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 Eamon O’Callaghan More and more of Turkey’s youth are finding themselves battling to maintain their mental health, with prices in the troubled country soaring while the lira continues to drop in value. Turkey’s economic crisis is one which has plagued it for years. Over the last 12 months alone, the country has averaged a staggering inflation rate of 63.72%, consistently driving up the cost … Continue reading Turkish Inflation and the Mental Health Crisis
Between the busy streets of Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district, at the foot of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, lies the famous Lale restaurant, also known as “The Pudding Shop”. From afar I can already see the owner Namik Colpan and his cousin Adem Colpan sitting proudly on a bench in front of the once so popular hippie hangout. But what is actually left of … Continue reading The Pudding shop: a small restaurant with a huge impact
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the term “trauma” has been an important topic of discussion among young people seeking a sense of belonging to a group. This trend manifests itself on social networks, where many influencers share their traumatic experiences and so-called “experts” offer advice on mental health. What was originally a taboo subject treated only by a certain elite – that of various psychiatrists, psychologists, … Continue reading From Taboo to Trend: The Normalization of Trauma and Its Downsides
Trusting your internal beauty brings you a step closer to self-confidence. It all starts with uplifting your energy levels and keeping an open mind. Experts Vanessa Vink and Suzanne Stutje talk about the interdependence of vibration and beauty. Story by Dobromir Muladzhikov Present-day youth culture is obsessed with looking physically beautiful by investing in millions of cosmetic products to enhance the face and body. Nourishing your body … Continue reading Mastering Beauty from Within
For centuries women have been striving for the right to dress and behave the way they want. More and more you see people identifying themselves through their style, such as wearing colorful outfits, 90s fits, as well as wearing a hijab or headscarf. However, this is not the case for French Muslim women and girls since they don’t have the freedom to choose when they … Continue reading Take it off
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new policy of making male contraceptives free for people under 26 years old. The young adults will not need a doctor’s prescription anymore as they will be able to get them freely from pharmacies around France. The newly announced movement sets in action in the beginning of January 2023 and has a goal to promote sexual health in the … Continue reading France to make male contraception free for people under 26
The bond between Scotland and France has been recognised since the Middle Ages and formed in the bloody battlefields of both countries fighting a common enemy: the English. Nowadays this relationship is forged in shared interests and political alignment. by Chloe McDermott Since Brexit and the renewed effort by the Scottish government to reinstate a relationship with Europe the ties to France have never been … Continue reading Paris and Scotland: An old tie that does not die
