Be Careful What You Wish For...

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 27 February 2014)

//ed.note: in a related development...
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/arts/television/jim-lange-genial-host-of-dating-game-dies-at-81.html?hpw&rref=obituaries&_r=0


Bachelor Number 1's bilingual plea.

In Manisa's Demirci district, Natıf Erdoğmuş
has wanted to get married for the past 20 years
but without success. His solution has been to
travel from city to city wearing a poster
advertising his desire.

Most recently, Erdoğmuş reached Izmir, where
he explained that "while people my age have kids,
I'm spending my life alone. I don't want a lot, I
just want to get married."

American With an Archeologic Conscience

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 February 2014)


Kidnapped amphoras back home - no ransom paid.

Good news has come from the USA in regard to
the Culture and Tourism Ministry's efforts to
regain historical treasures stolen from Anatolia.

An American named Rick O'Ryan came to the
Turkish cultural attache's office in Washington
and explained how impressed he has been with
Turkey's efforts in recent years to reclaim its
historical treasures.

It turns out that Rick's father William O'Ryan
worked in Turkey in the early 1950's and took
two historical amphoras with him when he returned
to the USA.  Rick wanted to give them back to
Turkey.

Ministry experts went to America to study the
amphoras and determined that they are originals
from the late Eastern Roman period, circa 8 A.D.
The experts contacted O'Ryan and thanked him
for his good will gesture. 

The two amphoras have been speedily repatriated
to their homeland and under safekeeping at the
Anatolian Civilizations Museum Directorate in
Ankara.

Thieves Sell More to Steal More

Türkçe links to original Turkish article.

(Sabah Newspaper, 25 February 2014)


Got to admire the work ethic...

In Şişli, Istanbul, two suspects who entered a market
intending to rob it, found the take too paltry so they
locked the counterman in the depo and sold goods
themselves.

The robbers at first threatened counterman M.B.
with a knife and told him to hand over the money in
the cash register. M.B. resisted so the thieves cut him
lightly on his arm and threw him into the depo.

Realizing that the amount of money in the register was
meager, the two suspects got behind the counter
themselves and began selling items to incoming customers.
Soon afterwards they took the accumulated loot and fled.

M.B. was able to free himself from the depo and called
police, who came and viewed the store's surveillance
video.  The police recognized one of the robbers as I.M.,
who had worked at another store on the same street last
year.  I.M. and his accomplice were processed at the
police station and arrested.

Breaking Spells Doesn't Come Cheap

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 February 2014)


    Medium Nur at the controls in her cockpit.

Life coach Nuray N. and her son Eray P.,
a former jockey, have run the Tılsım Cafe in
Bakırköy, Istanbul, for two years.  On the
cafe's website, Nuray is called 'Medium Nur',
supposedly possessing a natural inclination
for the mystical and having developed herself
through training with a great many scholars.
Medium Nur works in many fields, from
erectile disfunction to finding lost friends.

One of Medium Nur's regular customers is
Lütfiye Ş. and Nur told Lütfiye that her
oft-stated complaints were the result of a
spell cast upon her by a priest.

According to the indictment announced by the
Bakırköy public prosecutor, Nuray N. offered
to break the priest's spell for 1,000 TL and when
Lütfiye agreed Nuray wrote a charm on a little
piece of paper.

However, Lütfiye's complaints were not rectified
so Nuray wrote charm after charm to break the
priest's spell, amassing 53,000 TL from Lütfiye
in the process.

Finally realizing that she was being bamboozled,
Lütfiye went to the prosecutor and filed a complaint,
providing the written charms as proof of the fraud.
The prosecutor has opened a case against Nuray and
her son Eray for committing fraud by exploiting
religious beliefs and emotions. If found guilty they
face jail sentences of up to 7 years.

For his part, Eray explained that "Lütfiye wanted tips
on the horses from me. She sent money from her
winnings to my account six or seven times as a
commission. I didn't get any other Money from her."

Panty Raider Jailed; Bald Police Unwanted

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 19 February 2014)

//ed. note: this is a follow-up report to our item
of 13 September 2013//


      Panty Raider Tuna Nar

In Adana, the youth who was caught five months
ago in the garden of a house with a bag full of 43
pieces of women's underwear was released but
two hours later he was arrested for stealing a cellphone.
Now he has been sentenced to 1 year 3 months in jail.

The underwear incident occurred on the night of 13
September 2013 in Yüreğir district, when 28 year-old
furniture worker Tuna Nar entered the garden of a
citizen named S.G.  Neighbors alerted poliçe and
Nar was caught with 43 stolen women's underwear
items in a bag. Nar, who has a record, was released
pending trial but two hours later he was arrested for
stealing a cellphone.

In his statement, Nar explained that he was on drugs
and didn't know what he was doing. He expressed
regret but the judge sentenced Nar to 1 year 3 months
in jail for "attempted theft and violating the sanctity
of a home." Because Nar has an arrest record the
sentence was not postponed.

=======================================
Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 18 February 2014)


This time some shoots budding up there.

The Parliamentary Petition Commission has become
the setting for an interesting application made by a
citizen who, although he passed the test,  was denied
a spot on the police force because he is bald.

Atakan Yılmaz (25) of Aksaray explained to the
commission that he finished two universities and passed
the police test but was told at a interview at the Police
Profession Training Center (POMEM) in 2013 that
"you're being excluded because you're bald."

Yılmaz thought about taking his complaint to administrative
court and stated that "the Security General Directorate's
action had a detrimental and degrading effect" on his morale.
The commission forwarded Yılmaz's complaint to the
Interior Ministry, which responded as follows: "the first
phase of the evaluation selection process, conducted on
24 October 2013 at the Second Council of the Adana
Regional Center, was done in accordance with the
Security Directorate Health Regulations." 

The ruling went on to state that the candidate's hair type
is Type-4 and people with this hair condition cannot be
candidates at POMEM. Consequently, the decision to
exclude Yılmaz was correct. 

Undeterred, Yılmaz said that he will get hair implants
and enter the candidate process anew.

Living Dead, Thanks to Big Brother

turkce links to original Turkish article


(Hurriyet Newspaper, 20 February 2014)























             Alive and well, but barely breathing.


Hakan Ceyhan went from Alanya district in Antalya
province to Ankara in 2001 to do his military service.
His older brother Gokhan Ceyhan, a military deserter
two years older than Hakan, took advantage of this
situation and had an identity card issued for himself in
his brother's name.


In 2002, Gokhan married a Swedish woman and settled
there. When Hakan left the army he wanted to get married
but the population bureau told him he was already wed.
So, on 7 March 2011 Hakan applied to court, proved that
his brother had had a fake ID card issued and once again
assumed bachelor status with the population bureau.


However, Gokhan drowned in Sweden in March 2013,
futher clouding Hakan's status. Hakan took possession of
his brother's body in their home town of  Kayseri but
noticed that the documents showed that he, Hakan, was
registered as the dead body.  On 12 June 2013, Hakan filed
suit in Alanya court and the case is continuing.


Hakan noted that "the lawyer told me that coming back
from the dead takes six months in Turkish court. But
it's now been 9 months that I'm considered 'dead'. At
the last hearing the judge gave a new date six months
from now. My brother's wife and son have to come from
abroad and give statements. I want to work but they say
'you're dead'. I go to the hospital and they turn me away
saying I'm already dead."

All In The Family Pepper Attack

turkce links to original Turkish article




(Sabah Newspaper, 19 February 2014)



Aleppo pepper - attacker's weapon of choice






In Kayseri, Mehmet Ince (30) had a credit debt of
25,000 TL and borrowed some bracelets from his
sister-in-law Mehtap Sever a few months ago.
Ince didn't repay Sever and his economic situation
became worse. So Ince put on a ski mask and broke
into Sever's home in the Cirgalan neighborhood of
Kocasinan district in order to steal more bracelets.




Once inside the house, Ince, who is the married father
of two children, pulled some 'pul biber' (Aleppo pepper)
from his pocket and threw it in his sister-in-law's face.
Sever screamed as her eyes burned and Ince fled in a
panic without the bracelets when neighbors rushed to
the house.




Police sealed off the neighborhood and quickly captured
Ince, who had a knife in his pocket.  Ince explained that
he broke into Sever's house because of his debt situation:
"I went to get the bracelets in her house. I had the pepper
in my pocket because I add it to everything I eat. When
I came face to face with Meltem I pulled out the pepper
in a panic, instead of the knife. Then I threw the pepper
in my sister-in-law's face."




Sever was quite surprised to learn that her pepper attacker
was her own brother-in-law. She said she knew that Ince's
situation was bad and even though she had given him
bracelets before she would have done so again, she said,
adding that "I won't press charges."  Nevertheless, Ince
will have a day in court but he is free until then.


 
       Mehmet (Pepper) Ince

Creature From the Woodpile

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 February 2014)


We probably look pretty scary to him (or her).

In Osmaniye, the skeleton of a creature measuring 55 centimeters,
with fang-like teeth but no front legs, was found in the woodpile
of a home.  The creature has frightened citizens and the person who
found the skeleton, Adile Karataş, said that "it's the skeleton of an
animal noone knows anything about. Our neighbors have found out
about the discovery. Everyone's afaid to leave their house and our
kids are scared to play outdoors."

Veterinarian Ali Laçinbla examined the skeleton and agreed that the
lack of front legs, the large skull and overall form give citizens the
right to be concerned. He also provided the following information
"since the skeleton's carpal bones are long it definately cannot be
a dog or a cat. I think the creature may have been killed by other
animals and brought here. I've sent photographs to professors at
the university  so they can determine the creature's nature."

Prof. Dr. Kadir Aslan, head of the anatomy section at Kafkas
University's Veterinary Faculty, stated that the skeleton may be
that of a weasel, a member of the marten family.


Osmaniye province.

 

Fake Salt-making Gang Busted in Zonguldak

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 16 February 2014)


'Even if it walks like salt and talks like
salt, it still isn't salt!'


In Zonguldak, a gang that was producing fake
salt, shampoo, tea and various food products,
using famous brands like Billur Tuz (Salt), has
been busted.  Acting on a tip, poliçe and Gendarmerie
teams conducted raids in Kozlu and Kilimli districts
and in an industrial area of Kardeşler village in
Zonguldak city.

During the raid a machine for making fake salt
was seized, along with industrial salt, salt sacks
and a machine for making little bags for the fake
salt.

The site in question was sealed six months ago
but was being accessed from an adjacent block.
Taken into custody during the raid were E.B.
and A.B., while one individual remains at large.

The operation netted 20 25-kilogram salt sacks,
34 500-gram black tea packets, a quantity of
shampoo, empty detergent and tea packages
and holograms belonging to famous brands.


             Zonguldak province

Family Matters: Judicial Review Goes Awry

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 15 February 2014)

Şaban got the worst of it, twice.

Şaban Ü. (64), who lives in the Yamaçlı neighborhood
of Adana, came home drunk on 27 November 2012 and
had an argument with his wife Nazire Ü. (35), asking
her "why did you give that gold set I got for you to your
older brother!?"  In response, Nazire punched her
husband, breaking his nose.

Ten days later, Şaban again came home drunk and argued
with Nazire, who  this time grabbed a knife from the
kitchen and cut her husband's ear off. Şaban's ear was
sewn back on at the hospital but he filed a complaint
against Nazire.

The mother of four children said in her defense that
she hadn't broken Şaban's nose. Rather, she said, he
got his feet caught on a rug and fell because he was
drunk. With regard to the ear-cutting incident, Nazire
asserted in court that "he came home drunk and
attacked me. When I tried to scare him, the knife
happened to hit his ear."

The two charges were heard in two separate courts,
with Nazire being fined 1,500 TL and 500 TL by
each court, respectively.  The fines were postponed
and if Nazire does not commit a crime within five
years she won't have to pay.
====================================
Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 15 February 2014)


Demet going it alone while Ismail does time. Why?

In Sungurlu district of Çorum province, when
'child bride' Demet Arslan (now 20) was just
14 years old she fell in love with neighbor Ismail
Kondu (28). In 2009, Demet eloped with Ismail
but they did not officially marry. The couple showed
up at Çorum State Hospital four months later,
with Demet 18 weeks pregnant.

Shortly afterwards, poliçe came to their home
and Ismail was arrested for marrying an underage
girl.  He spent 3.5 months in Sungurlu Prison and
was released.

The couple then married legally and they have
two children. But the case against Ismail continued,
with the court issuing a sentence of 11.5 years in
jail for "exploiting a child and kidnapping."  Ismail
is back in prison while the couples' families appeal
the case.

With her husband back in prison, Demet lamented
that "I don't have any money for my kids' food, milk
and diapers. I haven't been able to pay rent for two
months. I don't know what I'm going to do. If we
had known it was a crime, we would have waited
two more years to marry."


      Sungurlu district is in SW Çorum

'South Park' Muscled at Istanbul Bar

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 February 2014



Last year (2013), on the evening of 10 January
Thomas Michael Vogt, a long-time editor for
the U.S. animation series 'South Park', left his
hotel in Taksim Square to go for an evening
stroll.  A person came up to Vogt and said in
English "I know a good place to go, come on."

As the man insisted, Vogt gave in and went to
Pera Bar where immediately two bar girls and
a bottle of champagne arrived at Vogt's table.
Vogt became irritated and rose to leave without
drinking anything.  Nevertheless, he was
presented with a bill for 520 TL (250 USD).

Facing a beating if he didn't pay up, Vogt gave
the bar employees 200 TL and 100 USD - everthing
he had in his wallet. Vogt then went straight to
the nearest poliçe station, gave a statement and
then returned to Pera Bar with the poliçe. There,
he identified bar owner Mehmet S.Ç., waiters
Burak K. and Mehmet A., and bar girls Müjgan S.
and Fatma M.

After interrogations at the prosecutor's office all
the suspects were released but a case was filed
against them, charging them with 'grand theft',
which carries a sentence of from 5 to 15 years.
Suspects Mehmet S.Ç., Fatma M., Mehmet A.
and Burak K. attended the hearing.

Mehmet S.Ç. asserted that they didn't forceably
take money from anyone and he added that "I
am the owner-manager of the aforementioned
bar. Mehmet A. and the other waiters brought
the bill to the individual in question. Although
I don't remember exactly, the bill came to around
380 TL. The customer paid the bill without
complaint.


 The court committee reviewing the case
concluded that there was insufficient evidence
to charge the suspects and they were all aquitted.


      No happy ending for South Park this time

Bride-to-be, 12, Kidnapped by Married Neighbor

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 1February 2014)


             Unlikely couple.

When rumors spread that a 12 year-old middle
school girl would be married off at the end of
the school, she was kidnapped by a married
neighbor, who already has one child. F.U. (!), the
girl in question, goes to Zeybekler Middle School
in the next village over from her own, Olgunlar
village, in Izmir's far eastern Kiraz district.

The rumor was that "when school's over they're
going to marry F.U. to her cousin". Hearing this,
neighbor Muammer Kaygısız (30) began to plan
to kidnap the girl. On 5 January, F.U., unaware
of the marriage plan, was forceably taken by
Kaygısız when she went to fetch water from a
fountain that evening.

F.U.'s father Hüseyin U. became worried when
his daughter did not come home that evening and
informed the Gendarmerie. No trace was found,
however, and soon after Kaygısız's disappearance
was noticed, as well.  The Gendarmerie then
determined that F.U. had been kidnapped by
Kaygısız.

A day later, Kaygısız, whose own son is 5 years
old, called his brother to say that "if I didn't
kidnap her they would have given her to her
cousin. I won't let anyone else have her." In
the intervening 42 days neither F.U. nor Kaygısız
have been heard from.

F.U.'s aunt Fatma Özer stated that "there's been no
word from my neice since then. The family is worried."
Uncle Mehmet U., to whose son F.U. was supposed to
be married to, stated that "there's talk like that in every
household. My elderly mother said something to that
effect but there's nothing serious about it. Neither I
nor my son have any idea about (marrying F.U.)"

Kaygısız's brother Ali noted that "F.U. is mature for
her age. My older brother called me a day after the
incident and said that he had to do it, otherwise 'they'll
give her to her cousin'. He didn't call again. He should
give himself up."


    Kiraz district is in Izmir's far east.

Dog Appeals to Court for Freedom

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 11 February 2014)


They said 'speak', 'speak', but Ares wrote instead.

 

Mahmut Yazoğlu was managing a cafeteria in Istanbul
when he lost a suit regarding his non-payment of rent.
Bankruptcy officials showed up at Yazoğlu's home in
Gürece village in Bodrum and took his 7 year-old Labrador
Retriever 'Ares' into custody as compensation.

Yesterday, Ayhan Karahan, the head of the Citizens
Initiative, went to court in Bodrum and filed a petition
that he prepared in Ares's name. The petition was
accepted by the court. It reads as follows;

"The Yazoğlu family has not raised me for any commercial
purpose. I'm the family's naughty but loved member. I'm
sure I don't have any debts. I can't live with someone who
buys me at an auction. I have a family that I've lived
happily with for seven years. If this process continues I'll
run away from the new owner and he won't even know it.
I request that this impoundment action cease."

Karahan stated that this is a first in Turkey and he added
that "Ares's petition is being processed. We're curious
about the response. The impoundment order is illegal
because it is in conflict with law number 5199, approved
by Parliament on 24 June 2004."

A lawyer name Remzi Kazmaz had a different view: "If
its a small child or a disabled person then a lawyer can
handle a matter. But as far as I'm concerned, a dog filing
a petition like this on its own is ignorance." Nevertheless,
Kazmaz agreed that the Animal Protection Law states that
"house pets cannot be seized in bankruptcy proceedings."

Vitriolic Footnote Attack on Victor Hugo

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 10 February 2014)


Taken to task 150 years later for script insensitivity.

A 'critical' footnote by a Turkish editor in the
June 2013 translation of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel
'Les Miserables', published by Ötüken Yayınları,
has gotten attention on social media.

Editor Erol Kılınç translated the text of an
Ottoman Turkish version of  'Les Miserables',
done originally in 1907 by Avanzade M. Süleyman,
into modern Turkish. In his controversial footnote,
Kılınç took strong exception to Hugo's characterization
of the Paris sewer system as resembling the supposed
disorder of eastern writing scripts (Ottoman, Arabic).

The Hugo passage that sparked Kılınç's ire reads as
follows: "(the sewers) are set in deep darkness and arranged
randomly as if like a bush, like the confused and shapeless
letters of the east..." This prompted Kılınç's enraged footnote:
"How rude of you! If your letters had any aesthetic arrangement
a branch of art like calligraphy would have emerged from your
civilization!"

When footnotes bite back.

Doesn't Get Much More 'Tuhaf' Than This

//ed. note: from New York Times of 9 February 2014.
No translation required but it challenges one's imagination.)


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/nyregion/an-inmate-and-a-scholar.html?src=dayp&_r=0

Wild Hostage Drama in Kadıköy

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 8 February 2014)


Kadir E. and Irmak G. in happier, pre-hostage days

In Kadıköy, Istanbul, Kadir E. held his transsexual
lover, who wanted to break up with him,  and two
friends hostage at knifepoint for two days before
being captured in an operation. The incident
occurred on Erguvan Street in the Fenerbahçe
neighborhood at 1230, the night before last.

Kadir E. was sharing the same house with his
transsexual lover Irmak G. On the night of the
incident, while chatting with transsexual Irem
M.O. and friend Emre K., Irmak G. said that he/she
wanted to break up with Kadir E.  Unable to bear
this insult to his pride, Kadir E. threatened to kill
everyone and burn the house down.

Some 48 hours later, Irmak G. was able to send
a phone message to a friend explaining that they
were being held hostage. Later, when the poliçe
arrived, Kadir E., realizing that he would be captured,
set the curtains on fire.

At this point, Irmak G. and Irem M.O. were able to
escape but Kadir E. held his knife to Emre K.'s throat
and screamed "I'll kill this one!"  A SWAT team
then stormed the house and subdued Kadir Ê.

'Jerry Springer Show', Turkish Edition

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 6 February 2014)


Turkish 'Jerry' and views from the show.

It turns out that Melek Subaşı was playing a
role during her TV appearance that set viewing
records on the internet. Three years ago, Subaşı
appeared on Yalçın Çakır's program on Flash TV.
It was claimed that on the program Subaşı used
magic to mute her husband, who was on the
show too. She then fainted on stage.

Presenter Çakır hooked up Subaşı to a lie-detector and
asked her her birthday. In response, Subaşı answered
'Muş' (evidently her birthplace in eastern Turkey).
All viewers were glued to the screen for the live
program, with some saying 'this woman is a fake'
and other feeling sorry for her.  The images set
viewing records on social media and one person
commented that "she could get an Oscar if she's
needed for a crying role."

But it has come to light that the internet phenomenon
was a fake. Subaşı, the mother of three, applied to
an Istanbul court three years later, filing suit against
Çakır and Flash TV for 300,000 TL (150,000 USD).
Subaşı had no money for legal fees so the Istanbul
Bar Association appointed lawyers Cengiz Yıldız
and Bayram Polat to represent her.

Here is what happened three years ago: one of Subaşı's
children was born with a handicap and needed treatment.
Subaşı's brother (or sister) got in touch with Çakır and
explained his/her older sibling's situation. Çakır agreed
to put Subaşı on his show so she and her husband went
to talk with Çakır. The illiterate couple were made to
sign a paper and put in separate rooms. Each was told
"you'll insult each other and say all sorts of bad things."

Çakır also wanted Subaşı to faint during the show. He
told her to "faint on stage. Say to your husband that
he's not looking after you and running around with
other women. If you do this for us we'll benefit and
we'll help you and get an operation for your child."

The couple did what they were told but didn't get any
help in return. After the broadcast Subaşı's life was
a mess. Her husband accused her of shaming him
and left her.  Subaşı still had three children to look
after but was jobless. Her family turned its back on
her and the children were shunned at school.

Her lawyers want all clips from the show taken off
the internet and their client awarded 300,000 TL in
damages.

Ottoman Tomb in Syria Gets Reinforced

Türkçe links to original article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 5 February 2014)

//ed. note: one of our occasional historical reports
about Turkey, this one however with very current
geopolitical implications.//

'Increased level of protection for

Turkish soil in Syrıa.'

Security measures at the tomb of Süleyman Shah,
Turkish territory inside Syria where Turkish soldiers
stand guard, has been increased. Previously, there
were 15 soldiers guarding the tomb, led by a non-
commissioned officer. The number of troops has now
been doubled and more senior personnel skilled in
internal security tactics have started to move to the
site.

The completion of a guard post is being undertaken
by the 2nd Border Battalion, based in Suruç in
Şanlıurfa province. Military sources say that the changes
are in response to the increase in internal tumult in Syria.
The Turkish troops only mission there is to guard the
tomb and the guard post.

Reaction plans have been prepared to repel any possible
attack on the tomb or the guard post. Because both
structures are on sovereign Turkish soil, the soldiers have
the right to respond in kind under the rules of engagement.

There has been no threat to the tomb or the guard post,
which are located in an area populated mostly by Turkmens,
since the çivil war in Syria began. However, after the PYD
(a Kurdish group in Syria) began to gain control in northern
regions last year there has been a perceived threat to the site,
prompting the military build-up.

High-level commanders have been inspecting the site
frequently of late. Mortar rounds have fallen a few kilometers
away from the tomb site during fighting between the Syrian
Army and opposition groups.

History

Süleyman Shah was the grandfather of Osman, the founder
of the Ottoman Empire. Süleyman was martyred, along with
two guards, while crossing the Euphrates River in 1086 and
was buried at Caber Fortress, about 100 kilometer south of
the current tomb site, west of the city of Rakka.

Years later, when Ottoman Sultan Yavuz Selim conquered the
region, Selim built the tomb for Süleyman. Under the terms
of an agreement made with the French on 20 October 1921,
the tomb remained in Syrian territory but the land was
considered to be sovereign Turkish territory. This status was
confırmed by the Laussane Agreement of 1923 that certified
Turkish independence.

Süleyman Shah's tomb is

located on the Euphrates

River in Syria, about 70

kilometers SW of Suruç

in Şanlıurfa province.

 

'Baby Face Killer''s Great Escape

Türkçe links to original Turkish article


(Sabah Newspaper, 27 January 2014)


      The picture of innocence.

Ali Kaya, known as Turkey's 'Baby Face Killer',
escaped from Gaziantep H-type prison on 5 January.
A report has been prepared regarding the negligence
that allowed for his escape.

According to claims, Kaya made a ladder for himself
by tying together boards with 105 meters of string and
used it to scale the high barbed wire fence. Kaya then
found a camera blind spot to descend to. He snuck into
the open area of the adjacent E-type prison and pretended
to be escorting a visiting elderly woman in a wheelchair.

Kaya next returned to the H-type prison's open area,
where he rested for 15 minutes and drank water. Here
he was caught on camera but was nevertheless able to
leave with the other visitors and escape.

After the incident it was determined that there were no
cameras at the visitors' entry point and this failing was
reported by officials. Investigations are continuing into
the negligence involved in missing Kaya while he was
resting for 15 minutes in view of a camera.

It has been learned that Kaya was trying to obtain a
scheme of the prison's layout three months ago, indicating
that his escape plan had been in the works for a while.
As the probe continues, all police units in Gaziantep and
throughout the country are on alert for the 'lifer' who
may kill again at any time.

Kaya's cellmates have been slapped with a one-year
meeting ban and posters have been distributed to
catch the serial killer. Informants are asked to call 155.

Donkey Party Gets No Respect, Dissolves

Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 3 February 2014)


              Looks like any other politıcian...

In Süleymaniye city, in the Kurdistan region
of Iraq, Omer Kalol established the Kurdistan
Donkey Party nine years ago with the aim of
paying respect to the animals. However, Kalol
has become fed up with the ridicule and lack of
interest in the party so he has dissolved it.

Thirty five years ago, a group of animal lovers
in the Kurdish region of Iraq formed the Kurdistan
Donkey Group and in 2005 it was transformed into
a party in Süleymaniye. The party inaugurated a
bust of its hero, dressed in a suit and tie, in the city
center in 2012 at a cost of 4,000 dollars.

According to Kurdish internet sites, the party was
planning to open a radio station named Ziran ('bray',
as in a donkey's braying). The party aimed, as well,
to promote respect and better treatment for animals,
primarily donkeys, in the Kurdish region. It even
had an environmentalist  political manifesto called
'Kername' (donkey's declaration).

Although it would have been meager, the party
rejected budgetary support offered by the Kurdish
government. Its party members were known by
the nicknames 'little donkey', 'saddled donkey' and
'old donkey'.

Party chief Kalol noted that he has struggled for
years on behalf of the donkeys in the Kurdish region
and he added that "donkeys have always been a
part of the Kurdish struggle, bearing the loads of
Kurdish militants throughout the years on the
mountain slopes. Nevertheless, they never got the
respect they deserved. However much our group
was at odds with Kurdish traditions and customs,
we had a message that we wanted to communicate
to people. But they didn't understand our message
and consequently I and my family have become
targets of ridicule. So we had to dissolve the party.

                                             Kurdish region of northern Iraq

Local Politicians Feel Citizens' Wrath

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Posta and Milliyet Newspapers, 28 January 2014)



'To The Attention of Mayoral Candidates!
Mayoral candidates who want the votes of
shopkeepers here and who come with empty and
false promises to provide services that they won't
provide for this friendless, orphaned and abandoned
road shall not enter this street!'

 

Shopkeepers on Fatih Terim Street in the Çınarlı
neighborhood of Adana's Seyhan district are
complaining about a lack of services from the
municipality. For this reason, the shopkeepers,
who sell mostly clothes, have hung a banner
with a message for all the parties' candidates in
the 30 March local elections. The banner reads,
in short, 'Mayor Candidates Banned From This
Street!'

 

                                          Adana province

==============================================
Türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Posta Newspaper, 28 January 2014)


        Service denied, punishment rendered.

 

In Adıyaman, farmer Osman Taştan (50)  requested a sewage
truck from the municipality to have his plugged up  toilet purged.
When the sewage truck never came after repeated requests from
Taştan, the farmer drove his tractor to the municipal building
and crashed into it.

                                      Adıyaman province