All News on Social Issues in Turkey
Smugglers blamed for eight migrant deaths
An inflatable speedboat with 26 migrants crashed during a chase by the Hellenic Coast Guard off Rhodes Friday, killing eight and seriously injuring three in the second fatal incident involving migrants within a week.
Turkey: Head of Religious Affairs Directorate condemned New Year celebrations, lotteries, alcohol, drugs & homosexuality
The head of Turkey’s powerful religious affairs directorate Ali Erbas lauded against attitudes and celebrations that he claimed were not in line with the values of Islam in his Friday sermon at Hagia Sophia.
The warm Turkish welcome for refugees is ending and Syrians are worried
GAZIANTEP - Turkey gained renown as a haven for refugees by welcoming more than 3 million Syrians fleeing violence between forces from Bashar Assad 's government and a patchwork of rebel groups.
7,600 Syrians returned via Turkish borders since Assad’s fall
More than 7,600 Syrian migrants crossed the Turkish border to return home in the five days after the fall of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has announced.
Yerlikaya listed the total number of Syrians "who returned voluntarily from Türkiye" each day between Dec. 9 and 13, with the five-day figure totaling 7,621 migrants.
Samaras attacks gov’t, again
In his first public comments since being expelled from the New Democracy party, former Greek PM Antonis Samaras launched a fierce attack on the government, particularly its foreign policy.
Türkiye reopens border post to facilitate return of Syrians
Türkiye has reopened a border crossing in the Hatay province on Türkiye's southern frontier with Syria to facilitate the return of refugees after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced.
Erdogan: We are opening the border with Syria at Hatay to facilitate refugee returns
Speaking about the monumental developments in Syria, Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the media following the Turkish cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon. He expressed hope that refugee returns to the neighboring country would increase.
Syria: Ankara and UN discuss transitional process in the country and steps for its reconstruction
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the transitional period in Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad‘s regime by rebels and the potential steps for the country’s
Turkey to work for Syrian migrants to return home safely, minister says
Turkey will work for the safe and voluntary return home of the Syrian migrants it hosts and will help in the reconstruction of Syria after President Bashar al-Assad's sudden ouster by rebels, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday.
UNHCR expresses concern over rise in fatal migrant shipwrecks
The United Nations refugee agency has voiced concern at a rise in deaths of migrants trying to reach Greece by sea in small boats from Turkey, following two fatal shipwrecks this week.
The UNHCR said in a statement Friday that 17 people have died in such accidents this month, while the total so far this year is at least 45 deaths.
Turkish drug and arms gang arrested close to Athens
Greek police have arrested 11 Turkish nationals on suspicion of trafficking drugs and illegal arms in Greece and other parts of Europe.
Undercover police, supported by officers from other units, conducted an operation in three areas on the outskirts of Athens - Dafni, Porto Rafti, and Anavysso - resulting in the arrest of the 11 smugglers.
Two children among four killed in new migrant boat wreck off Samos
A boat carrying an unknown number of migrants from Turkey to Greece floundered on rocks off Samos on Thursday morning, killing four passengers, identified as two children and two women.
This was the second deadly shipwreck to take place off the eastern Aegean island this week, after another boat sank in the area on Monday, causing the death of another six children and two women.
Humanity never been so close to ‘clash of civilizations,’ Fidan says
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that humanity has never been so close to the "clash of civilizations," adding that this is "a warning for humanity."
"We have never been this close to the clash of civilizations in real terms, there is a warning for humanity," said Fidan during his address at the 10th U.N. Alliance of Civilization Initiative Meeting in Portugal.
Stylianides on Samos shipwreck: ‘The actions of human traffickers are criminal’
The Minister of Maritime Affairs Christos Stylianides expressed his sorrow for the deaths of six children and two women at a migrant shipwreck off Samos.
Smuggler or passenger? Tara makes her case
On December 17, a Greek court will try Iranian Tara M., 26, accused of aiding a smuggling operation in August involving 77 migrants stranded at sea en route from Turkey to Italy.