By Leonie Kupferschmidt The civil war in Syria plunged the country into suffering and misery in 2011 and triggered a large movement of refugees. Initially known as a welcoming and solidary society, the tone towards refugees in Türkiye has become very heated in past years – but especially during the recent election: strange stares, verbal harassment, violence and even unjustified arrests – these are things … Continue reading A life in constant fear
Syrian Refugees in Istanbul By Leonie Kupferschmidt The civil war in Syria plunged the country into suffering and misery in 2011 and triggered a large movement of refugees. It may not be immediately obvious to the Western eye, but officially more than half a million Syrians live in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul alongside the locals. Initially known as a welcoming and solidary society, the … Continue reading A glimpse of hope
“Violence against women is forbidden,” is what Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in his victory speech after last month’s elections. According to him, family is sacred; and therefore, rules to protect women are unnecessary. In Turkey in 2022, 392 women fell victim to this phenomenon called femicide. According to Oxford Languages, the meaning of femicide is the killing of a woman or a girl, in particular … Continue reading The state has left the Istanbul convention, but the community hasn’t
By Josie Makkink In Istanbul, the strained relationship between Syrian refugees and Turkish nationals has escalated significantly due to the city’s economic collapse and social turmoil. The tension between Syrian refugees and Turkish nationals became extremely politized during the second round of the elections in Istanbul. An economic meltdown, overpopulation, and hostile living conditions are consuming the city. Political parties are using the refugees residing … Continue reading Refugee crisis reaches boiling point
Istanbul is an everchanging city, and its architecture is no exception. The shift from traditional to modern buildings is slowly progressing. This gentrification is making a big difference in the architectural landscapes. Besides, these renovations also include many different consequences for the tourists and locals. Zuhal Ulusoy, dean of the faculty of Architecture at Bilgi University Istanbul, has a lot of experience in the field … Continue reading Impact of gentrification on Istanbul
Istanbul has for many years been struggling with traffic. Traffic jams, fully crowded roads, and crowded public transport added to a population that keeps growing making it problematic for the inhabitants. According to a report by TomTom, it takes 20 minutes and 40 seconds on average to travel ten kilometers in Istanbul. The busiest time is 6. p.m on weekdays with an average of 30 … Continue reading Overpopulation make transportation suffer
Buying power has decreased sharply due to inflation and many people are affected by this matter. The inflation caused a lot of problems for the Turkish citizens especially students and the middle class. Inflation in Turkey rose above 85% last year. Currently the inflation decreased to 39,6%, and the lira has already lost 77 percent of its value since 2018. Professor of economics at … Continue reading Turkish middle-class struggles due to inflation
Büyükada, the largest of the Princes’ Island located in Istanbul’s metropolis, holds a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The beautiful landscapes and the absence of noise pollution gives the impression that time slows down. With the bikes and electric cars, it is the complete opposite from the city. Only 75 minutes away from the capital of Turkey, going to Büyükada is like entering a whole different … Continue reading A breath of fresh air in Istanbul
The LGBTQ+ Community will be fighting for their rights in Istanbul By Carla Edelmann Despite all hopes, Erdogan is still the winner of this year’s election in the second round. One thing that stood out in the run-up to the election was Erdogan’s hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community. According to him, the LGBTQ+ community represents “deviant structures” and is a “virus of heresy”. With Erdogan beginning his … Continue reading “We are here, and we are not leaving!”
The Turkish cuisine came up with one of the most famous and historical dishes worldwide: kebab. The people here said it was not appropriate to only talk about kebab, because the Turkish cuisine is so much more than that. What is traditional Turkish and are there any new trends? Efe Kaan Ulu, professor at the Gastronomy department of the Bilgi university, tells that Turkey views … Continue reading Way more than kebab
