kurds | Vocal Europe

Supporting the rule of law and the dismissed civil society in Turkey through reoriented IPA funds

11/04/2019

As a negotiating candidate country to the European Union, at least officially, Turkey continues to benefit from pre-accession assistance (IPA). Turkey’s negotiating process, in fact, has been ailing for a... Be More Curious...

PANEL — Can the European Union Remain Connected to Turkey?

Pavel Vanev

12/03/2019

Events, Turkey

On the 6th March 2019, Vocal Europe organised an expert panel discussion on the future of EU-Turkey relations under the question “Can the European Union remain connected to Turkey?”. The central pa... Be More Curious...

COMMENTARY — How effective is the European Court of Human Rights against the human rights violations in Turkey?

Mehmet Onur Cevik

15/12/2018

Publications, Turkey

As it is known by most, Turkey has been in an extraordinary atmosphere since the 15 July 2016 attempted coup. Fotis Filippou, Amnesty International's Deputy Europe Director, describes this atmosphere where draconian powers are consolidated, critical vo... Be More Curious...

POLICY PAPER — The revival of EU-Turkey relations: Erdoğan’s double strategy of rapprochement

Ebubekir ISIK

25/11/2018

Publications, Turkey

Following the attempted coup d’état since July 2016, Turkey has been pursuing a two-track strategy towards the European Union (EU). Mainly, because of the course of action adopted by President Erdoğ... Be More Curious...

A New Era: Turkey’s 98-year parliamentary system ended

Zeynep Mentesoglu

11/07/2018

Beyond Europe

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the oath of office on July 9, which officially closed a page in Turkey’s history and started the new government system. Erdogan had won out the 24 June elections ... Be More Curious...

Which factors may determine the outcomes of critical June 24 elections?

Zeynep Mentesoglu

21/06/2018

Turkey

Only a few days left for Turkey’s June 24 snap elections. Turkey will hold to two elections: parliamentary and presidential on Sunday. It is of capital importance. In April 2017 referendum people of Turkey voted in favour of a presidential system. June 24 ... Be More Curious...

The two faces of the regime in Iran

Rahim Hamid

19/06/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe. The Iranian regime has two faces that it presents to the world. The first is presented with the usual hardline sectarian mi... Be More Curious...

EP Shadow Rapporteur Describes ‘How to React to the Rule of Despotism in Turkey’

Renate Sommer

09/03/2018

Beyond Europe, Turkey

The state of the rule of law, democracy and human rights in Turkey is shocking. Since the failed coup, the Turkish government misuses the steadily prolonged state of emergency to silence critics from all fi... Be More Curious...

Monday Talks on the Future of EU-Turkey Relations

Editorial

05/03/2018

Monday Talks

As part of our Monday Talks series, we have hosted Ana Gomes and Anders Vistisen to discuss the current state of the relations between the European Union and Turkey. The two influential members of the European Parliament have expressed their conc... Be More Curious...

Russia has won in Syria but Why?

Matteo Lanfredi

14/12/2017

Beyond Europe, Russia

Monday 11 December, during a surprise visit at the Syrian airbase of Khmeimim, currently leased by Russia, Vladimir Putin announced a partial pullout of the Russian contingent in the country, stating that “over... Be More Curious...

668 Babies — Children in Turkey’s Prisons

Leighann Spencer

27/11/2017

Beyond Europe, Turkey

In August 2017, the news outlet TR724 revealed that there are 668 children under the age of six in Turkey’s prisons. 149 of these children are under twelve months old, and there are many others under the ag... Be More Curious...

Monday Talk with Seth Frantzman on the Current Affairs in the Middle East and Israel

Marie Shuqha

20/11/2017

Monday Talks

The Middle East has never been a simple place. Yet nowadays, this region is especially turbulent — with waves rocking several countries, so big that their effects are being felt worldwide, including Europe. It’s not like this uneasiness is concentrated only... Be More Curious...

America is still Kurdistan’s best hope

Diyar Amin

11/11/2017

The Opinion

Inrecent days, Iraqi Kurds deeply frustrated with American foreign policy made an unprecedented display toward their longstanding ally: banners featuring anti-American slogans began to dot our capital city. Thi... Be More Curious...

Iran’s power over ethnic minorities weakens with Kurdish referendum

Rahim Hamid

05/10/2017

Beyond Europe, Iran

The recent Kurdish referendum in Iraq may have wide-reaching repercussions that are of great importance when considering the future of the Middle East. Experts have surmised that Iran will be the most affec... Be More Curious...

Monday Talk with the European Parliament’s Human Rights Chief on Turkey

Daniele Rietti

25/09/2017

Monday Talks

''Turkey’s president and government instrumentalized the violent military coup attempt of July last year to crack down on human rights and dismantle basic democratic safeguards’’ — Human Rights Watch pointed out in its World Report 2017. This interview ... Be More Curious...

Prospects and Challenges – What is Next for the Kurds?

Matteo Lanfredi

02/09/2017

Beyond Europe

The Kurdish people are living difficult and important years. The Peshmerga in Iraq and the YPG (embedded in the SDF) in Syria are fighting ISIS, and victory is not far. Erbil and Kobane are now safe, and IS... Be More Curious...

Who are the Kurds?

Diyar Amin

04/06/2017

The Opinion

The Kurds have retained a strong sense of ethnic and cultural identity for over two thousand years. Since the breakup of the Ottoman Empire in (1918) the majority of the Kurds have been split between Iran, ... Be More Curious...

Kurdistan Region- Heaven for Refugees

Diyar Amin

29/05/2017

The Opinion

While many Syrian refugees from Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan risk their lives leaving the three host countries to Europe, 339,639 out of 4.9 million Syrian refugees are sheltered in Iraqi Kurdistan and they enjoy the freedom, security and equal employment opport... Be More Curious...

Should we really believe that Erdoğan managed to dupe the entire world?

Yavuz Baydar

01/05/2017

Beyond Europe

I have the bitter sense that we passed that despicable threshold, perhaps to a point of no return. The result of the referendum was the sealing of an autocratic rule; a stamp for legitimacy for the leader who s... Be More Curious...

Israel’s ambivalent relations with Turkey’s Kurds

Editorial

03/03/2017

Beyond Europe, Israel, Turkey

by Benjamin Kweskin Unlike the warm, if not ambiguous and (mostly) indirect relationship between Israel and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, relations between Israeli and Kurdish act... Be More Curious...

Turkey’s plunge into despotic nightmare: A nation loses its mind in a whirlwind

Yavuz Baydar

15/01/2017

Turkey

by Yavuz Baydar Turkish President Erdoğan's playbook never runs out of surprises. Three most recent decrees meant that 649 academics were arbitrarily fired, and 83 associations were shut down, including the well-established Kurdish Insitute, whose impeccable... Be More Curious...

Trump-Erdoğan road clash on Kurds’ role in Syria and Iraq is inevitable

Yavuz Baydar

12/12/2016

Turkey

by Yavuz Baydar 'Never mind those, it's going to be a very tough time ahead...' When I met Marty Beth Long at the well-attended Rome MED - Mediterranean Dialogues conference in the Italian capital, I went... Be More Curious...

Turkey in crisis: ‘Moment of truth’ for the EU?

Yavuz Baydar

07/11/2016

Turkey

by Yavuz Baydar If reported accurately, the European Commission will on Wednesday issue its annual so-called 'Progress Report' on Turkey, a 'report card' of sorts outlining whether or not its performance is ... Be More Curious...

Nato Should Not Risk a Wrong Turn Over Turkey—and Ukraine

Editorial

26/11/2015

Russia, The Opinion, Turkey

by François Godement It appears that, within 24 hours, two events have taken place that are a direct challenge to Russia. One is the sabotage of Ukraine’s energy link with Crimea. Although this act might not be considered the direct responsibility of the Ukra... Be More Curious...

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