Debate on the reporting of refugees by SPIEGEL: The case of Maria – DER SPIEGEL

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The Maria case – The Reappraisal In the summer, SPIEGEL published several articles about refugees at the border river Evros. We reported that a Syrian child had died because Greece had not provided assistance. After doubts arose, we went deep into the research again. 30/12/2022, 18:24 In the summer of 2022, DER SPIEGEL published three …

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How Universities on Cyprus Have Joined the Human Trafficking Game – InfoMigrants

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Even though the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has a population of merely 326,000, it boasts 21 universities which are largely only recognised by itself and by its big brother, Turkey.

The universities try to attract foreign students with degree programs, which often only serve as a pretext to get people much closer to the external borders of the EU.

Syrians at Greece border; “remarkable” changes by Turkish authorities – Enab Baladi

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The migration path has witnessed an unprecedented turn on the Turkish side since the beginning of last September in dealing with refugees seeking to reach Europe by land through the border line separating Greece. This coincided with the launch of calls to organize a campaign of mass migration to Europe called the “Caravan of Light.” …

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Turkey’s ‘culture war’: Anger grows as string of events cancelled | Al Jazeera

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It is the height of spring in Turkey, and with that comes a flurry of concerts and outdoor festivals to complement the pleasant weather.

But in recent weeks, a string of events have been cancelled by cities and districts run by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), leading critics and analysts to accuse the government of attempting to wage a “culture war” in the run-up to next year’s general elections.

Iran, Turkey brace for face-off in Syria – Al-Monitor

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Driven apart by clashing regional interests, Turkey and Iran appear headed for a face-off in Syria, with Tehran explicitly opposing Ankara’s plan for a fresh military operation against Kurdish-held areas, wary of risks to its own posture in the region.

Turkey has failed to get a green light from the United States to press ahead with the plan, while Russia appears to be stalling. The Iranians, meanwhile, have sent militia reinforcements to two Shiite settlements northwest of Aleppo, not far from a key area in Ankara’s crosshairs, while trying to talk Turkey out from making the move — apparently with little success thus far.

US-Backed Kurdish-Led Forces Say Ready to Coordinate With Syrian Army Against Turkey – VOA

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Any Turkish operation would attack the Kurdish YPG militia, a key part of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that controls large parts of north Syria and is regarded by Washington as an important ally against Islamic State. Ankara sees it as a terrorist group and extension of the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

A spokesman for the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) said Russia was reinforcing positions near Tal Rifaat, Manbij, the southern outskirts of Kobani, and Ain Issa – all towns within 40 kilometers of the Turkish border.

“Since the announcement of the operation, the Syrian regime and its Iranian militias have mobilized and [are] sending reinforcements to the YPG,” Major Youssef Hammoud told Reuters.

Double Standards Haunt US And Europe In NATO Dispute With Turkey – Analysis – Eurasia Review

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Kurdish rights hardly figure in the debates, and if they do, only as a prop for taking Turkey to task for its slide into authoritarianism.

An ethnic group spread across southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northern Syria, and western Iran, Kurds are seen at best as assets in the fight against the Islamic State and at worst a threat to Turkish security and territorial integrity. Turkey’s estimated 16 million Kurds account for up to 20 per cent of the country’s population.