January 22, 2026 – Turkey Headlines

Story gist: The Iraqi government took custody of ISIS prisoners held in Syria. CENTCOM announced the transfer of approximately 7,000 ISIS detainees to Iraq.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like soL Haber focus on CENTCOM’s announcement and the scale of 7,000 ISIS prisoners transferring to Iraq, emphasizing U.S. military involvement factually. Center outlets like rudaw.net report neutrally as Iraq assuming control of Syrian-held detainees. Right-leaning Haber 7 sensationalizes with U.S. Army ‘announcement’ delivering a ‘critical message’ to Assad (‘Şara’) and unveiling a ‘new mission,’ stressing anti-Assad geopolitics.

Story gist: CHP leader Özgür Özel spoke in Çekmeköy, stating the owner and operator of a plane in a controversy are AK Parti members, calling it the end of the ‘plane lie.’

Bias summary: Left-leaning Cumhuriyet frames the event positively for CHP, using triumphant language like ‘breaking news’ and ‘put an end to the lie’ to highlight Özgür Özel exposing AK Parti involvement. Center- and right-leaning outlets offer no coverage, omitting any neutral fact-checking or defenses of AK Parti, leaving those perspectives absent.

Story gist: Fifty-four non-governmental organizations in Turkey issued a joint statement on Rojava.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like DEM Parti frame the statement with solidarity for Kurds and oppressed Middle Eastern peoples, emphasizing support. Center outlets like rudaw.net highlight Kubad Talabani’s quote portraying attacks on Rojava as assaults on Kurdish honor, focusing on condemnation. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting the story and excluding perspectives on Turkish NGOs’ involvement.

Story gist: A delegation led by Turkey’s DEM Party arrived in Rojava after meetings in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. Five suspects were arrested in connection with unauthorized protests along the Nusaybin border line.

Bias summary: Left-leaning coverage from DEM Party uses ‘our delegation’ to positively frame the trip as successful progress after meetings. Center outlets like Rudaw neutrally report the arrival without emphasis. Right-leaning Hürriyet omits the delegation, focusing solely on arrests of suspects in illegal protests to highlight law enforcement and border security concerns.

Story gist: A memorial ceremony was held in Kartalkaya for victims of a hotel fire on its anniversary. Minister Tunç stated public officials are being tried, and parliamentary commission president Altınok shared recommendations.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Bianet emphasizes ongoing mourning and justice pursuit by families, with emotional victim focus. Center memurlar.net highlights Minister Tunç’s statement on prosecuting public officials, stressing legal accountability. Right-leaning Anadolu Ajansı centers parliamentary commission’s recommendations by Altınok, emphasizing official procedural progress. Left stresses grief, center process, right institutional action.