Turkey: Oops, wrong guy! Irish tourist, professional boxer, overpowers Turkish mob

August 25, 2015 By administrator

Photo: gazetevatan.com

Angered at an Irish tourist, shopkeepers in İstanbul’s Aksaray district appeared to be messing up with the wrong guy — a professional boxer.
Few days ago, the tourist booked an hotel room in Aksaray as part of his trip in Turkey. Near his hotel, he went to pick up a bottled water, but he opened the door of a merchandized refrigerator so hard that dozens of water bottles dropped to the ground. Seconds after the incident, owner of the shop approached the Irish tourist and hit him with a stick.

In a sign of solidarity, neighboring shopkeepers also started assailing the tourist. But they were unaware that the tourist is a professional boxer.
As soon as he realized that he needs to fight back, the tourist put his sunglasses on his head and positioned himself as if he was on a ring ready to fight against his rival. He started putting down a mob of shopkeepers one by one. One of them could hardly walk after taking a hit on the face.
As shopkeepers understood that it will be difficult to tackle him, they asked for help. The crowd immediately swelled. The tourist and the shopkeepers then retreated to nurse their wounds. The tourist took a shelter inside his hotel. Minutes later, the tourist left the hotel and dived into the crowd. The shopkeepers had started using clubs, hard banners and stools to fight off the tourist. The Irishman again retreated to his hotel lobby several times, replenished his strength and attacked again.
Shocked, the shopkeepers decided to calm down and retreated.

Turkey: Report: Armenian tombstones used as sewer caps in Tekirdağ

August 23, 2015 By administrator

(FOTO:MURAT YAYIN/MALKARA-DHA)

The Tekirdağ Waterworks Authority (TESKI) has discovered that Armenian tombstones have been used to cap sewers in Malkara, according to a report published on Friday by the Turkish-Armenian weekly newspaper Agos.

TESKI employees made the discovery while carrying out excavations as part of repair work along Zülfikarağa Street in the city’s Hacievhat neighborhood. The workers found seven tombstones at the site and informed the municipality.

According to the report, Malkara Mayor Ulaş Yurdakul has acknowledged the findings, and the tombstones have been given to the Tekirdağ Archeology Museum for inspection and preservation.

Turkish media boss attacked by gunmen in İstanbul

August 20, 2015 By administrator

Murat Sancak, chief executive officer of the pro-government Star Media Group, was attacked on Thursday by unidentified gunmen while in his car in the Hadımköy neighborhood of İstanbul.

Unidentified assailants opened fire on the car that Sancak was in, news reports said. Several bullets hit the car. Sancak and his bodyguards were unharmed.

Police teams were sent to the area to investigate after the incident. Report Zaman

The Turkish Journalists’ Association (TTGC in a statement condemned the attack on Sancak. It was pointed out in the statement that recent acts of terrorism in the country are also targeting journalists and media groups and that the attacks aim to disrupt the peace in Turkey. The TGC also called on the authorities to find the perpetrators and emphasized that the organization is always against these kind of attacks.

Istanbul replacing Baghdad Gunfire, blast near palace

August 19, 2015 By administrator

August 19, 2015 at Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul. (AFP Photo)

Gunfire has broken out near the entrance to Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, local media reports say.

Local media on also reported an explosion near the palace on Wednesday, but this has not been independently confirmed. The assailants reportedly deployed a sound grenade before opening fire at the police.

The Ottoman-era building, a tourist hotspot, is where the office of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is located.

Police launched a manhunt for two people after the attack, NTV television reported, adding that there are as of yet no reports of fatalities or injuries. The two suspects, carrying long range weapons and a bomb, were later arrested close to the German consulate.

At least one policeman is reported to have been injured.

The 45,000-square-meter Dolmabahce Palace is one of the last and the greatest palaces of the Ottoman Empire built in the first half of the 19th century.

The palace is partially open to the public, but one section is separated and set aside as reception hall and offices for the prime minister.

Siirt Province sees Turkish soldiers fall

In a separate development on Wednesday, Turkish media reported that eight Turkish soldiers were killed in a bomb attack that targeted their vehicle in the southeastern province of Siirt.

The assault has been blamed on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Clashes with PKK

The development comes as Turkey has been engaged in one of its biggest security operations in the southern border region over the past weeks. The Turkish military has been conducting offensives against alleged positions of Daesh terrorists in northern Syria as well as those of the PKK in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey.

The security operations began in the wake of the deadly July 20 bomb attack in the southern Turkish town of Suruc, an ethnically Kurdish town located close to the Kurdish town of Kobani on the other side of the border in Syria, where over 30 people died. The Turkish government blamed Daesh for the bombing. On July 22, the PKK claimed responsibility for the killing of two Turkish police officers, saying they were cooperating with Daesh.

During the early hours of Wednesday, two Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with the PKK militants in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir. One soldier had died earlier.

The Turkish military said Tuesday that the fighting began a day earlier after the provincial and district gendarmerie command launched a joint operation against suspected PKK members in the region who had allegedly blocked a road linking Diyarbakir to the province of Bingol.

Also on Tuesday, about 800 Turkish soldiers launched an attack against the PKK in the district of Silvan in Diyarbakir.

Seeking self-rule, the PKK has been engaged in militancy in southeastern Turkey for decades. An unstable ceasefire with the government, which had been in place since 2013, was declared null by the militants following the Turkish airstrikes against the group.

Source: presstv.com

Istanbul’s Camp Armen Attacked

August 14, 2015 By administrator

Activists occupying the grounds of Camp Armen, the former Armenian summer camp located in the Tuzla district of Istanbul, were attacked on the hundredth day of their live-in demonstration. According to a statement released by the Armenian Nor Zartonk movement of Istanbul, two activists were attacked and beaten with sticks.

The attack took place on the night of Aug. 13, at around 11:30 p.m. according to the statement. “This attack, which is a manifestation of a genocidal mentality, cannot break our resolve. We publicly announce today that we will continue our struggle with the same determination,” read a part of the statement, which also called on the public to stand in solidarity with protesters.

Armenian member of Turkey’s Parliament Garo Paylan of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) tweeted that some of the activists sustained injuries, and urged the public for support. Soon after the attack, the Nor Zartonk movement shared a photo of a group of activists with the caption “Racist/Fascist attacks will not intimidate us.”

The Nor Zartonk Armenian movement of Istanbul has led a campaign to occupy the grounds of the camp since bulldozers arrived to demolish it in early May. After weeks of protest, the current owner of the campground, Fatih Ulusoy, said he would sign the transfer of the property over to the Gedikpaşa Armenian Evangelical Church Foundation; so far, the deed has not been transferred.

Horror in Istanbul: 2 dead, 2 injured

August 7, 2015 By administrator

Istanbul 53 years old Baki Akpinar that insanity in Zeytinburnu, sit in front of his house to discuss the 23-year-old Serkan Öğmen shot and killed after armed occasion Arikan want to separate the fight. The Mevlut Karelin wants to prevent itself from leg wounds Maintenance Akpinar fired the same gun to their head.

ncident allegedly occurred in the neighborhood Nuri Pasha at noon. Maintenance Akpinar, sit in front of the apartment is not yet Serkan ÖĞMEN began discussion for an unknown reason. Shortly after the debate turned into a fight. Maintenance Akpinar pointed the gun, Serkan living in the same apartment and tried to separate the fighting Öğmen then struck Arikan occasion.

Istanbul Armenians in 94th day of fight to save orphanage

August 7, 2015 By administrator

YEREVAN. – Turkish Armenians are fighting for already 94 days now to prevent the demolition of Camp Armen Armenian orphanage in Istanbul.

Co-chairman of the Nor Zartonk movement of Istanbul Armenians, Sayat Tekir, stated the aforementioned at a press conference on Friday in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia.

In his words, the Turkish state has seized the orphanage building from the local Armenian community, privatized it, and now Camp Armen is changing its seventh proprietor.

“One-third of Camp Armen orphanage is already demolished,” said Tekir. “Our [i.e. the Istanbul Armenians’] demands are addressed to the [Turkish] state, since it seized the territory of the orphanage from us.

“The state proposes to take the entire territory of the orphanage under its control, and allocate us a small part of it; with the right of no more than a 40-year lease.”

He also noted that the local Armenian community needs a document that will legally specify the community’s right to this land.

“We expect public support from the residents of Armenia,” added Sayat Tekir. “All the injustices by the [Turkish] state have become known in Turkey, too.

“Turks, Kurds, Alevis support us. We are expressed support not solely from Istanbul, but other cities [in Turkey].”

Camp Armen Armenian orphanage was confiscated by the Turkish authorities back in 1987. Subsequently, it was sold to a Turkish businessman who, in turn, decided to demolish the orphanage and build luxury homes in the premises. As a result of public pressure, however, the demolition of the orphanage has been temporarily halted.

The camp was once home to around 1,500 Armenian children, including the late Hrant Dink—the founder and chief editor of Agos Armenian bilingual weekly of Istanbul, and who was shot dead on January 19, 2007 outside the office of his weekly—, and his wife Rakel.

The orphanage sought to help underprivileged Armenian children and orphans, who had moved to Istanbul from other parts of Turkey, get an education.

Turkey: ISIL performs Eid prayer in İstanbul, calls for war

July 19, 2015 By administrator

Hundreds of supporters of the radical terrorist organization Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) allegedly performed Eid prayers in Istanbul, for a second time, in which they criticized the Turkish government and made a call for war.

The Turkish media reported on Sunday that a group of ISIL militants — allegedly consisting of 1,000 ISIL members — gathered at a picnic site in İstanbul’s Ömerli neighborhood to perform the prayers signaling the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

According to the news agency Sputnik Türkiye, the prayer was led by Halis Bayancuk, also known as Abu Hanzala, who is alleged to be one of ISIL’s most high-ranking members in Turkey. He allegedly called on the supporters after the prayer to engage in war.

As part of his 14-minute speech, Bayancuk, who is said to be in charge of the al-Qaeda network in Turkey, criticized democracy and called for the formation of a state governed by religious law. Also criticizing the Turkish government, Bayancuk said the Gülen movement, inspired by the Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, was being unfair towards members of ISIL and al-Qaeda and was instigating arbitrary detainments through its alleged contacts in law enforcement and judicial circles. However Bayancuk gave no details on how a civil society organization could instigate detentions. The Gülen movement is also known as the Hizmet movement.

Bayancuk was detained in raids against al-Qaeda cells by the police and gendarmerie units in six provinces across Turkey on Jan. 14, 2014, but was let go after no indictment was prepared against him. It is unclear why the prosecutor’s office did not indict him, although several others have already been charged.

The government removed the police chiefs who undertook the operation from the investigation while reassigning the prosecutor who handled the case and the judge who authorized the raids.

It was stated back in 2014, when Bayancuk was detained, that wiretapped conversations had him telling other members of al-Qaeda that the conquest of Syria was almost over and that Turkey would be next. “We will conquer İstanbul, God willing,” he was heard saying.

ISIL forbids its followers to join prayers in mosques located in countries not under the group’s control. A similar gathering was also held last year. The İstanbul Governor’s Office made an announcement stating that the group had not obtained the necessary permission to perform their prayer on public property, after images of the prayer caused a public outcry.

ISIL is also known as a Salafi extremist militant group and self-proclaimed caliphate and Islamic state led by Sunni Arabs from Iraq and Syria. As of March of this year, the group is said to have exerted control over territory in Iraq and Syria occupied by nearly 10 million people.

Source: Zaman

#SanaGeziyiYıktırmayacağız Plan to build Ottoman barracks on Istanbul’s Gezi Park approved in new court ruling

July 15, 2015 By administrator

Turkey’s Council of State reversed its previous decision to cancel the controversial pedestrianization project around Istanbul’s iconic Taksim Square, expressing support for the construction of the replica of an Ottoman artillery barracks over Gezi Park, daily Cumhuriyet reported July 15.

Istanbul’s 1st Regional Court canceled both the Taksim pedestrianization project and the Artillery Barracks project on June 6, 2013, in the midst of the Gezi protests which spread across the nation and the resulted in the deaths of eight protesters.

Almost a year later, in April 2014, the Council of State re-evaluated and approved its cancellation decision in response to an appeal by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Nonetheless, the municipality made a rare request for a revision of the decision – an unusual motion that only succeeds in the event the decision was made in error.

However, a report by Cumhuriyet on July 15 revealed the Council of State voted in favor of the municipality’s request for a revision on March 31.

In its decision, the council demanded the formation of a new panel of experts for a second expert examination and demanded the finalization of the Istanbul 6th Regional Court’s February 2014 decision for a stay of execution.

The newspaper noted the decision came after 33 new members were appointed to the Council of State in 2014, shifting its balance in favor of the then-ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

It is alleged that the decision also extended veiled support for the construction of the Artillery Barracks by defining the “historical barracks” as a piece of immovable cultural property that requires conservation.

The news of the Council of State decision immediately stirred public outcry on July 15, with the hashtag “we will not allow you to demolish Gezi” (#SanaGeziyiYıktırmayacağız in Turkish) becoming a worldwide trending topic on Twitter.

The project to construct a reproduction of the historic Artillery Barracks was one of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s “crazy” projects in Istanbul, alongside a new airport, a third bridge and a man-made canal.

On July 13, Erdoğan cited the major projects as his redline for the ongoing talks to form a coalition government, after the AKP lost its parliamentary majority with the June 7 general election. “Any coalition talks that start with a debate about suspending the major projects of Turkey will be challenged by me before anyone else,” Erdoğan said.

The reproduction would have been built over Gezi Park in central Istanbul and serve as a shopping mall and residence with social facilities, but nationwide protests which continued throughout the summer of 2013 prevented the demolition of the park.

Source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/#panel-7

« Previous Page
1
…
8
9
10
11
12
…
16
Next Page »