turkish and Greek warships collided in August as they shadowed the Oruc Reis as it surveyed for oil and gas west of Cyprus.

Previous attempts to resume the talks had been complicated by what both sides were prepared to discuss. The Greek Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was willing to talk about the demarcation of an Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf.

Ankara has said all issues between the NATO members should be discussed, saying that was the format before the talks were suspended in 2016.

On Monday, Cavusoglu said he was ready to meet Greek Foreign Minister Niko Dendias in Tirana after Albania's premier offered to mediate. He also said some European Union members, including Germany, which has mediated the dispute thus far, had urged Greece to engage with&nbsp;Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday he wanted to improve relations with the European Union and was hoping for the same approach from the 27-nation bloc.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday he wanted to improve relations with the European Union and was hoping for the same approach from the 27-nation bloc. "We are ready to put our relations back on track," Erdogan said during a televised meeting with EU ambassadors in Ankara. "We expect our European friends to show the same goodwill." After talking to Erdogan on video call President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen tweeted she had a ''Good exchange with Turkish President''. Good exchange with Turkish President @RTErdogan. We exchanged on the #COVID19 situation, the economic recovery and the implementation of tasking of the European Council of December 2020. pic.twitter.com/uiWY5g58Nx — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 9, 2021 × Turkey and Greece will resume long-suspended exploratory talks over territorial claims in the Mediterranean Sea that brought them close to conflict last year, on Jan. 25 in Istanbul, the NATO members said on Monday. Ankara and Athens held 60 rounds of talks from 2002 to 2016, but plans for a resumption of talks last year foundered after a disagreement over a Turkish seismic exploration vessel deployed to disputed waters. The ship has since returned to Turkish shores. "The 61st round of the Exploratory Talks will take place in Istanbul on 25 January 2021," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, without elaborating. The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed the date and location in a statement but provided no further details. Earlier on Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he was inviting Greece for talks by the end of January on all issues, adding that Athens "has no excuse" since the Oruc Reis returned to Turkey. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said later that Athens was seeking a "fertile and productive" relationship with its neighbour Turkey, adding his government would join the talks once finalised. Turkey and Greece are at odds over the extent of their continental shelves in the Mediterranean, energy rights in the region, air space and the status of some islands in the Aegean Sea. Their dispute threatened to spill into open conflict when Turkish and Greek warships collided in August as they shadowed the Oruc Reis as it surveyed for oil and gas west of Cyprus. Previous attempts to resume the talks had been complicated by what both sides were prepared to discuss. The Greek Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was willing to talk about the demarcation of an Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf. Ankara has said all issues between the NATO members should be discussed, saying that was the format before the talks were suspended in 2016. On Monday, Cavusoglu said he was ready to meet Greek Foreign Minister Niko Dendias in Tirana after Albania's premier offered to mediate. He also said some European Union members, including Germany, which has mediated the dispute thus far, had urged Greece to engage with Turkey.

Turkish President Erdogan says want EU ties 'back on track'

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