Opinions - Turkey

Long-Term Bets in Turkish Politics

Long-Term Bets in Turkish Politics

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 21 May 2024
While the post-election balance of power has significantly increased the stakes for both the AKP and the opposition, Turkish politics has, at least for now, entered a period of détente and dialogue rather than a new spiral of political tension. But make no mistake, this is not a return to democracy and normalcy in Turkey.
ABD Dışişleri Bakanlığı'nın 2023 Yılına İlişkin Türkiye İnsan Hakları Uygulamaları Raporunda Öne Çıkan Hususlar

ABD Dışişleri Bakanlığı'nın 2023 Yılına İlişkin Türkiye İnsan Hakları Uygulamaları Raporunda Öne Çıkan Hususlar

by instituDE, published on 29 April 2024
ABD Dışişleri Bakanlığı'nın 2023 yılına ilişkin Türkiye İnsan Hakları Uygulamaları Raporunda öne çıkan hususlar
No Breakthrough in Iraq but Insights for Turkey’s Upcoming Summer Offensive

No Breakthrough in Iraq but Insights for Turkey’s Upcoming Summer Offensive

by Mustafa Enes Esen published on 26 April 2024
President Erdoğan's long-anticipated visit to Iraq unfolded on Monday, where he was warmly welcomed by Iraqi President of Republic Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Sudani in Baghdad. The visit culminated in the signing of 26 memoranda of understanding in various fields including energy, trade, water management, security cooperation, military training, and agriculture. Later on the same day, he also paid a visit to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil.
Turkey Is In The Critical Junction: Modernize Customs Union With Rule of Law or Else

Turkey Is In The Critical Junction: Modernize Customs Union With Rule of Law or Else

by Mehmet Demirbaş, published on 19 April 2024
On April 17, 2024, the Dutch parliament made a significant decision concerning Turkey. It urged the Dutch government to condition negotiations aimed at modernizing the customs union agreement between Turkey and the European Union. This resolution was prompted by Turkey's failure to adhere to the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş and others.
Avrupa Birliği’nin Göç ve İlticaya Dair Yürürlüğe Girecek Yeni Paktı

Avrupa Birliği’nin Göç ve İlticaya Dair Yürürlüğe Girecek Yeni Paktı

by Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 8 April 2024
Uluslararası Göç Örgütü verilerine göre 2014’ten bu yana Avrupa’ya ulaşmaya çabalarken yaşamını yitiren veya kaybolanların sayısı 29 bini geçmiş bulunuyor. Bu kayıpların ve Avrupa Birliği (AB)’nin 2015 yılında karşılaştığı göçmen krizinin bir neticesi olarak, AB’nin yeni iltica ve göç reformu düzenlemesi 2020 Eylül’de önerildi. Yasa paketinin Haziran 2024’te yapılacak AB Parlamento seçimlerinden evvel, Nisan 2024’te kabul edilmesi öngörülmektedir.
Erdogan at Crossroads Once More

Erdogan at Crossroads Once More

Erdogan at Crossroads Once More Turkey's local elections on March 31st surprisingly saved Turkey's opposition from obsolescence and restored its credibility, severely damaged after last year's disappointing presidential elections. For the first time in two decades, the AKP found itself in the second position in an election. Moreover, the CHP's re-elected mayor of Istanbul, Imamoğlu, proved his political skills as a charismatic leader capable of challenging President Erdoğan. Meanwhile, the AKP and its Islamist and nationalist allies have clearly lost votes, signaling discontent among Erdoğan's base. This new reality of Turkish politics leaves Erdoğan with two alternative paths: one that aims to save the economy and thus remove one of the root causes of discontent, or a more authoritarian one that seeks to curb dissent through more oppression. Both paths have their own risks and opportunities for Erdoğan.

Reports - Turkey

TURKEY‘S MASS PURGE AS VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN ICCPR

TURKEY‘S MASS PURGE AS VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN ICCPR

by instituDE, published on 23 October 2024
'A gift from God' was one of Erdoğan's first descriptions related to coup attempt in July 15. At first no one realized that God's gift meant a chaotic environment in which he needed to declare a national emergency with no checks and balances and then transform Türkiye’s parliamentary democracy into an executive presidency.
JUDICIAL CORRUPTION IN TÜRKİYE

JUDICIAL CORRUPTION IN TÜRKİYE

by instituDE and Arrested Lawyers, published on October 2024
This submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) highlights severe issues undermining the integrity of Türkiye's judiciary, particularly focusing on rampant judicial corruption and impunity as well as human rights abuses which they facilitate. Based on the most recent incidents of corruption concerning members of the judiciary who serve in courts in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, this report seeks to examine the high-level corruption within the judiciary and the Turkish government’s failure or even willful ignorance in addressing it.
TURKEY'S GROWING ROLE IN GLOBAL COCAINE TRAFFICKING

TURKEY'S GROWING ROLE IN GLOBAL COCAINE TRAFFICKING

by Dr. İmdat Öner, Halil Çavuş, Ömer Güler and Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 17 September 2024
This report focuses on Turkey's prominence as an emerging market for cocaine trafficking and organized crime in the last decade. Cocaine production in Latin America has dramatically increased since 2013, and Turkey’s status as an emerging market has attracted the attention of Latin American government officials on the front lines of the cocaine trade.
WEAPONIZING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: ERDOĞAN'S TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION TO MUZZLE DISSIDENTS ABROAD

WEAPONIZING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: ERDOĞAN'S TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION TO MUZZLE DISSIDENTS ABROAD

by Dr. Yasir Gökçe, Mayra Russo and Sara Kezia Heinonen, published on 29 August 2024
This report sets out to provide a comprehensive analysis of the tactics employed by the Erdoğan administration to achieve repressive goals abroad and the vulnerabilities and how they are enabled by the AML and CFT regulation in place.
ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES BY THE ERDOGAN GOVERNMENT

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES BY THE ERDOGAN GOVERNMENT

by instituDE, published in June 2024
This submission highlights the ongoing systematic actions and omissions by Turkish authorities against the so-called members of the Gulen Group, framed as crimes against humanity. It demonstrates the violations of recommendations that even Türkiye has supported.
UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

by instituDE, published on May 2024
This report offers an update to the United Nations Committee against Torture (the Committee) regarding the obstacles to implementing the Convention against Torture (the Convention) in Turkey. As a coalition formed by a collective of former Turkish diplomats, our focus is on the systematic torture faced by former diplomats detained at Ankara Police Headquarters. We delve into the Turkish context and present insights from our organization.

Videos - Turkey

Ankara'nın HAMAS kararı neyin işareti?

October 24, 2023
Haşim Tekineş and Servet Akman, published on 24 October 2023
instituDE üyesi Servet Akman ve Haşim Tekineş, katıldıkları yayında küresel ve bölgesel boyutlarıyla İsrail-Hamas savaşında gelinen aşamayı, İsrail'in Gazze'ye kara harekatı planını ve İsrail'in bu harekattaki hedeflerini

ABD Türk SİHA'sını Düşürdü

October 7, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 7 October 2023
Dış Gündem'de bu hafta Haşim Tekineş Türkiye'nin Suriye'deki PKK/YPG hedeflerine yönelik operasyonları esnasında bir Türk SİHA'sının NATO müttefiki ABD tarafından vurularak düşürülmesini çeşitli boyutlarıyla ele aldı.

Erdoğan'ın Tunus'ta Unuttuğu Dostları

October 5, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Mehmet Çelik, published on 5 October 2023
Dışı İçi Bir'de bu hafta Haşim Tekineş ve Tunus'ta görev yapmış eski diplomat Mehmet Çelik Tunus'un demokratikleşme serüvenini, ülkenin otoriterleşmeye savrulmasını ve Tunus'ta yaşanan son gelişmeleri ele aldılar.

Tarihi Erdoğan - Netanyahu Görüşmesi

September 29, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Servet Akman, published on 29 September 2023
Dışı İçi Bir'de Haşim Tekineş ve Servet Akman BM Zirvesi çeçevesinde Erdoğan'ın New York'ta gerçekleştirdiği temasları, Netanyahu ile 20 Eylül'de gerçekleştirdiği görüşmeyi, Türkiye-İsrail ilişkilerini ve İsrail'de yaşanan hukuk reformu çerçevesinde yaşanan son gelişmeleri ele aldılar.

Yalçınkaya Kararı: AİHM'den Uyarı

September 27, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Hakan Kaplankaya
Dış Gündem'in bu yayınında Haşim Tekineş ve Hakan Kaplankaya AİHM'in 26 Eylül'de açıkladığı Yalçınkaya davasını tüm yönleriyle ele aldılar.

AİHM'den tarihi Bylock ve BankAsya kararı: Kimler için emsal olacak?

September 27, 2023
by Hakan Kaplankaya, published on 27 September 2023
instituDE üyesi ve insan hakları uzmanı Hakan Kaplankaya katıldığı programda AİHM'in dün açıkladığı Yalçınkaya kararını ve olası sonuçlarını değerlendirdi.