AGP Executive Report

Digital Life: Türkiye’s ban on social media for under-15s takes effect Nov. 1, requiring platforms to verify ages and block services deemed addictive. Rights groups say the measure comes amid broader concerns over online speech restrictions. On Screen: Filmekimi opened in Istanbul, featuring new films by Pedro Almodóvar, Asghar Farhadi, Werner Herzog and Taika Waititi. The festival also heads to Ankara, İzmir and Mersin. Stage Access: Türk Telekom’s Accessible Theater has begun its fourth season, offering audio descriptions, tactile stage tours and surtitles for audiences with vision or hearing impairments. Heritage: A newly uncovered 3,400-year-old Hittite archive recounts an epidemic and a royal infant’s death, while a 2,000-year-old Roman bath in Türkiye is welcoming visitors after dark.

Education: Turkish primary teachers earned an average of €18,669 in 2025, the lowest pay among 28 European education systems compared in an OECD report. Digital Culture: Orkut founder Orkut Büyükkökten is proposing a new social network focused on real connections, though he hasn’t announced a return of the original platform. Rights: The EU says Turkey’s actions affecting LGBTQ+ people, media freedom and local democracy are widening the gap with membership goals. Heritage: A 3,400-year-old Hittite royal archive unearthed in Turkey includes tablets recounting an epidemic and a princess’s death. Travel: Cappadocia is drawing more East Asian visitors this autumn, while a 2,000-year-old Roman bath is welcoming guests after dark. Performing Arts: Türkiye’s State Opera and Ballet festival will bring performances to four towns in November.

Rights and Culture: The EU says Turkey’s pressure on media freedom, LGBTQ+ people and local democracy is widening the gap with its membership goals. Ancient Heritage: Newly uncovered Hittite tablets in Sivas recount a deadly epidemic and the death of an infant princess 3,400 years ago. Cyprus Art: Two Byzantine icons stolen after the 1974 invasion have returned to Cyprus, while founder Hambis Tsangaris warns the Hambis Printmaking Museum faces demolition amid a dispute over its lease. Music and Stage: Turkish girl group Manifest has released its first English single, “Tralala,” and the Anatolia Opera and Ballet Festival is set to visit four towns in November. On Screen: Hande Erçel will star in “Diaspora,” a drama set in Berlin. Travel: A 2,000-year-old Roman bath in Türkiye is welcoming visitors after dark, as East Asian tourists help drive an autumn boom in Cappadocia.

Music & Free Expression: Prosecutors are seeking an obscenity charge against queer singer Mabel Matiz over a video showing two men dancing; a conviction could bring up to three years in prison. Fashion & Heritage: Qatar Museums will open a retrospective of British-Turkish designer Erdem Moralıoğlu on Oct. 27, with more than 150 pieces tracing his 20-year career. Archaeology: A 3,400-year-old Hittite royal archive has been unearthed in Türkiye, offering a new window into the ancient civilisation. Festivals & Travel: Diyarbakır is preparing to host the Culture Route Festival, while Cappadocia is drawing Golden Week visitors—though balloon trips depend on the wind.

Ancient Heritage: A 3,400-year-old Hittite archive uncovered in Sivas offers rare glimpses of royal life, a deadly epidemic and military appeals. Film & TV: Hande Erçel will lead Iranian director Nader Saeivar’s Berlin-set drama Diaspora, playing a Turkish widow fighting to be heard after harassment. Fashion & Tradition: Ankara’s TURKSOY Ethno-Fashion Week brought designers from across the Turkic world together to reinterpret traditional dress and patterns. Travel & Culture: Cappadocia welcomed a surge of East Asian visitors for Golden Week, while Diyarbakır prepares to host the Culture Route Festival. Women’s Safety: A report on femicides in Turkey and Kurdistan says 197 women were killed by men in the first eight months of 2026; families in Diyarbakır say requests for protection went unanswered.

Underwater Heritage: Divers off Antalya have uncovered 122 kinds of plates, bowls and trays from a 2,100-year-old shipwreck. Clay packing helped preserve the cargo, offering a rare glimpse of ancient Mediterranean trade. Archaeology: A new team is studying Turkey’s Durupınar formation, often linked to Noah’s Ark, but researchers say tests are ongoing; the site is widely described as a natural geological feature. Arts & Craft: Tourists are flocking to Midyat to see its 3,000-year-old filigree tradition, while ENKA Sanat has announced a new music and theatre season. Travel: Turkey is advancing new rules for Booking.com, Airbnb and other foreign booking platforms, a change that could affect visitors and hosts. Public Life: A student died and eight others were wounded in a stabbing at an Istanbul school. Separately, journalist groups are protesting account blocks and restrictions on news coverage in Turkey.

Archaeology: A 2,100-year-old shipwreck off Antalya has yielded 122 types of plates, bowls and trays, remarkably preserved by clay packed between the dishes. The find offers a rare glimpse into ancient Anatolian craftsmanship and Mediterranean trade. Craft & Design: Istanbul will host Türkiye’s first watch festival on Oct. 10–11, with workshops, talks and live demonstrations celebrating watchmaking as an art and craft. Living Heritage: Visitors are flocking to Midyat to discover its 3,000-year-old filigree tradition, a delicate silver-working craft still practiced in the city. Theatre: Kurdish theatre company Teatra Jiyana Nû has returned after a long break, opening its season with a children’s play and preparing a new production for adults. The group has faced repeated bans and closures over the years. Climate & Civil Society: Turkish NGOs hope November’s COP31 summit in Antalya will offer room for public discussion and cultural events, despite concerns that space for activism has narrowed.

Midyat Telkari Boom: Mardin’s nearly 3,000-year-old silver filigree tradition, “telkari” (Midyat Telkarisi), is drawing more domestic and international tourists, boosted by its 2021 geographical indication status and the hit series “Uzak Şehir.” School Violence in Istanbul: A teenage girl stabbed pupils at a school in Basaksehir; one student died and seven were injured, with inspectors assigned and the attacker in custody. COP31 Civil Society Pressure: Ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Turkish NGOs are planning a People’s Climate Summit but warn that protest space has narrowed after recent raids and arrests. Turkish Culture Abroad: A permanent “Divan Lugat At-Turk” exhibition opened at Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Kurmanjan Datka Center, supported by TIKA, linking Mahmud Kashgari’s legacy to Turkic language and folklore. Channel Smuggling Crackdown: UK authorities seized 25 inflatable “mega-dinghies” in air freight from Turkey to the Netherlands, targeting routes that could carry up to 1,700 migrants. Olympics 2036 Update: The IOC confirmed Qatar as an interested party for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with preliminary talks underway.

School Violence in Istanbul: Turkey’s education minister said one student died after a teenage girl stabbed pupils at a school in Basaksehir, with authorities reporting an arrest and classes suspended. Inflation Watch: Turkey’s annual consumer-price growth eased to 29.7% in September as a liquidity squeeze tied to a high-return investment fund crisis tightened demand, keeping monthly inflation at 1.84% and fueling hopes of a central bank rate cut. Higher Education Push: Erdoğan praised expanded access to higher education, citing abolished tuition fees, more scholarships, upgraded university infrastructure, and new universities across all 81 provinces. Culture & Art: The New Museum announced 36 artists for its 2027 Triennial, “The Outside Expands,” including several internationally known names. Digital Rights: Turkish and international journalism groups urged X to reject sweeping blocking requests, warning account-wide restrictions cut audiences off from news. Noah’s Ark Research: Turkish researchers at Sivas Cumhuriyet University are investigating the Durupınar site linked to Noah’s Ark claims. Sports Tourism: F1 confirmed the Turkish Grand Prix returns in 2027 at İstanbul Park. Aviation & Safety: Turkish Airlines hosted IATA’s WSOC 2026 in Istanbul.

Foreign Booking Rules: A Turkish parliamentary committee will debate Oct. 6 new requirements for foreign booking platforms, including a Culture and Tourism Ministry permit, a local representative, license verification in listings, and a capped 17% commission (excluding VAT), with Booking.com domestic reservations paused since a 2017 court ruling. Space & Science Diplomacy: Erdoğan says Turkey and Somalia have signed an agreement for Turkey to build a spaceport in Somalia, announced at an international space congress in Antalya. Cultural Loss: Turkey mourns philosopher and human-rights scholar İoanna Kuçuradi, who died in Istanbul at 89, remembered for bridging ethics and human dignity. Media Censorship: Turkey blocked Sky News journalist Alex Crawford’s X account, as rights groups call it part of a wider “tsunami” of social media and independent outlet restrictions. LGBT+ Crackdown: Reports highlight raids and intensified pressure on LGBTQ+ organizations, with authorities citing “family values” and “LGBT propaganda.” Diaspora Identity: A piece on names and mispronunciation explores how identity and culture get reshaped in the diaspora. Climate Politics: Pacific leaders warn COP31’s fossil-fuel transition deal must not be left open for renegotiation as Turkey hosts the next preparatory meeting. Education Protests Abroad: France braces for renewed high school protests, with thousands of arrests and widespread school closures reported. Regional Tensions: Greece refuses to seek Turkish permission for seabed surveys tied to the Great Sea Interconnector, escalating an eastern Mediterranean dispute.

Social Media & Rights: Turkey blocked at least 88 X accounts on Oct. 5, including the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) and other journalists, activists and professionals, as censorship expands after a wider LGBTQ crackdown. LGBTQ+ Crackdown: A separate report describes police raids targeting major LGBT+ groups under a “My Family Is Safe” operation, with rights groups warning of a fast, large-scale repression. Culture on Screen: “Girne Belgeseli” was selected for the 2026–2027 Turkic Languages & Heritage Film Festival in the US, spotlighting Girne’s history and cultural memory. Philosophy & Human Rights: Turkey mourns philosopher and human-rights scholar İoanna Kuçuradi, remembered for bringing philosophy into everyday life and for her work at Maltepe University. Heritage Conservation: Turkey is racing to save Gallipoli’s vanishing shipwrecks with a new cathodic protection system under the Gallipoli Underwater Historical Park. Fashion & Identity: Azerbaijan’s Gulnara Khalilova will showcase Turkic-world fashion across Turkey in October, blending traditional ornamentation with contemporary design.

Financial & Political Fallout: Turkey’s biggest financial scandal in a decade has reportedly reached President Erdoğan’s political circle, with investigations into 131 investment funds and about €17 billion tied to defaults, alleged market manipulation, fraud and money laundering. LGBTQ+ Rights & Church Voices: A German bishop says he’s alarmed by Turkey’s LGBTQ+ arrests, arguing fear and repression harm society as a whole. Space & Education: International Space University launches a Global Campus Initiative, aiming for regional hubs worldwide after its Antalya congress announcement. Culture Tech: Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry plans a next-generation visitor system for 216 museums and archaeological sites by end-2026, including smart ticketing and digital visitor management. Arts & Film: Adana Golden Boll Film Festival names “Bir Arada Yalnız” best film and best director, spotlighting Turkish cinema talent. Education in Syria: Türkiye opens the Damascus International Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Turkish School for 2026-2027, from kindergarten to high school. Heritage & Science Buzz: New scans at the “Noah’s Ark” site near Mount Ararat fuel fresh debate over possible underground structures.

Cultural Heritage & Tech: Turkey plans a next-generation visitor system for 216 museums and archaeological sites by end-2026, promising smarter ticketing, digital visitor management, and safer data handling. Performing Arts: Ankara State Opera and Ballet (ADOB) unveiled its 2026-2027 season mix of Mozart, Puccini, Turkish works, and modern dance, aiming to grow beyond last season’s 110,000 audience. Film & Festivals: Adana Golden Boll Film Festival crowned “Bir Arada Yalnız” as Best Film and Best Director, with awards also going to “Mutter” and “Günyüzü.” Arts, Peace & Politics: Director İsmail Güneş argues cinema should place peace at its core, while Prof. Doğu Ergil says Turkey is entering a “transformation” marked by rule-of-law and citizenship debates. Education & Culture: Türkiye opened the Damascus Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Turkish School for kindergarten through high school, and YÖK urged universities to expand family-life and premarital education programs. Memory & Rights: DFG commemorated journalist Nagihan Akarsel on the fourth anniversary of her killing, calling for accountability. Archaeology: Rescue excavations near Aigai’s necropolis report newly uncovered tombs and graves linked to the Hellenistic era.

Archaeology & Heritage: Rescue excavations at Turkey’s ancient Aigai (Aeolis) necropolis near the port may have uncovered tombs linked to Alexander the Great’s soldiers, with at least 30 rock-cut and chest-type graves identified and 10 fully uncovered so far, including terracotta sarcophagi and Hellenistic-era burial chambers. Culture & Tech: Türkiye’s TEKNOFEST Southeast in Şanlıurfa turned tradition into a crowd-pleaser as a humanoid robot performed the folk dance “halay,” with Turkish-developed software choreographing the moves to local music. Arts & Tourism: Türkiye’s State Opera and Ballet says more than 90,000 spectators are expected across the 2025-2026 opera and ballet festival season, spanning major events from Istanbul to Aspendos. Education & Innovation: A Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is set to open at Punjab University on Oct. 7, built through collaboration with TIKA and Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Ministry. Public Life & Accountability: President Erdoğan vowed accountability after the Soma mine collapse in Manisa killed five miners, with administrative and criminal investigations underway and nine suspects detained.

LGBTQ+ Rights & Media Crackdown: Turkey’s courts shut down independent news site T24 over alleged “LGBTQ+ propaganda,” while rights groups and journalists warn the move widens censorship and targets civil society. Culture & Arts: Türkiye’s State Opera and Ballet expects over 90,000 spectators across its 2025-2026 opera and ballet festivals, with major events running from Istanbul to Aspendos and beyond. Heritage & Exhibitions: Ankara welcomes a new exhibition on Azerbaijani kelaghayi traditions, spotlighting the silk headscarf through contemporary paintings. Tech Meets Tradition: At TEKNOFEST Southeast, a humanoid robot wowed crowds by performing the traditional Turkish folk dance “halay,” blending modern robotics with local culture. Public Accountability: Erdoğan vowed action over the Soma mine collapse in Manisa, with administrative and criminal investigations underway and multiple suspects detained. International Spotlight: INTERPOL South Africa arrested two Turkish fugitives wanted in Türkiye for serious gender-based violence offences. Diplomacy & Identity: Erdoğan marked Turkic States Cooperation Day, calling for lasting unity among Turkic countries.

LGBTQ+ Rights Under Pressure: Turkey’s crackdown deepened as authorities blocked access to at least 1,270 X accounts in September, with targets including journalists, women’s rights groups, and LGBTQ+ organizations; the EngelliWeb monitor’s X account also faced a blocking order. International Watchdog Pushes Back: The Council of Europe’s PACE urged Turkey to end repression of LGBTQ+ people and rights defenders, citing arrests, prosecutions, and restrictions on expression and assembly under the “My Family Is Safe” campaign. Media Freedom at Risk: Turkey also shut down independent news site T24 and blocked access to it, as journalists and outlets decried widening censorship. Diplomacy & Trade: Canada’s PM Mark Carney plans to visit Turkey to meet President Erdoğan, with talks expected to cover free-trade negotiations plus energy and defense cooperation. Culture & Thought: Philosopher İoanna Kuçuradi, a major voice on human rights and ethics, died at 89.