MUSTAFA AKYOL

From Atatürk to Erdoğan (II) MUSTAFA AKYOL

From Atatürk to Erdoğan (II)

The other day, an interesting email dropped into my inbox. It included a scanned page from the Los Angeles Examiner dated Aug. 1, 1926.

December 26 2014
Turkey’s parallel universes MUSTAFA AKYOL

Turkey’s parallel universes

If you live in Turkey these days and happen to have a TV screen with a remote control, you can witness a fascinating reality of parallel universes

December 23 2014
The country of recurrent nightmares MUSTAFA AKYOL

The country of recurrent nightmares

The Turkey of 2014 is very reminiscent of the Turkey of 2010. Again, the government, especially President Tayyip Erdoğan, is slamming a “treacherous” power that has allegedly conspired to overthrow his government.

December 19 2014
Why are Turkish journalists, again, detained MUSTAFA AKYOL

Why are Turkish journalists, again, detained?

On Sunday, yet another weird episode was added to Turkey’s endless hall of shame: About three dozen people were detained, including many journalists.

December 16 2014
The making of the ‘presidential system’ MUSTAFA AKYOL

The making of the ‘presidential system’

This week, the Turkish media reported the creation of something called “the shadow government.”

December 12 2014
Yes to ‘Ottoman,’ no to compulsory religion MUSTAFA AKYOL

Yes to ‘Ottoman,’ no to compulsory religion

Turkey just hosted a controversial “National Education Council.” This is a body in which many educators take part in order to make suggestions to the Education Ministry about future strategies in the national education system.

December 09 2014
Constitutional Court as the new ‘coup’ HQ MUSTAFA AKYOL

Constitutional Court as the new ‘coup’ HQ

Turkey’s political lunacy is not likely to end anytime soon. Its latest episode is the condemnation of the Constitutional Court as the headquarters of yet another 'coup attempt' against the AKP

December 05 2014
How to fit the Alevis into ‘New Turkey’ MUSTAFA AKYOL

How to fit the Alevis into ‘New Turkey’

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has just issued in a landmark decision about religious freedom in Turkey

December 02 2014
Welcome to Turkey, Your Holiness MUSTAFA AKYOL

Welcome to Turkey, Your Holiness

Dear Pope Francis, As I as writing these lines, your plane was about to land in Ankara. As an ordinary Turk, and a Muslim, I just wanted to wish you welcome, and share some thoughts about Turkey, Islam, and, if you don’t mind, even about your mission.

November 28 2014