The Amargi
@theamargi.bsky.social
News, Analysis, Opinions on the Middle East
Eighty hearings have passed, and the court still has no decision in a case built on an abduction from Lebanon. One defendant, Savaş Çelik, remains in pretrial detention after three years, even as a forensic review undercut key photo evidence. by Rengin Azizoğlu
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
Turkey: No Court Decision in Criminal Case After 80 Hearings
In Turkey, the case of Savaş Çelik, accused of terrorism and being involved in the assassination of Turkish military officer Major Arslan Kulaksız, continues after its 80th hearing. In the case…
www.theamargi.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Eighty hearings have passed, and the court still has no decision in a case built on an abduction from Lebanon. One defendant, Savaş Çelik, remains in pretrial detention after three years, even as a forensic review undercut key photo evidence. by Rengin Azizoğlu
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
Iraqi returns from Al Hol continue, while thousands of foreign women and children with alleged ISIS ties remain in Al Hol and Roj. The security and humanitarian dilemma is unresolved. Story by Abbas Abbas
www.theamargi.com/posts/progre...
www.theamargi.com/posts/progre...
Progress on Iraqi Repatriations as Foreign ISIS Families Remain Stranded in Camps in Northeast Syria
Iraq has stepped up repatriations from northeast Syria, but thousands of foreign ISIS families remain stuck in camps, caught between legal limbo, security concerns, and political reluctance.
www.theamargi.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Iraqi returns from Al Hol continue, while thousands of foreign women and children with alleged ISIS ties remain in Al Hol and Roj. The security and humanitarian dilemma is unresolved. Story by Abbas Abbas
www.theamargi.com/posts/progre...
www.theamargi.com/posts/progre...
Damascus has named Aleppo’s Kurdish neighbourhoods combat zones. At least 7 civilians are dead, and 52 wounded as shelling hits Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid. SDF says it remains committed to the ceasefire. Story by Justus Johannsen
www.theamargi.com/posts/damasc...
www.theamargi.com/posts/damasc...
January 7, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Damascus has named Aleppo’s Kurdish neighbourhoods combat zones. At least 7 civilians are dead, and 52 wounded as shelling hits Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid. SDF says it remains committed to the ceasefire. Story by Justus Johannsen
www.theamargi.com/posts/damasc...
www.theamargi.com/posts/damasc...
At least 17 people were killed as protests spread across Iran. Dozens were injured in Kurdish areas, including over 30 in Malekshahi, with arrests climbing by the day. Full story by Rojin Mukriyan.
www.theamargi.com/posts/as-ira...
www.theamargi.com/posts/as-ira...
As Iran’s Protests Spread Nationwide, Kurdish Parties Break Their Silence
Demonstrations have spread across much of Iran, following the collapse of the Iranian rial to a record low on December 28, 2025. The eruption of protests led to a violent crackdown by Iranian…
www.theamargi.com
January 6, 2026 at 8:10 PM
At least 17 people were killed as protests spread across Iran. Dozens were injured in Kurdish areas, including over 30 in Malekshahi, with arrests climbing by the day. Full story by Rojin Mukriyan.
www.theamargi.com/posts/as-ira...
www.theamargi.com/posts/as-ira...
Abduction, torture & sexual violence are the allegations, prompting the UK to sanction 3 Turkish-backed SNA factions and two commanders in northern Syria. Who was listed, what evidence was cited & what changes now. Story by Soha Ezzi & Abbas Abbas.
www.theamargi.com/posts/who-ar...
www.theamargi.com/posts/who-ar...
Who Are the Turkish-Backed Militias and Commanders Sanctioned by the UK Over Atrocities in Syria?
This article was co-authored by Soha Ezzi and Abbas Abbas. In December 2025, the United Kingdom imposed a new round of sanctions on Turkish-backed factions, pro-Assad militias, and former Assad…
www.theamargi.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Abduction, torture & sexual violence are the allegations, prompting the UK to sanction 3 Turkish-backed SNA factions and two commanders in northern Syria. Who was listed, what evidence was cited & what changes now. Story by Soha Ezzi & Abbas Abbas.
www.theamargi.com/posts/who-ar...
www.theamargi.com/posts/who-ar...
Ukrainian orphans sheltered in Turkey faced neglect claims & allegations that two girls were abused & became pregnant. Reports say Turkey’s main case was closed, as officials argued that consent at 15 was valid. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
Claims of Abuse of Ukrainian Orphans in Turkey Go Unprosecuted
More than two years after hundreds of Ukrainian orphaned children were evacuated to Turkey to escape the war, Turkish authorities have closed an investigation into claims that at least two girls were…
www.theamargi.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Ukrainian orphans sheltered in Turkey faced neglect claims & allegations that two girls were abused & became pregnant. Reports say Turkey’s main case was closed, as officials argued that consent at 15 was valid. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
Kurdish theatre in Istanbul turns language into public memory, from home storytelling to city stages. Artists fill halls each week, but say they need institutions, not only resilience, to keep the craft alive. Story by Şilan Bingöl
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
Kurdish Theatre in Istanbul: a Stage for Memory, Language, and Resistance
Istanbul, due to its large Kurdish population, is a major center for Kurdish-language theatre. For years, artist groups have propped up powerful spaces of expression and self-discovery for Kurds in…
www.theamargi.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Kurdish theatre in Istanbul turns language into public memory, from home storytelling to city stages. Artists fill halls each week, but say they need institutions, not only resilience, to keep the craft alive. Story by Şilan Bingöl
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
Iraq’s book world is rocked by “ghost books”, disputed ISBNs, and AI-era shortcuts. A Baghdad publisher loses membership as investigators question authors, translators, and sources. Story by Renwar Najm
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
AI-Written Books Hit Iraqi Shelves, With Ghost Authors and Translators
A dispute over a collection of newly released Arabic-language titles has shaken Iraq’s publishing scene, raising questions about how books are verified, how International Standard Book Numbers…
www.theamargi.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Iraq’s book world is rocked by “ghost books”, disputed ISBNs, and AI-era shortcuts. A Baghdad publisher loses membership as investigators question authors, translators, and sources. Story by Renwar Najm
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
Syria’s six remaining Jews marked Hanukkah in Damascus, a quiet ritual after decades of surveillance, with new, fragile openings but no full revival. Story by Massa Bashour & Majed Badawi
www.theamargi.com/posts/syrias...
www.theamargi.com/posts/syrias...
Syria’s Six Remaining Jews Celebrate Hanukkah in Damascus
This article is co-authored by Massa Bashour and Majed Badawi In December 2024, Syria’s Jews gathered to celebrate their first Hanukkah in the Syrian capital after decades of persecution by the Assad…
www.theamargi.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Syria’s six remaining Jews marked Hanukkah in Damascus, a quiet ritual after decades of surveillance, with new, fragile openings but no full revival. Story by Massa Bashour & Majed Badawi
www.theamargi.com/posts/syrias...
www.theamargi.com/posts/syrias...
Iraq’s presidential race is exposing deep divisions within Iraqi Kurdish politics, as the KDP, PUK, and Kurdish opposition groups move forward with separate candidates for a post long reserved for Kurds under Iraq’s post-2003 power-sharing system
Full story here: www.theamargi.com/posts/kdp-pu...
Full story here: www.theamargi.com/posts/kdp-pu...
KDP, PUK and Kurdish Opposition Field Separate Candidates for Iraqi Presidency
The Amargi, Erbil – Iraq’s race for the presidency has exposed deepening divisions within Kurdish politics, as the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and…
www.theamargi.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Iraq’s presidential race is exposing deep divisions within Iraqi Kurdish politics, as the KDP, PUK, and Kurdish opposition groups move forward with separate candidates for a post long reserved for Kurds under Iraq’s post-2003 power-sharing system
Full story here: www.theamargi.com/posts/kdp-pu...
Full story here: www.theamargi.com/posts/kdp-pu...
At least 17 people were killed as protests spread across Iran. Dozens were injured in Kurdish areas, including over 30 in Malekshahi, with arrests climbing by the day. Full story by Rojin Mukriyan.
www.theamargi.com/posts/as-ira...
www.theamargi.com/posts/as-ira...
As Iran’s Protests Spread Nationwide, Kurdish Parties Break Their Silence
Demonstrations have spread across much of Iran, following the collapse of the Iranian rial to a record low on December 28, 2025. The eruption of protests led to a violent crackdown by Iranian…
www.theamargi.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:34 PM
At least 17 people were killed as protests spread across Iran. Dozens were injured in Kurdish areas, including over 30 in Malekshahi, with arrests climbing by the day. Full story by Rojin Mukriyan.
www.theamargi.com/posts/as-ira...
www.theamargi.com/posts/as-ira...
Is this the beginning of the end for Iran’s regime?
Protests that began in Tehran’s bazaar are spreading nationwide. In this interview, Mahtab Mahboub speaks with Kamran Matin on sanctions, legitimacy, and cracks in the system. The full conversation: youtu.be/ELLG4eVuooo
Protests that began in Tehran’s bazaar are spreading nationwide. In this interview, Mahtab Mahboub speaks with Kamran Matin on sanctions, legitimacy, and cracks in the system. The full conversation: youtu.be/ELLG4eVuooo
January 4, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Is this the beginning of the end for Iran’s regime?
Protests that began in Tehran’s bazaar are spreading nationwide. In this interview, Mahtab Mahboub speaks with Kamran Matin on sanctions, legitimacy, and cracks in the system. The full conversation: youtu.be/ELLG4eVuooo
Protests that began in Tehran’s bazaar are spreading nationwide. In this interview, Mahtab Mahboub speaks with Kamran Matin on sanctions, legitimacy, and cracks in the system. The full conversation: youtu.be/ELLG4eVuooo
Abduction, torture & sexual violence are the allegations, prompting the UK to sanction 3 Turkish-backed SNA factions and two commanders in northern Syria. Who was listed, what evidence was cited & what changes now. Story by Soha Ezzi & Abbas Abbas.
www.theamargi.com/posts/who-ar...
www.theamargi.com/posts/who-ar...
Who Are the Turkish-Backed Militias and Commanders Sanctioned by the UK Over Atrocities in Syria?
This article was co-authored by Soha Ezzi and Abbas Abbas. In December 2025, the United Kingdom imposed a new round of sanctions on Turkish-backed factions, pro-Assad militias, and former Assad…
www.theamargi.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Abduction, torture & sexual violence are the allegations, prompting the UK to sanction 3 Turkish-backed SNA factions and two commanders in northern Syria. Who was listed, what evidence was cited & what changes now. Story by Soha Ezzi & Abbas Abbas.
www.theamargi.com/posts/who-ar...
www.theamargi.com/posts/who-ar...
Kurdish theatre in Istanbul turns language into public memory, from home storytelling to city stages. Artists fill halls each week, but say they need institutions, not only resilience, to keep the craft alive. Story by Şilan Bingöl
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
Kurdish Theatre in Istanbul: a Stage for Memory, Language, and Resistance
Istanbul, due to its large Kurdish population, is a major center for Kurdish-language theatre. For years, artist groups have propped up powerful spaces of expression and self-discovery for Kurds in…
www.theamargi.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Kurdish theatre in Istanbul turns language into public memory, from home storytelling to city stages. Artists fill halls each week, but say they need institutions, not only resilience, to keep the craft alive. Story by Şilan Bingöl
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
Iraq’s book world is rocked by “ghost books”, disputed ISBNs, and AI-era shortcuts. A Baghdad publisher loses membership as investigators question authors, translators, and sources. Story by Renwar Najm
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
AI-Written Books Hit Iraqi Shelves, With Ghost Authors and Translators
A dispute over a collection of newly released Arabic-language titles has shaken Iraq’s publishing scene, raising questions about how books are verified, how International Standard Book Numbers…
www.theamargi.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Iraq’s book world is rocked by “ghost books”, disputed ISBNs, and AI-era shortcuts. A Baghdad publisher loses membership as investigators question authors, translators, and sources. Story by Renwar Najm
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
Tehran shop closures over a plunging rial drew crowds, then students, as protests spread to cities nationwide. With inflation above 40 percent and a record exchange rate, trade stalled and security forces deployed.
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
Iran Unrest Spreads as Rial Slide Triggers Shop Closures
Protests flared across Iran on Sunday after the Iranian currency slid to a record low, triggering a wave of shop closures in Tehran’s main commercial districts and exposing growing public anger at a…
www.theamargi.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Tehran shop closures over a plunging rial drew crowds, then students, as protests spread to cities nationwide. With inflation above 40 percent and a record exchange rate, trade stalled and security forces deployed.
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
Ukrainian orphans sheltered in Turkey faced neglect claims & allegations that two girls were abused & became pregnant. Reports say Turkey’s main case was closed, as officials argued that consent at 15 was valid. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
Claims of Abuse of Ukrainian Orphans in Turkey Go Unprosecuted
More than two years after hundreds of Ukrainian orphaned children were evacuated to Turkey to escape the war, Turkish authorities have closed an investigation into claims that at least two girls were…
www.theamargi.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Ukrainian orphans sheltered in Turkey faced neglect claims & allegations that two girls were abused & became pregnant. Reports say Turkey’s main case was closed, as officials argued that consent at 15 was valid. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
Kurdish theatre in Istanbul turns language into public memory, from home storytelling to city stages. Artists fill halls each week, but say they need institutions, not only resilience, to keep the craft alive. Story by Şilan Bingöl
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
Kurdish Theatre in Istanbul: a Stage for Memory, Language, and Resistance
Istanbul, due to its large Kurdish population, is a major center for Kurdish-language theatre. For years, artist groups have propped up powerful spaces of expression and self-discovery for Kurds in…
www.theamargi.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Kurdish theatre in Istanbul turns language into public memory, from home storytelling to city stages. Artists fill halls each week, but say they need institutions, not only resilience, to keep the craft alive. Story by Şilan Bingöl
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
www.theamargi.com/posts/kurdis...
Iraq’s book world is rocked by “ghost books”, disputed ISBNs, and AI-era shortcuts. A Baghdad publisher loses membership as investigators question authors, translators, and sources. Story by Renwar Najm
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
AI-Written Books Hit Iraqi Shelves, With Ghost Authors and Translators
A dispute over a collection of newly released Arabic-language titles has shaken Iraq’s publishing scene, raising questions about how books are verified, how International Standard Book Numbers…
www.theamargi.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Iraq’s book world is rocked by “ghost books”, disputed ISBNs, and AI-era shortcuts. A Baghdad publisher loses membership as investigators question authors, translators, and sources. Story by Renwar Najm
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
www.theamargi.com/posts/ai-wri...
Tehran shop closures over a plunging rial drew crowds, then students, as protests spread to cities nationwide. With inflation above 40 percent and a record exchange rate, trade stalled and security forces deployed.
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
Iran Unrest Spreads as Rial Slide Triggers Shop Closures
Protests flared across Iran on Sunday after the Iranian currency slid to a record low, triggering a wave of shop closures in Tehran’s main commercial districts and exposing growing public anger at a…
www.theamargi.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Tehran shop closures over a plunging rial drew crowds, then students, as protests spread to cities nationwide. With inflation above 40 percent and a record exchange rate, trade stalled and security forces deployed.
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
Ukrainian orphans sheltered in Turkey faced neglect claims & allegations that two girls were abused & became pregnant. Reports say Turkey’s main case was closed, as officials argued that consent at 15 was valid. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
Claims of Abuse of Ukrainian Orphans in Turkey Go Unprosecuted
More than two years after hundreds of Ukrainian orphaned children were evacuated to Turkey to escape the war, Turkish authorities have closed an investigation into claims that at least two girls were…
www.theamargi.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Ukrainian orphans sheltered in Turkey faced neglect claims & allegations that two girls were abused & became pregnant. Reports say Turkey’s main case was closed, as officials argued that consent at 15 was valid. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
Iran’s 2025 was defined by contraction, from a 12-day war that hit its nuclear and military systems to UN snapback sanctions and a nationalist turn at home alongside mass expulsions and executions. Story by Rojin Mukriyan
www.theamargi.com/posts/irans-...
www.theamargi.com/posts/irans-...
Iran’s 2025: Failure, Failure, and Nationalism
For the first time since the 1979 Revolution, Iran is confronting multiple existential threats simultaneously. With its main pillars of defence – its nuclear program, missile capabilities, and proxy…
www.theamargi.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Iran’s 2025 was defined by contraction, from a 12-day war that hit its nuclear and military systems to UN snapback sanctions and a nationalist turn at home alongside mass expulsions and executions. Story by Rojin Mukriyan
www.theamargi.com/posts/irans-...
www.theamargi.com/posts/irans-...
Turkey’s 2025 “stability” rested on tighter control at home and limited returns abroad. Non-violent methods were held in the Kurdish process, but rights and legal reform lagged. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
Turkey in 2025: Stability at the Expense of Justice and Freedom
In 2025, Turkey saw political stability being enforced through tight control and repression, while structural problems were repeatedly deferred. The Erdoğan government managed to contain potential…
www.theamargi.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Turkey’s 2025 “stability” rested on tighter control at home and limited returns abroad. Non-violent methods were held in the Kurdish process, but rights and legal reform lagged. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
Ukrainian orphans sheltered in Turkey faced neglect claims & allegations that two girls were abused & became pregnant. Reports say Turkey’s main case was closed, as officials argued that consent at 15 was valid. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
Claims of Abuse of Ukrainian Orphans in Turkey Go Unprosecuted
More than two years after hundreds of Ukrainian orphaned children were evacuated to Turkey to escape the war, Turkish authorities have closed an investigation into claims that at least two girls were…
www.theamargi.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Ukrainian orphans sheltered in Turkey faced neglect claims & allegations that two girls were abused & became pregnant. Reports say Turkey’s main case was closed, as officials argued that consent at 15 was valid. Story by Serap Güneş
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
www.theamargi.com/posts/claims...
Tehran shop closures over a plunging rial drew crowds, then students, as protests spread to cities nationwide. With inflation above 40 percent and a record exchange rate, trade stalled and security forces deployed.
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
Iran Unrest Spreads as Rial Slide Triggers Shop Closures
Protests flared across Iran on Sunday after the Iranian currency slid to a record low, triggering a wave of shop closures in Tehran’s main commercial districts and exposing growing public anger at a…
www.theamargi.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Tehran shop closures over a plunging rial drew crowds, then students, as protests spread to cities nationwide. With inflation above 40 percent and a record exchange rate, trade stalled and security forces deployed.
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...
www.theamargi.com/posts/iran-u...