Erdal Balci
Born in Ardahan, Turkey, Erdal Balci is a Dutch journalist and writer. Since 1998 he has served as correspondent in Turkey for the Dutch daily Trouw. Before that he worked for the daily De Volkskrant and the weeklies Vrij Nederland and Groene Amsterdammer. Balci has published several books, including De kinderen van Atilla (Attila’s Children) on Turkish history.
Updated: 30 November 2010
Violations of freedom of religion, equality before the law, human rights: a great many Turks bypass their own legal system to put their case directly to the European Court of Human Rights. A phenomenon that vexes jurists no end, but is gradually changing the Turkish mindset.