Politics
Erdoğan, one of the most popular leaders of Türkiye, turns 72
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who rose to become one of Türkiye’s most influential politicians from humble roots, did not celebrate his 72nd birthday personally, but supporters cheered the long-serving leader. A song devoted to “Reis” (chief) adorned the social media accounts of supporters of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which released the original song accompanied by a video reflecting Erdoğan’s career and life. The song with a refrain “to many more years, reis” highlights how the most famous man in Türkiye right now started out on the cobblestone alleys of Istanbul and rose to the halls of power of Ankara.
Erdoğan is probably the most renowned politician in Türkiye, especially for those born in the 2000s, as he is one of the unchanged figures in the ranks of governance. He first led the AK Party to victory in 2002 and, since then, served either as prime minister or president. His incumbent tenure is expected to end in 2028, though it is unclear whether he will compete, since current laws block his re-election. Yet, he may be able to run again if Parliament approves an early election before his tenure ends.
It is up to Erdoğan to decide his political future, but his legacy is already full of achievements crammed into 24 years. Erdoğan is credited with launching an unprecedented development drive in every field across the country, introducing a new style of politics mixing the good ideas of old political mindsets. Carving out an image of a man of the people, Erdoğan became the voice of the disenfranchised communities, from Muslims ostracized from the public sector, to Alevis and Romanis. Erdoğan and the party, thus, garnered votes from right-wing parties of yesterday as well as left-leaning voters unsatisfied with the performance of opposition “social democrats.”
Though wrinkles and a slower pace give away his advanced years, Erdoğan occasionally proves that age is just a number. Most recently, he was captured on video while shooting hoops with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. A football player in his youth, Erdoğan took up basketball in recent years, occasionally playing matches with intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın and minister of youth and sports Osman Aşkın Bak.
The president was born in Kasımpaşa, a working-class neighborhood on Istanbul’s European side, in 1954 to parents Ahmet, a ferry captain who originally hailed from Black Sea region’s tea hub Rize, and housewife Tenzile. The eldest of three children, Erdoğan was named after his grandfather Tayyip and Recep, the Turkish name of the seventh month of the Islamic calendar, Rajab.
In his early years, Erdoğan was passionate about football and played in amateur clubs in the 1960s. In the 1970s, he made his first foray into activism and politics. In this tumultuous decade, he was a member of the National Turkish Students’ Union. In the same decade, he enrolled in a business school at Marmara University and started rising in the football world of Istanbul with a transfer to the IETT Sports Club.
In 1976, he was elected as head of the youth branch of the National Salvation Party (MSP) for Istanbul, a tenure that would shape his political future. The MSP was the second major party co-founded by Necmettin Erbakan, Erdoğan’s political mentor. The young man rose in politics and his personal life as he married Emine Erdoğan two years later and welcomed his first child in 1979. But a military coup in 1980 disrupted the future president’s life as it did to millions of others. As political parties were shut down one by one by a military junta, Erdoğan had to suspend his political activities. In the same decade, he scrapped his budding football career as well. After graduating from Marmara University in 1981, Erdoğan pursued a business career and enrolled in the army. But politics have always been in his heart, and he joined the Welfare Party (RP) of Erbakan in 1983. A familiar face in the party due to his MSP past and activism in the Students’ Union, Erdoğan quickly rose in the party and was elected as Istanbul chair of the RP in 1985. A skilled orator and organizer, Erdoğan is credited with boosting the RP’s image in Türkiye’s most populated city.
In 1989, Erdoğan embarked on his long journey in political offices when he was nominated as mayor of the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul by the RP. He lost but was undaunted. In the 1991 elections, he was nominated for Parliament as a lawmaker from Istanbul, losing again. Erdoğan, however, did not lose hope and further emerged as a popular figure in the RP.
His big break in municipal politics came in 1994 when he beat relatively more popular candidates of other parties and was elected mayor of Istanbul at 40. This proved Erdoğan’s breakthrough and exposed him to national recognition. Erdoğan is credited with resolving the city’s chronic problems, from severe pollution to addressing longstanding water shortage problems. But Erdoğan faced another hurdle during his tenure. At a time of rising opposition to the RP, which formed a coalition government with the Right Path Party (DYP) by military brass eager for a repeat of the 1980 coup, Erdoğan found himself the target of the witch hunt against the conservative population. A poem deemed “reactionary” by the secular elite led by top generals landed him in a brief court battle. In 1997, Erdoğan, a poetry lover who still peppers his speeches with verses from his favorite poets, was sentenced over this poem, which cost him his seat as Istanbul mayor. He started serving his sentence in 1999 and was released a few months later. The incident only served to boost his image in politics.
With the RP suffering from the fallout of a 1997 coup, Erdoğan decided to carve out his own political path and founded the Movement of Virtue with fellow political activists and politicians after his prison stint. The movement evolved into the AK Party in 2001. The rest was history for Erdoğan, who became a household name in Türkiye in his roles as prime minister first and then, president. Along the way, he weathered multiple crises, from an attempt to shut down his party through a lawsuit by the elite circles he beat at the elections, multiple attempts by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), first to undermine his government and then to assassinate the president, as well as the 2013 Gezi Park riots, which sought to overthrow him.
Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhürman and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met on Tuesday as part of the U.N. head’s latest diplomatic effort to revive stalled negotiations over the divided island, with both expressing support for confidence-building measures and a renewed approach to the decades-old Cyprus dispute.
The meeting took place at the Turkish Cypriot presidential office after Guterres held talks earlier in the day with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides in the southern part of the island.
Speaking before the closed-door meeting, Erhürman said the Turkish Cypriot side remained committed to working toward a “fair and lasting” settlement while emphasizing the need for a different negotiating framework from previous rounds of talks.
“I believe you are aware of the Turkish Cypriot people’s strong commitment to a fair and lasting solution,” Erhürman noted. “We are doing our best regarding confidence-building measures. Unlike the experiences of 2004 and 2017, we are now working on a new and realistic methodology that can help us achieve our common goal.”
He also expressed support for the U.N. secretary-general’s mediation efforts, saying the Turkish Cypriot side would continue to contribute to the process.
“We strongly support your efforts and welcome them. You can be assured that we will continue to do our utmost,” Erhürman said.
Guterres reiterated the United Nations’ commitment to supporting dialogue between the island’s Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, while stressing that any lasting settlement would also require the involvement of Cyprus’ guarantor powers.
“We are determined to do everything possible to support the two communities in their search for a solution,” Guterres stressed. “We recognize that a solution also depends on the contribution of the guarantor countries. For that reason, we attach great importance to every effort that strengthens the well-being of the two communities and their commitment to reaching a settlement.”
The U.N. chief said there were important opportunities ahead and pledged continued support for initiatives that could move the process forward.
“I am very pleased to be here. Thank you for your kind hospitality,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Guterres said his visit was intended to reaffirm the United Nations’ support for efforts to resolve the decades-old Cyprus dispute.
“Once again, I want to say that I came here to express my solidarity with the people of Cyprus and my determination to contribute to finding a solution together with the Cypriots and the guarantor countries,” Guterres said.
The U.N. chief also emphasized the importance of expanding confidence-building measures that could benefit both communities on the divided island.
On Wednesday, Guterres is expected to hold a trilateral meeting with Erhürman and Christodoulides at the U.N. Good Offices Mission headquarters in the buffer zone. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. local time, and the secretary-general is expected to hold a news conference afterward.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides, including U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the secretary-general’s personal envoy for Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar and U.N. peacekeeping mission chief Khassim Diagne.
The visit marks the first by a U.N. secretary-general to Cyprus since Ban Ki-moon traveled to the island in 2010.
Speaking at the second Communication Council organized by the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications in Ankara on Tuesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged caution against the communication challenges of the digital age and what he described as “algorithm fascism.”
“The masses are being ensnared by algorithm fascism, and the gap between facts and perception is being closed,” Erdoğan told the gathering of media professionals, academics and other communication experts. He underlined that the truth is under greater pressure in the era of digital communication.
“The truth is the primary victim of this process,” he said. “Knowledge is being used as a source of weakness instead of being a source of power,” he added.
The event, held under the theme “Century of Türkiye: The Century of Communication,” focuses on discussions of the country’s communication policies and future strategy.
The event’s second day will feature panel discussions at the Directorate of Communications Conference Hall, where experts from various disciplines will examine developments in the field of communication and exchange views on future policy priorities.
According to the directorate, the council aims to establish a practical framework for Türkiye’s Communication Model in line with the country’s “Century of Türkiye” vision. Participants from public institutions, the private sector, academia, civil society and the media are expected to assess current communication policies, identify challenges and propose recommendations for future implementation.
The event will also see the release of the Second Communication Council Reports and Second Communication Council Proceedings, prepared following consultations conducted by 425 participants across 16 working groups during a preparatory workshop held last year.
Officials said the council is intended to contribute to the development of public communication policies while providing a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas on strengthening Türkiye’s communication strategy.
Erdoğan began his speech by commemorating journalists killed in Palestine in attacks by Israeli forces.
“The first of our Communication Councils was held 23 years ago, in 2003, providing a basis for productive discussions during a period when the media was being restructured in parallel with the widespread adoption of the internet. For a long time, there was a need for a comprehensive gathering that would bring together all stakeholders in the sector and chart a new course for the communication ecosystem in the face of changing conditions.
“With this understanding, we launched the preparatory work for the council last year. Over a period of one and a half years, we completed the process through an intensive schedule of workshops and other events. Our public institutions, universities, media and civil society organizations, the private sector – in short, all actors in the communication community – played active roles throughout the process.
“A total of 425 distinguished participants, each an expert in their respective fields, worked with great dedication across 16 separate working groups, producing new and effective proposals to address current challenges.
“Almost every day, new developments and advances are recorded in satellite and communication technologies. Any incident occurring on one side of the world reaches billions of people within minutes, or even seconds. New media tools and digital platforms have significantly increased the speed of information production and dissemination. Tasks that once took hours, days or weeks can now be completed in minutes with the push of a button or a single command.
“Especially with the emergence of artificial intelligence models, we are making maximum use of the advantages these technologies provide in every field, from education to media, transportation to trade, and health to agriculture.
“However, the discussion about the medium and the message also reveals a growing danger. These technologies, centered on data and information, affect the way we think and interpret events. Social media platforms, in particular, largely dictate which topics we focus on and for how long, as well as from what perspective we approach issues and even what reactions we give.
“In fact, they do not merely distort the present; they also falsify the past by constructing an imaginary history and an identity that is lifeless, soulless and devoid of depth. Therefore, this new environment carries the risk of eroding both our values and our culture through its psychological and sociological effects, from the individual level to society as a whole,” the president said.
Ahbap probe
The speech also marked the first time the president commented on a scandal that has been rocking the country.
Rock star Haluk Levent, who emerged as a prominent charity figure in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquakes in southern Türkiye, was recently arrested as part of an investigation into his Ahbap charity. Levent is accused of misusing funds donated to Ahbap, whose popularity skyrocketed after the earthquakes, including using the money to finance his gambling habits.
Ahbap had previously been promoted by numerous celebrities, many of whom later said they had been misled by Levent into donating to or promoting the charity. The investigation, which led to further arrests linked to the charity earlier this month, later expanded to include testimonies from celebrities who had publicly supported Ahbap in the past.
The charity also became a focal point of a campaign by opposition figures and pro-opposition celebrities criticizing the government’s response to the earthquakes, claiming the state had failed to provide adequate aid to affected areas. In the aftermath of the disaster, Ahbap was portrayed as doing more for earthquake victims than state agencies.
“The events following the Feb. 6 earthquakes clearly demonstrated the kinds of plots that were carried out. We are aware of how some ill-intentioned people who never even set foot in the disaster-hit areas criticized the government’s efforts,” Erdoğan said, without explicitly mentioning the investigation into Ahbap.
“The goodwill of our nation was exploited. Through all kinds of unethical conduct, attempts were made to pit the state against the people. We witnessed many different groups becoming involved. The documents that have emerged reveal the kinds of operations carried out against the nation in the aftermath of the earthquake,” Erdoğan said, referring to evidence in the investigation alleging that Levent collected money from businesspeople for his own benefit.
“Distorted relationships are coming to light one by one. Those responsible are being held accountable by our judiciary. Those who exploited the earthquake for political and economic opportunism are answering before justice. We will certainly do whatever is necessary within the framework of the law. We are fully determined in this regard. No matter where it leads, we will not allow those who seek to benefit from tension and polarization to use the means at their disposal as weapons against the state,” he said.
Syria has integrated about 9,000 former members of the U.S.-backed YPG forces into its national security institutions as part of a broader effort to unify the country’s armed forces, while appointing a former senior YPG official as a deputy defense minister, according to officials familiar with the process.
The integration marks one of the most significant steps in the implementation of an agreement between Damascus and the YPG aimed at dissolving the terrorist group into Syria’s state institutions following the fall of Bashar Assad’s government.
Roughly 5,000 former YPG fighters have joined the Syrian Defense Ministry, while another 4,000 have been incorporated into the Interior Ministry, officials said. Non-Syrian foreign fighters previously affiliated with the YPG have been removed from the country as part of the restructuring process.
Syrian authorities describe the process as a gradual, reciprocal approach sometimes referred to as a “zipper model,” under which security, administrative and political measures advance simultaneously to build confidence between the two sides.
The military integration has accelerated in recent months, while negotiations continue over local governance, political representation, constitutional reforms and language rights for Kurdish communities.
On Jan. 16, the Syrian army launched an offensive against YPG-controlled areas in northeastern Syria. After days of the offensive, the YPG consented to sign a new deal with Damascus on integrating both “administrative” and “military” structures of the YPG to post-Assad Syria. The terrorist group agreed that Syrian security forces would be deployed in Hassakeh and Qamishli, two key areas occupied by the YPG.
The agreement, which entered into force on Feb. 2, also includes provisions for transferring control of oil fields and border crossings to the central government. Syrian officials say it guarantees civil and educational rights for Kurdish citizens and supports the return of displaced people to their homes.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said the government distinguishes between Syria’s Kurdish population and the YPG as an armed group.
“Kurds and the YPG are two different issues,” al-Sharaa said, adding that citizenship rights previously denied under the former government had been restored, cultural rights had been recognized and Nowruz had been declared an official public holiday.
Al-Sharaa acknowledged that implementation of previous agreements with the terrorist group had faced setbacks but said the latest arrangement rests on a stronger foundation.
“We must avoid every option that could drag Syrians into a new conflict,” he said. “Every solution that prevents confrontation is valuable.”
A source close to the Syrian government told Al-Arabiya that the YPG is expected to formally announce its dissolution, along with the dissolution of the self-administration it established in parts of the country’s north and northeast.
According to the source, officials are expected to make the announcement at a news conference, although a date has not yet been finalized. The conference is expected to take place in early August, pending final logistical arrangements.
The Syrian president also said Damascus is actively working toward a security agreement with Israel with support from several countries, while emphasizing that any future arrangement would not require Syria to relinquish its claim to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Türkiye, on the other hand, is a major supporter of post-Assad Syria and views the YPG as a threat to its own national security.
Ankara has hinted that it may resort to a military option in Syria as it did in the past to thwart the YPG’s ambitions, but repeatedly called for dialogue to resolve the dispute between the YPG and Damascus.
Türkiye’s main opposition-run Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) came under renewed criticism Tuesday after officials from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) said a dive in the Golden Horn revealed severe pollution, accusing the city administration of failing to preserve one of Istanbul’s most iconic waterways.
The event, organized by the AK Party’s Istanbul Environment and Urban Policies Directorate to mark World Nature Conservation Day, aimed to highlight pollution in the historic estuary.
Zakire Nurdoğan Yüzbaşıoğlu, AK Party’s Istanbul deputy provincial chair and head of its environment and urban policies unit, said visibility underwater was limited to about 30 centimeters, making it difficult for divers to navigate.
“I couldn’t even see the other divers,” Yüzbaşıoğlu remarked. “We encountered thick layers of mud on the seabed and had to hold hands for safety. The sludge was extremely dense and dark. It is impossible for marine life to survive under these conditions.”
She underlined that the Golden Horn requires another comprehensive dredging and environmental rehabilitation program to restore its ecosystem, urging authorities to increase water circulation in the inlet and remove accumulated sediment.
Recalling restoration projects carried out during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s tenure as Istanbul mayor in the 1990s, she noted the Golden Horn had once regained a cleaner environment but claimed unpleasant odors had returned, particularly during humid and rainy weather.
Moreover, AK Party Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality council member Özlem Erol also criticized Republican People’s Party (CHP)’s municipal cleaning operations during the event. She said several boats operated by ISTAÇ, the municipality’s waste management company, approached the diving area but did not conduct cleanup work.
Erol alleged the boats remained near the group without carrying out cleaning activities and said the municipality should maintain regular environmental operations in the Golden Horn.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan received U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Representative for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack in Ankara on Monday. Neither side commented on the content of the meeting, but media outlets quoting diplomatic sources said they discussed negotiations between Iran and the United States. Fidan is among the top diplomats working to bring the sides to the table to end their conflict. He held phone calls with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Sunday regarding the same matter.
Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday that it was not currently involved in negotiations with the United States, despite a halt in recent fighting between the two sides.
“Mediators may convey messages from the American side to us regarding current developments in the region. But at present, we are not engaged in any negotiations with the United States,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a weekly press briefing.
“Claims that Iran has requested negotiations are fabrications that the other side circulates from time to time,” he added.
Hostilities resumed between Iran and the United States earlier this month after diplomatic efforts collapsed amid an impasse over the Strait of Hormuz.
Fighting has nonetheless paused since early Saturday, following 13 days of exchanges of fire between the two sides.
Baqaei criticized the United States, saying its conduct in recent years has “resembled that of a mafia gang that adheres to no rules or laws.”
“So long as such behavior by the United States continues, we cannot be hopeful about the emergence of a reasonable process,” he added.
Iran insists on retaining control over the management of the Strait of Hormuz, including the collection of service fees, while keeping Oman involved as a coastal state.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have turned back multiple vessels in recent days, including six earlier on Monday, that attempted to transit the strait outside the route designated by Iran.
On Monday, Baqaei reiterated that Washington had nothing to do with recent talks with Oman over the administration of the Strait of Hormuz.
“These talks have no connection with the United States. They are a bilateral matter between Iran and Oman, and they are continuing,” Baqaei said, adding that the waterway “remains closed.”
A high-profile campaign billboard promoting an Israeli prime ministerial candidate near Larnaca Airport has caused an outcry and political friction within the Greek Cypriot administration, according to local media reports.
The promotional displays for Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israel Defense Forces chief-of-staff and leader of Israel’s Yashar party, have prompted demands for an outright ban on third-country political advertising across the island’s Greek Cypriot-controlled areas.
The advertisements have been put up ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 general election, aimed directly at the soaring numbers of Israeli tourists and expatriates on the island.
One billboard greeting arrivals read, “Israelis, enjoy! You deserve it,” while a second sign placed along the return highway to the airport urges travelers to “Come back and win!”, reported the English-language daily, Cyprus Mail on Monday.
Eisenkot’s campaign headquarters confirmed to the Cyprus Mail that the billboards were an official strategy to mobilize Israeli voters vacationing abroad.
However, the unprecedented sight of foreign political propaganda has exposed growing public unease over the expanding footprint of Israeli capital, real estate buys, and businesses in southern coastal hubs like Larnaca and Limassol, the newspaper reported.
This photo was not taken in Israel, but in my country, Cyprus.
This time is political propaganda, but it is also becoming increasingly common to see billboards advertising real estate in Hebrew across the island.
This is simply not right. We must defend Cyprus’s sovereignty. pic.twitter.com/wGTBjC1Qaw
— Fidias Panayiotou (@Fidias0) July 26, 2026
Independent Member of the European Parliament Fidias Panayiotou spearheaded the political backlash, calling the development “particularly concerning” in a video broadcast on social media.
Panayiotou argued that the campaign demonstrates foreign political strategists now consider the concentration of Israeli nationals in southern Cyprus vast enough to justify overseas campaign spending.
“This is unacceptable,” Panayiotou said, proposing new legislation to ban third-country electioneering within government-controlled areas. He warned that safeguards are urgently needed to ensure foreign influence does not place Cyprus at a future “political or geostrategic disadvantage.”
Despite the political uproar, local authorities in the south admitted to a complete regulatory vacuum regarding foreign political displays.
The Greek Cypriot administration’s Interior Ministry said it has no legal framework under its competence to govern campaign advertisements, referring inquiries to the country’s Advertising Regulation Organisation (Caro).
Caro similarly acknowledged to the local media that commercial billboard content remains entirely at the discretion of private landowners and advertising firms, provided general codes are respected.
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