cafebabel.com

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, three-time Turkish prime minister in 2011

('Jeroen Jochems',) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0000

A faltering EU bid, separatist threats from the Kurdish minority and rumours of a presidential strategy. Ahmet Insel, a political scientist, liberal economist, editor of Orhan Pamuk and professor at Paris and Istanbul, spoke to cafebabel.com before the 12 June elections in Turkey

Alcohol ban? Istanbul cafes versus Turkish authorities

('Alice Ravenscroft',) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:00:00 -0000

This summer a new broom was sweeping clean the streets of Istanbul – as well as the country’s football and armed forces. Who’s wielding the broom? What ‘rubbish’ are they trying to get rid of? ‘Turkey eats dirt’ is cafebabel.com’s response to the summer ‘dust up’ by the Turkish authorities. The final in our three-part series: Turkey cracks down on those famously dangerous things, street cafes

Turkey: army and Kurdish 'toxins' flushed

('Angela Kubik',) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:15:52 -0000

For more than a month now a new broom has been sweeping clean the streets of Istanbul – as well as the country's football and armed forces. But who’s wielding the broom? What ‘rubbish’ are they trying to get rid of? ‘Turkey eats dirt’ is cafebabel.com's response to the summer ‘dust up’ by the Turkish authorities. Read the second of three articles in a series on the shake-up of the nation, about an army which resigns

Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Trabzonspor: playtime over for Turkey's big football clubs

('Culturissima',) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:02:06 -0000

For more than a month now a new broom has been sweeping clean the streets of Istanbul – as well as the country's football and armed forces. But who’s wielding the broom? What ‘rubbish’ are they trying to get rid of? ‘Turkey eats dirt’ is cafebabel.com's response to the summer ‘dust up’ by the Turkish authorities. Read the first of three articles in a series on the shake-up of the nation’s football

Sila Sahin, Turkish-German actress and first 'muslim playboy model'

('Lyndsey Smith',) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:14:25 -0000

In May 2011 the 25-year-old posed on the cover of German Playboy, becoming the 'first muslim’ to pose nude for a glossy magazine. Her 'act of liberation’, as the tabloids called it, sparked religious outrage and divided the Turkish community from Berlin to Istanbul. Yet was it just a marketing coup, or even a daring act of integration? Interview

Easter in Istanbul with Turks and Turkish Armenians

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:15:00 -0000

When Turkish Armenian soldier Sevak Shahin Balikci was accidentally shot dead by an army colleague on 24 April, both Turks and Armenians came together to pay their respects. 24 April also marks the fact that easter coincides with the commemorations for the Ottoman-era genocides of Turkey's Armenian minority for the first time. There are positive signs that relations may be improving in Istanbul, especially since assassinated Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink's killer was sentenced on 25 July

Being a Beşiktaş football supporter in Istanbul

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:00:00 -0000

There are three big football teams in Istanbul: the aristocratic Galatasaray, the Asian Fenerbahçe and the self-proclaimed ‘people’s team (‘halk takim’), Beşiktaş. The fans of the latter are known to be politically active. The Beşiktaşli, as they are called, stand up for social progress and football integrity

Meeting 4 of 500, 000 'Almanci' German Turks who returned 'home' over last 30 years

('hkeet',) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:00:00 -0000

After growing up in Germany these men have chosen to turn their backs on their native country to return to their homeland, Turkey. In Istanbul the 'Almanci' as they are called - with slightly negative connotations - are Hasan, Cengiz, Hazar and Cigdem. They tell us the story of their return to the banks of the Istanbul Strait

An Albanian in Istanbul on children’s day

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 17:00:00 -0000

Whilst hundreds of Turkish students protest against internet censorship, fight for more resources for public universities and sign petitions for history books telling the truth about the Ottoman empire that the country was once part of, an annual children’s festival takes place. Created by the modern secular nation’s founder Ataturk in 1920 to celebrate the first national assembly of Ankara, games and dance celebarte the ‘father of the country’

In Turkey, only 'rotten' boys escape military service

('hkeet',) — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:00:00 -0000

It's an obligatory rite of passage for all Turkish men between the ages of 19 and 40. Ahmet, 32 and Murat, 28, will gain the respectability necessary for employment and marriage from it. Those exempt from military service are certified 'rotten', being physically or mentally disabled - that includes the obese and homosexuals. This group of young voters are also being targetted in the upcoming general elections in Turkey on 12 June

Istanbul 'sex bus': student beaten for defending couple speaks

('Aleksandra Sygiel',) — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:49:00 -0000

On 17 April a young Turkish couple were asked to leave a city bus because the driver considered their kissing and hand-holding as too obscene. Events worsened: whilst arguing with the driver at the stop in Taksim Square stop in the couple's defence, fellow passenger and politics student Gökçe Koç, 28, was assaulted by a stranger getting on the bus. We meet via facebook where Koç started a protest group, Seks Otobüsü (‘Sex Bus Number…’): 34 TN 1992 25T

Censorship: EU vs Turkey's 138 internet domain name ban

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:06:11 -0000

Rated ‘partially free’ in the reporters without borders freedom index, Turkey is the European country with the highest amount of domain name bans. The Turkish telecommunications directorate list of 'expurgatorial words' - for example, you can't use the word for sister-in-law (Bildaz) - was sent to web hosting companies on 28 April. In the EU there are less amusing comparisons

Huzun, bourgeois, opposites: what is Orhan Pamuk’s Turkey?

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:49:05 -0000

Negotiations over Turkey’s accession to the European union began in 2006 but Europeans remain on their guard; the fear of the unknown is well known. The nobel literature prizewinner is one of Turkey’s main figureheads though he was accused of insulting Turkish identity. View from Poland

EU-Turkey: Atatürk and Charlemagne on your euro notes

('Hatice Sitki',) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:19:04 -0000

It is simply accepted that any new member will fit into and accept EU symbols as their own. Turkey will have to accept this, just like others member states have done in the past and will do in the future...but here are some ideas for a future European Union and Turkey via branding national myths and symbols

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I: ‘Young people in Europe feel unsafe’

('Ozcan Tikit',) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:57:11 -0000

He speaks seven languages, he’s down with the green cause and he’s the leader of the global orthodox movement which in Europe exists in the east, north and the Mediterranean, but he resides in Istanbul. Interview with the spiritual leader of 300 million worldwide. cafebabel.com in Athens and Istanbul meet the man

Sorry, we’re women: inside Istanbul’s modern-traditional Blue Mosque

('Aleksandra Sygiel',) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:22:50 -0000

Guards make sure that everyone picks up a carrier bag and takes their shoes off before placing even a toe onto the carpeted steps of the Blue Mosque. We’re three German, British and Polish tourists who have come prepared with headscarves, but inside we see lots of bare-headed female tourists

Getting to grips with Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul and Europe

('victor escandell',) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:30:09 -0000

The history of Anatolia is as old as the earth itself. The last ones to arrive (from Central Asia) were the Turks, who are heading slowly towards membership of the EU. However, didn’t its territory belong to the other ancient and almost forgotten European Union? We revise a strong heritage from books and the streets of Istanbul

Modern myths: politically divided university canteens in Istanbul

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:00:00 -0000

September 2010. Students are purported to be so politicised that even their school canteen is split into liberal and conservative factions. Two journalists from Lithuania and France investigate an erasmus myth which seems to have disappeared thanks to a new 'apolitical' generation

Gay culture in Istanbul: ‘We have the balls to say it out loud’

('Katharina Kloss',) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:37:51 -0000

Together with his partner, Sakir Yilmaz claims to be the owner of the first ‘openly’ gay bar-restaurant, Frappe Istanbul, in the famous party neighborhood of Beyoğlu. Interview

Islam for beginners: first stop Istanbul

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:45:00 -0000

Hanging out on the streets of Turkey’s European capital can be an exotic experience for those who haven’t had too much contact with islamic culture. University lecturer and islamic history expert Anas Eryarsoy takes us though everything we wanted to know, but were too afraid to ask

German erasmus student on life in Istanbul

('Anneka',) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:00:00 -0000

Who speaks English? Why don't men look me in the eye? Why do people still wear headscarves? A score of questions hit the European newcomer studying in the Turkish city

Israeli soldier: 'Arabic language of Middle East'

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:00:00 -0000

He will finish his military service in October aged 22. Daniel from Tel Aviv is sure of his ideas: Obama, peace, politics, Israel-Palestine, Europe-Turkey... A spontaneous voice far from stereotypes which the media reinforce daily. Interview

Turkey votes yes: fit for the EU king?

('euro topics',) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:15:00 -0000

58% want extensive constitutional reform. The British, Belgian, Spanish and Czech press say the referendum on 12 September consolidates democracy - but is there potential danger for secularism and the separation of powers? Press review

Turkey-Israel: credibility and question of anti-semitism

('Karis Eaglestone',) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:18:48 -0000

Since heavy criticism from the Turkish side after the Israeli attack on a Gaza aid ship on 31 May, relations between the two states have entered a further ice age. There has been rising concern in Europe that Turkey is increasingly turning away from the west. A babelian political theorist explains the problems inherent to the Turkish response

Lech Garlicki on judging Europe’s religious fabric

('James Friscia',) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:15:37 -0000

The Polish jurist, who has been a judge at the European court of human rights since 2002, on religious symbols in schools, the burka, security and the status of women

Europe feels Turkey is moving away from the west

('euro topics',) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:00:00 -0000

When Turkey harshly criticised Israel for its military assault on a flotilla carrying international aid in the Mediterranean, the European press accused them of double standards. The Lithuanian, Italian and Spanish media fear that the country is turning away from Europe and the west

A brief history: döner kebab, fair ambassador to Turkey?

('Suna Ekmekcioglu',) — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:53:26 -0000

One of the most popular late night snacks in Europe is the flag bearer of Turkish cuisine outside of Turkey. Is this a source of pride or sorrow for the Turks? Plus, a recipe for green beans in olive oil

French, Spanish, Czech and British youth on euroscepticism

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:12:36 -0000

Unpaid interns, taxes, recycling, the parliament in Strasbourg...you name it, our contributors from across the cafebabel.com network have something to say about what irks them most about Europe. 9 May marks sixty years since the Schuman declaration was signed, when it was agreed that France, Germany and others would work together as a federation

Cypriot national identity – Turkish, Greek or both?

('Araceli Turmo',) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:30:00 -0000

On either side of the Green Line that has divided the island since 1974, young Cypriots talk about community identities and a general aspiration for unity through European integration

Agop J. Hacikyan: 'I don’t feel I am translating my culture into English'

('RenataB',) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:44:37 -0000

The playful Armenian-Canadian author talks his latest novel - hailed as a 'love letter to Istanbul' - straddling continents and his opinions on Turkey in the EU

Turk-Eiffel Tower: reminder of the Turkish cultural season in France

('Paulina Dominik',) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:10:43 -0000

Turkey is not only kebabs and hammams. 'La saison de la Turquie', which ends in March 2010, aims to show the French how 'dynamic and modern' the country is. Is this large-scale cultural event with a political background a chance for ice to melt in the Turkey-sceptic EU member state?

Music duo Kim Ki O: ‘the danger of being Turkish’ for Europe

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:45:00 -0000

The Swedish pop elite love them, but EU bureaucracy is preventing Ekin Sanac and Berna Göl from breaking Europe. In Istanbul, music is an unstable bridge between east and west. Part two of a special feature

Why Turkish band Kim Ki O can't break Europe

('Clara Bergstr\xc3\xb6m',) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:45:00 -0000

Selçuk Altun: 'Being in a crisis or recovering from one is part of normal life in Turkey'

('Nicholas Newman',) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0000

Planning to visit Istanbul when the city will be Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2010? The Turkish writer, columnist and Chelsea supporter’s latest book ‘Many and Many a Year Ago’ is published in English this month, and is an enjoyable way to prepare for a visit

Sweden's Cecilia Malmström: 'I'm a politician. It’s not my task to impose an identity on people'

('Pierre-Anthony Canovas',) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0000

The Gothenburg-based politician, 41, has been EU affairs minister since 2006. We talk institutional reform, economic crisis and Turkey in part III of a special edition marking the six-month Swedish presidency of the EU, which began on 1 July

Istanbul's Yeditepe, Halic universities: erasmus stick together on campus

('Annie Rutherford',) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Students on an erasmus university exchange in Istanbul can either get involved in the city's pulsing and extremely political life or abandon themselves to binge drinking with other erasmus students on the isolated campus. Part two of an erasmus experience retold

Fake Oddity: ‘relations will change after July’s Turkish cultural season in France’

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:21:25 -0000

The Lyon-based group talk about their participation in an event introducing 'Turkish culture' in France from 1 July 2009 til March 2010. But on 11 June, the Turkish PM warned it could be postponed because of opposition to the Turkish EU membership bid, according to the Hurriyet daily

Anti-immigration, eurosceptic 'freedom party': what Geert Wilders wants

('Christian Derlagen',) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:49:56 -0000

The far right Dutch party has gained four seats in European parliament elections: to date, it is the second best result in Netherlands, after the christian democrats with 5. Participation has fallen to 36.5%. Dutch press and analysts say it may provoke new parliamentary elections, because the ruling coalition (of the christian democrats and the social democrats) has been weakened

Run-up to Swedish EU presidency: Turkey-EU blame game

('Anna Patton',) — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:01:12 -0000

Sweden, one of the most pro-Turkey member states, takes over the EU presidency in July 2009. But this may not be enough to kick-start negotiations for Turkey to enter the EU, which began in October 2005. Is there a common interest? Analysis

Eur…οpa! As EU elections comes round, 27 European citizens in Athens speak

('Media Consulta',) — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:53:27 -0000

Whether they are from Finland to Cyprus, or Germany and France, the first charter EU member states, as well as from 'newcomer' states Romania and Bulgaria, 27 Athenians talk about their Europe and how they think it should be. The EU elections take place between 4 and 7 June 2009, with 736 seats in the EU parliament open to 9, 000 candidates

Seraphim Fyntanidis 'the European elections are a form of anti-government protest'

('Elina Makri',) — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:21:08 -0000

I don't usually watch TV, but when I caught a programme about the modern vision of the Greeks one Sunday, I found myself chatting with its presenter a few days later in the Chalandri district of Athens

Germany, Italy vs. Döner Kebab

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0000

At the end of January 2009, the Turkish daily newspaper Hürriyet reported that the German town of Viersen had ruled that its retailers must replace the Turkish word 'döner' (which means “rotisserie”) with its German equivalent 'Drehspieß'. In Italy, the city council of Lucca banned 'ethnic fastfood' in the city centre. Is the döner kebab the target of an anti-Turkish conspiracy?

Kids with weapons in Istanbul's Kurdish district

('Michelle Williams',) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

It is the refusal of the government in Ankara to make the inhabitants get on with each other which ends up in their refusal to integrate in Balat, the Kurdish-Armenian district of Istanbul

Something's stirring between Turkey and the EU

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:39:22 -0000

With the chimes of the new year, it looks like there is progress on the EU membership talks for Turkey. Has the time come to get things moving? Latest titbit news from Brussels

Turkey-EU: Cyprus, Sweden and elections in 2009

('Michelle Williams',) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:19:35 -0000

Between 19 - 20 January, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Brussels. 2009 could (once again) become a decisive year for relations between Turkey and the EU. Since the opening of negotiations began in 2005 only ten chapters have been opened

Reporters Without Borders: Bulgaria ‘worrying’

('Fiona Herdman Smith',) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:46:43 -0000

Luxembourg, Iceland and Norway rank joint first in the 2008 worldwide press freedom index - but why is Bulgaria lagging behind the rest of Europe? Interviews

Turkish cultural season in France viewed from Lyon

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

The cultural and political relationship between France and Turkey is ambivalent. Events such as France’s recognition of Armenian genocide and Sarkozy’s opposition to Ankara’s entry into the EU make 2009 a pivotal year

The Turkish theologist who stopped wearing the headscarf

('Kinia Adamczyk',) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Her sisters thinks she’s ill and will ‘get better’ one day, her mother is upset, whilst her father calls her his most clever daughter, insisting she did the ‘right thing’ three years ago. Nuriye Duran- Özsoy’s story

Quotes: EU heads of state talk Turkey

('Helen Swain',) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:30:00 -0000

European leaders from Germany to Greece express their positions on the possible adherence of the member candidate to the European Union. Quotes

Björn Kuhligk at Frankfurt book fair 2008

('Ed Saunders',) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:00:00 -0000

Turkey is the guest of honour at this year‘s Frankfurt Book Fair between 15 – 19 October. Interview with the author from Kreuzberg, Berlin, who spent a month in Eskişehir as a ‘city writer’