· July, 2008

Stories about Turkey from July, 2008

Turkey is Typing….Bomb Blasts in Istanbul

While the city of Istanbul enjoyed itself with a Metallica concert, the party died down with the news of a bombing in the Istanbul neighborhood of Güngören, leaving at least 17 people dead and over 150 people injured. Reactions to the news in the Turkish blogosphere were slow, but between speculation as to who is behind the attacks and protests against terrorism, one thing has become quite clear....this hasn't been the first time, and it sure won't be the last.

30 July 2008

Arabeyes: Head Over Heels for Muhannad

A strange phenomenon has gripped the Arab world and Arabs seem to agree on something. It is an infatuation with a Turkish soap opera, dubbed in Arabic, and its stunning star Muhanned (played by Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ), whose romantic trysts are beamed on television screens across the region. The obsession of some people with the soap has also prompted the Grand Mufti of the Islamic world, Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh, from Saudi Arabia, to issue a fatwa (religious edict) banning the drama, saying watching it is Haram (a sin).

29 July 2008

Turkey: Disgusting Bombings

“Every news channel right now is running the breaking news on Istanbul’s bomb blasts, in what the city governor calls a ‘terrorist attack.’ Whoever did it, and whatever message they...

29 July 2008

Bahrain: Obsessed with a Turkish soap opera

A Turkish soap opera, Noor, has become a hit in the Arab world, with reports of fights and even divorces occurring because of the obsession of many women with the handsome male star, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, who plays Muhannad. Some Bahraini bloggers have been examining the popularity of the drama series amongst Arabs.

19 July 2008

Armenia/Turkey: Reconciliation?

Unzipped says that while the first 100 days of the new Armenian president, Serge Sargsyan, were a missed opportunity to implement major changes in the country, they were notable for...

19 July 2008

Turkey: Freedom Train

“My main objection is why the newspaper needs such a campaign,” writes Erkan's Field Diary in response to a recent “Freedom Train” campaign started by the Hürriyet newspaper to draw...

16 July 2008

Turkey is Typing…Terrorists and Other Threats to the Nation

The past two weeks have been tough for the Republic of Turkey as they have been dealing with enemies from within. On July 9th, a terrorist attack on the US Consulate in Istanbul has the authorities stumped as to who is responsible and why. And on Monday the 14th, Istanbul’s chief prosecutor filed a long-awaited indictment on the controversial Ergenekon case against 86 defendants charged with forming a terror group with the aim of a government coup.

16 July 2008

Armenia: Relations With Turkey

The Armenian Observer comments on new moves to promote dialogue with Turkey. The two countries have no diplomatic relations and the border remains closed. However, the blog notes that the...

15 July 2008

Armenia: Genocide Literature

The Armenian Odar comments on a blog post dealing with literature on Genocide. In a second post, the same blog provides information on a book by a Turkish Human Rights...

13 July 2008

Armenia: Political Football

Unzipped comments on an opinion piece by Armenia's new president published by the Wall Street Journal in which Serge Sargsyan hopes that September's Armenia-Turkey football World Cup qualifying match in...

9 July 2008

Armenia/Turkey: Cultural Overlaps

Writing on the blog of the US-based Ari Foundation, Selvin Akkus comments on the current state of Armenian-Turkish relations. The blogger says that despite the lack of political will from...

2 July 2008

About our Turkey coverage

Arzu Geybullayeva
Arzu Geybullayeva is the Turkey editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.