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

International Arab Book Fair emerges as platform for Islamist axis, Hamas support

During the event, the secretary general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), a Muslim Brotherhood organization operating from Qatar, called for aid to be transferred to Gaza.

AUGUST 16, 2026ByANNA BARSKY
People visit the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair at the Qatari capital's exhibition and convention center, on May 15, 2026.

Police detain opposition mayor in Turkish Ankara district in dawn raid over corruption claims

The opposition has rejected a wave of accusations since 2024 and says the investigations are politically motivated. The government says the judiciary is independent.

JULY 30, 2026ByREUTERS
A full moon rises behind the Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey, July 29, 2026.

'Murderer NATO': Over 100 anti-NATO protesters detained in Turkey ahead of Ankara summit

Footage showed flag-waving protesters chanting slogans including "Murderer NATO, get out of the country" and "No passage to NATO," as riot police intervened using tear gas to disperse crowds.

JULY 6, 2026ByREUTERS
Protestors hold signs and wave flags during an anti-NATO demonstration in Istanbul, ahead of a NATO summit, on July 5, 2026.

Turkey's LGBT crackdown rooted in Erdogan's conservative religious push, experts tell 'Post'

The comments followed over 50 detentions at banned Istanbul Pride and after Turkish officials denied docking permission to a long-planned LGBT cruise.

JULY 5, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Protesters hold up Pride flags as they stand in front of riot police officers in Izmir, Turkey, on June 27, 2026.

Turkish comedian jailed pending trial over alleged insults to Erdogan, religious values

The performance quickly went viral online, and attracted more than nine million views on YouTube as of Friday, with clips spreading widely across X/Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms

JULY 3, 2026ByREUTERS
Turkish President and Leader of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses to the party members during the AK Party Group Meeting at the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye in Ankara, Turkiye on February 25, 2026.

The guard outside the synagogue - opinion

Our guard stands in the cold, gives up holidays with his family, and carries a responsibility he never chose. When tragedy comes, men like him are often the first line of defense.

JUNE 14, 2026ByMENDY CHITRIK
Rare medieval Sefardi Torah scroll from the late 13th or early 14th century on display at ANU, Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv.

Turkey’s democracy is dying as Erdogan dismantles opposition - opinion

A court ruling targeting the CHP shows how Turkey's institutions now serve power rather than democratic change.

JUNE 3, 2026BySINAN CIDDI
TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Turkey’s irredentist policies, from its actions in Cyprus to its growing involvement in Syria, highlight a policy of territorial expansion and ethnic dominance, the writer maintains.

Israeli-Turkish woman arrested in Turkey over IDF service rescued following US intervention

Jessica Becher, 28, was arrested in Turkey after Islamist groups targeted her for her IDF service. Following US intervention, she was rescued and returned to Israel under Israeli security protection.

APRIL 29, 2026ByJAMES GENN
Israeli-Turkish woman Jessica Becher, who was detained while visiting her family in Istanbul.

Gunmen open fire near Israeli consulate in Istanbul in possible ISIS-linked attack

A spokesperson for Israel's Foreign Ministry told The Jerusalem Post that the consulate is not staffed. One gunman was killed, and two police officers were injured, Turkish authorities confirmed.

APRIL 7, 2026ByMATHILDA HELLER, JAMES GENN, REUTERS
Police work at the scene, after gunfire was heard near the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, April 7, 2026.

'I am Turkish, I am a woman, and I support Israel': Inside Turku Avci's journey

Turku Avci shares her journey of resistance, standing firm in her support for Israel amid mounting threats.

MARCH 14, 2026ByTURKU AVCI
SHE HAS now chosen to live in Israel, studying political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Pictured: At the Western Wall, before the war.