Latest Turkey News

Turkey strikes suspected Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq after suicide attack in Ankara

Oct. 01, 2023 17:04 PM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish warplanes carried out airstrikes on suspected Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq on Sunday following a suicide attack on a government building in the Turkish capital, Turkey's defense ministry announced. Some 20 targets of the Kurdistan...

A European body condemns Turkey's sentencing of an activist for links to 2013 protests

Sep. 30, 2023 11:46 AM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — A European governmental body that focuses on human rights, democracy and the rule of law on Saturday condemned the decision by Turkey's Supreme Court to confirm the aggravated life sentence for activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala. Kavala is the founder of a...

Turkey’s premier film festival is canceled following a documentary dispute

Sep. 30, 2023 05:45 AM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s oldest film festival has been canceled amid controversy surrounding a politically sensitive documentary about the aftermath of a 2016 coup attempt. Antalya Mayor Muhittin Bocek announced the cancellation of the city's Golden Orange Film Festival on Friday...

Cardin eyes changes on Egypt, Turkey and around the world as he takes powerful Senate foreign post

Sep. 28, 2023 18:40 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee pointed Thursday to possible policy shifts affecting Egypt, Turkey, the war in Ukraine and other issues around the globe as he took over the powerful leadership of the panel, replacing indicted Sen. Bob Menendez. ...

New Greek opposition leader says he will take a break from politics to do his military service

Sep. 28, 2023 17:24 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Just a few days after being elected the new leader of Greece's left-wing main opposition party, Stefanos Kasselakis said Thursday that he will be taking a brief break from politics — to join the military. Kasselakis, 35, said he plans to present himself...

The Turkish government withdraws from a film festival after a documentary was reinstated

Sep. 28, 2023 07:56 AM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — The Turkish government on Thursday withdrew its support for the country’s oldest film festival after organizers reversed a decision to exclude a politically sensitive documentary. The Culture and Tourism Ministry said it was backing out of the Antalya Golden...

A Turkish film festival has been threatened by accusations of censorship

Sep. 27, 2023 12:19 PM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s oldest film festival has been thrown into turmoil after jury members resigned and filmmakers withdrew their work from the competition over accusations of censorship. The producers and directors of 27 entries at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival on...

European court rules Turkish teacher's rights were violated by conviction based on phone app use

Sep. 26, 2023 12:22 PM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday ruled that the rights of a Turkish teacher convicted of what prosecutors called terrorism offences had been violated because the case was largely based on his use of a phone app. The court said its ruling could apply to...

Erdogan says Menendez resignation from Senate committee boosts Turkey's bid to acquire F-16s

Sep. 26, 2023 07:56 AM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s chances of acquiring F-16 fighter jets from the U.S. have been boosted by Sen. Bob Menendez stepping down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in remarks published Tuesday. Menendez, the senior...

Prime Minister Orbán says Hungary is in no rush to ratify Sweden's NATO bid

Sep. 25, 2023 12:41 PM EDT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Monday that his country is in no hurry to ratify Sweden's bid to join NATO, suggesting the Nordic country could face further delays in becoming a member of the military alliance. Speaking during the opening...