Binnaz Saktanber says many young Turkish professionals feel trapped between their brains, which tell them to leave the country, and their hearts, which tell them to stay. She asked her friends and peers about their own feelings. Flip through this gallery to see what they had to say.
Turkish voices —
Binnaz Saktanber says many young Turkish professionals feel trapped between their brains, which tell them to leave the country, and their hearts, which tell them to stay. She asked her friends and peers about their own feelings. Flip through this gallery to see what they had to say.
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Neslihan Erdogan, 36, is a real estate executive who returned to Turkey in 2010 after ten years in the U.S. She said: "I came to Turkey because I got fooled by the phony atmosphere of stability AKP has created. I was so happy I was here for the Gezi protests but now I go back and forth between feeling hope and despair. When I heard that the<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2013%2F12%2F25%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fturkey-resignations%2F"> officials who got arrested for corruption got released recently</a>, that was enough to decide to go back to the U.S."
Turkish voices —
Neslihan Erdogan, 36, is a real estate executive who returned to Turkey in 2010 after ten years in the U.S. She said: "I came to Turkey because I got fooled by the phony atmosphere of stability AKP has created. I was so happy I was here for the Gezi protests but now I go back and forth between feeling hope and despair. When I heard that the officials who got arrested for corruption got released recently, that was enough to decide to go back to the U.S."
Courtesy: Neslihan Erdogan
Demet Gulcicek, 26 is a master student in sociology, who plans to go abroad for her PhD. She wants to come back after finishing her studies and was inspired by the Occupy Gezi movement in which she was active. "I want to be part of the resistance although I am not happy living in such political turmoil."
Turkish voices —
Demet Gulcicek, 26 is a master student in sociology, who plans to go abroad for her PhD. She wants to come back after finishing her studies and was inspired by the Occupy Gezi movement in which she was active. "I want to be part of the resistance although I am not happy living in such political turmoil."
Courtesy: Demet Gulcicek
The Gezi protests she speaks about took place in Istanbul last summer, after demonstrators took over a park in the city center, protesting against the destruction of trees near Taksim Square. The protests escalated and for weeks, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2013%2F06%2F11%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fturkey-protests%2F">Istanbul was paralyzed by clashes</a> between the demonstrators and police as clouds of tear gas swirled through the city.
Turkish voices —
The Gezi protests she speaks about took place in Istanbul last summer, after demonstrators took over a park in the city center, protesting against the destruction of trees near Taksim Square. The protests escalated and for weeks, Istanbul was paralyzed by clashes between the demonstrators and police as clouds of tear gas swirled through the city.
Osman Orsal/Reuters/Landov
"I think anybody who can afford even a plane ticket or a place to stay, would go. And migrants who once wanted to go back to Turkey would at least delay their return. Nobody wants to live under a government who oppresses and discriminates against its people," says Elif Key, 42, a journalist who moved to the U.S. a year ago.
Turkish voices —
"I think anybody who can afford even a plane ticket or a place to stay, would go. And migrants who once wanted to go back to Turkey would at least delay their return. Nobody wants to live under a government who oppresses and discriminates against its people," says Elif Key, 42, a journalist who moved to the U.S. a year ago.
Courtesy: Elif Key
The government's response to the Gezi protests was <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnesty.org%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fturkey-accused-gross-human-rights-violations-gezi-park-protests-2013-10-02" target="_blank" target="_blank">widely viewed as excessive</a>. The mass demonstrations then transformed into protests against what the opposition called "Erdogan's authoritarian agenda."
Turkish voices —
The government's response to the Gezi protests was widely viewed as excessive. The mass demonstrations then transformed into protests against what the opposition called "Erdogan's authoritarian agenda."
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
In the latest backlash against the opposition, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to "eradicate" Twitter, ordering the social media site to be taken down. His move sparked widespread protests.
Turkish voices —
In the latest backlash against the opposition, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to "eradicate" Twitter, ordering the social media site to be taken down. His move sparked widespread protests.
OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Image
Şenay Ataselim, 40, is the Chief Operating Officer of Turkish Philanthropy Fund. She moved to U.S. to go to graduate school with the intention of coming back. She has changed her mind since.<br />"I thought getting a graduate degree from US was necessary for a decent job in Turkey, where I planned to live. Now I do not want to go back. I do not want to raise my child in such a negative atmosphere." (File photo)
Turkish voices —
Şenay Ataselim, 40, is the Chief Operating Officer of Turkish Philanthropy Fund. She moved to U.S. to go to graduate school with the intention of coming back. She has changed her mind since.
"I thought getting a graduate degree from US was necessary for a decent job in Turkey, where I planned to live. Now I do not want to go back. I do not want to raise my child in such a negative atmosphere." (File photo)
MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images
Murat Yılmaz, 40, PR professional, moved to New York in 1999 with a plan to come back. He too changed his mind. "What educated skilled individual would want to live in a dictatorship? Anybody who has an opportunity to flee would do so." (File photo)
Turkish voices —
Murat Yılmaz, 40, PR professional, moved to New York in 1999 with a plan to come back. He too changed his mind. "What educated skilled individual would want to live in a dictatorship? Anybody who has an opportunity to flee would do so." (File photo)
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Image