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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan

@bbbayh.bsky.social
1K followers 331 following 213 posts

Researching authoritarian politics| Freelance writer| Focus on Turkey and post-Soviet countries | Previously PhD at Coventry| Views my own.

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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Scenes from Ankara. Police storm the CHP headquarters to remove Özgür Özel and his supporters from the building, following the court decision stripping him of the party leadership.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Students march to protest the closure of Bilgi University after the regime shut it down with a presidential decree
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Louis Fishman لوي فيشمان לואי פישמן @istanbultelaviv.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Bilgi University, one of Turkey's first private universities, which opened in the late 1990s, was shut down today by a presidential decree with no explanation. It was always a pleasure to visit there, fantastic students and faculty. This really hits hard for many.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Özgür Özel’s statement from tonight: "I will stay in this building, in my office, and I won't go anywhere until the CHP members, not the AKP's judicial arms, decide who will manage the CHP”
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Alexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Erdogan is not immortal, so the damage being done to the Turkish state and economy to keep him in power now risk severely weakening Turkey after he is gone. Comparisons with Russia's trajectory towards an unstable post-Putin era look more plausible than a few years ago
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Large crowds remain gathered outside of the CHP headquarters. “There is no salvation alone, either all of us together or none of us!"
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Following the court decision, crowds gather outside CHP headquarters chanting “Traitor Kemal”
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Further blow to Turkish democracy. Courts (highly co-opted by Erdogan) have removed Özgür Özel, current leader of the main opposition party CHP, ordering former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to take over. During his 13 year tenure, Kılıçdaroğlu oversaw repeated electoral defeats against Erdoğan’s AKP
middleeasteye.net
Turkish court rules to remove leadership of main opposition party
Court ruling removes current CHP leader Ozgur Ozel and reinstates former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
theconversation.com/anas-sarwar-...
theconversation.com
Anas Sarwar: why did the leader of Scottish Labour call for Keir Starmer’s resignation – and has the move backfired?
The Scottish Labour leader has said Starmer’s problems are casting a shadow over his Scottish election hopes – but is that really true?
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Great research opportunity for anyone working on #Albania and #migration. Apply by 24 November & feel free to boost and share! www.wfd.org/vacancy-cons...
wfd.org
Researcher to explore and analyse migration trends in Albania
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Arife Kose @arifekose.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
As someone who thinks that politics (and speech) is action, my favorite quote from Mamdani's speech is this: “No longer is politics something that is done to us. Now it is something we do.”
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06jank.bsky.social @06jank.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Turkey's main opposition party is now getting the same treatment as its Kurdish-majority opposition party has been getting since 2016
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Euroopan rajalla? @euroopanrajalla.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Turkey has blocked access to the X account of imprisoned Istanlbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu due to reasons of national security and public order. Seems Elon Musk's X once again complies with AKP's efforts to restrict freedom of expression
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
X blocked access to İstanbul's mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s account within Turkey following a court order.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Beautiful moments from today’s rally. Thousands used their phones to illuminate the area as lighting devices were not allowed to be taken into the square.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Yes! They didn’t allow them to bring lighting devices into the area.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
CHP continues to hold district rallies in #İstanbul every Wednesday. Scenes from today’s gathering in Beyazıt:
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06jank.bsky.social @06jank.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Istanbul University has officially cancelled İmamoğlu's degree, rendering him ineligible to stand as president. Future historians may rue this day as they struggle to distinguish between references to presidents Özal and Özel (and maybe even Özil?)
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Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
National suicide
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Jonathan Parker @drjparker.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
This is so so so so so so stupid. Just utterly baffled why this party is completely unwilling to listen to all the experts going “there’s no way this will work”
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🏳️‍🌈Sinan Dirlik 🏳️‍🌈 @sinandirlik.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
#CANLI Alanya, 16.55 (Ben görüntülüyorum efendim) 1 Mayıs korteji yürüyüşe geçti
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Scenes from #İstanbul’s May Day gathering taking place in Kadıköy.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Progressive Lawyers’ Association reports that more than 400 people who wanted to go to Taksim for May Day celebrations were detained.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Students in #Ankara march towards Tandoğan for the May Day celebrations
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Index on Censorship @indexoncensorship.org · 01/05/2025
We condemn the suspended 11-month sentence handed to journalist #JoakimMedin for “insulting” President Erdoğan. Medin was arrested while covering widespread protests across #Turkey and remains imprisoned awaiting trial on a 2nd charge. He must be released: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
theguardian.com
Swedish journalist sentenced in Turkey for ‘insulting Erdoğan’
Joakim Medin given suspended sentence over photos on his articles, but remains in jail awaiting trial on terror charge
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
İmamoğlu’s May Day message: "This cycle will certainly turn. We will soon bring a period in which labor and workers will get their rights. The days when bans&oppression will end are very close. We’re close to days when we celebrate May 1st with millions of people with enthusiasm in Taksim."
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
May Day celebrations have started in #İstanbul. Police intervened against people who wanted to walk to Taksim and detained some of them.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
CHP district rallies continue in #İstanbul. Thousands gather in Başakşehir for tonight’s gathering.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Swedish journalist Joakim Medin was sentenced to over 11 months in prison for insulting Erdoğan and remains in custody as he is facing terrorism-related charges in a separate case. He was arrested upon arriving in Turkey last month to cover the anti-regime protests and has been detained since.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
The trial of 90 young people has been postponed to July, and the court ruled to separate the case files of the eight journalists. bsky.app/profile/birg...
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
University students also showed up to demonstrate their support for those on trial.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
The first hearing of the young people and journalists detained during the Saraçhane protests is held today. Their families gathered outside the courthouse to make a statement.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
A group of Hacettepe University students in Ankara also gathered to make a statement in front it the Rectorate. They were prevented and attacked by private security officers.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Ankara University students gathered to make a statement and demonstrate their support for their detained classmates: “Arrests and pressures do not intimidate us.”
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Ekrem İmamoğlu addresses AKP and MHP supporters: "We must walk together towards a beautiful future in peace and tranquility. We have no choice but to try to find the truth. Let's get rid of this wrong order urgently together."
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Lawyer and human rights advocate Selçuk Kozağaçlı, who was released yesterday, was arrested again after the Bakırköy Prosecutor's Office objected to the decision of his release.
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Ünsal Ünlü @unsalunlu.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Bu da günün güzel haberi: Selçuk Kozağaçlı tahliye edildi!
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Another rally in #Turkey is taking place tonight as part of CHP's plan of holding rallies every Wednesday in a different district of İstanbul. Scenes from tonight's gathering in Beylikdüzü.
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Enes Uysal @enesuysal34.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
71 kişi kaldı hepsi çıkasıya kadar. #serbestbırak #erkenseçim
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Scenes from #İstanbul, thousands gather for the first night rally taking place in Şişli tonight. CHP leader Özgür Özel announced that they will be holding a rally in different districts of Istanbul every Wednesday.
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Emek Erez @emekerez.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
#MahirPolatıSertbestBırakın Hasta tutsakları serbest bırakın.
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Arife Kose @arifekose.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Minister of Justice of Turkey: "We have no authority to intervene in the judiciary and say arrest these people and release these people." However, no one believes this including the government supporters. No one believes that Imamoglu and others will receive a fair trial. The less persuasive the+
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bianet English @bianet-eng.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Muse postpones İstanbul concert amid anti-government boycott bianet.org/haber/muse-p...
bianet.org
Muse postpones İstanbul concert amid anti-government boycott
The organizer of the Muse concert scheduled for June came under fire after labeling the ongoing boycott campaign as "treason," which resulted in their inclusion in the campaign as well.
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Dr Balki Begum Bayhan @bbbayh.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Turkey’s media watchdog (RTÜK) warns media outlets, saying they are monitoring channels that support the boycott and that “what is necessary will be done.” A "non-consumption" action is being held today as part of the economic boycott called by the opposition.
dw.com
RTÜK'ten medyaya "boykot" uyarısı: Gözümüz üstünüzde – DW – 02.04.2025
İBB Başkanı İmamoğlu'nun tutuklanmasına tepki olarak başlayan protestolar kapsamında bugün "tüketmeme" eylemi düzenleniyor. RTÜK, boykota destek veren kanalları izlediklerini, "gereğinin yapılacağını"...
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Arife Kose @arifekose.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
I'm looking forward to be in conversation with @diegocupolo.bsky.social tomorrow (2 April, Wednesday) to discuss the recent events in Turkey, and their implications for the future of Turkey's democracy. You're all very welcome to the video chat hosted by @turkeyrecap.bsky.social
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Turkey recap @turkeyrecap.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
📢 Announcement! We're hosting a live video chat with @arifekose.bsky.social and @diegocupolo.bsky.social tomorrow to break down recent events in Turkey. Join us Wednesday, Apr. 2 at 1500 TRT / 1200 UTC / 0800 EST. Link here:
turkeyrecap.com
Webcast: The road ahead for protests in Turkey
After Saturday’s mass rally in İstanbul, Turkey’s opposition looks to convert the momentum from recent street protests into sustained pressure on the government over the arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem...
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