BARIS CAYLI messina, PhD
A Social and Cultural CritiC
I provided expert view for Xtra Magazine regarding the increasing hate crime and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Turkey. The article shares the experience of queer people in Turkey and takes urgent attention to the alarming situation in the country. The defence of fundamental human rights of queer people has gained more importance in the face of serious discrimination in almost every aspect of social life.
I provided expert view for the BBC Radio Lincolnshire regarding the new Public Order Bill that empowers the police force to suppress social protests. I evaluated the arrest of a bystander, Alice Chapman, by mistake who was attending the coronation event. I highlighted the importance of this law and to what extent may the bill need of revision to restore the trust of public in law enforcement.
I provided expert view for the Sunday Post regarding mafia wars in Rome and a number of suicides between conflicting clans due to disagreements in the governance of illicit activities. Please click here to read the article.
I was asked by Agos (a Turkish-Armenian newspaper) to have an interview as an expert related to the power of mafia in Italy and how it has changed through the last century. The interview was conducted in Turkish by Ferda Balancar on 25 August 2021. Please click here to download the newspaper page.
You can find my recent article on the fight of Turkish feminist movement against femicide. Gender-based violence has been more brutal and hundredths of women have been demonstrating an unyielding resistance against male violence in the last years. The recent withdrawal of Turkey from the Istanbul Convention creates vehement risks to the everyday life of women in the country.
My article published by Discover Society explores body-worn-cameras and its effectiveness. I argue that we can increase transparency and keep the police violence accountable against the use of force if technology is used effectively.

In my article for Rusi, I explain how Sicilian society fights against the mafia. This is an unyielding and long struggle initiated by civil society that puts young people in the frontline of their resistance to change cultural norms and consolidate a culture of lawfulness. In my ethnographic research, I highlight the possibility of this change and challenges against this struggle.