Welcome to our pick of the news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Fethiye Municipality teams start to dismantle razor wire
Fethiye Municipality Police Department teams have started to dismantle razor wires in Akarca, Babataşı and Foça neighbourhoods after the use of razor wire fences was banned by the Municipal Council of Fethiye out of consideration for animals and children.
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Commenting on the decision of the council, Semih Kılınç, an animal lover living in the district, has welcomed the ban, saying, “The wire in question was extremely harmful to small animals such as cats, dogs, birds, squirrels and even for our children. This step taken by the Municipal Council should set an example for Turkey. We support this decision.”
Fethiye Vice Mayor Sabri Oğuz Bolelli spoke about the decision saying, “We received a request from our animal-loving citizens in Fethiye. They complained that the razor wires used to protect gardens in our region are especially harmful to animals, birds, cats and dogs as well as for children in the area.
We took this issue to the agenda of our municipal council. The use of wire fences around the gardens and on top of garden walls has been banned with the approval of all members of our municipal council. As Fethiye Municipality, we are ready to do whatever we can for animals.”
Underlining the municipality’s care for animals, especially during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca has also reiterated that razor wires set a bad example in terms of urban aesthetics and lead to disability, injury and death of animals. He said, “There can be no conscientious, humane, legal or religious argument to support this. We will not allow its use in Fethiye from now on. We will also remove the previously placed razor wires.”
Sources: Fethiye Belediyesi/Bianet
Another 22 bicycles for children under “No children without bicycles” project
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Another 22 bicycles were distributed to children in the Menteşeoğlu district of Fethiye this week.
The “No Children Without Bicycles” project was initiated last year by Headman Ramazan Küçük after a child without a bike asked for help.
Küçük presented 22 bicycles that he collected from benefactors and had them repaired to the children of families with poor financial conditions.
Muhtar Ramazan Küçük said, “We have distributed over 100 bicycles to the children in our neighbourhood so far. This is the fourth time we have distributed bicycles to the children of families struggling with the economic difficulties brought about by the pandemic.How happy we are if we can make a small smile on the faces of our children.”
The presentation was attended by Fethiye District Governor Eyüp Fırat, Fethiye District National Education Director Faruk Kaya, Fethiye District Gendarme Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ahmet Öztürk, District Police Chief İsmail Ayhan and AK Party Fethiye District Chairman Turgay Öztürk.
Turkey plans to limit visitors to Lake Salda amid pollution fears
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Lake Salda recently hit the headlines when NASA mentioned it as a place that shares the characteristics of a Mars crater where Perseverance Rover landed earlier this month in search of ancient microbial life on the red planet.
Meanwhile, Lake Salda, whose pristine beaches and “White Islands” near the shore are a primary attraction for thousands of tourists every year, is expected to see some restrictions as authorities seek to preserve the famed lake.
An area of the lake near the islands, the most popular spot in this body of water in the western province of Burdur, will be open to only 540 visitors at a time. This could reduce the number of about 1.5 million tourists who descend to the lake known as “Turkey’s Maldives.” Authorities believe that it will also curb pollution problems. Garbage left behind by visitors and people trying to drive on the undisturbed white sands of the shore has raised concerns in recent years.
Authorities have taken a string of measures, including setting up barriers to prevent vehicle access and moving makeshift structures built near the coast further away from the beach. The ministry now plans to install elevated walking lanes and a viewing terrace in the area to prevent visitors from damaging the coast. It also plans to relocate a nearby parking lot further away from the beach, to ensure pedestrian access only.
Source: Daily Sabah
Turkey withdraws from Istanbul Convention on women’s rights
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Turkey has withdrawn from the Istanbul Convention on women’s rights, the world’s first binding treaty to prevent and combat violence against women, according to a presidential decree published Saturday in the official gazette.
Officially called the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, the accord was established in 2011 and aims to create a legal framework to prevent and fight against violence against women and domestic violence, as well as promoting equality.
Ankara, which signed the accord in the same year and became the first country to ratify the convention, offered no reason for the withdrawal.
Shortly after the announcement of the withdrawal, Vice President Fuat Oktay said in a post on Twitter that the government aims to further its sincere struggle to bring Turkish women’s reputation and dignity to its deserved level by protecting the traditional social structure. “There is no need to look for outside remedy or imitate others for this paramount goal. The solution indeed lies in our traditions and customs.”
Several women’s rights groups decried the move and protests are planned in at least eight cities, local media reported.
Turkey will continue to fight domestic violence in an uncompromising manner, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday in response to some countries’ reaction against the country’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention.
In a statement, the ministry said Turkey’s laws guarantee women’s rights in the most advanced manner possible and that the country will continue its zero toleration policy for domestic violence.
Turkish lira could plunge 15% as bank chief sacked
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The Turkish lira could fall 15% as markets react to the sacking of the central bank chief.
The outgoing governor, Naci Agbal, who was appointed in November, had won market praise by aggressively raising the policy rate by a total of 875 basis points to 19%, the highest of any big economy.
His shock removal, announced in the early hours of Saturday, came after the bank hiked rates by a greater-than-expected 200 basis points on Thursday in a move designed to curb inflation, currently around 16%, and support the currency.
Newly appointed Şahap Kavcıoğlu, is expected to reverse last weeks’ rate increases.
Cristian Maggio, head of emerging market strategy at TD Securities in London said, “The Turkish lira may easily sell-off 10-15%. We will see this start on Monday, when Asia trading kicks in.”
Source: The Guardian
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor updates
Fethiyespor
Match results:
Fethiyespor won their home match against Ceyhanspor on Wednesday. The final score was 3-0.
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Fethiyespor won their away match against Kahta 02 Spor on Sunday. The final score was 1-2.
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Fethiyespor move up to second position in the league.
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The next league match is:
Thursday 25th March at home against Mardin. The kick-off time is 14:00.
Please note: the Turkish Football Federation have not yet changed the decision to play all matches without spectators due to COVID-19 measures.
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