The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Turkish police

  • Turkish police arrest Amnesty activists

    Turkish police arrest Amnesty activists

    Eight leading human rights activists including Amnesty International’s director in Turkey, Idil Eser, have been arrested in Istanbul.

    Two trainers from Germany and Sweden were also arrested in the raid on a digital security workshop run by Amnesty at a hotel in Buyukada, the BBC reports.

    The police raid was “blatantly without cause,” an Amnesty statement said.

    The group’s whereabouts are unknown. Police had jailed more than 50,000 people since last year’s coup plot.

    The police action “is a grotesque abuse of power and highlights the precarious situation facing human rights activists in the country,” said Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

    “Idil Eser and those detained with her must be immediately and unconditionally released.”

    Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after rogue army officers tried to oust him in a coup on July 15, 2016.

    The post-coup crackdown has targeted tens of thousands of public servants accused of supporting United States-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen.

     

  • Police disperse gay rally in Istanbul

    Police disperse gay rally in Istanbul

    Turkish police on Monday fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse gay activists in Istanbul.

    hundreds of people gathered in the busy Istiklal Avenue near the iconic Taksim Square to stage the annual LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) pride march, despite a ban announced by the Turkish authorities a week before.

    At least 12 people including two foreigners were detained, the Hurriyet daily reported, while the police chased others in the small lanes and streets of Istiklal Avenue.

    Volker Beck, a politician from the German Green Party, and Terry Reintke, a member of the European Parliament, were later freed, the daily said.

    The riot police also used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a transgender pride march on June 19.

    The Islamist and ultra-nationalist groups had threatened the LGBTI groups for holding rallies during the Ramadan, the holly month for Muslims.

  • Turkey arrests 10 Islamic State recruiters in Ankara

    Turkey arrests 10 Islamic State recruiters in Ankara

    Turkish police on Monday arrested 10 people in the capital Ankara, accused of being recruiters for the Islamic State extremist group.

    The police said in Ankara that the arrests followed a crackdown on Islamic State in the country, amid growing concerns over terrorist activities.

    Turkey blamed Islamic State for a suicide bombing this month in Istanbul which killed 10 German tourists.

    “The group is also being held responsible for a twin attack in Ankara in October, which left more than 100 people dead.’’

    Islamic State has not claimed either attack.

  • Turkish police raid anti-government media ahead of election

    Turkish police on Wednesday raided the offices of a media group seen as being critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    Report says the raid is part of a wider crackdown this week against Ipek, a holding company associated with followers of Turkish-born preacher, Fethullah Gulen, who is in exile in the U.S.

    Police used tear gas and have arrested a number of journalists.

    According to the report, the raid is focused on Bugun TV, a small broadcaster that continues to air live, though its coverage is focused on the masses of policemen outside its door.

    It noted that Gulen was once a close ally of Erdogan, but the two split in recent years and were now enemies.

    Meanwhile, Gulenists have been at the forefront of corruption allegations brought against the government.

    Report says Turkey holds a snap election on Nov. 1, the second parliamentary poll this year after a June vote produced a hung parliament.

    All three major opposition parties have rallied around Bugun TV, in spite of having political differences with the media outlet, which has touted a nationalist line in the past.

    “When there is a reduction in the range of viewpoints available to citizens, especially before an election, it is a matter of concern,’’ the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, said amid the crackdown on Ipek.

    Report says the holding company is accused of financial improprieties.

  • Hundreds of Turkish police officers ‘sacked’

    Hundreds of Turkish police officers ‘sacked’

    Turkey has sacked 350 police officers in the capital Ankara, following a corruption probe targeting people close to the government, reports say.

    Officials, mostly from outside the city, have been named to replace them.

    BBC reports that hundreds of police have been dismissed or reassigned across the country since last month’s corruption investigation.

    Three cabinet ministers resigned after their sons were detained in the raids.

    The prime minister has accused the police and judiciary of a “dirty plot.”

    The arrests were carried out as part of an inquiry into alleged bribery involving public tenders.

    Those detained in the December 17 raids included public officials and businessmen close to the prime minister.

    The latest round of police sackings and reassignments were carried out under a government decree published at midnight.

    Those removed from their posts include chiefs of the financial crimes, anti-smuggling and organised crime units, the private Dogan News Agency reported.

    The move comes as the government is trying to contain the fall-out from the corruption inquiry.

    Many believe the arrests and firings reflect a feud within Turkey’s ruling AK Party between those who back Mr. Recep Erdogan, and supporters of Fethullah Gulen, an influential Islamic scholar living in self-imposed exile in the United States.

    Members of Mr. Gulen’s Hizmet movement are said to hold influential positions in institutions such as the police, the judiciary and the AK Party itself.

    Mr. Erdogan has said he would not allow “political plotting.”