File photo
Four people were arrested on Sunday over alleged vote rigging in the southeastern Turkish province of Şanlıurfa.
Legal proceedings have commenced against the assaults in Suruç district, said Sadi Doğan, the provincial public prosecutor.
There is an attempt to create a "distorted and exaggerated perception" regarding Suruç district after the incidents on June 14, said the provincial governor's office in a separate statement.
Prominent Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim, who was convicted in 2015 in a case that he said was politically motivated and released with a full pardon from the king in May 2018, lauded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a recent visit to Turkey.After Mahathir Mohamad’s election in May as Malaysia’s new prime minister, he secured a royal pardon for Anwar and has promised to step aside for his friend-turned-foe-turned-ally to become prime minister. Anwar has said that it had been accepted that he would be the next prime minister after Mahathir steps down, but he wants to ensure a smooth transition.Anwar spoke exclusively to Emeti Saruhan from Gerçek Hayat magazine.Muslim world lacks strong leaders“We [Muslims] do not have good leaders. They do not have the courage to speak up. Just look at the Palestine matter. There are very few [leaders] who raise their voices. The matter that must be evaluated is governing. Before, there was Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz. He was able to accomplish great things in two years and three months because of his character. There should be mutual trust between the people and leaders. Democratic elections should be conducted to ensure this,” Anwar said.‘Turkey’s election is a source of hope for the region’s oppressed’Erdoğan casts his vote for presidential, parliamentary electionsPortable ballot boxes go to sickly, elderly voters in Turkey elections for the first timeTurkish president has an “effective voice”“Erdoğan is the most vocal leader in the Muslim world. He has courage and represents an important country like Turkey. Turkey is a great country and has a strong economy. People will of course criticize, but I do not doubt Erdoğan’s sincerity. He told me he was doing the best he can. He’s honest. He follows through on his promises,” Anwar added.Anwar in Turkey to “speak about the truth”Anwar had been invited by Erdoğan to visit Turkey in 2015, and has been criticized for making his visit prior to Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections held on June 24.“They say ‘We know why you came.’ I came to speak about the truth. To speak about how I feel. I am someone who spent 10.5 years in prison. I cannot be told to not speak about what I believe in,” Anwar said.
Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim backs Turkey’s Erdoğan
It added that administrative and judicial investigation is continuing regarding the June 14 incident.
All necessary measures have been taken to ensure security during elections in Suruc, said Governor Abdullah Erin.
"Our people should be at ease. Reports of deaths during incidents in Suruc district do not reflect reality. Necessary response has been given to the sides that were at conflict for a short period of time," he added.
As Turkey heads to the polls in a decisive election on Sunday, the Middle East holds it breath in anticipation of the results that promise to shape the future of the region. The oppressed people of Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Libya, who look to Turkey as a beacon of hope in a region rocked by turmoil and instability, hope that the June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections will tip the balance in favor of the disenfranchised people of the Middle East. Billboards went up across Kuwait, Qatar, Morocco, Algeria, among other countries in the region, showing support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the elections, while millions of social media users in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE prayed for the victory of Erdoğan and the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.Ahmad Toma, former president of Syria’s interim government, said, “June 24 is not only Turkey's election but it's the hope of all the oppressed.”“We’re all Erdoğan”Placards that read, “We’re all Erdoğan” were raised during the events that followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s Jerusalem decision. Abu Ayman, the head of the Syrian Palestinian Delegation, pointed that even “the prospect of the region without Erdoğan would be a very grim landscape.”For the first time in Turkish history, political parties went to elections by forming alliances.Turkey’s ruling AK Party and the MHP formed an alliance (People’s Alliance) while the main opposition CHP, the IYI Party, and the Felicity Party constituted another (Nation Alliance).Video: Turkish President Erdoğan casts his vote in Istanbul‘The people of Iraq stand beside Turkey’ Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs in Iraq, which recently went to the polls in a disputed election, expressed their support for Erdoğan and the People’s Alliance.Ömer Aydoğdu, a leader from Iraq’s Turkmen Front, pointed that for the Iraqi people, the elections carry great importance when it comes to influencing the region’s destiny and foiling global ploys. With the exception of a minority who sympathizes with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror organization or sectarian fanatics, the majority of Iraqis stand beside the Turkish president, says Aydoğdu, who is also a Turkmen from Kirkuk. “Erdoğan was the lead actor that foiled the global ploy being staged during the Sept. 25 elections in northern Iraq.”Six candidates are running for president, while eight political parties are contending in Turkey’s parliamentary elections.In April, Parliament passed a bill calling for early elections on June 24, cementing Turkey’s move from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In an April 2017 referendum, Turkish voters approved the switch.Under the changes, the number of lawmakers in parliament rises from 550 to 600, presidential and parliamentary elections will be held every five years, and presidents can retain ties to their political party. The prime minister post is also abolished.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has served as president since 2014, and is Turkey's first popularly-elected president. Before that, he served as prime minister from 2003 to 2014.Erdoğan would be Turkey's first leader to rule under the presidential system should he win the election.Turkish polls going on smoothly: Independent observerElection board assures election security in SE TurkeyErdoğan casts his vote for presidential, parliamentary elections
‘Turkey’s election is a source of hope for the region’s oppressed’
Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu is monitoring the polls at the Election Security Coordination Center in the ministry.He is accompanied by Muhterem Ince, undersecretary of Interior Ministry, Gen. Arif Cetin, gendarmerie forces commander, Erhan Gulveren, deputy head of directorate of general of security, Ekrem Canalp, head of general directorate of local administrations, and Selim Capar, head of security and emergency situation coordination center.Soylu receives latest developments regarding election security by local authorities via video conference.Erdoğan casts his vote for presidential, parliamentary electionsPortable ballot boxes go to sickly, elderly voters in Turkey elections for the first timeFemale presidential candidate Akşener votes in Turkey electionsInstant imaging from air and land are being captured by cameras of police and gendarmerie units, helicopters and drones.Turkish voters are casting their votes in presidential and parliamentary elections.Voting started at 8.00 a.m. local time (0500GMT) and will continue through 5.00 p.m. local time (1400GMT).Video: Turkish President Erdoğan casts his vote in Istanbul
Turkish interior minister monitors elections
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said on Sunday that no discrepancies were reported during the elections so far.The delegation started its on-site observation in Lieutenant Kalmaz Primary School in capital Ankara.Speaking to reporters, Ambassador Audrey Glover, head of the election observer delegation, said they will continue following the polls closely till they end."There are no obstacles to the OSCE delegation, and we continue to observe the election in the methodology we employ all the time,” she said.The delegation will hold a press briefing at the Sheraton Hotel in Ankara at 3.00 p.m. local time (1200GMT) on Monday.Galeri: Presidential candidates, politicians cast votes in Turkey electionsTen foreigners posing as observers in Turkey’s elections to face trialElection board assures election security in SE TurkeyPortable ballot boxes go to sickly, elderly voters in Turkey elections for the first timeSome 415 observers from eight international organizations have been deployed to watch Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections.The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has sent 234 observers, while the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCEPA) sent 72, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) deployed 35, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) sent 10 observers.
Turkish polls going on smoothly: Independent observer
Legal proceedings started on Sunday against 10 foreigners who posed as election observers but attempted to interfere with the elections, according to Interior Ministry officials.Officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said the foreigners did not have accreditation and they were not Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observers.Despite this, the foreigners introduced themselves as observers and attempted to interfere with the elections in four provinces of Turkey, the officials said.They added that legal proceedings had commenced against three French nationals in eastern Agri province, three Germans in southeastern Sirnak province, three Italians in southeastern Diyarbakir province, and one Italian in southeastern Batman province.Turkish voters are casting their votes in presidential and parliamentary elections. Voting started at 8.00 a.m. local time (0500GMT) and will continue through 5.00 p.m. local time (1400GMT).Election board assures election security in SE TurkeyErdoğan casts his vote for presidential, parliamentary electionsPortable ballot boxes go to sickly, elderly voters in Turkey elections for the first time
Ten foreigners posing as observers in Turkey’s elections to face trial