Freelance journalist in D.C. covering arts & culture; formerly in Istanbul. Past: @washingtonpost, @ForeignPolicy, @fodorstravel Turkey guide writer. Türkçe.

Washington, D.C.
Joined February 2010
Vanessa H. Larson retweeted
Deeply honored to be a part of esteemed collection of @LACMA !
A major moment for digital art at LACMA. We're announcing a landmark gift of more than 200 works of digital art, spanning early computer-generated works to contemporary experiments with AI. Led by LACMA Digital Leaders, the gift includes works by @RefikAnadol, @REAS, @luyangasia, and many more, bringing new perspectives on the intersection of art and technology into our collection. bit.ly/3VOeUPH
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Vanessa H. Larson retweeted
Another country with a Turkic language is starting down the path of an alphabet reform as Turkiye once did and then Azerbaijan in turn. Will be interesting to see how it works out. #Uzbekistan
A long-standing historical error has finally been corrected. Today, our President signed a law improving the Latin-based #Uzbek #alphabet and bringing years of debate to a close. I put forward the initiative for this reform at the 2023 conference dedicated to the Jadids’ legacy. The transition will be gradual and low-cost: existing documents, currency and securities remain valid, while textbooks and signs will be replaced as they reach the end of their service life. Adopted on Uzbek Language Day, this reform will improve literacy and strengthen our language in the digital space. Congratulations to all! #UzbekLanguage
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“My son Michael has always told me that his biggest fear would be that his mother would be killed by settlers” -- photojournalist Heidi Levine interviewed in the hospital
Heidi Levine in the hospital recounts the settler attack this morning
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Vanessa H. Larson retweeted
To be clear: Some facts are neither in dispute nor unclear. Our photographer was clearly marked as Press. She was clearly beaten. These are not partisan or risible statements, but indisputable. We urge a thorough investigation and accountability.
The Prime Minister’s Office: The facts surrounding the confrontation near Abu Falah, during which Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was allegedly assaulted, remain unclear and are under investigation. Israel unequivocally condemns violence against anyone—Jews, Arabs, Christians or journalists. Those responsible will be held accountable. But serious questions remain. Reports indicate some 200 Arabs and far-left activists confronted approximately 40 Israeli youths. Footage shows masked individuals on both sides hurling objects, amid reports of fireworks fired at Jewish youths. Other footage appears to show Levine knocked down and immediately helped to her feet by the same unidentified individual. The investigation must establish the facts, including who initiated the violence. We will not allow disputed incidents to be exploited to demonize the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria. The facts must determine the conclusions. Not the headlines.
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Outrageous attack by settlers on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine. While at The Post, I copy edited probably hundreds of stories she photographed from Israel, the West Bank and Ukraine, and she is nothing but professional
Masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villagers on Friday, setting olive groves on fire and slinging rocks. Caught in the attack was Post photographer Heidi Levine. “They just kept kicking me and kicking me, like probably 50 times,” Levine said. wapo.st/4yt6dHY
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Vanessa H. Larson retweeted
Apparently X is NOT for everyone in Turkey including journalists, academics, civil society and even for EngelliWeb exposing Internet censorship. 1.270 public interest accounts have been withheld by X during September. xitter.cf/ifadeorgtr/status/2105…
X is for everyone
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Vanessa H. Larson retweeted
It took me 72 hours and three separate emails to @GlobalAffairs to find out the details of the blocking decision involving my account which was withheld from Türkiye by X. The platform, however, refuses to send a copy of the blocking decision. So much for transparency @elonmusk.
İfade Özgürlüğü Derneği (İFÖD) kurucularından Yaman Akdeniz'in hesabının da aralarında bulunduğu ve 24 Eylül'de erişime engellenen bazı X hesaplarının, Bakırköy Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı tarafından yürütülen soruşturma kapsamında, Bakırköy 6. Sulh Ceza Hâkimliğinin 22 Eylül 2026 tarihli ve 2026/9054 sayılı kararıyla, millî güvenlik ve kamu düzeninin korunması gerekçesiyle erişime engellendiği belirlendi. @cyberrights ifade.org.tr/engelliweb/ifod…
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Turkey's government took control today of @halktvcomtrr, the country's most-watched news channel, leading to a sudden shift in programming, as AFP reports: msn.com/en-us/news/other/gov…
The moment Turkey’s most popular news channel, Halk TV, cuts its regular broadcast and goes to an ad break after government-appointed trustees seize control of the channel in a dawn raid over alleged financial crimes.
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🇹🇷 Turkey: Authorities and courts ordered at least 1,270 X accounts blocked in September alone, with a combined following of 35 million. X complied with at least 90% of the orders. IPI has joined ARTICLE 19 and partners in protest. buff.ly/tEJr2I9
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When people who don't know history work in branding (!)
whats wrong babe you have barely touched your 19th-century ottoman empire administrative and legal reorganization perfume
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Just learned that the words for "hostage" in Spanish (rehén) and Turkish (rehin) have the same Arabic origin: buenospanish.com/dictionary/…
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Vanessa H. Larson retweeted
Indication the Turkish Govt’s clampdown on media freedom is extending and likely to go further. I appear to be the only foreign journalist (so far) affected by a recent wave of online censorship. It’s a broad spectrum targeting X accounts of Turkish journalists, academics, media freedom, human rights and LGBTQ+ rights groups on ‘obscenity’ grounds. More than 1000 X accounts were blocked in Turkey in Sept - more than the entire 2025. I’ve been given no explanation for this action 🧵
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Turkish artist Gözde İlkin has just opened a site-specific installation @Tate_StIves, based on her residency there: tate.org.uk/press/press-rele…
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Nadia Murad and other Yazidis have suffered so much, but this is a small measure of closure 🙏💜
Yesterday, after 12 years of waiting, the remains of 25 Yazidis killed in the genocide were returned to their families. My brother, Heji Murad Basee, was among them. We finally had the chance to say goodbye. We continue to wait for our other family members to be identified and returned.
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Vanessa H. Larson retweeted
Account tracking the blocking of websites and social media accounts in Turkey has been… blocked in Turkey.
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An outrageous move by Turkish govt to shut down website of independent news outlet @t24comtr_ because of "LGBT propaganda" #journalismisnotacrime
Turkey shuts down the website and social media accounts of T24, a leading independent digital news outlet, citing its "LGBT propaganda" u.afp.com/S9Bk
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Vanessa H. Larson retweeted
Turkey’s already tiny democratic space continues to shrink. Another independent media outlet, @t24comtr_ , has been targeted. its website and social media accounts have been ordered shut down.
Sosyal medyada başlatılan iftira kampanyası sonrası T24'ün internet ve sosyal medya hesapları için kapatma kararı! t24.com.tr/gundem/sosyal-med…
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Vanessa H. Larson retweeted
Love art — and this is an excellent piece by @vanessahlarson about an important art fair in Colombia on now!
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