Academics excavate in the necropolis (cemetery) area called “Kaniya Bekan Necropolis” in Catak district of Van, Turkiye on October 09, 2023. They identified 3 rooms and 4 graves with walls built with stones. Of the 400 human skeletons found in these tombs, 30 of them showed traces of brain surgery (trepanation). (Photo by Emre Ilikan/Anadolu via Getty Images)





A view of the stranded cargo ship that drifted due to the storm in Eregli district of Zonguldak, Turkiye on November 20, 2023. The Panama-flagged cargo ship was split in two due to the storm that was effective in the region. (Photo by Omer Urer/Anadolu via Getty Images)





A view of the wounded lynx, found by citizens and taken to 14th Regional Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP), taken to a surgery at Van Yuzuncu Yil University (YYU) Wild Animal Protection and Rehabilitation Center in Van, Turkiye on November 24, 2023. Medical professionals x-rayed the lynx, which is in danger of extinction, at the animal hospital and found a fracture in its left hind leg. (Photo by Ozkan Bilgin/Anadolu via Getty Images)





An aerial view of the snow covered fairy chimneys after snowfall in Cappadocia, which is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is famous for its chimney rocks, in Nevsehir, Turkiye on November 27, 2023. (Photo by Behcet Alkan/Anadolu via Getty Images)





Security forces patrol around 170 kilometers of the security wall where built on the Iranian border to prevent illegal crossings, smuggling activities and terrorist infiltration in Van, Turkiye on December 04, 2023. Security measures are also kept at a high level in order to prevent crossing the border. Security forces, using all the means of technology, keep the border under constant control with the Sahingoz thermal camera developed by ASELSAN with domestic and national facilities and capable of detecting from a distance of 10 kilometers, ACAR Land Surveillance Radar System capable of detecting from a distance of 40 kilometers, SEDA Firing Location Detection System, thermal and PTZ cameras, lighting system and seismic sensors. (Photo by Ozkan Bilgin/Anadolu via Getty Images)





A view of an airplane as the winter preparations are completed to prevent adverse weather conditions to affect any flight traffic and to ensure that the passengers can travel comfortably and safely at the Istanbul Airport in Istanbul, Turkiye on December 6, 2023. (Photo by Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu via Getty Images)





Birds fly during the sunset in Ardahan, Turkiye on December 07, 2023. (Photo by Gunay Nuh/Anadolu via Getty Images)





Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, December 17, 2023. Every December a series of events are held to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi in different cities of Turkey. (Photo by Emrah Gurel/AP Photo)





Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, December 17, 2023. (Photo by Emrah Gurel/AP Photo)





A view of the Youth Park, which is one of the primary landmarks of Turkish capital, with seagulls in Ankara, Turkiye on December 18, 2023. (Photo by Ismail Duru/Anadolu via Getty Images)





Peple walk next to an exchange currency shop in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, December 21, 2023. Turkey's central bank hiked its key interest rate by 2.5 percentage points on Thursday as part of its efforts to combat high inflation that has left many households struggling to afford rent and essential items. (Photo by Khalil Hamra/AP Photo)





Zografyon Greek High School principal Yani Demircioglu plays an accordion, accompanied by school children and members of Greek Orthodox community, as they tour the streets of Beyoglu during a Christmas celebration in central Istanbul, Turkey on December 24, 2023. (Photo by Murad Sezer/Reuters)





Full moon rises over Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, Turkiye on December 26, 2023. (Photo by Cemal Yurttas/Anadolu via Getty Images)





A person takes a selfie with a New Year's Eve decoration at Taksim Square in central Istanbul, Turkey on December 28, 2023. (Photo by ilara Senkaya/Reuters)





People take picture with the luxury Ferrari 488 GTB police car in front of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, 31 December 2023. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that Istanbul police have seized 23 luxury vehicles valued more than 3.5 million US dollars from criminal organizations and will keep them for their department's use. (Photo by Erdem Sahin/EPA)





A woman, poses for photographs next to luminous shapes in central Istanbul's Taksim Square, in Istanbul, Sunday, December 31, 2023. (Photo by Emrah Gurel/AP Photo)





Fireworks illuminate the sky over Cappadocia during new year celebrations in Nevsehir, Turkiye on December 31, 2023. (Photo by Behcet Alkan/Anadolu via Getty Images)





People walk past a historical tramway under Christmas light decorations on Istiklal street during preparations to celebrate the New Year 2024 in Istanbul on December 31, 2023. (Photo by Yasin Akgul/AFP Photo)





A couple shares a kiss as they celebrate New Year's Eve in central Istanbul's Taksim Square, in Istanbul, Monday, January 1, 2024. (Photo by Emrah Gurel/AP Photo)





Thousands demonstrate to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza, in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, January 1, 2024. (Photo by Emrah Gurel/AP Photo)