News Scan

News Scan for Turkey, August 31st, 2017

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Turkey, Iran furious over Kirkuk’s participation in independence referendum

Iran joined warnings issued by Turkey over plans by the local administration of the Iraqi province of Kirkuk to take part in next month’s Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) independence referendum, saying it is “wrong, provocative and unacceptable.”

On Aug. 30, Tehran said “the Kirkuk council’s decision to take part in the Kurdistan region’s referendum is wrong, provocative and unacceptable.” A statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the referendum as “dangerous,” adding that it had been rejected by the Iraqi central government, the United Nations, many countries in the region and beyond.

“[The referendum] does not help recent dialogue in Baghdad to resolve existing issues and will affect Iraq’s national capacity and power in stabilizing that country’s victories over terrorism,” the statement quoted ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi as saying. “The Islamic Republic of Iran warns against this wrong decision, which is a clear breach of Iraq’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty, stressing again that … any measure creating new crises in the region and borders of Iraq’s neighbors will be intolerable,” it added.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-iran-furious-over-kirkuks-participation-in-independence-referendum—.aspx?pageID=238&nID=117399&NewsCatID=338

Over a billion Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha with joy

Friday marks the End al-Adha, or Qurban Bayram as it is known in Turkey, a Muslim holiday when animals are ritually sacrificed and their meat delivered to the poor.
The festival starts with prayers at dawn when over a billion Muslims fill mosques across the globe.

https://www.dailysabah.com/gallery/life/over-a-billion-muslims-around-the-world-celebrate-eid-al-adha-with-joy

14 more journalists got arrested in Turkey in August

During the ‘Justice Duty Meeting’ held in front of Çağlayan Courthouse of İstanbul, lawmaker Barış Yarkadaş from Turkey’s main opposition party CHP (Republican People’s Party) read his party’s report on rights violations related to press freedom in the month of August.

Talking to journalists in Çağlayan on Wednesday (August 31), Yarkadaş said: “Journalists in Turkey have been put into a situation where they cannot even breathe”.

33 journalists were taken into custody and 14 of them have been arrested just in the month of August, Yarkadaş said, adding, “The AKP government is trying to lock the truth, along with journalists, in cells. Howevever, truth is stubborn; even if you try hiding it, there will always be journalists who make them heard by the people”.

http://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/14-more-journalists-got-arrested-in-turkey-in-august-177414.html

Turkish aid agency dispatches aid to Rohingya Muslims

A Turkish aid agency has dispatched humanitarian aid to Rohingya Muslims following the reports of mass civilian casualties and displacements in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) distributed food packages among 300 families. It also sent tents for 200 families and kitchen materials (plates, glasses, pots and buckets) for another 200 families, according to a statement by the foundation. The IHH teams have also prepared more food packages and other stuffs for 200 more affected families.

Violence erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine State on Aug. 25 when the country’s security forces launched an operation against Rohingya Muslim community. It triggered a fresh influx of refugees towards neighboring Bangladesh though the country sealed off its border for the refugees.

http://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/turkish-aid-agency-dispatches-aid-to-rohingya-muslims-2788548

Merkel conveys Germany’s veto on Customs Union update with Turkey to Juncker

German Chancellor Angela Merkel informed European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Aug. 30 that her country would veto an update of the Customs Union agreement with Turkey, daily Hürriyet has learned.

One day before their meetings in Berlin, Merkel announced they will convey the German government’s position to Juncker regarding the Customs Union issue. Merkel said on Aug. 29 that there would not be any progress with Turkey even in trade relations, if the rule of law was not guaranteed in the country. Good ties are “linked to respect for the rule of law and this is not guaranteed right now in Turkey,” she said. Germany has issued new travel advice for its citizens and is blocking talks on expanding the EU Customs Union with Turkey. “I do not see a mandate to expand the Customs Union in the current circumstances,” Merkel said.

Merkel also reiterated Germany’s demand for Turkey to free journalists and rights workers from custody, including Die Welt daily correspondent Deniz Yücel.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/merkel-conveys-germanys-veto-on-customs-union-update-with-turkey-to-juncker.aspx?pageID=238&nID=117422&NewsCatID=351

31.08.2017
compiled by Editor BTT

This is a news-scan from major Turkish papers and internet sites. However, we do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.

 

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