Latest news with #German-Turkish
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
New film at Cannes holds mirror to Germany's past
German-Turkish director Fatih Akin's new film Amrum, which follows a Hitler Youth member on a remote German island towards the end of World War Two, is meant to hold a mirror up to German society, he told Reuters at the Cannes Film Festival. Amrum, which premiered out of competition, marks Akin's return to the festival in southern France eight years after his last competition entry In the Fade, starring Diane Kruger - the Best Actress winner at Cannes in 2017 for her performance. Amrum takes place in 1945, said Akin, but the questions raised about how to handle Germany's past remain unresolved. "We (Germans) had to be bureaucratic with everything. Also with handling the past," said Akin. "We're so slow." The process of "denazification" imposed by the Allies at the end of the war made it seem like Germany had stripped its population of Nazi ideologies, which isn't true, said Akin. "To realise that, to look in the mirror - you know, there's a German angst to look in the mirror. My film is a mirror." Set on the North Sea island of the same name, Amrum is based on the experiences of Akin's 85-year-old mentor and co-writer Hark Bohm, himself a director who decided to hand the project off due to his age. The film follows 12-year-old Nanning, played by newcomer Jasper Ole Billerbeck, after his mother, a staunch Nazi supporter, falls into a depression upon learning about the death of Adolf Hitler the day she gives birth. The Hitler Youth member sets off to find the only thing his mother doesn't refuse to eat - white bread with butter and honey. Those ingredients are in short supply due to the war, which otherwise feels far removed from the isolated island. Kruger teamed up with Akin again for Amrum, in the role of Tessa, a potato farmer opposed to Hitler who is reported to the local Nazi authorities for traitorous talk for discussing the inevitability of the war's impending end. To cast Nanning, Akin decided to search outside of urban centres and found Billerbeck at a sailing school, he told Reuters. "Big city kids, they can't handle nature," he said.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More than 1,100 arrests in Turkey after Istanbul mayor's detention
{microsoft_credit="" caption="Supporters of Turkey's Republican People's Party gather in Ankara to protest against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Tunahan Turhan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa"} Numerous arrests have been made in connection with protests against the imprisonment of leading Turkish opposition politician Ekrem İmamoğlu, the country's interior minister said on Monday. A total of 1,133 suspects had been detained during "illegal demonstrations" between Wednesday and Sunday, Ali Yerlikaya posted on X. Meanwhile, the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) said that 10 journalists and photographers had been detained during raids on Monday morning. The Disk-Basin-Is media trade union called the move a government response to the ongoing protests against the imprisonment of the opposition CHP politician. The union called it an "attack on press freedom and the people's right to know the truth," in a post on X. Suspended Istanbul mayor İmamoğlu, widely seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's main rival, was detained on Wednesday on charges of corruption and terrorism. On Sunday, a court ordered him to be held in pre-trial detention and he was suspended from his position as mayor of Istanbul. Tens of thousands of people defied bans and took to the streets in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and other cities, leading to clashes between security forces and demonstrators. Police reportedly used water cannon and tear gas late on Sunday evening. Yerlikaya said 123 police officers had been injured during the nationwide demonstrations. He said items such as acid, stones, sticks, fireworks, axes and knives were confiscated. Germany condemns arrest The German government criticized İmamoğlu's imprisonment and the suspension of his mayoral duties on Monday, with spokesman Steffen Hebestreit calling the move "absolutely unacceptable." "This must now be clarified very quickly and very transparently," Hebestreit demanded. The recent developments were "a bad sign for democracy in Turkey" as well as for the future of German-Turkish relations, he added. The Turkish ambassador to Germany was informed of Berlin's position during a meeting at the Foreign Office on Monday morning. Charges rejected İmamoğlu has vehemently denied the allegations and accuses the government of attempting to sideline him as a political rival. The German government has not yet considered specific consequences for his imprisonment, such as halting arms exports to Turkey. For now, Berlin is waiting to see how Ankara responds to the demand for clarification, Hebestreit said, adding: "Then further questions may need to be addressed." {microsoft_credit="" caption="Supporters of Turkey's Republican People's Party gather in Ankara to protest against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Tunahan Turhan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa"}
The Guardian
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek: Yarın Yoksa review
Since the 1960s, Turkish groups have honed a distinct blend of Anatolian folk and psychedelia. Early pioneers Moğollar and Erkin Koray electrified the lute-like saz, while newer acts such as Baba Zula and Altın Gün have added synths, dub echo and heavy fuzz to the mix. German-Turkish singer Derya Yıldırım has meanwhile taken a downtempo approach since her 2019 debut album Kar Yağar, singing soaring vocals over hazy reverb to produce soulful saz-funk. Yıldırım's third album with her band Grup Şimşek is their first working with analogue soul producer Leon Michels (who produced pop singer Clairo's acclaimed latest) and the resulting 11 tracks luxuriate in warm acoustics, tape hiss and earthy basslines. Opener Çiçek Açıyor sets the tone with Yıldırım's powerful falsetto ascending beautifully over a driving, mid-tempo groove of fuzzing bass and softly piping Mellotron keys, while Cool Hand and Direne Direne pick up the pace, highlighting the tight interplay between drummer Helen Wells and bassist Graham Mushnik, who evoke classic 60s soul rhythm sections such as the Funk Brothers as they anchor Yıldırım's high-register melodies. The rich, oaken tone of Michels' production creates consistency, but when the group break with their constraints on three standards, the record reaches unexpected territory. The lilting nursery rhyme feel of Hop Bico is given a woozy, psychedelic makeover courtesy of siren-like synths and a wailing guitar solo from Antonin Voyant, while Misket highlights Yıldırım's emotive balladry in an a capella opening before landing on a hypnotic melody doubled by the synth and saz. Finally, a version of saz master Neşet Ertaş's 60s single Ceylan is a highlight, subduing the original's raucous fast-picking into an offbeat reggae mood. It's a transformation that shows just how imaginatively Yıldırım and Grup Şimşek can evolve the Turkish psych sound. Listen to tracks from Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek: Yarın Yoksa on Apple Music This article includes content hosted on We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as the provider may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. The last instalment of composer and sitarist Anoushka Shankar's instrumental trilogy, Chapter III: We Return to Light (Leiter), is beautifully lyrical, interweaving sitar with Alam Khan's sarod to produce the enveloping melodies of tracks like Daybreak and Hiraeth. Seven-piece Ugandan gospel choir Kingdom Molongi release a startlingly original debut, Kembo (Nyege Nyege), with Portuguese producer Jonathan Uliel Saldanha. Chopping multilingual vocal lines with thundering bass and synth buzz, the group veer from yearning ululations on Emanuel to eerie dancefloor spirituality on the rhythmic Tokumisa Nzambe. Also channelling the power of the voice, nephews of Sufi master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan lead the Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali group on At the Feet of the Beloved (Real World). Soaring up through a selection of Urdu ghazals and Punjabi folk songs, the record peaks on the ecstatic, spiralling pulse of Ja Mur Ja.
Roya News
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Mesut Özil transitions from football to Turkish politics
Former professional footballer Mesut Özil, celebrated for his contributions to Germany's World Cup victory, has taken a significant step into Turkish politics by joining the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). At a congress held in Ankara, Özil was appointed to the AKP's central decision and executive committee on Sunday, coinciding with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's re-election as the party leader for the ninth consecutive time. Özil, who has maintained a close bond with Erdogan for several years, had the president as his best man at his wedding to former Miss Turkey, Amine Gulse, in 2019. The German-Turkish athlete has enjoyed a distinguished football career, having played for notable clubs such as Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Fenerbahce. His accolades include winning the Spanish La Liga title and four English FA Cup trophies, along with 92 appearances for the German national team, culminating in the World Cup triumph in 2014. Özil also holds the record for being named German national team player of the year five times. However, Özil's relationship with the German national team deteriorated after the 2018 World Cup. He announced his retirement from international football, citing racial discrimination from the German media and the German Football Association (DFB). "I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose," he remarked, expressing his feelings of alienation. The fallout began when Özil and Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan, both of Turkish descent, faced criticism in Germany for meeting with Erdogan. Özil clarified, "My job is a football player and not a politician, and our meeting was not an endorsement of any policies." He also stated, "The treatment I have received from the DFB and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt. I feel unwanted and think what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten." Since stepping away from the national team, Özil has been vocal on various political and human rights issues. In December 2019, he publicly condemned China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims, which drew ire from Chinese authorities, prompting his then-club, Arsenal, to distance itself from his statements. Additionally, he commented on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, asserting that the territory is "legally and internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, yet it is currently occupied illegally." Özil has also been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights and has criticized the Israeli Occupation's actions.
Middle East Eye
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Mesut Ozil, World Cup winner, enters Turkish politics with ruling party
Footballer Mesut Ozil, a World Cup winner with Germany, has entered Turkish politics by becoming a senior decision-maker in the country's ruling party. Ozil joined the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) central decision and executive committee at a congress in Ankara on Sunday, during which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected as the head of the party for the ninth time. The German-Turkish footballer has had a close relationship with Erdogan for several years. In 2019, the president was best man at Ozil's wedding to former Miss Turkey Amine Gulse. During his illustrious football career, he played for Real Madrid, Arsenal and Fenerbahce, among other clubs, winning the Spanish La Liga title and four English FA Cup trophies. He played 92 times for the German national team, winning the World Cup in 2014, and winning German national team player of the year a record five times. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters However, his relationship with the national team soured following the 2018 World Cup, when Ozil retired from international football, alleging that the German media and the football association, DFB, had racially discriminated against him. "I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose," he said at the time. The episode came a few weeks after Ozil and Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan, another German international of Turkish descent, were criticised in Germany after being pictured meeting with Erdogan. "My job is a football player and not a politician, and our meeting was not an endorsement of any policies," Ozil said at the time. "The treatment I have received from the DFB and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt. I feel unwanted and think what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten." Since then, Ozil has made a number of interventions on political and human rights issues. He publicly condemned China's crackdown on Uyghur Muslims in December 2019, which angered Chinese authorities. Ozil's then-club Arsenal distanced itself from the condemnation. The following year, he commented on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, stating that the territory was "legally and internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, yet it is currently occupied illegally". He has also frequently spoken out in support of Palestinian rights and against Israeli abuses. Ozil is not the first footballer to join the AKP's ranks - former Aston Villa defender Alpay Ozalan has been a member of Turkey's parliament since 2018.
