Ömer Çelik

Turkey's ruling party on Aug. 15 criticized the deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize ties as a "political suicide" against the Palestinian cause.

It is also an attempt to eradicate a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine proposed by the international community, Ömer Çelik, spokesman for the AKP said on Twitter.

The issue of performing Islamic prayers at the Hagia Sophia next month was discussed at a meeting of the High Advisory Board of the Turkish presidency, as the status of the landmark historical structure is a widely debated subject in local politics.

The debate over the possible reopening of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Museum as a mosque has turned into a domestic political row between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), an MP for the latter has said.

The debate over the possible reopening of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Museum as a mosque has turned into a domestic political row between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), an MP for the latter has said.

Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on June 7 condemned the hanging of a Byzantine flag over a mosque in Greek Cyprus.

Turkey's ruling party spokesman on June 3 hailed demands for equality as anti-racist protests continue in the country after the killing of African-American man George Floyd. 

Turkey is against all groups trying to turn legitimate protests in the US violent and bring public order under their destructive influence, said Ömer Çelik, spokesman for the AKP, after a party board meeting. 

A suspect who sent a death threat to the Hrant Dink Foundation has been arrested, according to local media reports.

The suspect, identified only by the initials H.A., was detained on May 30.

Turkey's interior ministry on May 30 said that H.A. and an assailant who ripped off a cross outside an Armenian church in Istanbul were detained.

A suspect who sent a death threat to the Hrant Dink Foundation and an assailant who ripped off a cross outside an Armenian church in Istanbul have been detained, Turkey's interior minister said on May 30.

In last two days, unknown persons in Turkey have hacked mosques' digital audio systems in the coastal city of Izmir and played the anti-fascist song Ciao Bella and other songs with revolutionary messages.

After videos of the stunt were widely shared, Izmir police announced that they had started an investigation on Thursday and detained several people for insulting religion.

Any attack on Turkish missions in Libya by Khalifa Haftar's forces can expect a military response, the country's ruling party spokesman warned the renegade warlord on May 12.