Istanbul
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, three-time Turkish prime minister in 2011
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
istanbul, politics, orient express, recep tayyip erdogan, orhan pamuk, turkey
Religious fever in Istanbul: between football and Armenians
It's cold at the end of April in Istanbul, but these are days of celebration, and its not just to do with the strong national pride for football. The 23rd celebrates the modern republic's first national assembly and is dedicated to children, the future of the country. The 24th is easter for the catholics, protestants and orthodox, but also for the Turkish Armenians (and Turks) who silently protest for the 'genocide' that took place on the same day of their intellectuals during the ottoman era in 1915. These are also days of protest, between the Kurdish minority and the students who fight for their respective rights. Tourists invade the city which was once Constantinople, a paradise for young people and an eldorado for those who 'came back' from their immigration to Europe. Read the articles from our French-Italian-Serbian-Albanian team who report from Turkey in the framework of our special edition, Orient Express Reporter
- Read the special edition Religious fever in Istanbul: between football and Armenians
- An Albanian in Istanbul on children’s day
- Easter in Istanbul with Turks and Turkish Armenians
- Being a Beşiktaş football supporter in Istanbul
- Meeting 4 of 500, 000 'Almanci' German Turks who returned 'home' over last 30 years
Istanbul 'sex bus': student beaten for defending couple speaks
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
istanbul, best of cafebabel.com, mustafa kemal atatürk, taksim, sex, interview, iran islamic republic of
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I: ‘Young people in Europe feel unsafe’
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
istanbul, athens, brunch, atheism, youth, interview, pope benedict xvi
Getting to grips with Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul and Europe
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
istanbul, history, byzantine empire, culture, politics, european union, turkey
Modern myths: politically divided university canteens in Istanbul
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
istanbul, socialism, association, fun, youth, militantisme, politics
German erasmus student on life in Istanbul
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
istanbul, university, party, mustafa kemal atatürk, religion and democracy, erasmus, students
Lech Garlicki on judging Europe’s religious fabric
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
istanbul, italy, discrimination, poland, human rights, religion and democracy, burqa
European bloggers describe their Berlin walls
Monday is 9 November, the day when the Berlin wall was brought down. To reflect on this iconic modern historical event for the eurogeneration, citizen journalists from five cafebabel.com local teams - Sofia, Budapest, Turin, Strasbourg and Istanbul - simultaneously blogged one day about the walls they see in their cities
istanbul, communism, tourism, history, anniversary, event, opinion
Music duo Kim Ki O: ‘the danger of being Turkish’ for Europe
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
istanbul, visa, education, bands, joy division, brussels, kim ki o
Selçuk Altun: 'Being in a crisis or recovering from one is part of normal life in Turkey'
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
istanbul, economical crisis, reading, history, culture, literature, turkey
Istanbul's Yeditepe, Halic universities: erasmus stick together on campus
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
Mika Waltari: from Helsinki to Istanbul
2008: the EU’s year for intercultural dialogue and the centenary of Finnish writer Mika Waltari’s birth, who travelled Helsinki to Istanbul by train in 1929. For the integration train, Turkey may be only a stop along the way, but a necessary one. Imaginary journey via Berlin
istanbul, literature, dialogue, mika waltari, finland, nouveaux pays membres, integration
Babelblogs: Macedonia, cloning and praying in Berlin
Europe is often seen as boring and bureaucratic - not the case with cafebabel.com’s community blogs. European debate is in full swing, bloggers are up in arms and words are flying
istanbul, religion, greece, blogs, blog review, central and eastern europe, france
Turkish love story on Danish shores
With 3.8 million Turkish immigrants in the EU, we head to Denmark with the seventh largest Turkish population in Europe. Aydin Ozturk, 50, settled in Odense with a Danish partner and found his place in society
istanbul, european union, identity, odense, europe, love, denmark
Turkey-Germany: springboard into jobs abroad
More and more young jobseekers are attracted to careers abroad due of either a lack of jobs in their own country or a desire to widen their personal horizons
istanbul, testimony, students, employment, germany, society, turkey
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