Author: Daily Sabah

A bill modifying Türkiye’s anti-spying law is set to land at Parliament on Wednesday amid heated debate over its content. The text, first raised by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), would add a new definition of espionage for “crimes committed against the state security or for political interests” and allow prison terms of up to seven years for suspects found guilty of working for foreign interests. The changes are directed at the Turkish Penal Code’s Article 339, which stipulates, “Anyone who obtains information meant to be secret in quality for state security or domestic or foreign political…

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday warned that Israel aims to destroy Palestinian existence and ultimately annex all Palestinian territories with its brutal attacks, which have killed at least 44,000 Palestinians since last year. “Israel’s relentless offensive on the Gaza Strip and increasing crackdown on Palestinians in occupied West Bank are proof this is where the situation is headed, Erdoğan told an extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh. Türkiye is a major opponent of Israel’s brutal campaign amounting to genocide that targets Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere. Ankara views…

Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. elections has increased hopes of ending the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Türkiye’s top diplomat said. “Türkiye supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and our position on Crimea reflects this. However, we do not see this war as beneficial for either side,” Hakan Fidan told the Turkish newspaper Milliyet. From the first day of the conflict, Türkiye has insisted that diplomacy should be a priority, the minister recalled, adding that this has been conveyed to U.S. and Western officials many times. “We have used all means of diplomacy to bring the parties to the negotiating table. In…

A mayor from Türkiye’s opposition arrested for his alleged links to the PKK gave jobs to six members of the terrorist group following his election in March, according to a report from the Turkish newspaper Sabah. Ahmet Özer, mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district and a member of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was detained last month by anti-terrorist police over his connection to the PKK, blacklisted as a terror organization by Türkiye, the U.S. and the European Union. The six PKK members worked in the Esenyurt district municipality’s cultural affairs and cleaning directorates, according to documents obtained from Özer’s office.…

An early election is not on the table for Türkiye right now, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said Sunday, dismissing calls from the main opposition for general polls next year. “There is no point to raising a political debate over a topic that doesn’t exist,” Kurtulmuş told reporters on a flight back from a G-20 meeting in Brazil. “Parliament has been elected and will serve its term until 2028, as will President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” Kurtulmuş added. Türkiye went to polls in May last year where Erdoğan won against his main rival in two rounds of a presidential vote and his…

A deputy chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) said the party’s losses in the March 31 municipal elections were “a road accident” and said voters realized their mistake. Addressing a local meeting of AK Party supporters in the central province of Kayseri on Saturday, Mustafa Elitaş said people were clearly “disturbed by the choices they made on March 31.” Not accustomed to defeat over the past two decades, the AK Party was shaken when it lost several strongholds against its longtime rival Republican People’s Party (CHP). The party intends to turn around its fortunes with its…

The funeral of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) leader Fetullah Gülen was conducted in line with Protestant customs and traditions, even though the deceased had claimed to lead a Muslim community of followers. Security sources noted that Gülen’s funeral was secretly conducted by the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Homes. Senior FETÖ members put pressure on the funeral services provider to keep details of the funeral private. Instead of choosing one of many Muslim funeral service providers, FETÖ opted for a Protestant company, which did not list the name of Gülen on Oct. 24, when he was buried.…

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake shook Türkiye’s eastern Elazığ province and nearby regions on Friday, the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said. The quake took place at a depth of 16.22 kilometers and was felt in the Diyarbakır province. In a statement, Elazığ Governor’s Office said no damage has been reported to AFAD or the 112 emergency phone line, adding that authorities are closely monitoring the effects of the quake. Elazığ was rocked by one of its worst disasters on Jan. 24, 2020, when a magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked the city, along with its neighbor Malatya. A total of…

The 6th International Women and Justice Summit, themed “Artificial Intelligence and Women,” has officially started today at Haliç University in Istanbul, Türkiye. The opening ceremony was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye’s first lady Emine Erdoğan, Family and Social Affairs Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş and various state officials. The summit, organized by the Foundation for Women and Democracy (KADEM), will take place over two days, from Nov. 8-9. It gathers experts, academics and researchers from around the world to explore how artificial intelligence can shape a fairer and safer future for women. Discussions will focus on the challenges women…

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made clear Türkiye is ready to collaborate with the United States following the re-election of Donald Trump to resolve regional crises like the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. “Trump has made promises to end conflicts … We want that promise to be fulfilled and for Israel to be told to ‘stop,'” Erdoğan told reporters on a flight back from an EU summit in Hungary on Thursday. Erdoğan, a staunch Palestine supporter, has been a virulent critic of the Netanyahu administration as Israel’s attacks have killed more than 42,000 people in Gaza, mostly…