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In March 2025, Türkiye experienced a wave of political unrest following the detention of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and several municipal officials. These events triggered nationwide protests and renewed calls for boycotts targeting businesses perceived to be aligned with the ruling government. Among the companies that came under public scrutiny was Espressolab. Espressolab, a rapidly expanding coffee chain founded in 2014 by Esat Kocadağ, has emerged as a focal point in this political atmosphere. While the company presents itself as a model of entrepreneurial achievement, its trajectory raises broader questions about the concentration of economic power and its entanglement with…
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Iran’s so-called “missile cities” are large-scale underground military installations designed to store, maintain, and potentially launch ballistic and cruise missiles, drones, and air defense systems. Developed and operated primarily by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), these facilities are part of a broader military strategy aimed at strengthening deterrence capabilities, particularly in response to threats from the United States, Israel, and regional rivals. State officials frequently reference the scale of these installations, suggesting that dozens—possibly over a hundred—such bases exist across the country. The development of these missile bases reflects more than just defense planning. It signals the central role…
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Stripped by the Border: Cold Borders, Colder Hearts
There is something about the cold that strips away all illusion. It was winter 2017 when I crossed the border from Turkey to Greece and landed in Thessaloniki. Fourteen of us, huddled together, braving the ice-cold night. Some had been pushed back before—tortured, jailed, and sent back again. No one…
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State-Sanctioned Murder: Islamic Regime Covert War Against Dissenters
The room was tense. It was the second day of the interview, and Brigadier General Mohsen Rafiqdoust, the man who had once controlled Iran’s vast military supply chain, sat across from journalist Abdollah Abdi. He had already spoken candidly about many things, but this question—this one shifted the air in…
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The War on Women: Beyond the Hijab of Erasure
In the pages of ancient manuscripts, beneath the delicate strokes of ink and gold, there is an instrument that appears again and again. Held in the hands of scholars, navigators, and mathematicians, it gleams in the soft candlelight of medieval scriptoria. The astrolabe—an intricate map of the heavens, a device…
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The Curse of Oil, the Weight of History
The article “Iran in the Context of the Middle East – A Concise Analysis of the Situation” (published in Persian) by Mohammadreza Nikfar presents a sweeping historical and political analysis of the Middle East, tracing the region’s cultural layers, its historical aspirations, and its present-day struggles. The author argues that…
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The Trial That Could Change Iran’s Future
Iran’s modern history is a story of unbroken state repression. From the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to the theocratic rule of the Islamic Republic, prisons have remained instruments of control, torture has been routine, and dissent has been met with bullets and gallows. The names and slogans have changed,…
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The Structural Roots of Resent Protests in Iran
Over the past week, for several consecutive nights, the city of Dehdasht in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province has witnessed widespread protests against recurring power outages, economic hardships, and government repression. These protests were met with a harsh crackdown by security forces and police. Regime-affiliated sources attempted to portray the protests…
