As Germany approaches its first election in sixteen years without Angela Merkel as a candidate, around 700,000 German citizens of Turkish origin are expected to vote. The article explores their views on Merkel's 16-year tenure, their political preferences, and the likelihood of a Turkish-origin politician becoming a minister or chancellor. While some express respect and sadness for Merkel's departure, others criticize her policies and the lack of Turkish representation in high-level politics. The sentiments towards political parties vary, with some favoring the SPD or The Left for their social policies, while others are critical of The Greens. The article also touches on issues such as discrimination, integration, and the role of Turkish-origin individuals in German politics.

The article features Euronews' conversation with the Akyüz family, immigrants from Turkey to Europe over 40 years ago, to explore their experiences with integration and maintaining a dual cultural identity. The piece reflects on the broader context of Germany's recent history of welcoming refugees from the Middle East and delves into what 'integration' means for individuals who have moved from one culture to another. The Akyüz family, representing three generations, provides insight into the personal aspects of being an immigrant and the process of integrating into a new society while preserving one's original cultural heritage.

The article recounts the experience of journalists, including the author, who were invited to Ankara with the promise of interviewing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials to understand Turkey's stance on various issues, including the failed coup attempt and the role of Fethullah Gulen. Instead of meeting Erdogan, the journalists were presented with conspiracy theories by Ankara's mayor, Melih Gokcek, who claimed that ISIS is a fake organization and suggested the U.S. and Israel were responsible for earthquakes in Turkey. Despite the trip's aim to present evidence against Gulen, the journalists were left with claims lacking hard evidence and met with other officials who defended Turkey's post-coup actions and criticized the U.S. for not extraditing Gulen. The article highlights the strained U.S.-Turkey relations and the Turkish government's use of innuendo rather than facts in their accusations.

Fethullah Gulen, once a mentor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is now accused of orchestrating a failed military coup in Turkey. Gulen, a Muslim cleric exiled in the United States, leads the Hizmet movement, which has been influential in Turkey's education, media, and business sectors. Despite officially condemning Islamist terrorism and advocating for tolerance and democracy, secular critics suspect Hizmet of undermining secularism with a hidden religious agenda. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) accuses Gulen of plotting the coup attempt. The AKP government has purged thousands of Hizmet members from the judiciary and security forces and has requested Gulen's extradition from the US.

Fethullah Gülen, once a mentor to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is now accused of orchestrating a coup attempt in Turkey. Gülen, a Muslim cleric, established an influential network of universities, student residences, and media outlets, drawing parallels to the Opus Dei within Catholicism. After self-exiling to the United States to avoid persecution, Gülen continued to influence Turkish politics from Pennsylvania. His movement, Hizmet, officially condemns Islamist terrorism and advocates for tolerance, democracy, and education in the Muslim world. However, secular critics fear a hidden agenda to undermine secularism, while Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) accuses Gülen of plotting the recent military coup attempt. Gülen's media, including the now-government-intervened newspaper Zaman, previously supported Erdogan's rise to power in 2002. The article also touches on Gülen's background, his moderate Islamic theology, and the growing authoritarianism of Erdogan, which has led to systematic purges of Hizmet members from Turkish institutions.