December 2016

Claim: Turkish army reduces town to ruins

2016-12-23 07:38 GMT
Posted in:
Kurdish Issue
The town of Sirnak, a center of recent security operations
English

On 20 December 2016, Middle East Eye published an article entitled ‘How the Turkish army and Kurdish fighters reduced this town to ruins.’ The article, written by Alex MacDonald and Murat Bayram, neglects to provide relevant background information when discussing the consequences of security operations aimed at ending violence in Turkey’s south-east.

Claim: Opposition party offices under attack

2016-12-22 08:41 GMT
Posted in:
Kurdish Issue
Turkish police prevented further attacks on opposition party offices
English

Agence France-Presse (AFP) published an article entitled "Turkey holds nine over ‘revenge attacks’ on pro-Kurdish party" on 19 December 2016. The article contains a number of factual inaccuracies, neglects to mention the context in which attacks on political party offices have taken place, and fails to mention the efforts of authorities to curb further attacks.

Claim: Turkey worse since corruption probe

2016-12-20 08:19 GMT
Posted in:
Domestic Politics
Prosecutors Zekeriya Oz and Celal Kara, believed to be members of FETO
English

An article written by Behzad Fatmi entitled ‘Three years since the disclosure of corruption probe in Turkey: How has the country changed for worse?’ was published on Vocal Europe on 18 December 2016. The article purports to analyse the situation in Turkey in light of the ongoing judicial investigations centered on illegal formations within the state apparatus.

Claim: Istanbul bomber unknown

2016-12-16 11:43 GMT
Posted in:
Kurdish Issue
Twin bombings ripped through downtown Istanbul on the evening of 10 December 2016
English
On 11 December 2016, Patrick Cockburn wrote in the Independent that the organisation responsible for the 10 December 2016 twin bombing in Istanbul is unknown. Casting doubt on the Turkish government’s attribution of the attack to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Cockburn hints that the Turkish government may be blaming the PKK at the expense of other terrorist organisations.

Editorial: Independent shirks attributing responsibility for terror attacks

2016-12-16 11:30 GMT
Posted in:
Kurdish Issue
Twin bombings ripped through downtown Istanbul on the evening of 10 December 2016
English
The Independent published an editorial entitled ‘How Turkey reacts to the terror attack in Istanbul will set a course for the Middle East’ on December 11, 2016. The editorial shirks attributing responsibility to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) for the 10 December 2016 double bombing in Istanbul in which 44 people died.
 

Claim: Turkey engaging in ‘counter-coup’

2016-12-06 08:26 GMT
Posted in:
Failed Coup
Guardian claims Turkey is engaging in a ‘counter-coup’
English
In an editorial entitled ‘The Guardian view on Turkey’s repression: stop this stalemate,' the Guardian made a number of claims regarding the current situation in Turkey. Arguing that “post-coup crackdowns in Turkey” are wrong and risk putting relations with Europe in jeopardy, the Guardian is neglecting the fact that current situation in Turkey should be analyzed in context of the July 15 failed coup attempt and Turkey's struggle against terrorism.

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