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Image: Aris Messins/AFP/Getty ImagesImage: Aris Messins/AFP/Getty Images

Turkey

Turkey, a NATO member, is a strategically important country positioned at the crossroads between East and West. It was founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire in 1923.

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All Content on this topic

DW Quixplainer I Vorschaubild / Thema Agentengesetz

What's really behind 'foreign agent' laws?

Turkey is set to introduce a new law against foreign influence, following Russia's example.
PoliticsNovember 8, 202400:59 min
Meltem Özdem smiles as she looks out over the sky while standing in a hot air balloon that she is piloting.

Turkish female hot air balloon pilot is pioneer of the skies

Meltem Özdem found her dream job soaring over Cappadocia's volcanoes and mountains as a hot air balloon pilot.
SocietyNovember 4, 202404:53 min
DW Focus on Europe Sendungslogo

Focus on Europe — Spotlight on People

A new law in Georgia is sparking fear in the LGBTQ+ community.
SocietyOctober 31, 202426:04 min
Three flags of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fly at a rally

Turkey, the Kurds and the PKK

The PKK has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack in Ankara. Who is the PKK and what do they strive for?
PoliticsOctober 25, 2024
Soldiers carry a coffin draped in the Turkish flag as journalists take pictures

Turkey: Burials before possible talks with jailed PKK leader

Turkey has struck numerous PKK targets, amid reports PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan may be willing to lay down his arms.
PoliticsOctober 24, 2024
DW Podcast | Inside Europe | provisorisch f ROAD

Inside Europe 24 October 2024

Russia's airspace incursions spark calls for NATO action, Moldova's EU poll could impact Sandu's reelection, Gisele Pelicot tells of her ordeal in mass rape trial and Turkey awaits a new refugee crisis. Also: Georgia picks its next parliament, how Russia's war economy is fueling a housing crisis, Spanish football takes action against racism and Italy's plans for more wind and solar spark protests.
PoliticsOctober 24, 202455:00 min
Turkish police officers carrying guns stand near an armed personnel vehicle

Turkey blames Kurdish group for attack on defense firm

After an explosion rocked the headquarters of a state aerospace group near Ankara, ministers blame Kurdish militants.
CrimeOctober 23, 202401:54 min
Ambulances wait in line outside of Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. at the outskirts of Ankara

'Terrorist attack' hits Turkish aerospace firm near Ankara

Blast and gunfire were heard at the site of a major Turkish aerospace firm. A minister called it a "terrorist attack."
CrimeOctober 23, 2024
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, standing in front of a Turkish flag, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia

Turkey's BRICS ambitions: Is Erdogan gambling with the West?

This year's BRICS summit is also attended by Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government would like to join BRICS.
PoliticsOctober 23, 202403:27 min
Kurds in Greece hold up a banner with an image of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan

Turkey: Erdogan ally pitches release of jailed Kurd leader

Abdullah Ocalan, whose PKK launched an armed conflict with Turkey 40 years ago, has been jailed since 1999.
PoliticsOctober 22, 2024
Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen is pictured at his residence in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania in this December 28, 2004

Turkey's Fethullah Gulen: A cleric with political clout

Gulen, a former ally of the Turkish president turned archenemy who died Sunday, had been living in US exile since 1999.
PoliticsOctober 22, 2024
Fethullah Gulen

Turkish exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen dies aged 83

Gulen was a US-based Muslim cleric who the Turkish government had accused of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016.
PoliticsOctober 21, 2024
Women hold up posters

Turkey faces spate of brutal murders of women

Turkey has seen a wave of femicides in 2024. Women's rights groups say Erdogan's government is partly to blame.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands at their meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 19, 2024

Scholz defends arms sales to Turkey after Erdogan talks

Germany has lifted curbs on military exports that were imposed after Turkey's 2016 ground offensive in northern Syria.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2024
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Olaf Scholz walking side by side, unsmiling.

Germany's Olaf Scholz holds difficult talks in Turkey

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is traveling to Turkey for some difficult meetings. Migration and arms exports are on the agenda.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2024
Burek is a specialty consisting of a pastry filled with minced meat or cheese

Who makes the best burek? Turkey, Albania or Serbia?

A popular snack, burek or borek can be square or spiral and stuffed with mince meat, cheese or even nettles.
LifestyleOctober 15, 202405:14 min
An icon of the Discord social media platform

Discord: Why the messaging app is under scrutiny

Russia and Turkey have blocked the app, popular with the young, after accusing it of failing to remove illegal content.
TechnologyOctober 11, 2024
Bulent Mumay poses in his home in Istanbul, looking out a window

EU lawmakers urge Turkey to clear DW journalist Bulent Mumay

Veteran reporter Bulent Mumay refuses to live in fear, but a suspended jail sentence means he must watch his back.
PoliticsOctober 10, 2024
Discord logo is displayed in the Apple App Store

Turkey blocks Discord messaging platform

Authorities said the instant messaging platform had refused to hand over requested information over "criminal content."
Law and JusticeOctober 9, 2024
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking at a large pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul in October 2023

Iran-Israel: Will Turkey get involved?

Experts say that several factors make Turkey unlikely to enter the growing regional conflict.
PoliticsOctober 4, 2024
Crowd of protesters with banner

Turkey's crisis: Why is violence against children ignored?

The Turkish public has been shocked by the murder of an 8-year-old girl. But her case is by no means an isolated one.
SocietySeptember 29, 2024
DW Fokus Europa I Polen Hochwasser

Focus on Europe — Spotlight on People

In the wake of the floods in Poland, how are residents picking up the pieces?
SocietySeptember 26, 202426:04 min
A picture of Turkish President and the President of Sudan Omar Al-Bashir (C) tour in Port Sudan

How Turkey is competing with China for influence in Africa

Turkey increases its engagement in Africa, but finding a role among dominant players China and Russia is difficult.
BusinessSeptember 26, 2024
Close-up of a piece of baklava on a white plate. The baklava is garnished with a walnut.

Battle of the baklava — which country has the best?

You can find baklava — a delicious pastry — in countries like Bosnia and Hercegovina, and Turkey. But who does it best?
SocietySeptember 24, 202404:08 min
DW Euromaxx (Sendungslogo Composite)

Euromaxx — Lifestyle Europe

African-American designer Ini Archibong, London on a small budget, the sweet pastry baklava.
LifestyleSeptember 20, 202426:04 min
Hazem Raed, a Palestinian from Gaza living in Istanbul, is seen speaking on his cell phone in front of a Palestinian and Turkish flag

Israel-Hamas war: Can Turkey mediate in Gaza?

Turkey's Erdogan has pledged support for Palestinians. But how much leverage does he have? DW's Julia Hahn reports.
ConflictsSeptember 18, 202404:00 min
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan wave from the top of steps to a white airplane with a Turkish flag painted on it

Will Turkey's bid to join BRICS speed up EU accession?

Is Turkey's application to BRICS group a sign Ankara is moving away from the EU?
PoliticsSeptember 15, 2024
Protesters on the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, hold up signs commemorating Narin Güran

Protests erupt in Turkey over death of 8-year-old Narin

The death of Narin Guran case sparked protests calling for stronger actions to prevent violence against women and girls.
CrimeSeptember 9, 202401:42 min
Protesters hold portraits of eight-year-old Narin Guran, whose body was found after being missing for 19 days, during a protest at Kadikoy district in Istanbul

Turkey: Girl found dead after missing report sparks outrage

The body of an eight-year-old girl has been found in Turkey after a nationwide campaign saw big stars join the effort.
CrimeSeptember 9, 2024
Erdogan welcomes el-Sissi on the tarmac at Ankara's airport

Egypt's el-Sissi meets Erdogan on first visit to Turkey

After a decade of hostile ties, Cairo and Ankara want to restore relations and address regional and commercial issues.
PoliticsSeptember 4, 2024
Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi (left)

How the Gaza war is bringing Turkey and Egypt together

Turkish President Erdogan once called his Egyptian counterpart el-Sissi a "murderer" but now uses "brother" instead.
PoliticsSeptember 3, 2024
Members of press organizations hold slogans which read "Tolga will come out, he will write again" and "We are journalists" as they protest against the arrest of a Turkish journalist

Turkey's press freedom under immense pressure

In terms of press freedom, Turkey is ranked 158 out of 180 countries and is accused of undermining independent media.
PoliticsAugust 30, 202402:58 min
Journalist Bülent Mumay (L) interviewed by Michaela Küfner (R)

'They want to scare us,' says DW journo facing Turkey prison

Investigative journalist Bülent Mumay spoke to DW about Turkey's decision to uphold his prison sentence.
PoliticsAugust 30, 202403:27 min
DW Fokus Europa | Deutschland Türkei Döner

Is the döner kebab Turkish or German?

The Turkish Doner Federation is fighting with Germany over the doner kebab.
SocietyAugust 29, 202404:45 min
DW Fokus Europa | Schweden Gotland

Focus on Europe – Spotlight on People

Swedish authorities report that hundreds of tankers are traveling from St. Petersburg to India or China.
PoliticsAugust 29, 202426:04 min
Reporter Bülent Mumay.

Turkey: DW seeks constitutional court appeal for reporter

DW will seek to appeal Bülent Mumay's conviction for spreading "personal data," which he contends was journalistic work.
Press FreedomAugust 26, 2024
View of a boy in swimming trunks jumping into the Bosporus

Thousands swim between continents in iconic Istanbul race

The Bosporus Cross-Continental Swimming Race between Asia and Europe has been held annually since 1989.
SocietyAugust 25, 202402:18 min
A young woman in a long yellow skirt and sleeveless summer top speaks into a microphone held by a man in jeans, a black T-shirt and sunglasses. They are standing in a street with lots of shops and passers-by.

Turkey: Street interview arrest encourages self-censorship

Experts anticipate that more people will be arrested in future for expressing their opinions to the media in vox pops.
PoliticsAugust 24, 2024
Reporter Preis der Schönheit - Ärzte-Pfusch in der Türkei

The Turkish beauty industry's dark side

Cosmetic surgery in Turkey: Low price, high risk.
HealthAugust 21, 202417:29 min
People watch high rises surrounded by flames on Yamanlar Mountain in Karsiyaka, Izmir

High winds fuel wildfires in western Turkey

Fires also threatened the coastal city of Izmir, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes and businesses.
CatastropheAugust 18, 202401:59 min
Turkish deputies fight in Grand National Assembly

Turkey MPs brawl over jailed opposition lawmaker

An opposition lawmaker was repeatedly punched by ruling AKP deputies in a debate in the Turkish parliament.
PoliticsAugust 16, 2024
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire burning near Kumkoy, in Gallipoli peninsula, Turkey

Turkey wildfires threaten homes and war memorials

Firefighters are tackling blazes across Turkey, including one that threatened World War I graves at Gallipoli.
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 16, 2024
Police barrier tape on the banks of Istanbul on April 24, 2021

Turkey: Police arrest teenager over stabbing in cafe

The 18-year-old suspect appeared to have been influenced by a video game, according to Turkish state media.
Law and JusticeAugust 13, 2024
Fokus Europa Griechenland Strandliegen

Focus on Europe - Spotlight on People

Greece's beaches generate a lot of business during high season—leaving hardly any space for locals.
SocietyAugust 8, 202426:03 min
A woman checks her Instagram feed on her smartphone, in Berlin, Germany, on July 3, 2024

Turkey blocks Instagram after Haniyeh 'censorship' complaint

The move comes after Ankara accused Insta of removing posts about murdered Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.
PoliticsAugust 2, 2024
DW Podcast | Inside Europe

Inside Europe August 1 2024

France steps up security after the rail sabotage, our man in Paris reviews the Olympics' first week, swimming in the polluted Seine river and Turkey wants to cull millions of street dogs. Also: Belarus pardons a German man sentenced to death for terrorism, Italy's anti-abortion law riles rights groups, were the London 2012 Olympics value for money? And how Toledo is drawing crowds this summer.
PoliticsAugust 1, 202454:59 min
Animal rights activist Ahmet Caner Altay (R) sits next to a stray dog (L)

Turkey passes new law to round up stray dogs

Animal rights activists have been rallying for weeks against the bill. DW met one of them.
PoliticsJuly 30, 202402:56 min
A version of Kumpir, a baked potato filled with salad, cheese and vegetables, is photographed on a wall at the Port of Istanbul in Turkey.

Turkey's Kumpir baked potatoes are the ultimate street food

Kumpir is one of the most popular street foods in Istanbul. Here's how this hearty and tasty dish is made.
LifestyleJuly 30, 202404:54 min
DW Euromaxx (Sendungslogo Composite)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe

Joana Mallwitz is passionate about classical music; studying in Cambridge and the street food classic Kumpir.
LifestyleJuly 26, 202426:04 min
A black-and-white photo showing tanks parked outside parliament in Athens, two days after the coup d'etat on April 21, 1967. Apart from some parked cars, two men in uniform and a few civilians, the street is completely empty

Greece celebrates 50 years since restoration of democracy

On July 24, 1974, the military dictatorship that had ruled Greece for seven years collapsed and democracy was restored.
HistoryJuly 23, 2024