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
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, many Russians have escaped their country to one of the last places they can travel too visa free: Turkey. Istanbul has an estimated 30.000 new Russian residents since the start of the war. What are the their reasons to move? How do they like their new city? And will they ever go back? Continue reading Istanbul’s Russian influx
By Isola Ansideï Istanbul, a city with more than 15 millions of inhabitants, a city that hides treasures, but also the capital of a country known to be the second largest producer of counterfeits after China. In the heart of the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world, illegal copies of the biggest luxury brands circulate every day. Smiles, laughter, children … Continue reading The Grand Bazaar: Nightmare for Luxury Brands or Free Advertising?
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
By Albane Rousseau In the bustling city of Istanbul, a daring project is underway. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the driving force behind what he calls his “Crazy Canal Project”, a grandiose undertaking designed to relieve traffic on the Bosporus. Nevertheless, for Cemal Saydam, a retired oceanographer, “the proposed channel will not only affect Turkey but will cause an international environmental disaster that will affect … Continue reading The Istanbul Canal: a major environmental challenge
Turkey’s popular contemporary art museum Istanbul Modern, designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, has reopened its doors to visitors on May 4th after undergoing a major rebuild. Istanbul Modern, located in Galataport, Karaköy, is one of the most recent additions of the Galata Port Project, which strives to be Istanbul’s hub for arts and culture. Many residents believe that the museum’s offering of art … Continue reading Galataport: progress or regression?
By Axel Benaben In the heart of the biggest city of Turkey, in between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, lies a peaceful heaven, the İstanbul Sanatları Çarşısı (Istanbul Arts Bazaar). Settled in a somewhat typical 18th century Ottoman building, this place is home to people keeping the Istanbul’s crafts tradition alive. The Arts Bazaar presents 11 art branches and a café in its 12 … Continue reading Facing globalisation, craftmanship is surviving
