Opinions - Turkey

Terrorists without terror: Turkey’s way of defaming dissidents and Europe’s role as an enabler (in English)

Terrorists without terror: Turkey’s way of defaming dissidents and Europe’s role as an enabler (in English)

Iranian philosopher Ali Shariati once said: “Do not believe anything in a nation where only the government enjoys freedom of speech.” The wisdom of these words has been proven time and time again, most recently during the Covid-19 pandemic where the Chinese government’s handling of the outbreak included withholding information while blatantly abusing the World Health Organization in a way that possibly cost thousands of lives across the globe.
Ankara’da COVID-19 Etkisi (in Turkish)

Ankara’da COVID-19 Etkisi (in Turkish)

COVID-19’un siyasi yansımaları krizin en fazla konuşulan ve üzerine öngörülerde bulunulan yönlerinden birisi. Genel beklenti bu krizin uluslararası ilişkilerde ve küresel ekonomide devrimsel sonuçlarının olacağı yönünde. Birçokları beklentiyi Türk iç siyasetine de uyarlamakta. Bu devrimsel sonuçları görmek için henüz erken. Ancak şu ana kadar gerek küresel dengelerde gerekse iç siyasette kriz temel dinamikleri değiştirmedi.
Kapıda bekletilen lider ve bir milletin zedelenen itibarı (in Turkish)

Kapıda bekletilen lider ve bir milletin zedelenen itibarı (in Turkish)

Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'ın son Moskova ziyaretinde Kremlin Sarayı'nda Putin'le görüşmesi öncesinde dakikalarca bekletilmesine dair görüntüler ev sahibi Rusya adına tam bir nezaketsizlik ve görgüsüzlük örneği. Bir Türk vatandaşı olarak görüntüleri izlerken kahrolmamak elde değil. Rus devlet televizyonunun sözkonusu anları kronometreli olarak yayımlaması olayın Kremlin tarafından önceden kurgulandığını gösteriyor.
Azizler ve domuzlar üzerine (in Turkish)

Azizler ve domuzlar üzerine (in Turkish)

Uyanır uyanmaz telefonuma gelen mesajları farkettim. Sabahın erken saatlerinde polislerin hakkımdaki yakalama kararıyla eve geldiğini haber veriyordu iki yıldır görüşemediğim annem. Bir yıl önce, yine bir Şubat günü, yine benimle ilgili gelmişlerdi; ancak bu sefer ziyaretin farklı bir meseleden dolayı olduğunu tahmin edebiliyordum.
À l’ONU, la Belgique appelle la Turquie à « garantir l’indépendance du système judiciaire » (in French)

À l’ONU, la Belgique appelle la Turquie à « garantir l’indépendance du système judiciaire » (in French)

Le 28 janvier 2020, le troisième cycle de l’Examen périodique universel de la Turquie a eu lieu devant le Conseil des droits de l’homme des Nations unies à Genève. L’événement fait partie d’un mécanisme unique permettant la mise en avant du bilan en matière des droits humains de chaque membre de l’ONU tous les cinq ans.
The plight of the dismissed people after reunification in Germany! (in English)

The plight of the dismissed people after reunification in Germany! (in English)

"How many people were fired when the reunification happened in Germany?" This question has been persistently used as a cliché answer by the Turkish officials whenever they are asked about the wide-ranging purges in public sector in Turkey.

Reports - Turkey

Turkey's Vision For a New Syria

Turkey's Vision For a New Syria

by Mustafa Enes Esen, Haşim Tekineş, Mehmet Demirbaş and Servet Akman, published on 14 February 2026
This report analyzes Turkey’s vision for Syria following the fall of the Assad family and the rise of the HTS under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa. In this regard, it focuses on the foreign actors that, alongside Turkey, now have the greatest ability to shape Syria’s future: namely the United States and Israel.
Electrifying Turkey's Roads: EV Adoption Scenarios & Their Impact on Oil Imports

Electrifying Turkey's Roads: EV Adoption Scenarios & Their Impact on Oil Imports

by Baki Kaya, Ömer Güler, Harun Güngör, and Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 10 September 2025
This study evaluates, through long-term projections to 2053, the potential impact of increased EV penetration on Turkey’s energy landscape. It provides a comparative assessment of how changes in the share of EVs within the total vehicle fleet, across several scenario frameworks, could influence fuel demand and petroleum import volumes. A second, closely related objective is to measure the scale of Turkey’s oil dependency in order to establish a basis for examining its policy implications.
Geopolitical Constraints of Turkey's Energy Hub Ambitions

Geopolitical Constraints of Turkey's Energy Hub Ambitions

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 8 July 2025
This study focuses on the geopolitical dimensions and constraints shaping Turkey’s ambition to become a natural gas hub. The emphasis is on Turkey’s diplomatic relations with key supplier countries, the political instability across the wider Middle East, and the limited capacity of neighboring states to produce and export gas reliably—factors that collectively can make or undermine Turkey’s hub ambitions.
MODERNIZING THE TURKEY–EU CUSTOMS UNION: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS

MODERNIZING THE TURKEY–EU CUSTOMS UNION: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS

by instituDE, published in March 2025
The Turkey–EU Customs Union, established in 1995, has been a defining feature of trade relations between Turkey and the European Union. Over the past three decades, the global economic landscape has evolved significantly, necessitating a modernization of the agreement to address new trade realities, regulatory developments, and emerging geopolitical challenges.
TURKEY‘S MASS PURGE AS VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN ICCPR

TURKEY‘S MASS PURGE AS VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN ICCPR

by instituDE, published on 23 October 2024
'A gift from God' was one of Erdoğan's first descriptions related to coup attempt in July 15. At first no one realized that God's gift meant a chaotic environment in which he needed to declare a national emergency with no checks and balances and then transform Türkiye’s parliamentary democracy into an executive presidency.
JUDICIAL CORRUPTION IN TÜRKİYE

JUDICIAL CORRUPTION IN TÜRKİYE

by instituDE and Arrested Lawyers, published on October 2024
This submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) highlights severe issues undermining the integrity of Türkiye's judiciary, particularly focusing on rampant judicial corruption and impunity as well as human rights abuses which they facilitate. Based on the most recent incidents of corruption concerning members of the judiciary who serve in courts in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, this report seeks to examine the high-level corruption within the judiciary and the Turkish government’s failure or even willful ignorance in addressing it.

Videos - Turkey

How Turkey Is Expanding Its Power in Africa!

May 22, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 22 May 2025
In this video, we uncover the dramatic transformation of Turkey’s Africa policy — from humanitarian aid to drone diplomacy, arms sales, and military bases. As Western powers pull back, Turkey is stepping in to fill the vacuum, building influence from the Horn of Africa to the Sahel.

Erdoğan'ın Dış Politikada İkinci Baharı!

May 14, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 14 May 2025
Son dönemde Türk dış politikasında gözle görülür bir olumlu ivme yaşanıyor! Esad'ın düşmesi, Avrupa güvenlik mimarisindeki değişimler, Trump'ın etkisi ve Ukrayna krizi gibi küresel gelişmeler, Türkiye'nin dış politikada yeni bir sayfa açtığını gösteriyor.

Meloni's Deal with Erdoğan: Energy, Migration, and Silence

May 1, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 1 May 2025
This video breaks down the real reason behind Italy's silence: gas, migration, and Libya. With Russia out of the picture, Italy is turning to North Africa for energy and is desperate to control migration flows from Libya. But in Libya, Turkey calls the shots.

Energy, Power, and Politics: Turkey’s $350 Billion Oil Question

April 23, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 23 April 2025
Turkey is drilling deep—literally and politically. With potential reserves in the Diyarbakır and Thrace Basins, and rising production in the Black Sea Sakarya Gas Field, this could be a turning point for the country’s energy future. But is this an economic breakthrough—or just another political power play?

Is a Turkey-Israel Clash Coming?

April 9, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 9 April 2025
In this video, we break down the rising tensions between Turkey and Israel following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. As Ankara emerges as the dominant power in post-war Syria, Israel grows increasingly concerned about Turkish influence spreading across the region.

Erdogan’s Biggest Blunder: Is This the Beginning of the End?

March 26, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 26 March 2025
In this video, we break down why Imamoglu’s arrest is backfiring on Erdogan, the growing resistance in Turkey, and what might come next. Will Erdogan tighten his grip with more force, or is he facing an unstoppable wave of change?