About: Gulenists
Bulgaria PM will ask EU leaders to stop criticising Erdogan
European Council President Donald Tusk strongly opposed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday (11 October), warning him to stop blackmailing Europe. That has prompted Bulgaria’s prime minister to reveal he will ask EU chiefs to tone down their stance against Erdoğan.
Erdogan calls early elections under state of emergency, new purges underway
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday (18 April) called snap elections for 24 June, saying economic challenges and the war in Syria meant Turkey must switch quickly to the powerful executive presidency that goes into effect after the vote. The...
Erdogan vows to bring back Gülenists from abroad
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday (9 April) his country is determined to continue the fight against what he calls the terrorist movement of Fethullah Gülen and bring home all “traitors” from abroad.
Turkey jails 25 journalists as terrorists
An Istanbul court yesterday (8 March) sentenced 25 journalists to prison terms of up to seven and a half years over links to the group blamed by Turkey for the 2016 failed coup, in a mass trial of media staff detained after the putsch bid.
Ankara presses Prague to extradite Kurdish leader
The Turkish government wants the Czech authorities to extradite a Syrian Kurdish leader detained this weekend at Ankara's request to face terror charges in Turkey, it said on Sunday (25 February).
17 Turkish citizens ‘escape’ from Erdogan and seek asylum in Greece
The Greek coastguard has rescued 17 Turkish citizens, including children, who reached the island of Oinousses on Monday (19 February) and asked for asylum, citing fear of persecution back home.
Turkey to press for visa-free travel at Varna summit
EU diplomats expect Turkey to press the issue of visa liberalisation during the upcoming summit in Varna on 26 March. It is still unclear if this is a real priority for Ankara or just negotiating tactics as part of a bigger picture.
Turkish courts reject jailed journalists’ request to be released
Turkish penal courts decided to keep two jailed journalists in detention, state-run news agency Anadolu said yesterday (11 January), hours after a top court had requested they be released because their rights had been violated while in custody.
US, Turkey mutually suspend visa services for ‘security reasons’
The US mission in Turkey and then the Turkish mission in Washington mutually scaled back visa services after a US consulate employee was arrested in Turkey, in the latest sign of fraying diplomatic relations between the NATO allies.
Estonian Presidency passes Turkey decision to Bulgaria
Estonia, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, made it clear that no decision would be made following Angela Merkel's call to end Turkey’s membership talks this year, passing the responsibility to the next presidency – Turkey’s neighbour, Bulgaria.
Germany says EU aid to Turkey could be halted over arrests
Germany raised the possibility on Wednesday (19 July) of suspending European Union aid payments to Turkey after summoning Ankara's ambassador to Berlin to protest over the arrest of six human rights activists including a German citizen.
Erdogan hits out at EU, promises to ‘rip heads’
A defiant President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday (16 July) stepped up his attack on the European Union, saying Turkey had to go its own way and vowing to bring back the death penalty if parliament passes it.
Erdogan told Merkel of anger over asylum for ‘putschists’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Angela Merkel of his displeasure over Germany's reportedly giving asylum to troops accused of links to last year's failed coup, he said in an interview published Saturday (27 May).
Germany’s Social Democrats target Merkel in Turkey airbase row
Germany's Social Democrats raised pressure on conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday (21 May), saying if she could not resolve a row with Turkey over access to the Incirlik air base, German troops should move.
US, Turkish leaders put best face on ties amid tensions
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told US President Donald Trump yesterday (16 May) his country would not accept Syrian Kurdish fighters in the region but stopped short of directly criticising a US decision to arm them.
Victims of Turkish purges fear heavier crackdown after referendum
Mehtap Yoruk used to teach in a nursery school in south-east Turkey, until she was sacked last year in a purge of tens of thousands of state employees. Now, she ekes out a living selling chicken and rice from a food cart, dreaming of being reunited with her classroom.
Flemish minister: Turkish-sponsored mosque is ‘nest of spies’
The Flemish interior minister has taken action against a mosque supported by Turkey, whose imam is suspected of informing Ankara about supporters of Fethullah Gülen, the self-exiled cleric accused of being the mastermind behind last year's failed coup.
Germany investigating 20 Turks on suspicion of spying
German authorities are investigating 20 Turkish citizens on suspicion of conducting espionage in Germany, a newspaper reported yesterday (5 April).
Germany rejects Turkish request to spy on Gulenists
Germany launched a second investigation yesterday (28 March) into suspected spying by Turkey and its interior minister said Berlin would not tolerate foreign espionage on its soil.
After Germany, UK clears Gulenists of ‘coup’ accusations
On Saturday (25 March) the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee issued a report on the UK’s relations with Turkey, in which the Erdoğan government's claim that Gülenists masterminded the 15 July coup attempt is refuted.
Germany says Erdogan has ‘gone too far’ with Nazi jibe
Germany angrily warned Turkey yesterday (19 March) that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gone too far after he accused Chancellor Angela Merkel of using "Nazi measures" in an escalating diplomatic feud.
Erdogan tells Merkel to abandon ‘Islamist terror’ phrase
Ahead of today’s EU summit in Malta (3 February), German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a visit to Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lectured her not to use the expression “Islamist terror."
Turkey says EU ‘incomplete’ without it, eyes better US ties
Turkey today (9 January) urged the European Union to revive stalled negotiations on Ankara joining the bloc, saying without it Europe was "incomplete".