Prime Ministry

Turkey's Justice Ministry has submitted a request that parliament lift the immunities of the co-leaders of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in a move that is likely to presage further tension in an ongoing political row after President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an repeatedly called for Selahattin Demirta? and Figen Yüksekda? to face trial.

The Justice Ministry presented a summary of proceedings prepared in line with lifting the legal immunity of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs and three deputies to the Prime Ministry on March 4.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has issued a notice to speed up mainly local coal activities, published in the Official Gazette on Feb. 24. A board to monitor and coordinate energy investments in these areas has also be opened in line with the notice. 

Is it not rather strange? Since the June elections, the country has been losing lives in dozens to terrorism, boosting the popularity of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Why? Has Turkey turned into a pain-worshipping society?

In the heart of Ankara, just a few minutes' walk from Parliament, the old Prime Ministry building, the Interior Ministry of Efkan Ala, several other ministries and, unfortunately, the headquarters of the military forces of the country, some heinous terrorists were able to blow up a car bomb and kill and wound many people?

Two alleged people-smugglers are on trial in Turkey accused of causing the death of 3-year-old Syrian migrant boy Aylan Kurdi and four other people.

The image of the boy - his lifeless body lying face down on a beach in Bodrum - galvanized world attention on the refugee crisis, graphically illustrating the magnitude of the suffering and the treacherous journeys the migrants risk.

"I am laughing about Russia's approach," said President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an when answering Russian claims that Turkey is preparing a military operation in Syria.

Next day he was asked whether there could be a de-facto situation in Syria.

This is what he said:

Turkey's government has decided to enact legal measures to ensure human trafficking is treated as a terror crime, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmu? said Feb. 1.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu on Jan. 17 started a one-week European tour including London, Davos and Berlin, during which he will meet foreign investors and discuss counter-terrorism measures with European counterparts. 

An Istanbul court imposed a ban on reporting the investigation into the Jan. 12 attack in Turkey's largest city, including "all kinds of news, interviews, criticism and similar publications in print, visual, social media and all kinds of media on the Internet."