One year has flown by since 25 November 2019. Exactly 365 days since we demonstrated globally to raise awareness of violence against women and girls, and what has changed since that day? Nothing! Nothing has changed, and unfortunately with the Covid-19 pandemic with lockdowns and quarantine days, the reality is that violence against women and […]
During the 1970s and 80s, Turkish cinema regularly churned out low-budget versions of Hollywood box office smashes and American television hit series. Star Wars, Star Trek, The Exorcist, E.T., and Superman were among those to get an often unauthorised Turkish makeover. These B-movies, often referred to as “Turksploitation”, are not only endearing to Turks, but […]
During this Covid-19 pandemic, many more of us are paying attention to what we eat. Improvements to our diet can generate positive changes to our overall wellbeing. One of the foods growing in popularity is the avocado. This pear-shaped fruit with a hard inedible outer green skin and a delicious savoury-tasting flesh is an excellent […]
Whether you want to expand your vocabulary for everyday conversations or improve your grammar, learning Turkish in Britain has never been easier. This summer, the Yunus Emre Institute London is running multiple intensive online language classes to suit all abilities, from beginners to those seeking more advanced language skills. Many of the classes form part […]
For the past few weeks Turkish owned mosques in Northeast London, like many others across the British capital, have been calling the faithful to prayer (ezan in Turkish) from their roofs and minarets at sunset every day. Yet in these extraordinary times none have been able to visit Aziziye Mosque in Stoke Newington, Shacklewell Lane Mosque […]
Dear Dr Sivri, Ever since I can remember, I have had a problem with gambling. Over the years I have lost a lot of money, and it hasn’t been too big a problem because most of the time I have been single, and I have always managed to find money from somewhere or another. If […]
Our most anticipated and holy time of the year, month of Ramadan (lunar month of the Hijri calendar), commenced at sunset on Thursday, 23 April 2020. Amazingly Ramadan (Ramazan in Turkish) has a divine energy that excites most people, even non-Muslims. In Ramadan, all healthy Muslims are supposed to keep fast between dawn and sunset, […]
This Tuesday, 19 May, is the holiest night of the year in the Islamic calendar and occurs during the last ten days of Ramazan. Known in Turkish as Kadir Gecesi and in English as the Night of Power, this is the night when the first verses of the Holy Kuran were revealed to the Prophet […]
This week’s London Mevlit programme features a special guest appearance from Imam Muhittin Aydın. The muezzin at Stoke Newington’s Aziziye Mosque will be reciting Koranic prayers alongside programme host Husayn Hashim El Bakayi, the UK’s most prominent Turkish Cypriot hoca (pastor) on Sunday, 17 May. The London Mevlit programme will start straight after Kanal T’s iftar […]
A British Turkish Cypriot chef has featured in an international series of Recipes for Ramadan (‘Ramazan’ in Turkish). Hulya Erdal appears in a ten-minute online clip cooking homemade Tepsi Kebabı, the perfect meal for iftar (breaking of the daily fast). Speaking entirely in Turkish, Hulya first wishes Muslims worldwide a happy Ramazan and also reflects […]
