Military coup underway in Turkey

Melee outside Turkish ambassador's home left injuries, shock

WASHINGTON (AP) — Concussions. Broken and loose teeth. Headaches. A popped blood vessel in the eye. Those are some of the injuries demonstrators say they suffered after being beaten by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's security detail outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington.

Turkey said the clash Tuesday was the fault of demonstrators who aggressively provoked Turkish-Americans who had gathered to see Erdogan. The demonstrators said they were attacked by security forces as they peacefully protested. A video shared on social media Thursday showed Erdogan watching the melee.

Lucy Usoyan, 34, of Arlington, Virginia, said the protesters chanted "Long Live USA" at one point and then shouted "baby killers" when Erdogan arrived at the residence after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Before she could react, she was on the ground being beaten with "boots on my head, nonstop," she said. She passed out and spent the night in a hospital, where she was told she had a brain injury that could take up to six weeks to recover from, she said.

"In their country, they can do whatever they want to," Usoyan said of her attackers. But she thought before the demonstration, "Well, no one will do anything violent because it's American soil." The U.S. State Department called Tuesday's clash "deeply disturbing" and insisted there would be a "thorough investigation" to hold those responsible accountable. Tom Shannon, the acting deputy secretary of state, met Wednesday with Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic to discuss the altercation.

U.S. lawmakers demanded stronger action. Republican Sen. John McCain said the government should "throw their ambassador the hell out." Turkey's U.S. embassy alleged the demonstrators were associated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency against Turkey and is considered a terrorist group by the United States.

But Mehmet Yuksel, who arrived immediately after the incident and knows almost all of the little over a dozen demonstrators, said they weren't connected with that group. The victims included Americans, he said, and there was no justification for the attack.

"It's so easy for Turkey to blame everyone who is a victim," said Yuksel, the representative of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party in the United States. Yuksel said one demonstrator seen in video of the attack carrying a bullhorn and being repeatedly kicked is in his 60s. The man suffered loose and broken teeth and had to return Friday to a hospital, he said.

Ceren Borazan, seen on video in a headlock, said in a Facebook post that the attack "popped a blood vessel in my eye." "He held me and threatened to kill me. I was scared for my life," she wrote of her assailant.

"Among us, we had people who needed stitches and had concussions from these vicious attacks," she wrote, adding that the "experience has shown us that as Kurds, we are not even safe from Turkey's racism and terrorism here in the United States."

A man Borazan identified as her attacker has been charged with assault. The other person charged in the incident, Jalal Kheirabadi, 42, of Fairfax, Virginia, is charged with assaulting a police officer. But Kheirabadi told The Associated Press earlier this week he was a victim, not an aggressor. Kheirabadi said he joined the demonstration, saying "Erdogan is a terrorist" and "Mr. Trump, please say, 'No,' to Erdogan," when Turkish security staff "just attacked us."

Tuesday's incident isn't the first time violence accompanied a visit by a Turkish leader to the U.S. Last year, violence erupted outside Erdogan's appearance at a nuclear security summit in Washington, and there have been scuffles at the United Nations.

P.J. Crowley, a former assistant U.S. secretary of state during the Obama administration, said there are limits to what the United States can do in response because antagonizing Erdogan could put U.S. diplomats at risk.

"It's always dicey. For example, you could limit the number of bodyguards that a president is allowed to bring, but then that invites a reciprocal action by the host nation," said Crowley, a professor at George Washington University in Washington. "They might choose to thin out the protection for a diplomatic mission."

And the United States needs to work with Turkey in its fight against the Islamic State group, Crowley said. The Trump administration acknowledged it released two members of Erdogan's detail after holding them briefly after the incident. A U.S. official who wasn't authorized to comment publicly on the matter and requested anonymity said the guards were released under a globally recognized custom under which nations don't arrest or detain visiting heads of state and members of their delegations. The guards are back in Turkey with Erdogan.

And the United States needs to work with Turkey in its fight against the Islamic State group, Crowley said.

Eh? Is that the same Turkey that's been buying oil and looted antiquities from ISIS? That aided and abetted the 'brave rebels' in staging false flag chemical attacks on Syrians?

What hypocrisy!

Critical Turkish newspaper publishes blank issue in protest

ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish opposition paper has published a "May 19 Press Freedom Special Edition," left blank to protest the detentions of some staff members. Saturday's edition of the Sozcu newspaper carried empty columns with writers' names and also left the weather section blank.

It was a response to Friday's detentions of Mediha Olgun, the editor of Sozcu's website, and reporter Gokmen Ulu. Detention warrants were also issued for owner Burak Akbay and head of finance Yonca Kaleli.

They are accused of committing crimes on behalf of the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish government blames Gulen for last summer's failed coup attempt — an allegation Gulen denies.

Sozcu is a staunch supporter of the secular legacy of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and a sharp critic of Turkey's president and government.

A very subtle and clever protest - I hope the staff don't pay for it.

Turkey's ruling party elects President Erdogan as leader

ISTANBUL (AP) — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned as leader of Turkey's ruling party Sunday, pushing back criticism that his tenure has curtailed freedoms and polarized the country as he vowed to serve the nation and combat terror.

The Justice and Development Party, or AK Party, re-elected Erdogan, its co-founder, at a congress where he was the only candidate for chairman. A narrow victory in a referendum last month to expand the powers of the Turkish presidency allows him to be both the head of state and of a political party.

Speaking to tens of thousands of people in Ankara, Erdogan said he was back after "998 days of separation" from the party and outlined a vision for its immediate future and elections scheduled for November 2019 with new executive and grassroots teams.

"This congress is the AK Party's rebirth," he said before the vote. "AK Party is not just its voters' party, it's the party for all of our 80 million citizens." Elected with 1,414 votes, Erdogan set the party's course for what he called a "new era" of reforms. Full report at link.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5210840-turkeys-ruling-party-elects-president-erdogan-lead.html#.1258-stage-hero1-2

God help them.

Trial begins of alleged Turkey coup ringleaders.

Sincan (Turkey) (AFP) - The trial opened on Monday 22nd May 2017 of more than 220 suspects, including over two dozen former Turkish generals, accused of being among the ringleaders of the attempted coup last year aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey blames the attempted July 15 putsch on the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, a claim he strongly denies. But Gulen is one of the 221 suspects named in the indictment.

Gulen -- who lives in self-imposed exile in the United States -- is among nine of the 221 suspects who remain on the run with the remainder appearing in court.

The suspects were paraded into the courtroom inside a prison complex in Sincan outside Ankara by security forces in front of television cameras, AFP correspondents said.

Several dozen protesters holding Turkish flags booed at the suspects, shouting "we want the death penalty" with placards saying: "For the martyrs and veterans of July 15, we want the death penalty".

Twenty-six generals are among the charged suspects, including former air force chief Akin Ozturk and Mehmet Disli, the brother of senior ruling party lawmaker Saban Disli.

Also on trial is colonel Ali Yazici, Erdogan's former military aide.

The case is being heard in Turkey's largest courtroom, which was purpose-built to hear coup-related trials and has space for 1,558 people.

There was heavy security in place, with a drone flying overhead and armoured security vehicles on site, an AFP correspondent said.

Several of those on trial are accused of leading the "Peace At Home Council", the name the coup plotters are said to have given themselves on the night of the failed overthrow.

The charges against them include "using coercion and violence in an attempt to overthrow" the parliament and the Turkish government, "martyring 250 citizens" and "attempting to kill 2,735 citizens", Hurriyet daily reported on Sunday.

The attempted putsch left 248 people dead, according to the Turkish presidency, not including 24 coup-plotters killed on the night.

The trial is one of many being held across the country to judge the coup suspects in what is the biggest legal process of Turkey's modern history.

The vast Sincan courtroom has already hosted in February the opening of the trial of 330 suspects accused of murder or attempted murder on the night of July 15.

More than 47,000 have been arrested on suspicion of links to the Gulen movement in an unprecedented crackdown under a state of emergency that was imposed in the wake of the coup.

The suspects were paraded into the courtroom inside a prison complex in Sincan outside Ankara by security forces in front of television cameras, AFP correspondents said.

Several dozen protesters holding Turkish flags booed at the suspects, shouting "we want the death penalty" with placards saying: "For the martyrs and veterans of July 15, we want the death penalty".



He'd be soooo proud of what Turkey is becoming.

Turkish officers on trial for planning Istanbul leg of coup

ISTANBUL (AP) May 29, 2017 — The trial against 23 army officers who allegedly planned the Istanbul stage of last summer's failed military coup has opened in the outskirts of the city. The defendants, including six generals, are accused of crimes against the state and held responsible for the deaths of 89 people who died in the city during the attempt. They face life imprisonment if convicted.

U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating the coup, is also named as a defendant in the trial and is being tried in absentia along with eight other defendants who are on the run.

The trial, which started Monday, is one of dozens across Turkey against suspected Gulen followers who are accused of playing a part in the coup. Gulen has denied involvement.

Turkey rejects US resolution condemning bodyguards' attacks

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey has rebuffed a U.S. House of Representatives resolution that condemned attacks against protesters in Washington by bodyguards who were traveling with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing legislators of steps that "distort and politicize" matters.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu said in a statement Wednesday that the bipartisan resolution was "against the spirit of alliance and partnership" between Turkey and the United States. U.S. lawmakers voted 397-0 Tuesday to pass the measure, calling for members of Erdogan's security involved in last month's incident to be brought justice.

Pressure has been mounting on the U.S. President Donald Trump's administration not to let the violence go unpunished. Turkey has not apologized for the incident and instead protested what it said was "aggressive and unprofessional actions" by American security personnel against Turkish bodyguards.

Released French photographer says Turkey sending 'message'.

French photojournalist Mathias Depardon, who was held for a month in Turkey, said on his return to France Friday night that Ankara wanted to send a "strong message" to reporters wishing to go to the southeast of the country.

Depardon, who was detained near the Syrian border while on assignment for National Geographic magazine, said he was "happy to be in Paris, to be in France" as he was met by government officials at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport. "I'm fine," the 37-year-old told reporters, smiling but visibly tired.

Depardon said he was accused of terrorist propaganda and supporting terrorist groups, namely the Kurdish separatist PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), over some photographs he had taken in recent years.

"I think the idea was to send a strong message to foreign and Turkish journalists who are intending to cover news in southeast Turkey," he said. More at link.

https://www.thelocal.fr/20170610/released-french-photographer-says-turkey-sending-message

Turkish opposition party begins 265-mile 'march for justice'.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's main opposition party set off on a 425-kilometer (265-mile) march Thursday from the capital to an Istanbul prison to protest the conviction of one of its lawmakers. Thousands took to the streets in Ankara, drawing criticism from the country's president.

The leader of the pro-secular Republican People's Party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, called the "march for justice" after parliamentarian Enis Berberoglu was convicted and sentenced to 25 years for revealing state secrets.

Kilicdaroglu said the verdict was "palace-motivated," a reference to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Let the whole world hear, we are facing a dictatorial regime in Turkey, in our own land," he said.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5277736-turkish-opposition-party-265-mile-march-justice.html#.1258-stage-hero1-7
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DC police seek arrest of Turks for melee, angering Erdogan.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police in the U.S. capital issued arrest warrants Thursday for a dozen Turkish security agents accused of attacking protesters during a visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month, prompting an angry denunciation by Turkey's leader and creating a new spat between the NATO allies.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the charges "send a clear message that the United States does not tolerate individuals who use intimidation and violence to stifle freedom of speech and legitimate political expression."

He said the State Department would work with police and legal authorities as the cases progress and decide on additional steps when that process is complete. Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert declined to say what actions might be taken, but the U.S. could seek the extradition of the Turkish suspects or bar them from entering the United States.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/us/5279384-dc-police-seek-arrest-turks-melee-angering-erdogan.html#.1258-stage-hero1-2

Police in the U.S. capital issued arrest warrants Thursday for a dozen Turkish security agents accused of attacking protesters during a visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month, prompting an angry denunciation by Turkey's leader and creating a new spat between the NATO allies.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the charges "send a clear message that the United States does not tolerate individuals who use intimidation and violence to stifle freedom of speech and legitimate political expression."

Good.

Turkey frees PM advisor detained over Gulen links.

Turkish authorities on Saturday freed the top advisor to Prime Minister Binali Yildirim detained on suspicion of links to the movement of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen blamed for last year's failed coup, state media reported.

Birol Erdem, a former senior justice ministry official, was released under judicial supervision which means he should still face trial, a date for which has yet to be set.

He had been taken into custody in Ankara earlier this month along with his wife Gulumser Erdem.

Unlike her husband, she was, however, placed under arrest by an Ankara court ahead of trial, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Erdem, who was questioned for three days, had been accused of seeking to violate the constitution and being a leader of "an armed terror group".

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to wipe out Gulen's influence in Turkey after the failed July 15 coup seeking to oust him from power. Gulen denies any involvement in the coup.

A state of emergency declared days after the coup has since seen about 50,000 people arrested and over 100,000 lose their jobs, the biggest purge in the country's modern history.

But there has been criticism the purge has touched few at the heart of power and Erdem was one of very few top civilian officials to have been detained.

Reports at the time said Erdem was detained after other suspects had named him in their testimonies.

In a separate development, the son-in-law of Istanbul mayor Kadir Topbas, Omer Faruk Kavurmaci, was detained again by police on suspicion of business links to Gulen.

Kavurmaci had been detained in October but was released in May on health grounds as he suffers from epilepsy. This had sparked angry claims he had benefited from nepotistic and preferential treatment.

Once cheering diversity, Istanbul braces for Pride Week

ISTANBUL (AP) — For several years, Pride Week in Istanbul attracted tens of thousands of participants, making it one of largest gatherings celebrating gay, lesbian and transgender rights and diversity in the Muslim world.

That changed suddenly two years ago, when authorities, citing security concerns, banned gay and transgender pride events and chased away shocked participants assembling at central Taksim Square with tear gas and water cannons.

The reversal, activists say, coincides with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shedding his reformist past, taking an increasingly authoritarian line and raising Islam's profile in the officially-secular country. In his early years in office, Erdogan —then prime minister — had worked to advance minority rights as part of efforts to join the European Union.

Unlike other Muslim countries, homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey. However, lesbian, gay, transgender activists say they lack legal protections and face widespread social stigma in the nation that is heavily influenced by conservative and religious values.

The Pride Week events and parade, held in Istanbul since 2003, allowed the LGBTI community to try and break the stigma and assert rights, including demands for explicit bans on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. More at link.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5304880-cheering-diversity-istanbul-braces-pride-week.html#.1258-stage-hero1-3

Unlike other Muslim countries, homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey.

Sadly, it's probably just a matter of time before it becomes a crime.

Turkey bans Istanbul Pride, organizers vow to march anyway

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish authorities announced Saturday they will not allow the Istanbul Pride march to take place on Sunday — the third year in a row the celebration has been banned. The move prompted criticism from rights groups and fears of possible violence, as Pride organizers said they would defy the ban.

For more than a decade, the Istanbul Pride has attracted tens of thousands of participants, making it one of largest gatherings celebrating gay, lesbian and transgender rights and diversity in the Muslim world.

Unlike other Muslim countries, homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey. However, lesbian, gay and transgender activists say they lack legal protections and face widespread social stigma in the nation that is heavily influenced by conservative and religious values.

The Istanbul governor's office said the Pride march would be banned to keep public order and for the safety of participants and tourists. It said the area around central Taksim Square, where the march begins, was not designated for demonstrations. More at link.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5304880-turkey-bans-istanbul-pride-organizers-vow-to-march.html#.1258-stage-hero1-1

They're very brave, challenging Erdogan so publicly. I hope he doesn't turn his thugs loose on them.

Erdogan rejects Arab demands; Turkish troops stay in Qatar.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's president on Sunday rejected a demand by major Arab states to remove Turkish troops from Qatar, saying their sweeping list of ultimatums has threatened the small Gulf country's sovereignty.

Speaking after Eid prayers in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the demand "disrespectful" and said Turkey would not seek permission from others when making its defense cooperation agreements.

"Demanding that Turkey pull its soldiers is unfortunately also disrespectful toward Turkey," he said. He said Turkey would continue to support Qatar against the many sanctions it has faced since several Arab countries moved earlier this month to isolate the country for its alleged support of terrorism.

In a sign of support, the Turkish parliament swiftly ratified a 2014 agreement with Qatar earlier this month, allowing the deployment of troops to its base there. The military said a contingent of 23 soldiers reached Doha on Thursday.

Erdogan said he made a similar offer to Saudi Arabia to set up a base there in the past but did not hear back from the king. Doha received a 13-point list from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain that included demands to shut down the media network Al-Jazeera and cut ties with Islamist groups including the Muslim Brotherhood. The energy-rich country said it was reviewing the ultimatum but added it would not negotiate under siege.

Turkey's president said his country "admires and embraces" Qatar's attitude, while slamming the demands by arguing they contradict international law. "Here we see an attack against a state's sovereignty rights," Erdogan said.

Erdogan called the demand that Qatar shut down Al-Jazeera an attempt to take away the network's press freedom and urged rights groups to speak out against that.

Interesting, LL. It really was beyond foolish of Trump to so publicly embrace the Saudis, world's biggest exporters of Wahhabist terror.

If it ever came to a showdown, I'd put my money on Turkey/Iran/Russia. The Saudis are only capable of bombing Yemeni peasants, and the US, for all its fancy hardware and bombast, can't defeat a bunch of Afghani goat herders in flip-flops.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/821150/Istanbul-Turkey-gay-pride-march-LGBT-shots-fired

BREAKING: Police fire shots at Turkish gay pride march after supporters defy banning order

POLICE have opened fire on a gay pride march after LGBT supporters defied a banning order aimed at ‘protecting’ them from hardcore nationalists.

Armed police fired rubber bullets and fired tear gas at marchers as they came through Istanbul, in Turkey.

The LGBT event had been banned after nationalists had threatened them with violence.

This year is the second year in a row Istanbul's governor has banned the march, citing security concerns after threats from ultra-nationalist groups...etc

Erdogan's brawling bodyguards told to stay away from Hamburg G20.

After several of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's bodyguards assaulted demonstrators in Washington, Berlin has told the Turkish leader his paid thugs aren't welcome in Hamburg in July.

“Those bodyguards will not accompany the Turkish President to Hamburg [for the G20 summit],” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schäfer on Monday, referring to nine Turkish security officials and three Turkish policemen who attacked demonstrators in the US capital in May.

US authorities have issued arrest warrants for all twelve men.

The assaults took place outside the Turkish embassy in Washington where demonstrators had gathered to protest during a meeting between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump.

Nine people were injured in the attack.

Erdogan has reacted furiously against the arrest warrants, claiming that he was not sufficiently protected by US police.

Welt am Sonntag reported at the weekend that Germany had made clear to the Turkish government that none of the men being sought by the US were welcome in Germany for the G20 summit, which will be held in Hamburg on July 7th-8th.

The request was sent after Turkish authorities handed a list of 50 people who would accompany Erdogan to German authorities, including several people for whom US authorities have ordered arrest warrants. Berlin was determined to avoid similar scenes of violence, the weekly paper reported.

Erdogan wants to address rally in Germany

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's foreign minister says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked permission to hold a rally to address Turks in Germany on the sidelines of the upcoming G-20 meeting in Hamburg, a request that could further inflame tensions between Berlin and Ankara.

The dpa news agency reported Thursday that Sigmar Gabriel said, while on a trip to Russia, that Turkey had officially requested permission for Erdogan to make the appearance while in Germany for the July 7-8 summit. It wasn't clear whether permission would be granted.

German local authorities' banning of campaign rallies by Turkish ministers earlier this year contributed to tensions between the two countries, which were also inflamed by other issues like Turkey's jailing of two German journalists.

I suspect Germany may be a bit reluctant to give permission, given their previous experiences with dictatorial demagogues and large crowds.....

Germany denies permission for Erdogan rally on G-20 visit.

BERLIN (AP) — Germany will deny permission for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to address Turks at a rally when he visits for the upcoming Group of 20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany's foreign minister said Thursday.

Turkey officially requested permission Wednesday for Erdogan to make the appearance while in Germany for the July 7-8 summit, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said during a trip to Russia. Gabriel said he had told his Turkish counterpart weeks ago that "we don't think this is a good idea."

"We are telling Turkey that we are convinced such an appearance in Germany is not possible," Gabriel said, according to news agency dpa. Earlier Thursday, Gabriel said that "Mr. Erdogan is an important guest at the G-20 and will be received with all honors by us there. But we believe everything that goes beyond that is inappropriate at this point in time."

He pointed to stretched police resources around the G-20 summit as well as Germany's current tensions with Turkey. Erdogan last addressed supporters in Germany in May 2015. Germany has a large ethnic Turkish minority.

Earlier this year, Erdogan accused Germany, and Chancellor Angela Merkel, of "committing Nazi practices" after some local authorities blocked appearances by Turkish ministers hoping to campaign in Germany ahead of Turkey's referendum on expanding presidential powers.

Relations between the two countries have been frayed by a widening range of other issues, including Turkey's jailing of two German journalists.