TURKEY: Soylu’s Parliamentary Immunity & more – 27th Aug 2024

th of August: 2024

On Wednesday the 21st, the Parliament rejected a request from Süleyman Soylu, the former Interior Minister and current deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party or AKP, to lift his parliamentary immunity. Back in July, he applied to lift his immunity, because he said he had been the target of lies and defamation, accusing him of being part of some crime syndicate. Soylu argued these efforts were aimed at creating public doubt and falsely suggested he was hiding behind his immunity, hence why he wanted it lifted. However, the Parliamentary speaker stated that no one accused Soylu of anything formally, so it was unnecessary to lift his immunity at the time. Upon this, Soylu urged those with actual evidence to bring it to court instead of spreading rumors.

Moving on… On Wednesday the 21st, Özgür Özel, the leader of the main opposition, the Republican People’s Party or CHP, shared an X-ray of his broken foot to counter rumors about the cause of his injury. The previous week, Özel was wearing a splint on his left foot after what the party described as an unfortunate accident. Özel later explained that he had injured his foot by falling down the stairs at his home.

ion believed to be behind the: 2016

On Wednesday the 22nd, a Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq killed three members of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which Turkey deems a terrorist organization. However, Iraqi Kurdistan's Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani later stated that two of the victims were journalists, not PKK members, calling the attack unjustified and a violation of international law and Iraq’s sovereignty. Turkey has yet to comment on the incident.

ey severed ties with Syria in: 2011

i Park trial convict. Back in: 2022

In: 2019

On to some environmental news… Hundreds of dead fish of various sizes have recently washed ashore on the Bayraklı coast of İzmir, causing odor pollution and waste buildup. Municipality teams have been working day and night to collect the fish, but more continue to appear. The Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry is investigating the matter. Experts shared several possible causes of the phenomenon, including oxygen deficiency and an increase in oxygen-consuming plankton due to extreme heat and pollution. Still, pollution might be the primary factor, not heat, and untreated wastewater from factories and concrete-lined streams might be responsible for the environmental degradation in the Gulf of İzmir.

On another note… On Thursday the 22nd, the Ankara Provincial Health Directorate denied rumors of quarantines for suspected Monkeypox cases in the city. This response came after SözcüTV, an opposition channel, reported that a patient at Ankara Etlik City Hospital was quarantined on suspicion of the disease, with three more suspected cases at Bilkent City Hospital. Monkeypox, which can spread through rodents or close contact with an infected person, typically causes symptoms like high fever and skin blisters.

The Directorate clarified that no quarantines were in place for suspected cases and called SözcüTV’s comments baseless, accusing them of causing unnecessary panic. The Health Ministry confirmed that the patients’ tests came back negative for Monkeypox, identifying the illnesses as scabies and hand-foot disease.

More on public health… The Kars Family Court supported a family that refused the heel prick blood test for their newborn, which is part of the Health Ministry’s Newborn Screening Program. This test checks for serious diseases like brain damage and intellectual disabilities using a few drops of blood. Despite doctors' advice, the family declined the test. Judge Muhammed Koç backed the family, citing unproven benefits and referencing Aidin Salih, a self-described Islamic alternative physician, rather than medical experts. The Turkish Medical Association criticized the decision for disregarding scientific evidence. It also caused concern as the decision could be a precedent for others to refuse such practices. However, on Friday the 23rd, the Health Ministry appealed the ruling, reaffirming its commitment to the screening program.

In other news… The Ministry of National Education’s decision to reject free school meals due to a lack of resources has sparked criticism from educators and parents. The Istanbul School Meal Coalition highlights that a quarter of school-aged children go to school hungry, affecting their health and academic performance. The coalition urges stronger policies to ensure healthy nutrition for students, arguing that free school meals could reduce the impact of child poverty and boost attendance.

s for non-smoking inmates. In: 2019

After appealing to the Turkish Human Rights and Equality Institution, an investigation revealed that the prison, struggling with overcrowding, couldn’t open new non-smoking wards. However, the institution found that denying the inmate’s request violated his rights, emphasizing that prisoners shouldn’t have to endure unhealthy conditions that compromise their physical and mental well-being.

On Saturday the 24th, heavy rainfall caused flash floods and landslides across six provinces. Unfortunately, the floods claimed two lives.

The floods also damaged agricultural fields, blocked roads, and caused rock fragments to damage vehicles. Kahramanmaraş experienced rainfall of three inches per square meter in just ten minutes —which is a lot, since four inches of rain in a day is typically considered heavy rainfall.

And to close this edition, some updates on tourism… Over the past few years, many alcohol-licensed businesses in Amasya have been shutting down, including the long-standing Ali Kaya Restaurant, which operated for seventy years. Tourism experts blame the city governor’s stance against these establishments, saying it is hurting local tourism. Recently, a coalition of pro-government groups called for even more closures, arguing that these businesses disrupt Amasya's spiritual atmosphere.

Some well-known spots like Grand Pasha and Strabon Bar have already closed, and the authorities forced Ali Kaya to shut down after they refused to renew its lease. Critics say these restrictions harm Amasya’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on hospitality and its cultural heritage.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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