Opinions - Turkey

AB Genişleme Raporu ve Türkiye’yi Bekleyen Bazı Tehlikeler

AB Genişleme Raporu ve Türkiye’yi Bekleyen Bazı Tehlikeler

by Enes Esen, published on 15 October 2022
Avrupa Birliği Komisyonu’nun aday ülkeleri değerlendirdiği 2022 Genişleme Raporu 12 Ekim’de açıklandı. Raporun Türkiye’ye ilişkin kısmında özellikle siyasi kriterler ile hukukun üstünlüğü ve temel haklar fasıllarında çok ağır eleştirilerin yer alması Ankara’daki yetkililerin sert tepki vermesine neden oldu.
Will Turkey Ever Ratify Finnish and Swedish accession to NATO?

Will Turkey Ever Ratify Finnish and Swedish accession to NATO?

by Enes Esen, published on 3 October 2022
In June, the NATO member countries signed the Accession Protocol for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance, which has to be ratified by each NATO member country before they become official members. This process has been swiftly completed in all NATO member countries but Hungary and Turkey.
Turkey’s Push to Form a Government in Iraq

Turkey’s Push to Form a Government in Iraq

by Enes Esen, published on 18 August 2022
Iraq has been going through a political stalemate since the parliamentary elections in October 2021. While followers of the Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr secured the most seats, he was not able to form a coalition government neither with other Shia political parties nor with the Sunnis and Kurds. In this context, Hakan Fidan, head of Turkey's National Intelligence Agency, paid an official visit to Iraq on September 11.
Fransa Dışişleri Bakanı’nın Ziyareti ve Avrupa’nın Türkiye’den Talepleri

Fransa Dışişleri Bakanı’nın Ziyareti ve Avrupa’nın Türkiye’den Talepleri

by Enes Esen, published on 11 September 2022
Fransa Dışişleri Bakanı Catherine Colonna 5-6 Eylül tarihlerinde Ankara ve Atina’yı kapsayan bir gezi gerçekleştirdi. Bakan Colonna’nın ziyaretinin gündem maddeleri arasında Rusya’ya yönelik uluslararası yaptırımların delinmesinde Türkiye’nin rolü ve Yunanistan’la yaşanan gerilimin sonlandırılması öne çıktı. Fransız Bakanın gerek Ankara gerek Atina ziyaretinin dikkat çekmeyen gündemi ise “Avrupa Siyasi Topluluğu" projesine Türkiye’nin katılımıydı.
Schengen Vize Başvurularında Ret Oranı Neden Yükseldi?

Schengen Vize Başvurularında Ret Oranı Neden Yükseldi?

by Enes Esen and İlham Atuş, published on 30 August 2022
Bugünlerde Türk vatandaşları, Avrupa Birliği’nin (AB) Schengen vize başvurularını reddetmesinden çokça şikayet ediyor. Sosyal medya, AB'nin başkonsolosluklarının vize başvurularını nasıl reddettiğine dair paylaşımlarla dolu. Birçok medya kuruluşu, vize alamaması nedeniyle Türk vatandaşlarının nasıl iş imkanı kaçırdığı, festivallere katılamadığı veya yaz tatiline gidemediğine dair haberler yayınlamaya başladı.
Why Does Turkey Have a Higher Refusal Rate for Schengen Visas?

Why Does Turkey Have a Higher Refusal Rate for Schengen Visas?

by Enes Esen and İlham Atuş, published on 25 August 2022
Nowadays, Turkish citizens loudly complain about the EU refusing their Schengen visa applications. Social media is replete with posts on their own experience of how EU consulates in Turkey rejected their applications. Several media outlets are increasingly covering the issue, sharing the stories of Turkish citizens who missed a job opportunity, a festival, or a summer vacation.

Reports - Turkey

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.
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.

Videos - Turkey

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?

Türkiye Sokaklarda!

March 24, 2025
by Mehmet Demirbaş and Haşim Tekineş, published on 24 March 2025
Erdoğan sarayında, İmamoğlu hapiste, Türkiye sokaklarda! Türkiye nereye gidiyor? Gösteriler nereye varacak? Dünyanın tepkisi nasıl?