Opinions - Turkey

The U.S. Midterms and Erdoğan's Lost Bet

The U.S. Midterms and Erdoğan's Lost Bet

by Dr. İmdat Öner, published on 7 November 2026
The results of the U.S. midterm elections exceeded even the most optimistic Democratic forecasts. What had been anticipated as a blue wave became, in effect, a blue tsunami. Democrats secured double-digit margins in states such as North Carolina and Georgia, won a Kansas Senate seat that Republicans had held for almost a century, made a strong showing in Nebraska, and, most notably, carried Texas.
With or Without Netanyahu: The Lasting Turkey–Israel Rift

With or Without Netanyahu: The Lasting Turkey–Israel Rift

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 29 October 2026
On October 27, Israelis voted in the first general election since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. The campaigns focused mainly on domestic issues, including accountability for the failures of October 7, military service for the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim), and the cost of living. The election did not produce a majority for either bloc, and coalition negotiations may not yield a new government.
Close Allies, Fragile Relations: Turkey and Azerbaijan’s Diplomatic Crisis

Close Allies, Fragile Relations: Turkey and Azerbaijan’s Diplomatic Crisis

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 16 October 2026
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s arrival at Baku airport marked a new low in recent Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. Fidan had travelled to attend the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which brings together heads of state. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did not attend, possibly in protest against harsh remarks from Baku.
Turkey's Fund Collapse: When Regulatory Awareness Fails to Prevent a Crisis

Turkey's Fund Collapse: When Regulatory Awareness Fails to Prevent a Crisis

by Ferhat Günaydın, published on 9 October 2026
There is an old, unforgiving rule in financial markets: when the relationship between risk and return appears to have broken down, it is rarely the risk that has disappeared. More often, it is the market's willingness to recognize it.
Beyond Mecca: Three Stages of Turkey-Iran Escalation

Beyond Mecca: Three Stages of Turkey-Iran Escalation

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 7 October 2026
By activating the collective defense mechanism, the Turkish government is not only joining a war in Yemen but also becoming part of a regional conflict that could have much larger consequences than Ankara anticipates. As this regional war drags on, the stakes will rise for all parties, pushing them to take greater risks. Ankara may therefore find that what begins as a limited military deployment in Saudi Arabia ultimately ends centuries of relative peace between Turkey and Iran.
Our Experts Assess the Mecca Pact's Rapid Deployment Decision

Our Experts Assess the Mecca Pact's Rapid Deployment Decision

by Haşim Tekineş, Mustafa Enes Esen and Servet Akman, published on 7 October 2026
On October 5, 2026, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan agreed in Riyadh "to move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defense commitments" under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. The decision puts the pact to its first real test and raises the question of how far Turkey is prepared to go in Saudi Arabia's defense. Our experts weigh in.

Reports - Turkey

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.
TURKEY'S GROWING ROLE IN GLOBAL COCAINE TRAFFICKING

TURKEY'S GROWING ROLE IN GLOBAL COCAINE TRAFFICKING

by Dr. İmdat Öner, Halil Çavuş, Ömer Güler and Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 17 September 2024
This report focuses on Turkey's prominence as an emerging market for cocaine trafficking and organized crime in the last decade. Cocaine production in Latin America has dramatically increased since 2013, and Turkey’s status as an emerging market has attracted the attention of Latin American government officials on the front lines of the cocaine trade.
WEAPONIZING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: ERDOĞAN'S TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION TO MUZZLE DISSIDENTS ABROAD

WEAPONIZING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: ERDOĞAN'S TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION TO MUZZLE DISSIDENTS ABROAD

by Dr. Yasir Gökçe, Mayra Russo and Sara Kezia Heinonen, published on 29 August 2024
This report sets out to provide a comprehensive analysis of the tactics employed by the Erdoğan administration to achieve repressive goals abroad and the vulnerabilities and how they are enabled by the AML and CFT regulation in place.
ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES BY THE ERDOGAN GOVERNMENT

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES BY THE ERDOGAN GOVERNMENT

by instituDE, published in June 2024
This submission highlights the ongoing systematic actions and omissions by Turkish authorities against the so-called members of the Gulen Group, framed as crimes against humanity. It demonstrates the violations of recommendations that even Türkiye has supported.
UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

by instituDE, published on May 2024
This report offers an update to the United Nations Committee against Torture (the Committee) regarding the obstacles to implementing the Convention against Torture (the Convention) in Turkey. As a coalition formed by a collective of former Turkish diplomats, our focus is on the systematic torture faced by former diplomats detained at Ankara Police Headquarters. We delve into the Turkish context and present insights from our organization.

Videos - Turkey

AİHM, Siyaset ve İnsan Hakları

January 14, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş and Hakan Kaplankaya
Hukukçu-Avukat Hakan Kaplankaya AİHM'nin Türkiye'deki hak arama mücadelesindeki önemini değerlendirdi.

Türkiye-Rusya İlişkilerinin 10 Yılı

November 27, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş and Kerim Has, published on 27 November 2025
Türkiye'nin hava sahasını işgal eden Rus jetini düşürmesinin üzerinden tam on yıl geçti. Peki bu on yılda ikili ilişkiler nasıl bir seyir izledi? Dr. Kerim Has Ankara-Moskova hattındaki dalgalı ilişkileri değerlendirdi.

Erdoğan'a Mesaj mı? Amerika'da Tanıdıklarım Var Benim!

November 11, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 11 November 2025
Hakan Fidan'ın sürpriz Amerika ziyareti Ankara'daki dengeler açısından ne anlama geliyor? Erdoğan bu ziyarete nasıl bakıyor?

Şarm el-Şeyh'te Bir Fırsat mı Kaçırıldı?

October 14, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 14 October 2025
Mısır'da ABD başkanı Donald Trump, Erdoğan ve 20 ülke başkanının katılımıyla büyük bir Gazze barış zirvesi gerçekleştirildi. Peki Zirve bekleneni verebildi mi? Türkiye Gazze'ye asker gönderecek mi? Riskler neler? Asker göndermeye niyetli başka ülkeler hangisi?

Erdoğan'ın Amerika'da Mutlu Günü

September 25, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 25 September 2025
Erdoğan'ın Beyaz Saray ziyareti ve Türk-Amerikan ilişkileri. Peki sonuç ne? Yaptırımlar, S-400, F-35ler...; 'Erdoğan hileli seçimler iyi bilir'; Gazetecilerin performansı; Erdoğan'a yeşil ışık; Gazze.

Amerika'nın Katar ve Polonya Sınavları

September 11, 2025
İsrail Katar'ı vurdu. Rus İHA'ları ise Polonya hava sahasını işgal etti. Amerika'nın tepkisi ne olacak?
by Mehmet Demirbaş and Haşim Tekineş, published on 11 September 2025