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Category: Turkey

  • ASELSAN unveils advanced C-UAV system KORKUT 100/25 SB at DSEI 2025

    ASELSAN made a strong impact at DSEI 2025 by unveiling its next-generation mobile counter-UAV system, KORKUT 100/25 SB, to international audiences. The new system marks a major milestone in close-range air defense and redefining tactical drone protection with its integrated, mission-ready design. ASELSAN, Türkiye’s leading defense company, debuts its game-changing system, KORKUT 100/25 SB, developed […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • The Strongman Illusion

    Turkey’s slide into authoritarianism was facilitated by collaborators, enablers, and an inept opposition.

    This post was originally published on Dissent Magazine.

  • HAVELSAN and CALIDUS Forge Long-Term Partnership to Enhance Training for B-250 Aircraft

    Every mission begins with preparation. For pilots, that preparation takes place not only in the sky but also in high-fidelity simulators that replicate the complexity of real operations. With this vision, HAVELSAN and UAE-based defense company CALIDUS have signed a major agreement at IDEF 2025 to develop a comprehensive training ecosystem for the B-250 light […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Activists are mobilising to shut down the UK’s biggest arms fair

    67 national and regional organisations from Scotland to Cornwall are uniting and mobilising for ‘The Big One’: a coalition action to shut down one of the world’s biggest – and the UK’s largest – arms fairs, DSEI.

    DSEI: shut down the UK’s largest arms fair

    Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) is taking place at the ExCeL centre in London between 9-12 September. ‘The Big One: Shut Down DSEI 2025’ aims to build a mass mobilisation to stop the arms fair taking place on its first day – Tuesday 9 September.

    In 2023, 1500 exhibitors, including the world’s largest and worst arms dealers, networked with 35,000 delegates representing nearly 100 countries. This included official government invited delegations from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Bahrain, Turkey, and Qatar.

    Israel always plays a prominent role at DSEI, with the UK government inviting an official Israeli government delegation. If this happens in 2025, it will be our government continuing to roll out the red carpet to legitimise and enable war criminals. They will come to shop for even deadlier weapons to wage their genocide against the Palestinian people.

    Israel’s pavilion at DSEI

    DSEI is currently advertising the presence of Israel’s country pavilion. While it has not yet published its list of exhibitors, several Israeli arms companies are confirmed as attending. This includes Israel Aerospace Industries, who are promoting their presence with a brochure of military equipment Israel has used to commit genocide in Gaza.

    In 2023, brigadier general Dr Danny Gold, head of directorate of defense research and development for the Israeli Ministry of Defence gave a keynote speech. In addition to this, 48 domestic Israeli arms companies exhibited at the event. These are companies that are directly responsible for, and directly profiting from, Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the war crimes it is committing in the West Bank and Lebanon.

    A call to action: shut down the profiteers from genocide

    The call to action states that DSEI:

    is a marketplace in death and destruction. It takes place every two years and is where arms dealers and politicians meet and make deals for genocide, war, and more human rights abuses. This is where they stock up on the latest lethal weapons and tools for repression – all with the backing of the British state.

    British colonial violence did not end when hard fought liberation struggles were waged around the globe. Instead, as empires crumbled, global colonial and imperialist forces adapted. Now, arms fairs, like DSEI UK, continue to back the profiteers of state-led death, occupation and violence that has never ceased.

    This is where war starts. This is where repressive border policies start. This is where torture starts. This is where the contacts are made and the lucrative deals done that fuel genocide, war crimes and human rights abuses around the world. This is why we have to shut it down.

    It continues:

    DSEI is massively important to the British government. We can shut it down – but only if we have numbers! Our government is hoping we’ll be scared to take to the streets. But we say no! We say we’ll stop genocide profiteers in their tracks. This is our moment to come together, across our movements, to show that proscription won’t stop us taking actions against the arms trade.

    A spokesperson for the coalition said:

    Our government is allowing Israeli war criminals to come to London to buy and sell more weapons to further fuel their genocide against the Palestinian people. This is not only illegal and immoral, it is downright evil. We cannot allow this to happen. This is a government complicit in genocide, that lies about arms sales, and that has lost all legitimacy.

    It hoped that banning Palestine Action would stop direct action against the arms trade. But the number of national and regional groups endorsing our coalition shows this has failed. Across the country people are mobilising and showing they are willing to do what is necessary to shut DSEI down.

    By The Canary

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Indonesia fields Khan short-range ballistic missile

    The Indonesian Army has now fielded the Khan ITBM-600 short-range ballistic missile system that was ordered from Turkish firm Roketsan in 2022. The weapon was observed at the Raipur A base of the 18th Field Artillery Battalion in East Kalimantan on 1 August, with photos posted on Facebook confirming the system’s deployment. This is the […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Reprisal: Turkish human rights defender Enes Hocaoğulları arrested for a speech he made at a Council of Europe

    On 5 August 2025, human rights defender Enes Hocaoğulları was detained at the Ankara Esenboğa Airport, on his return to Türkiye due to an arrest warrant issued by an Istanbul court, in connection with ongoing investigations into a speech he made at the 48th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on 27 March 2025.

    Enes Hocaoğulları is a youth and LGBTI+ rights defender based in Ankara, Türkiye. Since 2022, he works as the International Advocacy and Fundraising Coordinator at ÜniKuir Association, an LGBTI+ rights organisation in Türkiye. His focus is on diplomatic engagement, monitoring youth rights, reporting and advocacy. His climate activism during his high school years eventually evolved into a fight for human rights and democracy. In February 2025, he was selected as the youth delegate from Türkiye for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

    On 5 August 2025, human rights defender Enes Hocaoğulları was detained at the Ankara Esenboğa Airport, on his return to Türkiye due to an arrest warrant issued by an Istanbul court, in connection with ongoing investigations into a speech he made at the 48th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on 27 March 2025.

    The judgeship ruled for the pre-trial detention of Enes Hocaoğulları, justifying the decision by stating that there is strong suspicion that the human rights defender might flee. This is despite the fact that he returned to Türkiye aware of the risk of arrest upon arrival. Following the pre-trial arrest decision, he was transferred to Sincan Prison in Ankara.

    In February 2025, Enes Hocaoğulları was selected as the youth delegate of Türkiye for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. On 24-27 March 2025, the human rights defender attended the 48th session of the Congress, where he delivered several speeches, including on 27 March 2025, when he gave a speech detailing police violence imposed on protesters in Türkiye, including attacks with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons, and the strip search of detained students. He called on the international community to act against the human rights violations in Türkiye.

    The speech, which was recorded and posted online, went viral on social media. This led to a smear and hate campaign against the youth and LGBTI+ rights defender, accusing him of being a traitor, foreign agent and a queer who wants to “spread LGBTI+ ideology”. Additionally, investigations were initiated by Ankara and Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutors’ Office under articles 216 (inciting public to hatred and hostility) and 217/A (defamation law) of the Turkish Penal Code respectively, which were later consolidated under Ankara prosecutor’s office. An additional investigation was initiated by the Kırşehir Prosecutor’s Office under article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (insulting the Turkish nation, the Republic of Turkey, or the institutions and organs of the state).

    Front Line Defenders believes that the human rights defender was solely arrested for his peaceful human rights work and for exercising his right to free expression to explain the human rights violations that he has personally witnessed. It is particularly worrying that he was targeted for a speech that he made at the Council of Europe, which Türkiye is a member of.

    https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/human-rights-defender-enes-hocaogullari-arrested-speech-he-made-council-europe-meeting

    This post was originally published on Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards.

  • Pakistan inducts first Chinese-built Z-10ME attack helicopters

    Pakistan has formally introduced Chinese-manufactured Z-10ME attack helicopters into service. Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff, presided over an induction ceremony for the new attack helicopters at Multan Garrison on 2 August. Afterwards, Munir witnessed a firepower demonstration by new Z-10MEs at the Muzaffargarh Field Firing Ranges. As per an announcement from […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Turkey’s naval exports make waves in Southeast Asia

    Turkey’s naval shipbuilding industry is steadily expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia as defence ties strengthen, particularly with Muslim-majority nations within the region. At the recently concluded IDEF 2025 defence exhibition in Istanbul, the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) signed a contract to acquire two Istif-class frigates from TAIS Shipyards, the platform having been developed under the […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Turkey’s naval exports make waves in Southeast Asia

    Turkey’s naval shipbuilding industry is steadily expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia as defence ties strengthen, particularly with Muslim-majority nations within the region. At the recently concluded IDEF 2025 defence exhibition in Istanbul, the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) signed a contract to acquire two Istif-class frigates from TAIS Shipyards, the platform having been developed under the […]

    The post Turkey’s naval exports make waves in Southeast Asia appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • ASELSAN unveils next-generation naval defense systems at IDEF 2025

    ASELSAN has introduced new generation of naval defense technologies at IDEF 2025, including DERİNGÖZ Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, GÖKSUR Vertical Launch System (VLS) Advanced Naval Point Defense Missile System and CENK 4D 2-Axis AESA Multifunctional Radar, all developed to deliver integrated and multi-layered protection across underwater, surface, and aerial naval domains. ASELSAN, Türkiye’s leading defense company, […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Defence Reimagined: HAVELSAN’s Multi-Domain AI Strategy

    Istanbul – [21 July 2025] – As a technology pioneer of Türkiye’s defense industry, HAVELSAN is set to make a multidimensional impact at IDEF 2025. Participating across four key locations, HAVELSAN will go beyond product demonstrations to present a forward-thinking vision under the theme “AI for Defence.” This year, HAVELSAN’s presence at IDEF is not […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • The Turkish mega-prison that became symbol of Erdoğan’s authoritarianism

    Silivri, where president’s rival Ekrem İmamoğlu is detained, is evidence of how far Turkey’s president is willing to go to stay in power

    Silivri was once just a getaway town. An hour’s drive west of Istanbul, it was famed for its lavender, its yoghurt, and its summer houses dotted along the Marmara Sea. But to most in Turkey now, Silivri means something different: not the town, but the mega-complex a little further down the coast. This is the prison that since March has held the Istanbul mayor – and rival to president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – Ekrem İmamoğlu, as he awaits trial for corruption – and now, the place where he has been given a twenty month sentence, in another of the litany of charges against him, for insulting and ‘threatening’ a public official.

    It started taking in prisoners in 2008. Turkish coverage at the time marvelled at the size. Here was a complex – a “campus”, in the new lingo – made of nine separate prisons, spread across almost 1m sq metres, and with a stated capacity of 11,000 people. For the on-site staff alone, there were 500 apartments, a mosque, a market and restaurant, and a primary school for their children. As one prisoner would later write, he would hear them from his cell singing the Turkish national anthem in the playground.

    Continue reading…

    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Indonesia keeps options open with bewildering fighter smorgasbord

    If the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) could have its way, it would be operating fighters galore from aerospace companies emanating from Asia, across Europe and all the way to the USA. However, fiscal realities mean such ambitions remain a pipe dream. In recent times, Indonesia has been linked to the following proposed purchases: American F-15EXs, […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Hanwha Fighting Vehicles fitting ASELSAN Gun Fire Detection System

    The Republic of Korea’s Hanwha and Türkiye’s ASELSAN announced the intent to offer the latter’s SEDA 100 L C Gun Shot Detection System on its armoured vehicles. The SEDA 100 is an acoustic shot detection system capable of determining the direction from which a gunshot is fired and the location of the shooter. It is […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Hanwha Fighting Vehicles fitting ASELSAN Gun Fire Detection System

    The Republic of Korea’s Hanwha and Türkiye’s ASELSAN announced the intent to offer the latter’s SEDA 100 L C Gun Shot Detection System on its armoured vehicles. The SEDA 100 is an acoustic shot detection system capable of determining the direction from which a gunshot is fired and the location of the shooter. It is […]

    The post Hanwha Fighting Vehicles fitting ASELSAN Gun Fire Detection System appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Interview – Ahmet Akyol, President & CEO of Aselsan

    Indo Defence 2025, held in Indonesia from 11-14 June, was a busy time for ASELSAN. On 13 June, the Turkish company opened an office in Jakarta, its fourth such office in Asia after previously establishing ones in Malaysia, Pakistan and the Philippines. Meanwhile, ASELSAN signed various accords at Indo Defence 2025, including with PT Len […]

    The post Interview – Ahmet Akyol, President & CEO of Aselsan appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • ASELSAN deepens ties with Indonesia at INDO DEFENCE

    ASELSAN strengthened its presence in Southeast Asia through collaborations in the fields of joint development, joint production, global supply chain integration and the official opening of its Indonesia office at INDO DEFENCE in Jakarta, Indonesia. ASELSAN, Türkiye’s leading defense company, signed five agreements at INDO DEFENCE that will increase its influence in the Indonesian defense […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • PT Pindad unveils new armoured vehicles destined for the Indonesian Army

    State-owned company PT Pindad unveiled two new armoured vehicle platforms at Indo Defence, held in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta from 11-14 June 2025. One was an armoured personnel carrier (APC) version of the Harimau medium tank, while the other was the new Anoa 3 6×6 APC. A spokesperson from PT Pindad said the 30-tonne […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • ASELSAN’s critical partnerships with Malaysian companies at LIMA 2025

    ASELSAN made a strong impression at LIMA 2025 in Langkawi, Malaysia, with the signing of strategic agreements covering joint production, joint system development, and the delivery of integrated defense solutions with Malaysian companies, reinforcing its role as a trusted defense partner in the region. ASELSAN, Türkiye’s leading defense company, left its mark at LIMA 2025 […]

    The post ASELSAN’s critical partnerships with Malaysian companies at LIMA 2025 appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • HAVELSAN Takes a Strategic Leap: Partners with DNeX to Accelerate Digital Transformation Across Türkiye and Malaysia

    HAVELSAN, Türkiye’s leading software and systems company under the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Malaysia’s prominent technology group Dagang NeXchange Berhad (DNeX). Formalized during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2025, the agreement marks a milestone in building a digital bridge between Türkiye and Malaysia in both […]

    The post HAVELSAN Takes a Strategic Leap: Partners with DNeX to Accelerate Digital Transformation Across Türkiye and Malaysia appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • The Human Cost Of Syria Sanctions

    On May 13, Trump announced he is ordering the removal of sanctions on Syria.

    Some of the U.S. sanctions can be quickly terminated because they were issued by Executive Order. Other sanctions, including the extremely damaging 2019 “Caesar” sanctions, were imposed by Congressional legislation and may require Congressional action to terminate.

    The Syrian people are joyous at the prospect of the end of their country’s economic nightmare. In 2010, before the conflict began, Syria was a middle-income country with free education, free healthcare, and no national debt. It was largely self-sufficient in energy and food. After fourteen years of war, occupation, and strangulating Western sanctions, the U.N. reports that “nine out of ten Syrians live in poverty and face food insecurity”.

    The post The Human Cost Of Syria Sanctions appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • Turkish regime should focus on peace at home rather than posturing about peace abroad

    NATO member Turkey has a repressive war-criminal regime. But it currently has an unprecedented chance for peace. And it should focus on taking that with both hands rather than posturing about peace abroad.

    The main opponent of Turkish state repression has unilaterally laid down its arms

    The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its allies in Syria were at the centre of the fight against Daesh (Isis/Isil), and were pivotal in defeating it. But because the Turkish state had repressed Kurdish people for many decades, the PKK began a campaign of armed resistance in the 1980s. There were increasing hopes for peace until Turkey’s war criminal leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ended peace talks in 2015. But in February this year, imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan unilaterally called for the organisation to lay down its arms. And now, the group has announced it will disband.

    The UN, the EU, and Turkish politicians have welcomed the PKK’s move. But Erdoğan is moving slowly, despite calls for his regime to show some good will by, at the very least, releasing prominent political prisoners. As Prison Insider reports:

    Türkiye has the highest incarceration rate and the largest prison population of all Council of Europe member States. Its prison population has grown significantly over the past two decades.

    Under two decades of Erdoğan’s increasingly authoritarian rule, the imprisonment of dissidents has increased significantly:

    Roughly 58,000 people were incarcerated in 2000. The country now holds more than 300,000 prisoners.

    In particular:

    Since the failed coup of 2016 and the subsequent declared state of emergency, a growing number of people have been sentenced under the Anti-Terror Law, originally introduced in 1991. These prisoners include outspoken critics of the government, political opponents, activists, journalists, lawyers and Kurdish advocates. More than 10% of the prison population are estimated to fall into this category.

    Peacemaking in Turkey for Ukraine and Russia. What about for Turkey itself?

    On 15 May, Turkey hosted Ukrainian and Russian representatives for peace talks. But the key question is, will the Turkish regime actually opt for peace at home as well? Now that the PKK has taken the first step, will there be reciprocation?

    There are numerous reasons why ending its own decades-long conflict once and for all would be beneficial for Turkey. And the PKK has firmly placed the ball in Erdoğan’s court. So will he keep posturing as a peacemaker internationally while repressing his own citizens? Or will he actually make a change himself? Because this is a massive opportunity for Turkey. But offering firm democratic guarantees and following through isn’t exactly what Erdoğan’s about.

    The international community must insist that the Turkish regime takes this chance. And if it doesn’t, there must be serious diplomatic consequences.

    By Ed Sykes

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Syria After Assad

    Hope has been restored for many Syrians. But vigilance will be needed to ensure that democratic institutions emerge and withstand autocratic impulses.

    This post was originally published on Dissent Magazine.

  • The Creative Playbook Behind Turkey’s Mass Protests

    In late March 2025, Turkey was rocked by its largest protests in a decade after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu — a leading rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan — was detained on corruption and terrorism charges. Outrage over his jailing and the subsequent closure of city services (such as metro and bus lines) under a protest ban quickly spilled into the streets. Yet alongside anger and defiance, an unexpected element emerged: humor and creative spectacle.

    Protesters of all ages, led by waves of university students, converged on city halls and public squares across Turkey, not only waving flags and chanting slogans, but also wielding costumes, memes and symbolic performances as tools of resistance.

    The post The Creative Playbook Behind Turkey’s Mass Protests appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • ASELSAN completed the world’s most comprehensive MEKO-class frigate modernization

    ASELSAN has successfully completed the BARBAROS-Class Frigates Mid-Life Upgrade (BARBAROS-MLU) Project, achieving a major milestone by modernizing 21 systems on TCG ORUÇREİS with advanced, indigenous solutions. Driven by the vision to meet the unique needs of both local and international customers, the company has built unparalleled expertise, particularly in maritime modernization. ASELSAN, Türkiye’s leading defense […]

    The post ASELSAN completed the world’s most comprehensive MEKO-class frigate modernization appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • NGOs demand end to crackdown on peaceful Human Rights Defenders in Turkey

    On 4 April 2025 a joint statement by 13 international, regional and national civil society organisations, strongly condemned violations of the right to protest in Turkey, including police brutality, ill-treatment that may amount to torture, mass arbitrary detentions, and the systematic persecution of human rights defenders. 

    Mass protests erupted across Turkey on 19 March 2025, following the detention of more than 100 individuals —including the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu. These arrests, made as part of investigations into allegations of “corruption” and “terrorism”, and their timing have raised widespread concerns that the charges are politically motivated – just days before İmamoğlu’s    expected presidential candidacy. 

    In the immediate aftermath of the arrests, authorities imposed sweeping restrictions, including days-long blanket bans on gatherings across multiple cities, restricted access to several social media platforms curbing access and preventing the dissemination of information, and shut down major public transportation routes in İstanbul, all in a systematic effort to suppress dissent and mobilisations. 

    Despite these measures, thousands have continued to gather in protest across the country since 19 March. While protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, journalists and civil society organisations have documented grave human rights violations in several locations, and particularly in Saraçhane, Istanbul, including an indiscriminate and disproportionate display of police violence and brutality that may amount to torture and other ill-treatment, including beatings with batons, demonstrators being kicked while subdued on the ground, close-range targeting with Kinetic Impact Projectiles (KIPs), as well as the indiscriminate use of chemical irritants and water cannons. Based on widely circulated footage and public testimonies, and in line with the UN Committee Against Torture’s recommendations to Turkey following its periodic review in 2024, the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) has also denounced the use of restraint methods that inflict unnecessary pain, such as prolonged handcuffing behind the back and stress positions. These practices, known to cause serious health consequences, have at times been publicised by police officers themselves via personal accounts, seemingly as a tactic of intimidation.

    Reports have stated that protesters who have been met with excessive police force have suffered grave and long-lasting injuries such as head trauma and eye damage due to tear gas cartridges and KIPs, burns and respiratory issues due to the indiscriminate and widespread use of tear gas and water cannons, which in some cases resulted in their hospitalisation. The full extent of the injuries, as well as the physical and psychological toll on protesters’ health, will only become clear in the following months. 

    According to the report of Human Rights Association (İHD), as of 27 March 2025, a total of 1,879 people—including children, lawyers, journalists, students, union leaders and human rights defenders—have been taken into custody during protests and house raids on the grounds of inciting protests, engaging in violence, concealing their faces with masks, and using bats or other objects. Over 260 of them have been placed in pre-trial detention, while judicial control measures have been imposed on 468 individuals simply for exercising their right to peaceful protest. Istanbul Bar Association Child Rights Committee reported that among the arrested in İstanbul, 20 were under the age of 18. 

    Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) also highlights incidents of torture, ill-treatment and sexual violence in detention facilities.  Lawyers have denounced the treatment of seven female detainees who were subjected to beatings as well as unjustified strip searches while in custody. According to a released testimony, another female victim reported being groped by a police officer while handcuffed behind the back and forcefully pinned to the ground and that she soiled herself out of fear during the ordeal. She was reportedly placed under house arrest after her testimony. The Turkish Medical Association has recalled the importance of medical examinations upon entry in custody and detention to prevent and document torture and other ill-treatment.

    Human rights defenders, including those monitoring the protests, have also become targets of State repression during the protests. Journalists and media organisations covering protests have also been persecuted, infringing on the right to freedom of expression and the right to information. As of 28 March, at least 14  journalists were detained after covering the protest. 

    Lawyers representing those who were arbitrarily detained in the context of protests, were also targeted. At least 14 lawyers were detained, including the lawyer of İmamoğlu, demonstrating the State authorities’ disregard for the rule of law and the right to defence, due process and justice. In the midst of the protests as part of the general intimidation strategy against lawyers, on 21 March the Istanbul Bar Association’s executive board was dismissed by the decision of İstanbul 2nd Civil Court of First Instance- a move that raises serious concerns of further attacks on the independence of the legal profession and the detainees’ right to legal representation. Following the decision, police interfered as lawyers attempted to march from the courthouse in Çağlayan to the Istanbul Bar Association building in Taksim to protest the decision.

    Signatories:

    • ARTICLE 19
    • Asociación Unidad de Defensa Jurídica, Registro y Memoria para Nicaragua (AUDJUDRNIC)
    • CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
    • EuroMed Rights
    • Front Line Defenders
    • Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
    • ILGA-Europe
    • United Against Torture Consortium (UATC), through its following members:
      • The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
      • Omega Research Foundation
      • Redress
      • And the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
    • Unidad de Protección a Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos – Guatemala (UDEFEGUA)
    • Within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders:
      • International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
      • World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)

    see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/turkey/

    https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/statement-report/end-brutal-crackdown-peaceful-protest-and-human-rights-defenders

    This post was originally published on Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards.

  • HAVELSAN Takes a Strategic Step in Egypt: Cooperation Agreement Signed with Kader Factory for the Production of Unmanned Ground Vehicles

    As part of our vision to enhance the global presence of the Turkish defense industry, HAVELSAN has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Kader Advanced Industrial Factory, affiliated with the Arab Organization for Industrialization in Egypt. This agreement covers the joint production of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). Within the scope of this cooperation, the production […]

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    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • ASELSAN to reinforce its role in Latin America with LAAD 2025

    ASELSAN will demonstrate its assertiveness in meeting the security needs of Latin American countries with its advanced guidance systems, public security, surveillance and communication solutions it will exhibit at LAAD 2025. ASELSAN, Türkiye’s leading defense company, will participate in LAAD 2025, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from April 1-4, to foster regional partnerships and […]

    The post ASELSAN to reinforce its role in Latin America with LAAD 2025 appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Protests In Turkey Could Shake The World. Here’s Why


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and was authored by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Even BBC journalists are being deported from Turkey as Erdoğan’s authoritarianism intensifies

    Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested over the weekend on corruption charges. However, as the leader of the opposition, Imamoglu’s arrest has sparked anti-government protests in Turkey. Imamoglu has presented a staunch opposition to Turkish president Recep Erdoğan and, as Al Jazeera reported:

    The court’s decision to send Imamoglu to pre-trial detention comes after the opposition, European leaders and tens of thousands of protesters criticised the actions against him as politicised.

    Censorship in Turkey

    Now, thousands of protesters have been detained and government-owned media appears to be running a blackout on any coverage of the protests. A number of journalists have been arrested and a BBC reporter has even been deported after his reporting of demonstrations.

    Hundreds of thousands of protesters have gathered across Turkey in what was initially to express opposition to Imamoglu’s arrest, but have quickly bloomed into wider anti-government gatherings. However, Turkish state media has been accused of censoring any coverage of the protests. The Guardian reported that government owned channels broadcast interviews with ministers unrelated to the protests and that:

    Substantive coverage of the protests has instead been the preserve of the small slice of newspapers and cable channels that exist outside the well funded and slick pro-government broadcasting networks.

    Erol Önderoğlu of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said:

    This is the negative outcome of what Erdoğan has built for two decades, which is a highly polarised, toxic media environment.

    Erdoğan now controls about 85% of national and corporate media in Turkey, so we’re not talking about a fair media environment where pluralism truly flourishes.

    Deportation

    In a move likely to awaken the attention and ire of Western media, the Turkish government have also deported BBC reporter Mark Lowen. In a statement, the BBC said:

    This morning (27 March) the Turkish authorities deported BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen from Istanbul, having taken him from his hotel the previous day and detained him for 17 hours.

    On Thursday morning, he was presented with a written notice that he was being deported for ‘being a threat to public order’.

    Lowen himself said:

    To be detained and deported from the country where I previously lived for five years and for which I have such affection has been extremely distressing. Press freedom and impartial reporting are fundamental to any democracy.

    And, to further compound the issues of censorship in coverage of the protests, several journalists have been arrested as demonstrations continue. RSF released a statement with the details of those journalists arrested:

    AFP photojournalist Yasin Akgül, freelance photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, Now Haber reporter Ali Onur Tosun, and freelance journalist Zeynep Kuray were simply doing their job — covering massive public demonstrations.

    An RSF representative in Turkey said:

    This is the first time that clearly identified journalists who were in the middle of working have been sent to prison under this law against public gatherings and protests. These scandalous rulings reflect a deeply serious situation in Turkey.

    Equating professional journalists with protesters not only shows shameless bad faith but also highlights the grave interference of political power in the judiciary that is attempting to silence the media.

    Turkey crackdown

    In addition to journalists being arrested, many protesters have been detained by authorities. Footage shared on social media showed rows of riot police threateningly lined up beside protesters:

    Footage from Getty showed riot police trying to use tear gas on demonstrators:

    Gigantic crowds continued to gather despite the attempted government repression:

    Growing anger

    At the time of publication, almost 1,900 people have been arrested during the protests. This number will likely increase, with further protests planned for the weekend and no sign of tensions easing. Erdoğan has remained defiant and blamed the opposition for inciting protests.

    However, what started as protests against the apparent politically-motivated arrest of a mayor, has quickly captured an exhaustion and frustration with the government that will be much harder to pacify. The Turkish government’s response of censoring, arresting, and deporting even coverage of opposition is testament to their fear of public collectivity and resistance.

    Featured image via screengrab

    By Maryam Jameela

    This post was originally published on Canary.