Thousands eligible to escape the death penalty under new Iranian law

The laws surrounding several types of drug offenses in Iran have been repealed, possibly saving approximately the 5,000 prisoners who are currently on death row in the country. Iran has historically had a hard stance on drugs, and getting caught with 30g of cocaine would automatically warrant the death penalty — that’s just over an […]

Operation Euphrates Shield

Turkish military intervention in Syria began in August 2016 under the code name Operation Euphrates Shield. The operation was supposed to be in an effort to support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and crush the Islamic State from the north by doing a cross border assault en mass. What was supposed to be a swift […]

Two US men plead guilty to assault in Turkish embassy brawl

Two men pleaded guilty on Thursday to felony assault in a street brawl in May near the Turkish embassy in Washington during a visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the US Justice Department said. Sinan Narin, 45, of McLean, Virginia, and Eyup Yildirim, 50, of Manchester, New Jersey, each pleaded guilty to one count […]

Where’s the feel-good factor in Turkey’s world-beating growth?

Turkey’s economic growth of 11.1 percent in the third quarter of 2017 was a jaw-dropping moment. It is a growth rate that compares to the peak growth registered in the early 2000s by China, the world’s economic powerhouse. It propelled Turkey to the giddy heights of being the best-performing economy in the world during the […]

‘We are crazy enough’: Former Turkish commando plans to take on Erdogan

Not many people can take credit for almost starting a war, but Colonel Ali Turksen is one of those few. In 1996, he led a commando team to the disputed Aegean island of Kardak where they hoisted a Turkish flag. The result was days of military build-up between Greece and Turkey, with war only averted […]

Turkey’s gun culture: Sales soar as one in three households owns a firearm

A stroll through a bustling underpass in the centre of Istanbul offers the chance to buy a range of everyday goods: cheap watches, kettles, $2 emergency umbrellas to ward off autumn showers. And replica AK-47 assault rifles. While the rifles, and dozens of handguns displayed nearby, are imitations, they nevertheless stand out from the surrounding Karakoy stalls. […]

US gives Greek Navy SEALs boats

Athens, Greece—The Greek Navy SEALs are having an early Christmas. The US Navy just transferred four Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) to its Hellenic counterpart. The RHIBs will be issued to the Hellenic Navy’s Underwater Demolition Command (DYK).  DYK will utilize them according to operational needs. “It was in the best interest of the United States […]

Iraq threatens to resume military operations against Kurds

Iraqi forces threatened on Wednesday to resume operations to capture northern Kurdish-held territory after accusing authorities there of delaying handing over control of Iraq’s borders with Turkey, Iran and Syria. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday declared a pause in an offensive that began on Oct. 16 to take over areas claimed both by his […]

Ex-CIA chief proposed plan to discredit Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen

Former CIA director James Woolsey pitched a $10m contract to two Turkish businessmen to help discredit a controversial US-based cleric while Woolsey was an adviser to Donald Trump’s election campaign, three people familiar with the proposal said. Just eight days after joining Trump’s campaign as an adviser on national security issues, Woolsey met last year […]

‘Sons of AKP’: Turkish-German biker gang accused of working with Turkish spies

Everything about the Osmanen Germania says “biker gang”. They dress like extras from the US biker series Sons of Anarchy. They roam in packs like biker gangs. They tote guns and glorify violence in slick music videos. Yet despite the look, the 2,500-strong Turkish-German organisation denies the accusations. It says it is focused on “community service”, […]

Banner in Raqqa unveiled by victorious SDF depicts controversial PKK leader

Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) liberating Raqqa within the last week were photographed in front of a banner featuring the image of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, a Kurdish leader who has been identified as a terrorist by both the United States and Turkey. Ocalan is recognized as the founder of the PKK, […]