In pictures – Syrians around the world celebrate the ousting of Assad
Reuters Syrians around the world are celebrating following news of the ousting of the Assad regime. Reuters photographers captured some of them… Syrians living in Turkey celebrate with opposition flags after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in front of the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, on 8th December, 2024. PICTURE: […]
Rebels’ capture of Aleppo stirs Syrian homecoming hopes in Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey Reuters Doctor Mehdi Davut smiles as he describes his planned return to his homeland Syria for the first time in eight years to see how his aid association can help in Aleppo, a major city seized by rebels last week. “The liberation of Aleppo brought us such joy because Aleppo was a source […]
Turkey closes Syria border after violence flares in both countries
Amman. Jordan/Istanbul, Turkey Reuters Turkey closed its main border crossings into north-west Syria on Tuesday after Turkish troops came under fire from Syrians angered by violence against their compatriots in Turkey, a Syrian opposition source and residents said. In Turkey, police detained 474 people involved in attacks targeting the Syrian community across the country overnight, […]
Pope says he wants to visit Turkey for Council of Nicaea anniversary
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis said on Friday he wanted to visit Turkey next year to celebrate the anniversary of the first council of the Christian Church. “It’s a trip that I desire to go on, with all my heart,” the pontiff told a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Istanbul, a Vatican […]
Developing countries call on US to lift Palestinian UN veto
Istanbul, Turkey Reuters The D-8 group of developing nations called on Saturday for the US to lift its veto on the full membership of Palestine as an independent and sovereign state in the United Nations. The Palestinians are currently a non-member observer state, a de facto recognition of statehood that was granted by the UN […]
Symbols of co-existence?: After Hagia Sophia, Turkey converts a second ancient Byzantine church into a mosque
DAVID I KLEIN, of Religion News Service, reports that Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed Chora Church’s rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey…
Turkey formally opens another former Byzantine-era church as a mosque
Ankara, Turkey AP Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally opened a former Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, four years after his government had designated it a Muslim house of prayer, despite criticism from neighbouring Greece. Turkey formally converted the Church of St Saviour in Chora, known as Kariye in Turkish, into […]
Istanbul nightclub fire kills 29 during renovation
Istanbul, Turkey Reuters At least 29 people were killed on Tuesday when a fire engulfed Istanbul’s underground Masquerade nightclub during daytime renovation work, Turkish local authorities said, blaming an accident during the work. Firefighters doused the charred and smoking entrance to the club, which occupies two basement floors, as paramedics rushed victims into ambulances. Earlier […]
Imamoglu, the Turkish mayor following in Erdogan’s footsteps
Istanbul, Turkey Reuters Newly re-elected Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has emerged as the main challenger to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s reign. But in some ways, he is following in the footsteps of the Turkish leader who ran the city in the 1990s. Aside from having led the country’s biggest city, both have family roots in […]
Turkey’s resurgent opposition knocks Erdogan in pivotal local elections
Istanbul, Turkey Reuters Turks punished President Tayyip Erdogan and his party on Sunday in nationwide local elections that reasserted the opposition as a political force and reinforced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as the president’s chief future rival. With more than half of votes counted, Imamoglu led by nearly 10 percentage points in the mayoral race […]