Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Türkiye extends support to Iran; Erdogan says Netanyahu surpassed Hitler

Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the images from World War II seem innocent compared to those coming out of Gaza

Turkiye to buy Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles from US for $225M

This purchase from the US is expected to further boost the air defence system of Turkiye, which is already investing heavily to make its military stronger

Pakistan-Turki dosti zindabad: Erdogan to Pak PM as Indians boycott Türkiye

Following Türkiye's open support to Pakistan, #BoycottTurkey was trending on social media platforms as tensions escalated between India and Pakistan

Istanbul prosecutor probes Oppn boycott calls in wake of mayor's arrest

Istanbul's public prosecutor's office Tuesday launched an investigation into recent opposition calls for a boycott of pro-government businesses following the arrest of the city's mayor. The prosecutor's office determined that divisive rhetoric" on traditional and social media aimed at hindering the economic activity of a segment of society constituted hatred and discrimination and incitement to hatred and hostility, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Anadolu added that the new investigation is to be merged with ongoing investigations into physical and verbal violence committed against certain businesses. Last month saw Turkiye's largest protests in more than a decade, following the arrest of Istanbul's opposition Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu was jailed pending trial on corruption charges that many see as politically motivated. The government insists the judiciary is independent and free of political interference. Ozgur Ozel, the

Istanbul sees massive protest as crowds demand mayor's release from jail

Hundreds of thousands of protesters again congregated in Istanbul Saturday to how their support for the city's imprisoned mayor and demand his release. Turkiye's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP) organised the demonstration, the latest in a series of protests that resulted in hundreds of detentions and have turned up the pressure on the country's long-time leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to Erdogan, was detained on March 19th on corruption and terrorism charges that many saw as politically motivated. The government insists the judiciary is independent and free of political interference. His detention, and later formal arrest over the corruption charges on March 23, sparked nationwide protests despite assembly bans, police crackdowns, and legal prosecution by authorities. They've detained hundreds of our children, thousands of our youths... arrested hundreds of them, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel told protesters. Th

Turkey's jailed mayor Ekrem Imamoglu criticises West for 'silence'

Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, said the lack of international condemnation of Erdogan is helping ensure Turkey's shift toward authoritarianism

Erdogan blames opposition for wrecking Turkey's economy amid protest unrest

Turkey's president on Wednesday accused the political opposition of sinking the economy" during the country's largest protests in more than a decade over the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, the biggest challenger to Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 22-year rule. The opposition has called for a boycott of companies that it says support Erdogan's government. The Turkish president accused the opposition of being "so desperate that they would throw the country and the nation into the fire". In his address to lawmakers with his Justice and Development Party, or AKP, Erdogan added that "sabotage targeting the Turkish economy will be held accountable before the courts". Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested a week ago, faces charges related to corruption and supporting terrorism within the Istanbul municipality alongside some 90 other suspects. A court ordered him to be imprisoned on Sunday. A trial date has not been announced. Many consider the case against Imamoglu to be politically motiva

Turkey political unrest: Why anti-Erdogan protests are escalating

Thousands of people took to the streets in Turkey's major cities in the past five days over the detention of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, an prominent critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey detains journalists amid protests over jailing of key Erdogan rival

Turkish authorities detained several journalists from their homes, a media workers' union reported on Monday, in what it said was a crackdown amid escalating protests triggered by the imprisonment of the mayor of Istanbul and top rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On Sunday, a court formally arrested Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and ordered him jailed pending a trial on corruption charges. His detention on Wednesday sparked the largest wave of street demonstrations in Turkiye in more than a decade and deepened concerns over democracy and the rule of law in the country. In an apparent escalation of the government's response to the growing protests, the Disk-Basin-Is union said at least eight reporters and photojournalists were detained in what it said was an attack on press freedoms and the people's right to learn the truth. You cannot hide the truth by silencing journalists! the union wrote on the social media platform X, calling for their immediate release. There was no immediate .

Thousands rally in Istanbul as President Erdogan warns against protests

Tens of thousands of people rallied at Istanbul's city hall for a third day on Friday to protest the arrest of Istanbul's mayor and top rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, despite the Turkish leader's stern warning that street protests would not be tolerated. The rally remained peaceful. However, some 500 metres away, police used pepper spray and tear gas to push back hundreds of protesters who tried to break through a barricade in front of the city's historic aqueduct and threw flares and other objects at them. Water cannons were used to break up demonstrations in Ankara, the capital, as well as in the Aegean coastal city of Izmir. Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested in a dawn raid on his residence on Wednesday over alleged corruption and terror links, escalating a crackdown on opposition figures and dissenting voices. Several other prominent figures, including two district mayors, were also detained. Many view the arrest as a politically driven attempt to remove a popular ...

Istanbul mayor and Erdogan rival arrested: What's going on in Turkey?

The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key Erdogan rival, has sparked outrage across Turkey, with critics calling it a coup against democracy and free elections

Police arrest Istanbul mayor, key Erdogan rival over alleged corruption

Turkish police on Wednesday arrested Istanbul's mayor a popular opposition leader and key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and several other prominent figures as part of investigations into alleged corruption and terror links. It was a dramatic escalation in an ongoing government crackdown on the opposition and dissenting voices in Turkiye. The state-run Anadolu Agency said prosecutors issued detention warrants for the mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, and some 100 other people. Among those detained was Imamoglu's close aide, Murat Ongun. Authorities also closed several roads around Istanbul and banned demonstrations in the city for four days in an apparent effort to prevent protests following the arrest. Private NTV television reported that two Istanbul district mayors were among those detained. Critics say the crackdown follows significant losses by Erdogan's ruling party in local elections last year amid growing calls for early national elections. Government officials insist that

Turkish Prez Erdogan urges India, Pak to resolve Kashmir issue by dialogue

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue between India and Pakistan, with due consideration for the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. President Erdogan, who is in Pakistan on a two-day visit, made the comments after holding one-on-one and delegation talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The leaders also witnessed the signing ceremony of 24 agreements and a Memorandum of Understanding between the two sides. Following this, they read statements to the media, expressing resolve to strengthen their bilateral ties, during which Erdogan also talked about the Kashmir issue. The Kashmir issue should be addressed according to the UN resolution through dialogue and keeping in mind the aspirations of the people of Kashmir, Erdogan said. Our state and our nation, as in the past, stands in solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers today, he added. India has repeatedly emphasised that the Union Territories of Jammu and

At least 76 people killed in hotel fire at resort in northwestern Turkey

A fire raged through a 12-storey hotel at a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkiye early Tuesday during a school holiday, killing at least 76 people at least two of them when they jumped from the building to escape the flames, officials said. At least 51 people also were injured in the fire at the Grand Kartal hotel in Kartalkaya, in Bolu province's Koroglu mountains, some 300 kilometres east of Istanbul, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The fire occurred near the start of a two-week winter break for schools, when hotels in the region are packed. We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel, Yerlikaya told reporters after inspecting the site. Atakan Yelkovan, a hotel guest staying on the third floor, told the IHA news agency there was chaos on the upper floors as other guests tried to escape the fire, including by trying to climb down from their rooms using sheets and blankets. People on the upper floors were screaming.

Erdogan skips Kashmir mention at UNGA as Turkey eyes Brics membership

The next Brics summit is scheduled to take place in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to attend

Turkish prez vows to 'purge' military graduates who took pro-secular oath

The Turkish president has hit out at military graduates who took a pro-secular oath during their graduation ceremony, promising that those behind it would be purged from the military. Speaking at a conference for Islamic schools in the northwestern city of Kocaeli on Saturday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described those involved as opportunists. He added that an investigation was underway and vowed that the few impertinent individuals responsible will be purged. Whoever they are, it is not possible for them to be part of our military, Erdogan said. Erdogan was present at the graduation ceremony at the Turkish Military Academy in Ankara on August 30. Valedictorian Ebru Eroglu led the 960-strong graduating class in reciting the official military oath about defending Turkiye. But video footage from about an hour later shows about 400 of the graduates gathered in a field, raising their swords and chanting We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal a reference to the secular founder of ..

Turkiye's Prez meets Palestinian leader Abbas ahead of speech to parliament

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for talks that focused on the conflict in Gaza, Erdogan's office said, ahead of a planned address to parliament Thursday. Erdogan's office said late Wednesday that the two discussed the massacres committed by Israel in Palestinian territories and the steps that need to be taken for a permanent cease-fire and peace at the presidential palace in Ankara. The statement, released on the social media platform X, said Erdogan pledged continued support to Palestine's just cause and to work to increase the pressure on Israel by the international community especially the Islamic world to deliver humanitarian aid and bring peace. Abbas arrived Wednesday for a visit that comes as the threat of Iranian retaliation against Israel over the assassination of Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh fueled concerns of the war spreading across the Middle East. Erdogan, a prominent supporter of Hamas and the wider Palestinian cause, .

Turkey blocks access to Instagram over 'censorship', mentions no duration

Turkish communications official Fahrettin Altun, has slammed the Meta-owned platform for 'blocking condolence posts on the killing of Ismail Haniyeh'

Turkish prez accuses opposition of fueling racism amid anti-Syrian riot

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused opposition parties of stoking xenophobia and racism on Monday, a day after residents in a neighbourhood in central Turkiye set Syrian-owned shops on fire. The rioting erupted in the Melikgazi region of central Kayseri province late on Sunday, following reports that a Syrian refugee there had allegedly sexually harassed a 7-year-old Syrian girl. Outraged residents overturned cars and set shops ablaze, calling on Syrians to leave. At least 67 people suspected of involvement in the violence were detained, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on the social media platform X. In a televised address on Monday, Erdogan accused opposition parties, which have advocated for the repatriation of refugees, of inciting violence. Nothing can be achieved by fuelling xenophobia and hatred of refugees in society, Erdogan said and accused the opposition of poisonous discourse. When neighbouring Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, Turkiye received hundre

Turkey carried out new airstrikes against Kurdish militants in north Iraq

Turkiye has carried out a new round of airstrikes targeting Kurdish militants in neighbouring Iraq, the Turkish defence ministry said Monday. Warplanes struck suspected positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in the regions of Hakurk, Metina and Gara in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, according to the statement. The airstrikes reportedly killed 16 militants, including some commanders, the ministry said. There was no immediate comment from the PKK, a banned separatist group that has waged an insurgency against Turkiye since the 1980s. The ministry said it was determined to rescue Turkiye from this problem. The latest airstrikes came weeks after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid his first visit to Iraq in 12 years, seeking greater cooperation from Baghdad in the fight against the militants. Erdogan had previously announced a major operation against the PKK for this summer with the aim of permanently eradicating the threat it poses. The PKK, labelled a ...