Istanbul

Voices from the Arab Press: Red lines in Syria, Azerbaijani oil, and Anwar Sadat

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses of the Arab media around the world.

|ByTHE MEDIA LINE
A WORKER rests next to an oil pump in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Protesters hold up Pride flags as they stand in front of riot police officers in Izmir, Turkey, on June 27, 2026.

Turkey detains 26 people in raids targeting LGBTQ+ associations over accusations of obscenity

Dubbed "My Family is Safe," the government's crackdown comes as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promotes a "Decade of Family and Population," an initiative designed to tackle falling birth rates.

|ByREUTERS
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and other officials pose before the first committee meeting for the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, in Istanbul, Turkey, August 31, 2026.

Turkish FM calls Netanyahu 'enemy of humanity,' claims Mecca agreement not directed at any country

"The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is not directed against a specific country," Fidan said, adding that the member states are considering establishing a mechanism to add new members.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
Turkey offers world-class hair restoration - the key to natural results is choosing the right doctor, not just the lowest price.

Restore fuller hair with a hair transplant

|ByIN COOPERATION WITH SMILE HAIR CLINIC

Istanbul cancels Robbie Williams concert over safety fears following anti-Israel activist pressure

Istanbul authorities canceled Robbie Williams’s show after online backlash labeling him a “Zionist” over his ties to Israel and Jewish family.

OCTOBER 5, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Robbie Williams performing at the FIFA Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, July 13, 2025; illustrative.

Turkey orders detention of Istanbul district mayor, others in corruption probe, state media says

The police carried out early morning raids at 72 locations to seize documents and detain suspects on charges including embezzlement, bribery, and tender rigging, according to TRT Haber.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2025ByREUTERS
Protesters hold a banner with an image of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul’s Sarachane Square, March 2025.

Turkey’s ruling party hopes to ‘decapitate’ opposition - analysis

Police clashed with CHP supporters in Istanbul as Erdogan’s government banned protests and moved to tighten control over Turkey’s opposition.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
An illustrative image of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey detains defense firm Assan Group executives in military espionage probe

Turkish authorities detained the two on suspicion of military espionage and membership in the network of the US-based cleric accused of orchestrating a 2016 coup.

AUGUST 28, 2025ByREUTERS
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan poses with Hisar medium air defense surface-to-air missile system and Siper high to medium air defense surface-to-air missile system ,during a ceremony at Aselsan Golbasi Campus in Ankara, Turkey, August 27, 2025.

Istanbul mayor's jailed lawyer denounces 'criminalization of the right to a legal defence'

The lawyer from Turkey's main opposition figure, who is also jailed like the mayor, denounced that he faces "entirely fabricated" charges.

JULY 7, 2025ByREUTERS
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reacts during a press conference at a NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands June 25, 2025.

Turkish teenager honor killed after fiance learns she was carrying baby conceived by rape

Oya Budak’s death marks the 207th case of femicide in Turkey this year, according to women’s rights organizations.

JULY 2, 2025ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Oya Budak.

How long do dental implants take in Istanbul, Turkey?

Wondering how long dental implants take in Istanbul, Turkey? Discover the full process timeline and what to expect at top clinics like Lema Dental.

JUNE 17, 2025ByDAVID RABINOWICZ

Jailed Istanbul mayor, Erdogan political rival's X account blocked in Turkey

Istanbul prosecutors opened an investigation into an April 24 post on Imamoglu's account on the grounds that it may constitute incitement to commit a crime.

MAY 8, 2025ByREUTERS
People turn on their phone lights as they participate in a demonstration organized by the country's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) against the detention of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 7, 2025.

Turkey’s power game is maintaining control at home and beyond - opinion

Turkey is classified as a “brown country” with both democratic and authoritarian features, but democracy, legality, and citizenship rights effectively disappear in southeastern Turkey.

APRIL 13, 2025ByLOQMAN RADPEY
A RALLY takes place to protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, last month. The political climate in Turkey is reaching a boiling point, the writer warns.

Turkey’s military expansion in Syria: A new threat to Israel’s security - opinion

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's call for Allah to "bring destruction upon Zionist Israel," underscores that a direct military clash is inevitable.

APRIL 2, 2025BySHAY GAL
An illustrative image of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.