Council of Europe

The UN Cybercrime Treaty: A Trojan Horse for Suppressing Dissent

Law and disorder

Interpol does the bidding of bad guys

‘Walk Across the Street’: Turkish Opposition Calls for Nationwide Boycotts of Pro-Erdogan Companies and Media

CHP Publishes List of Companies to Boycott: The leader of Turkey’s opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has called for a nationwide boycott of Turkish companies backing...

Turkey Defies Rule of Law With Life Sentence for Rights Activist

Turkey’s highest appeals court last week upheld a life-long prison sentence for human rights activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala. The court’s decision violates several binding rulings by the European...

Ukraine Must Build on Anti-Corruption Firings With Further Reform

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired a spate of senior Ukrainian officials this week after promising to crack down on corruption amid public anger over graft scandals. With these purges, Zelenskyy seeks...

Top Turkish Court Upholds Spurious Conviction of Erdogan Critic

A top court in Turkey upheld the conviction of philanthropist and human rights activist Osman Kavala on spurious charges that include attempting to overthrow the government. Kavala’s conviction underscores...

Ukraine War Offers Opportunity To Bring Turkey and its Defense Industry into NATO Fold

Turkish weaponry is helping Ukrainian troops fight off Russia’s invasion of their homeland. TB-2 drones are confirmed to have struck Russian targets. Yet Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim...

Turkey Walks a Tightrope on Ukraine

It closed the Turkish Straits to most Russian ships—but also most NATO ships.

Erdogan’s Balancing Act Between Russia and Ukraine

Turkey’s strongman leader has expressed support for the besieged country. He has also joined Putin’s assault on the Western media.

Turkey a Step Closer to Suspension From the Council of Europe

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted an interim resolution on Wednesday officially launching infringement proceedings against Turkey for Ankara’s refusal to release Turkish philanthropist...

Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: January

Turkey’s Council of Europe Voting Rights and Membership at Risk

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe announced today its decision to begin infringement procedures against Turkey for Ankara’s refusal to release Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala despite...

Gaslighting Nations—Erdogan Makes a Mockery of U.N. General Assembly—Again

The term “United Nations,” which U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt coined in 1942, reflected a commitment, articulated in the Declaration of United Nations, to “defend life, liberty,...

Give Osman Kavala the Nobel Peace Prize

Kavala is a philanthropist who, for decades, has stood up to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and to authoritarians of every stripe inside Turkey.

State Department Should Deliver an Honest Message about Turkey’s Religious Freedom Record

The US Department of State’s annual report on international religious freedom, released on May 12, documents the ongoing erosion of freedom of religion or belief in Turkey. The report echoes the concerns...

The Plight of Iranians in Turkey

Turkish authorities on Monday detained Maryam Shariatmadari, an anti-Hijab activist twice-jailed in Iran, threatening deportation back to her home country. Although an international outcry from...

Azerbaijan MP tells ‘Post’ Iran must not execute wrestler

First politician from majority Shi’ite majority country to come out against Iran’s regime.

Erdogan Removes Kurdish Mayors from Office – Again

The Turkish government on Monday removed from office three mayors from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) less than six months into their five-year terms. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,...

World’s Top Chess Player Slams Europe Council For Ending Sanctions on Russia

"Worse betrayal than Munich 1938," he said.

Religious Freedom in Turkey