The Centre for Turkey Studies (CEFTUS) is pleased to invite you to a Westminster Debate with guest speaker Mr Ahmet Hakan, columnist and TV presenter.
The event will take place on Thursday 9 June 2016, between 7.00PM and 9.00PM in Committee Room 10, House of Commons. Please note that security checks are required to enter the House of Commons, so we kindly ask you to arrive at 6.30PM, allowing the event to start and end promptly on time.
Turkey has been on the verge of major political changes which has been a process constructed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) since the party came into power in 2002. Currently, a ‘Turkish style’ presidential system with a bid to replace Turkey’s parliamentary government system is on the agenda and President Erdogan now with ceremonial powers is set to gain further authority by virtue of this change. As part of the discussions over the new presidential system, a new Turkish constitution is set to be drafted with a view to replace the current one which was drafted under military rule. The AKP government, however, has been criticised by the current opposition parties and internationally for its ever-increasing authoritarian policies. Freedom of expression has deteriorated with many journalists imprisoned and politicians including Peoples’ Democracy Party (HDP) Members of Parliament, whose parliamentary immunity is set to be removed, has been targeted. Violent clashes in south-eastern Turkey between Turkish military and Kurdish armed factions have intensified since June 2015 leaving hundreds of civilians killed and many injured. At the same time, there have been a number of terrorist attacks suicide attacks by Daesh (also known as ISIS), and attacks by the far left DHKP(C) and Kurdish separatist TAK in cities including Ankara and Istanbul.
Ahmet Hakan, a renowned columnist who has been a witness of the political changes in Turkey over the last decade, will share his observations and analysis on the current affairs and potential scenarios for the future.
This event is kindly hosted by Neil Coyle Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark.
We look forward to welcoming you at this joint forum.
Booking is required for this event to ensure adequate seating availability.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Speaker biography
Ahmet Hakan Coskun is a Turkish columnist and TV presenter. He studied at Uludag University in Religious Studies. He wrote stories when he was a student at the university. Some of his stories were published in Yedi Iklim Journal. Between 1993 and 1994, he worked as a journalist in TGRT TV channel. He was part of the team of news programme called “Yanki”. Whilst Kanal 7 was in the process of establishment, he transferred to this TV channel as a journalist. After he worked as a journalist, he worked as Director of News and Current Affairs and reporter for Kanal 7. In the following years, he prepared the Iskele Sancak programme and he published a book containing several episodes of this programme. In 2004, he resigned from Kanal 7. He joined the Yeni Safak daily as a columnist and afterwards he worked for the Sabah daily . Currently, he writes his columns for the Hurriyet daily and presents a popular current affairs programme “Tarafsiz Bolge” on CNNTurk since 2005. His published books are Neden Milliyetcilik? (Why Nationalism?) (2001), Ceteler, Mafya ve Siyaset (Gangs, Mafia and Politics) (2001), Sivil, Dayanılmaz Bir Yurek (Civilian, An Unendurable Heart) (1999).