Dr Balki Begum Bayhan's Avatar

Dr Balki Begum Bayhan

@bbbayh.bsky.social

Researching authoritarian politics| Freelance writer| Focus on Turkey and post-Soviet countries | Previously PhD at Coventry| Views my own.

1,029 Followers  |  328 Following  |  206 Posts  |  Joined: 24.01.2025  |  1.939

Latest posts by bbbayh.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Researcher to explore and analyse migration trends in Albania

Great research opportunity for anyone working on #Albania and #migration.

Apply by 24 November & feel free to boost and share!

www.wfd.org/vacancy-cons...

14.11.2025 15:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

As someone who thinks that politics (and speech) is action, my favorite quote from Mamdani's speech is this:

โ€œNo longer is politics something that is done to us. Now it is something we do.โ€

05.11.2025 11:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Turkey's main opposition party is now getting the same treatment as its Kurdish-majority opposition party has been getting since 2016

05.07.2025 07:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 17    ๐Ÿ” 11    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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As a fourth wave of arrests hit #Istanbul's Metropolitan Municipality yesterday, a non-exhaustive timeline of the operation against Istanbul mayor Ekrem #Imamoglu. I chose the end of 2024 as the starting date, but as early as 2019-2020, Imamoglu is already overwhelmed by investigations.

24.05.2025 19:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 10    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Turkey has blocked access to the X account of imprisoned Istanlbul mayor Ekrem ฤฐmamoฤŸlu due to reasons of national security and public order.

Seems Elon Musk's X once again complies with AKP's efforts to restrict freedom of expression

08.05.2025 04:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 66    ๐Ÿ” 31    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

X blocked access to ฤฐstanbul's mayor Ekrem ฤฐmamoฤŸluโ€™s account within Turkey following a court order.

08.05.2025 06:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Beautiful moments from todayโ€™s rally. Thousands used their phones to illuminate the area as lighting devices were not allowed to be taken into the square.

07.05.2025 19:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yes! They didnโ€™t allow them to bring lighting devices into the area.

07.05.2025 19:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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CHP continues to hold district rallies in #ฤฐstanbul every Wednesday. Scenes from todayโ€™s gathering in Beyazฤฑt:

07.05.2025 18:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Istanbul University has officially cancelled ฤฐmamoฤŸlu's degree, rendering him ineligible to stand as president. Future historians may rue this day as they struggle to distinguish between references to presidents ร–zal and ร–zel (and maybe even ร–zil?)

07.05.2025 13:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 39    ๐Ÿ” 17    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

National suicide

06.05.2025 13:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This is so so so so so so stupid. Just utterly baffled why this party is completely unwilling to listen to all the experts going โ€œthereโ€™s no way this will workโ€

04.05.2025 14:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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#CANLI Alanya, 16.55 (Ben gรถrรผntรผlรผyorum efendim) 1 Mayฤฑs korteji yรผrรผyรผลŸe geรงti

01.05.2025 13:58 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 73    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Scenes from #ฤฐstanbulโ€™s May Day gathering taking place in Kadฤฑkรถy.

01.05.2025 13:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Progressive Lawyersโ€™ Association reports that more than 400 people who wanted to go to Taksim for May Day celebrations were detained.

01.05.2025 10:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Students in #Ankara march towards TandoฤŸan for the May Day celebrations

01.05.2025 10:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 12    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Swedish journalist sentenced in Turkey for โ€˜insulting ErdoฤŸanโ€™ Joakim Medin given suspended sentence over photos on his articles, but remains in jail awaiting trial on terror charge

We condemn the suspended 11-month sentence handed to journalist #JoakimMedin for โ€œinsultingโ€ President ErdoฤŸan. Medin was arrested while covering widespread protests across #Turkey and remains imprisoned awaiting trial on a 2nd charge. He must be released:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

01.05.2025 10:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

ฤฐmamoฤŸluโ€™s May Day message:

"This cycle will certainly turn. We will soon bring a period in which labor and workers will get their rights. The days when bans&oppression will end are very close. Weโ€™re close to days when we celebrate May 1st with millions of people with enthusiasm in Taksim."

01.05.2025 09:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

May Day celebrations have started in #ฤฐstanbul. Police intervened against people who wanted to walk to Taksim and detained some of them.

01.05.2025 09:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 30    ๐Ÿ” 12    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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CHP district rallies continue in #ฤฐstanbul. Thousands gather in BaลŸakลŸehir for tonightโ€™s gathering.

30.04.2025 18:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Swedish journalist Joakim Medin was sentenced to over 11 months in prison for insulting ErdoฤŸan and remains in custody as he is facing terrorism-related charges in a separate case.

He was arrested upon arriving in Turkey last month to cover the anti-regime protests and has been detained since.

30.04.2025 15:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The trial of 90 young people has been postponed to July, and the court ruled to separate the case files of the eight journalists.

bsky.app/profile/birg...

18.04.2025 11:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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University students also showed up to demonstrate their support for those on trial.

18.04.2025 10:59 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The first hearing of the young people and journalists detained during the Saraรงhane protests is held today. Their families gathered outside the courthouse to make a statement.

18.04.2025 10:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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A group of Hacettepe University students in Ankara also gathered to make a statement in front it the Rectorate. They were prevented and attacked by private security officers.

17.04.2025 14:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Ankara University students gathered to make a statement and demonstrate their support for their detained classmates:

โ€œArrests and pressures do not intimidate us.โ€

17.04.2025 14:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Ekrem ฤฐmamoฤŸlu addresses AKP and MHP supporters:

"We must walk together towards a beautiful future in peace and tranquility. We have no choice but to try to find the truth. Let's get rid of this wrong order urgently together."

17.04.2025 14:14 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Lawyer and human rights advocate Selรงuk KozaฤŸaรงlฤฑ, who was released yesterday, was arrested again after the Bakฤฑrkรถy Prosecutor's Office objected to the decision of his release.

17.04.2025 13:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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