On Friday, 24 July, thousands flocked to Istanbul’s historic Hagia Sophia, known in Turkish as Ayasofya, to hear Friday prayers. It was a momentous occasion for the country’s pious Muslims, who have for years been calling for the building to be changed back into an Islamic house of worship. Fo...
There were extraordinary scenes after Istanbul Başakşehir were crowned Süper Lig champions on Sunday. It was the first Süper Lig title win in the club’s history. Istanbul Başakşehir become only the sixth club to win the Turkish league since its inception in 1959, spectacularly breaking the strang...
A whirlwind visit to Britain by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu last week was followed by news that the two countries are “close to finalising” a free trade agreement (FTA). Mr Çavuşoğlu told the Financial Times that negotiations between the two countries on key areas were progressing...
Dear Dr Sivri, I hope you are well? I feel kind of embarrassed with my problem, but you are the only person that can help me. I am a man in his late thirties, and I feel really stuck at the moment and in this stage of my life. I have never been married, and I have always loved going out...
On this day twenty years ago, actor Kemal Sunal suffered a fatal heart attack as he boarded an early morning domestic flight from Istanbul to the Black Sea city of Trabzon. He was just 55 years old. Sunal is said to have had a lifelong fear of flying and had not been on a plane for many years, bu...
At least four people are reported to have died and 97 injured after a series of explosions at a fireworks factory in Hendek, Sakarya, 112 miles east of Istanbul. The first explosion occurred at 11.05 local time, followed by another at 11.15 and a third at 11.18. Locals initially feared the explos...
On June 23 at around 6pm a disabled woman in her 80s stood on the tarmac at Ercan Airport, supporting herself on crutches, heart heavy with the fear of deportation. She and her husband were one of a number of people who had been asked to step off the passenger transit bus by the police and told they...
‘Safe tourism’ is the message from Turkey for this summer. Flights between the United Kingdom and Turkey have recently re-started, with Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and Easyjet among the carriers to resume their service. The number of flights is expected to increase in July when, as expected, the two g...
Dear Dr Sivri, I am a 36-year-old woman who has suffered from deep insecurities my whole life. It affected me badly whilst I was at school, also in jobs, and in particular in all my relationships. As a result I tend to avoid people, and at work I try to keep under the radar and not be noticed. ...
Trabzonspor took all three points in their Friday evening encounter with Göztepe S.K as Turkey’s premier football league returned following a near three month break due to the coronavirus pandemic. Playing behind closed doors as part of the coronavirus containment measures, the Süper Lig leaders...
