HIZBULLAH OPERATION IN EIGHT PROVINCES
- NewArticle
- Published:08 Şubat 2011, Salı
- Updated:08 Şubat 2011, Salı
Turkish police have detained 35 suspected members of the outlawed Turkish Islamist militant group Hizbullah near Istanbul and in the country's southeast.
Fifteen members of the group were detained near Istanbul, while another 20 were taken in the towns of Batman, Diyarbakir and Sanliurfa.
The group has no connection with the Lebanese Hezbollah movement.
Hizbullah emerged in the late 1980s during fighting between Kurdish separatist guerrillas and Turkish troops. It killed scores of people, targeting mainly Kurdish separatist rebel sympathisers
Security experts believe the group has mostly disbanded.
Some of its leaders were released from prison in early January after the introduction of new regulations limiting the imprisonment period without convictions.
- “Our democracy was not harmed in these attacks”
Responding to the European Parliament resolution condemning the police crackdown on protests sparked by redevelopment plans for Gezi Park, Prime Minister Erdoğan stated “They are confused. They have no fidelity,” and added that European politicians and institutions instantly laid down their masks in order to provoke events.
- Standing man!
One man’s passive defiance by way of standing in place in Taksim Square and looking straight at the Atatürk Culture Center, quickly turned into a social media phenomenon last night.
- What is Claudia Roth doing in Taksim?
Infuriating Germans, Green Party Co-Chair Roth was subjected to pepper spray in Istanbul. Commenting on the incident, German nationals say, “It turns out Erdoğan was right in saying that there are foreign forces triggering Taksim, and Roth’s presence is now proof.” Other comments include, “If Abdullah Gül showed up at Occupy Frankfurt of if Erdoğan was involved in the Stuttgart 21 demonstrations, the ground would shake!”
- In just one day Taksim gets 20 trees and 152,000 flowers
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has been working continuously since last night on clearing and landscaping Taksim Square and Gezi Park.
- EU Minister Bağiş: “Every crisis has made Erdoğan stronger”
Explaining that the Gezi Park protests were planned six months ago, EU Minister Bağış states, “These protests are an attempt to trigger a move which will end in regime change in Turkey.” Bağış also discussed Prime Minister Erdoğan’s style with the Wall Street Journal.
- What do young supporters of Erdoğan think?
They came by land, they came by sea, and they came to hear their Prime Minister speak. Yesterday’s Kazlıçeşme rally in support of Prime Minister Erdoğan saw over a million supporters come out to the square with AK Party and Turkish flags in hand, giving true sentiment to the figures of Erdoğan’s support rate.
- Protesters are using weapons
Istanbul Governor Mutlu is calling on protesters to refrain from responding to calls on social media to gather in Taksim because he says; peace has been established once again in Istanbul.
- Erdoğan receives unprecedented support from Istanbul residents
Nearly a million Istanbul residents flocked out to see Prime Minister Erdoğan speak at an AK Party rally in Kazlıçeşme on Sunday. Istanbul residents want the vandalism of protesters destroying and setting the city on fire to come to an end as soon as possible. Meanwhile, they also support Erdoğan’s referendum proposal.
- There is a functioning democracy in all of Turkey’s institutions
On the first presidential visit to Ardahan in 18 years, President Gül had the chance to comment on the European Parliament’s resolution vote on Thursday by stating, “When reacting they need to have enough information to realize what is what.”
- Reyhanli's number one suspect arrested
The number one suspect accused of planning and staging the twin bombings in the Hatay town of Reyhanlı, which killed 52 people, Nasır Eskiocak as well as three other perpetrators were arrested on Friday.
- Istanbul Governor pleased, Istanbul youth pleased
Istanbul Governor Mutlu held discussions with protesters which started late Thursday night and went on into the early morning hours of Friday. There was no lapse in respect during the talks that were both peaceful and spirited. The main questioned asked was who ordered the use of disproportionate force.
- A four-item road map to solve the Gezi Park crisis
After deliberations between Prime Minister Erdoğan and other government officials with a delegation representing the Gezi Park protesters which went on into the morning hours of Friday, a decision was reached to respect judicial rulings and citizens’ opinions. Bringing the Gezi Park protests to a close with a series of artistic events is also now on the agenda.
- “We will return the EP ruling right back to them”
Foreign Minister Davutoğlu says the European Parliament resolution adopted on Thursday is unacceptable and should they notify Turkey of the resolution, then Turkey will instantly return the gesture.
- Turkish youth activist group protests against BBC and CNN
At 2 pm on Thursday afternoon, a Turkish youth activist group ‘Bizim Çocuklar’ (Our Youth) orchestrated a protest of what they view as the double standard exhibited by western media outside the BBC’s Turkey Office in Istanbul’s prestigious Nisantaş neighbourhood.
