Turkey - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Turkey

Turkey

November 11, 2026

Ankara 9:27 pm

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People walk past a Bitcoin sign at the entrance of a cryptocurrency exchange office on Nov. 8, 2024, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Watchdog urges Turkey to tighten digital asset rules for $144B crypto economy

A review of Turkey’s crypto-asset regulations by the Financial Stability Board acknowledged significant progress made by local authorities but called for further measures to address potential risks.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Central Bank Governor Sahap Kavcioglu attend a signing ceremony with Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Nov. 24, 2021. ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s banking watchdog chief submits resignation amid fund scandal

Turkey’s government is facing growing criticism over regulators’ failure to prevent a fund scandal involving more than $20 billion.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Explainer

Iran war pushes up coal use, complicating Turkey’s COP31 pledge

Turkey is asking world leaders at COP31 to back a global push to use more electricity, even as the Iran war has driven up natural gas prices and pushed some power producers back to coal.

Latest News

Turkey bars MP’s wife from travel after his fund scandal criticism: What to know

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Steel factory explosion in western Turkey kills at least 16

A steel worker works in front of giant iron melting pot in Kardemir Iron and Steel Factory in Karabuk, northwestern Turkey, Aug. 26 2005. (TARIK TINAZAY/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Will Democrats block Trump’s push to deliver Turkey F-35s, lift sanctions?

MEHMET ESER/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

How Yemeni Coffee Reaches American Cups

Yemeni farmers preserve a coffee industry that dates back to ancient times to transform beans from the mountains of Haraaz into coffee sold in trendy coffee shops in North America.

Palestinian women watch their neighbours as they bake bread in a clay oven inside their dwelling in Beit Lahiya, near the border between Israel and northern Gaza Strip April 7, 2013. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: SOCIETY POVERTY) - RTXYC6N

Gaza's Extreme Poor Face Social Stigma

Already humiliated for relying on UN food rations, Gaza's extreme poor also find themselves ostracized from other parts of society.

Riot police officers run after demonstrators on Istiklal Street in central Istanbul July 13, 2013. Turkish police fired water cannon and tear gas on Saturday to disperse hundreds of protesters who gathered to march to Gezi Park, which has been at the heart of fierce unrest against Prime Minister Erdogan's rule. Protesters scattered, running into sidestreets where police pursued them, before starting to regroup on Istiklal Street, metres from the main Taksim Square. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITI

Turkey's 'Massive' Rights Crimes At Gezi Protests Cited by Amnesty

In a detailed study on Turkey's recent urban unrest, the international human rights body Amnesty International reports widespread abuse by authorities.

Turkish Parliament convene for a debate after a summer recess in Ankara October 1, 2013. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3FH3D

The Democratization Package That Missed the Point

Ersan Sen, a well-known lawyer, argues that the government’s democratization package missed the point because it did not offer any changes to political parties or the election law put into effect after the 1980 military coup.

Why Are 700 Greeks Praying In a Turkish Hotel?

Despite the Turkish government’s drive to renovate ancient churches, many religious shrines remain off-limits to Turkey’s non-Muslim communities.

Palestinian protesters throw stones at Israeli security forces during clashes in the West Bank city of Hebron September 27, 2013. Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem's Old City, the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank on Friday, reflecting growing tensions over an increase in Jewish visits to the al-Aqsa mosque. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST RELIGION) - RTX1426K

Volatile Hebron Could Derail Talks

Riddled with Israeli checkpoints and neglected by the Palestinian Authority, Hebron is a powder keg that could explode at any moment.

Pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-leader Gultan Kisanak listens to a question during an interview with Reuters in Ankara October 1, 2013. Turkey on Monday announced reforms seen as designed to salvage a peace process with Kurdish insurgents, including changes to the electoral system, broadening of language rights and permission for villages to to use their original Kurdish names. BDP said the proposals, presented by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, were not enough to satisfy Kurdish militants who

Mysterious Reform Package Disappoints Turks

The Turkish prime minister’s reform package has gotten mixed reactions.

Turkey’s Choice of Chinese Missiles Poses Problem for West

Washington is upset by Prime Minister Erdogan’s decision to enter into negotiations to purchase an air-defense system from a Chinese state company under sanctions by the United States.

People watch a television broadcasting the speech of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan at a coffee shop in Istanbul September 30, 2013. Turkey may reduce the threshold for a political party to enter parliament to 5 percent of the national vote, or even eliminate the barrier completely, Erdogan said on Monday. The current 10 percent threshold has kept pro-Kurdish groupings outside of parliament and a reform that may help advance a flagging peace process with Kurdish militants. In a major policy speech, E

Will 'Democratization Package' Restore Erdogan’s Reputation?

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s democratization package should help Turkey’s international standing, as long as it is implemented correctly.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses the media in Ankara September 30, 2013. Turkey will end a ban that bars women from wearing the Islamic-style headscarf in state institutions, part of the government's long-awaited package of proposed human-rights reforms, Erdogan said on Monday in a major policy speech. The new rules will not apply to the judiciary or the military. Muslim but secular Turkey has long had tough restrictions on the garb worn by women working in state offices. Erdogan also announc

Erdogan's Democratization Package A 'Silent Revolution'

Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan considers his democratization proposal essential to Turkey’s role as a democratic and free society.

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara June 11, 2013. Erdogan called on protesters to withdraw from central Istanbul's Gezi Park on Tuesday and said the anti-government demonstrations were part of a deliberate attempt to damage Turkey's image and economy. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX10JI0

Turkey Polls Oppose AKP Once Again

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) risks being labeled an “elitist” party, ignoring the preferences of its voters in foreign policy.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan waves as he leaves a news conference in Ankara September 30, 2013. Turkey will end a ban that bars women from wearing the Islamic-style headscarf in state institutions, part of the government's long-awaited package of proposed human-rights reforms, Erdogan said on Monday in a major policy speech. The new rules will not apply to the judiciary or the military. Muslim but secular Turkey has long had tough restrictions on the garb worn by women working in state offices. Erd

What Does Erdogan’s Democratization Package Offer Kurds, Minorities?

Will the democratization package solve Turkey’s key issues?