Medya News Audio Articles

Turkish ethnic nationalism has been a core belief of the Turkish Republic throughout its century-old existence. It has increasingly been defined against a Kurdish “other” that refuses to deny Kurdishness and assimilate into a monolithic Turkish identity. Since Erdoğan ended peace talks with the PKK and, following the 2015 election, was forced to rely on the support of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), he has increasingly used populist politics of prejudice and hatred to build and energise his support. As election day approaches the populist rhetoric from Erdogan and from leading figures in his People’s Alliance has descended to a new level.

Citizens living abroad, who could play a key role in Turkey's coming polls if the vote at home is close, have already started voting. Jürgen Klute looks at this and other aspects of the elections.

"Why should Erdogan suddenly follow democratic rules of the game when he has not done so far? Therefore Kurds must stand up as one and vote for the opposition – the Green Left Party / HDP." -Westrheim

Ertuğrul Kürkçü looks at Turkey's coming elections: "Peoples of Turkey stand on the verge of repelling the most perennial and comprehensive attempt at dictatorship in the history of Turkey."

Accompanied by stirring music, convoys of armed vehicles and police vans roar into the cities, and groups of fully armed soldiers make their way into the alleys and storm unmarked doorways. This is not the latest TV drama but the official film of the detention of 128 politicians and activists of the pro-Kurdish leftist Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), now running under the banner of the Green Left, less than three weeks before the Turkish election.

Fréderike Geerdink looks at Turkey's coming elections in the light of of the historic resistance of the Kurds in conjunction with the spirit of the Gezi protests.

British anti-terror police found themselves in the headlines this week after using a controversial power to detain a French publisher at the British border and quiz him about his opposition to the French government. The case shone a spotlight on a little-known but widely-abused power, Schedule 7 of the Terror Act (2000), which equips British police with the ability to detain, search and interrogate anyone they claim is entering or leaving the country for reasons related to the commission of acts of terrorism – without needing to formally charge the individual in question, and without the right to silence.

Journalist Sedat Yılmaz urges "all press professional organisations to read Turkey’s press card regulation from the perspective of Kurdish journalists and put our 25 imprisoned colleagues on their agenda."

Fréderike Geerdink's latest column is out now! Her ruthless pursuit of the truth once again hits Medya News as she looks at the realities faced by Kurds in Turkey ahead of the country's critical elections.

Abdi commented that Erdoğan might do anything to get re-elected. One thing he is already doing is using the politicised judicial system to pursue his opponents. The case file for the closure of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has now been handed over to the court rapporteur to prepare his opinion before the judges make their decision. A ban would have to be supported by 10 of the 15 judges, and if the party is banned, up to 451 named members could be banned from party politics for five years. Because of the possibility of the ban, HDP members are standing in the election under the banner of the Green Left.