(Photo from an anti-corruption protest in Ankara, via Twitter)

This is a special edition covering December’s events in Turkey, particularly the recent corruption scandal.

Hope you enjoy it

Main Headlines

• Deputy PM rules out  “ill will” against Gulen community
• Gulen rejects labeling of Hizmet as ‘gang,’ calls it ‘traitorous’
• High-profile figures among 52 detained in major corruption operation in ‪Turkey
• Turkish ministers’ sons detained in bribery probe
• Turkish police capture 4.5 million dollars in the house of Halkbank manager
• Five police commissioners dismissed in ‪Istanbul amid bribery probe
• Senior ‪police officer found deadin his car in ‪Ankara
• Turkish Islamic scholar Gulenrejects any link to graft probe
• Turkish journalist Nazlı Ilicak fired from daily Sabahafter calling for ministers to resign
• Istanbul police chiefremoved over graft inquiry
• PM Erdogan condemns ‘dirty’ corruption probe
• 66 sent to court in the corruption investigation
• Erdogan implies to expel the U.S. ambassador
• Gulen curses purge of police officials in emotional speech
• U.S. says ‘false allegations’ against ambassador disturbing
• Martial law resurfaces for journalists in police departments
• EU calls on Turkey to investigate graft claims in “impartial manner.”
• 400 more police officersin İstanbul removed from duty
• Turkish markets hit after minister urges Erdogan to quit
• Thousands took to the streets in Istanbul in anti corruption protests
• Spectators chant anti-corruption slogans at Turkish league match
• Three ministers resign with one urges PM to step down
• Erdogan says corruption probe is an “international operation’ against his government
• PM Erdogan announces 10 new names in major cabinet reshuffle
• Al-Qaeda suspectsflee after Erdogan-appointed officials block raid
• Prosecutor overseeing Turkish graft inquiry is removed from the case
• Justice minister slams judges and prosecutors board over statement on judicial police regulation
• Turkish army will not get involved in politics
• Turkey lashes out at EU “interference” in corruption scandal
• Erdogan vows Turkish graft affair will fail to topple him
• Turkish opposition calls for retrial of coup cases
• Yasin al-Qadi escorted by PM’s security detail, Taraf daily reports
• Turkish minister says fending off “mini-coup attempt.”
• Another AKP MP steps down over corruption scandal –
• Erdogan files case against journalist Mahir Zeynalov for a Twitter insult (Turkish)
• Iran arrests tycoon accused of busting US and EU sanctions.

 Other news

• Pro-Brotherhood Rabia TV launches broadcasting from İstanbul
• Foreign jihadists are using safe houses in southern Turkey‪
• Deputy PM claims Gezi protesters kissed at Istanbul mosque where they took refuge
• Clashes in Turkey after deaths of two Kurdish protestors
• Jailed CHP deputy Mustafa Balbay released by court
• Turkey has yet to receive any new bids to rival a controversial Chinese missile offer
• Erdogan accuses Taraf reporter of ‘treason” over leaked story
• Deportation of Armenians “inhumane”: Turkey foreign minister

Poll

• AFP: Turkey loses popularity in the Middle Eastover past two years

Profile

• A profile of Fetullah Gulen. Suzy Hansen

Good reports

• Turkey is the biggest loser in world stock  as the crisis persist. Bloomberg news
• Iranian gold stars in Turkish corruption scandal. Fehim Tastekin
• Report on the conversion into Mosques of Byzantine Churches in Turkey. Society of Architectural Historian
• Alevis in ‪Turkey voice unease over lack of promised rights. Hurriyet Daily News

Good Read

• Talking Turkey: How does corruption affect voting behavior? Joshua Tucker
• Turkey’s Erdogan will probably hang in there. The economy may not. Carol Matlack
• In Turkey, nothing will be the same again. Firdevis Robinson
• Gul may be the winner in Turkey’s “mother of all battles.”Henri Barkey
• Top 9 conspiracy theoriesto explain the corruption scandal in Turkey. Mike Giglio
• Will Turkey’s Erdogan cause his own downfall? Dexter Filkins
• Turkish journalists caught in crossfire of AKP-Gulen conflict. Amberin Zaman
• This is what a panicked Erdogan looks like. Michael Koplow
• How Erdogan has reshaped Turkish politics. Brent Sasley
• ‘Post-Kemalist Turkey and the Gulen movement. Taha Ozhan
• Turkey’s strained Kurdish peace process. Chase Winter
• How does Erdogan hurt the liberal pious of Turkey. Sevgi Akarcesme
• Turkey Plays the ‘orientalism’ card

Audio

• CHP’s vision for Turkey: An Address by Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu. Brooking Institute, Dec 2 (before corruption scandal).

 Video

• Hakan Yaman’s account of police brutality suffered during Gezi protests

 Pus:

From Pro-AKP newspaper Yeni Safak

• Yeni Safak’s headline the U.S. Ambassador Ricciardone: “Get out of this country”
• United Arab Emirates FM in plot against the Turkish government (via Hurriyiet).