Fethullah Gulen
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Turkey and the Gulen movement
Erdogan seizes the school initiative
Since the attempted coup in Turkey, President Erdogan has been pressing foreign nations to hand over schools run by the Gulen movement. Although many countries have entrusted control of the schools to the Turkish Maarif Foundation, the controversial movement continues to enjoy protection. By Ulrich von Schwerin
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Turkeyʹs new constitution
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, twenty-first century Sultan
Turkey's new presidential system officially came into force on Monday, giving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan powers that no democratically elected leader of Turkey has ever had. The inauguration was preceded by another mass purge of the civil service. By Aram Ekin Duran
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Turkeyʹs election results
Erdogan and the three-way split
Following a tense run-up to the June 24 election, the Turkish people have once again delivered a fragmented result that reflects the countryʹs deep divisions. The only true winner is the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which – despite a relatively small share of the vote – now has critical influence in Parliament. Ayse Karabat reports from Istanbul
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Exiled Turks in Greece
Bridge-building in 'enemy country'
At school they were taught that the Greeks were their enemies. Now many Turks, driven into exile by Erdoganʹs aggressive policies, have found refuge in Thessaloniki, just five hours by road from Istanbul. Report by Florian Schmitz
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Countdown to the Turkish election
Erdogan beats the nationalist drum
Elected Mayor of Istanbul in 1994, Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged not blame Turkeyʹs problems on "outside powers, outside forces, or foreigners". Years later, with the weight of the presidency and a struggling currency upon him, that pledge is long gone. By Tom Stevenson
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Turkey's snap election
The calculus of alliances
The upcoming ballot in Turkey on 24 June will be a race between the People's Alliance, formed to keep Erdogan president, versus the Nation Alliance, which aims to beat him or at least win a parliamentary majority. The result, however, depends on a third party, the pro-Kurdish HDP. Ayse Karabat reports from Istanbul
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The Gulen movement and the failed coup in Turkey
Harmless is not the word
Since the attempted coup in Turkey in July 2016, the accusation that the Gulen movement was behind the failed putsch has met with scepticism in the West. A new book shows, however, that the movement was never just about dialogue and education, but has instead always sought to grasp the reins of state. By Ulrich Schwerin
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Release of German journalist Deniz Yucel
It′s not over yet
Die Welt correspondent Deniz Yucel has finally been freed after a year in custody, but this has done nothing to change the situation within the Turkish media and judiciary. Commentary by Ulrich von Schwerin
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U.S. policy on the Middle East
The imperial reflex
The United States believes it can enforce the policy of sanctions it has directed against Iran on the rest of the world as well. In no third country are the possible implications as grave as in Turkey, says Stefan Buchen in his analysis
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The Gulen movement in Turkey
Creating an elite to lead the state
The movement of Turkish imam Fethullah Gulen has relied on schools, educational institutions and clubs to expand to many countries. Many experts view the movement with scepticism, however. They claim that it has cult-like structures and is pursuing a secret agenda, only pretending to be an open-minded education initiative with a moderate take on Islam. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers Gulen public enemy number one. By Timur Tinc
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Turkish-U.S. relations
Erdogan's Machiavellian motives
The Turkish president and his AKP party are adept at switching sides. Now they're embracing Putin and damning the United States. Why? Because an up-coming trial in America could potentially compromise Erdogan. By Bulent Mumay
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The restructuring of Turkey
Filling the gap left by Gulen
The crushing of the Islamic Gulen movement has left a gaping void in Turkey that other organisations are now rushing to fill, with people jostling for the tens of thousands of now-vacant jobs. Conservative foundations and religious orders stand to benefit most from the sell-off. By Ulrich von Schwerin