Turkey in February 2026: the most important developments in society
In February 2026, Turkey's public life was marked by disputes over politics, religion and family values. The most covered story was a fistfight in the Turkish parliament over the appointment of the justice minister, which was captured on video. Separately, a protest and low turnout marred a visit by the chair of the opposition CHP to the earthquake zone.
A second theme was the role of religion and tradition in society. During Ramadan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned criticism of Ramadan practices as an attack by secularists, and the Turkish government and civil society groups criticized a secularism declaration issued during the fasting month. Istanbul kept up the Ottoman-era tradition of Ramadan drumming, with drummers making nightly rounds across the city. Istanbul authorities banned a metal band over claims of satanism. Ahead of the month, Erdogan was set to present a new vision for family and population policy, and a Turkish minister warned of global pressure on traditional cultural and family dynamics, describing it as an external challenge.
Other reports covered the environment and migration. Turkey was facing its worst drought in 50 years, raising concern over water supplies for agriculture and cities. A new study gave previously unknown details about the 2023 earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria. The head of the UN refugee agency visited the Turkish-Syrian border while Turkey accelerated a program for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees. Two men thought to be migrants were found dead on the land border with Turkey. Turkish Cypriot authorities delivered between 10,000 and 20,000 doses of foot and mouth disease vaccine to Larnaca. A Russian consulate said 1.7 million Russians visited Istanbul in 2025.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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