[google-translator]

Turkey

Turkey is one of POMED’s focus countries. Our Turkey Program focuses on human rights, governance, and the struggle for democracy. The program, led by Turkey Program Director Merve Tahiroğlu, produces research and analysis, convenes events and discussions, and engages with Washington policymakers and experts to raise awareness of Turkey’s political trajectory and to advocate for U.S. policies that promote a genuinely democratic, rights-respecting Turkey.

Merve Tahiroğlu

Featured Publications

Turkey

Dec 2022

|

Snapshot

Snapshot – Adrift, at Home and Abroad: What’s Driving Turkey’s Foreign Policy Toward Greece?

Merve Tahiroğlu

Oct 2022

|

Snapshot

Snapshot – Cronies in Crisis: Economic Woes, Clientelism, and Elections in Turkey

Merve Tahiroğlu

Aug 2022

|

Snapshot

Snapshot – Immigration Politics: Refugees in Turkey and the 2023 Elections

Merve Tahiroğlu

Jun 2022

|

Snapshot

Snapshot – Media in Turkey: Why It Matters and Challenges Ahead

Merve Tahiroğlu

May 2022

|

Expert Q&A ,
Video

Video Q&A: Why Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu’s Hand Signal Threatens Turkey’s Minorities

Merve Tahiroğlu, Ohannes Kılıçdağı, Dilan Okçuoğlu

Letters and Statements

Apr 2022

Joint Statement – Turkey’s Gezi Trial Verdict a Travesty of Justice

Feb 2021

Statement – POMED, Human Rights First, PEN America, and CPJ Respond to Release of ODNI Report on Murder of Jamal Khashoggi

Feb 2021

Statement – The United States Should Call on Turkey to End Unjust Prosecution of Osman Kavala and Henri Barkey

Dec 2020

Statement – Turkey Starts New Sham Trial of Political Prisoner Osman Kavala

POMED in the News

“Erdoğan might pull a January 6. . . . How would [the Biden administration] feel if in just three months, Turkey has its first unfree election in decades . . . and they have sold the F-16 to Turkey just months before?”

Al-Monitor

, 01/18/2023

Merve Tahiroğlu

“Turkey really needs Russia’s blessing in order to be able to carry on this operation (in Syria.) And so I think they’re really going to try to get that kind of a concession out of the Russian side.”

Associated Press

, 06/08/2022

Merve Tahiroğlu

“[NATO allies] want to demonstrate to Russia that NATO is more united than ever and that even Erdogan’s Turkey won’t be able to spoil that. So Erdogan knows that he can get away with [bargaining over Sweden and Finland’s membership].”

Associated Press

, 05/26/2022

Merve Tahiroğlu

“To many Turkish citizens, such Western efforts to shore up ties with a loathed Turkish autocrat—while trumpeting the cause of democracy in Ukraine, no less—only serve to reaffirm some of the key reasons why they distrust the West’s intentions.”

Washington Post

, 05/20/2022

Merve Tahiroğlu

“Right now NATO is more united than ever. A veto would damage the relationship so much, Erdogan will not go that far… He wants US attention so he can show his domestic audience that he can threaten and get something done with it.”

Trouw

, 05/19/2022

Merve Tahiroğlu

“The move is likely to negate the goodwill that Ankara has recently earned in Washington by selling drones to Ukraine… It will be difficult for Congress to allow the export of F-16s to Turkey after Erdogan’s remarks.”

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

, 05/19/2022

Merve Tahiroğlu

“Sputnik has positioned itself so well. When they criticise Nato and the US, they have these messages that are targeting and exploiting mistrust between the different factions.”

The Independent

, 05/18/2022

Merve Tahiroğlu

“Authoritarian governments do not listen to public opinion. They seek to manipulate and mold it according to their interests. Erdogan never pays attention to public opinion in Turkey unless it directly serves his own political ends.”

Al-Monitor

, 05/17/2022

Merve Tahiroğlu

“I think it’s quite revealing that such a large proportion of the Turkish public… that about half of them see the U.S. and NATO as the main culprit here, as being responsible for the war.”

Greek Current

, 05/11/2022

Merve Tahiroğlu

“There is a softening in Congress toward Turkey because of Ukraine and Afghanistan, but I am not sure they are on board with any military sales just yet.”

Wall Street Journal

, 05/11/2022

Merve Tahiroğlu

Previous

Next

Congressional Testimony

Jun 2021

U.S. Senate Human Rights Caucus: The Human Rights Situation in Turkey

Nov 2019

POMED's Merve Tahiroğlu Testifies on Turkey before the Helsinki Commission

Events

Turkey

December 17, 2021

Supporting Democracy and Human Rights in Turkey: Can the United States and Europe Do More?

Turkey

April 22, 2021

Turkey's Intensifying Crackdown: What It Means and What's At Stake

Turkey

June 29, 2021

Cracking Down on Creative Voices: Turkey’s Silencing of Writers, Intellectuals, and Artists Five Years After the Failed Coup

Newsletters

Jan 2023

|

Weekly Wire

Weekly Wire: Algeria Shutters Leading Human Rights NGO

Jan 2023

|

Weekly Wire

Weekly Wire: Menendez Vows to Block F-16 Deal as Turkish FM Heads to Washington

Dec 2022

|

Weekly Wire

Weekly Wire: Iran Begins Executing Protesters

Nov 2022

|

Weekly Wire

Weekly Wire: Gulf States Sending Turkey Financial Lifeline Ahead of Elections

Nov 2022

|

Weekly Wire

Weekly Wire: Lebanon's Political Impasse Continues

Nov 2022

|

Weekly Wire

Weekly Wire: All Eyes on Egypt's Rights Abuses at COP27

Want more Turkey-related news? Subscribe to our Weekly Wire.

Support Our Work

Donate now to help support democratic reform and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa.

Your support helps POMED continue our expert analysis and research, nonpartisan advocacy efforts, and partnerships with grassroots organizations in the MENA region.

Project on Middle East Democracy
1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 617
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 828-9660

POMED Copyright 2023