Politics
Historic Greek Orthodox seminary in Istanbul seeks reopening
Once at the heart of a debate on the rights of minorities, Halki seminary in Istanbul’s Heybeliada may soon welcome new students.
Hopes are growing that the long-closed seminary on the island off Türkiye’s most populated city could reopen soon, with formulas for its new status under discussion, Bishop Aravissu Kassianos Nikolar told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The seminary opened in the mid-19th century and was the main theological school for the Eastern Orthodox Church until it was closed under a Turkish law in 1971. The school has remained closed for decades despite efforts by the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, whose patriarch counts millions across the world as followers.
The seminary made headlines in September when US President Donald Trump raised the issue with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, raising hopes the deadlock could soon be broken. “At this stage, we are making quite good progress overall. Things are positive at the moment, 100% positive,” the bishop told AFP in a rare interview just days before Trump was to fly in on his first official visit to attend the July 7-8 NATO summit.
The seminary has symbolic significance for the world’s Orthodox community.
Perched on a hill, the historic seminary was shrouded in scaffolding, the sprawling complex undergoing extensive renovation ahead of its eventual reopening. As well as the seminary, the site incorporates a monastery and a high school, although it too has long sat empty. Inside, an AFP team saw the renovation work in full swing ahead of what the patriarch has said would be a September deadline for it to be completed.
In one classroom, rows of new chairs faced an electronic display as a portrait of modern Türkiye’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, gazed down from the wall, a mirror image of classrooms across the country.
What brought about its closure was a 1971 court ruling that all private educational institutions must come under state control, a decision rejected by the patriarchate as it wanted to preserve the seminary’s independence. But after years of closure, the patriarchate has agreed to accept a formula that would let the seminary reopen, operating under Turkish oversight.
Renewed interest in the site was sparked in 2024 when Education Minister Yusuf Tekin visited and spoke of the importance of preserving the building’s original character in any renovation. He also conveyed a message from Erdoğan that a solution had to be found to reopen the institution.
“That kicked off negotiations with Ankara,” Nikolar said, with plans for its reopening gaining real momentum after last September’s White House talks.
The initial proposal was to reopen the seminary as a university operating under Türkiye’s Higher Education Board (YÖK).
That later evolved into the idea of establishing an institute offering postgraduate theological training over a two-year period that would be affiliated with a Turkish university, and a quota of 60-70 students. The latest talks in Ankara last month were attended by Erdoğan and Patriarch Bartholomew, said Nikolar who was also present.
Nikolar told AFP there was “no set time” for the reopening, but said Erdoğan had urged all parties to finalize the matter swiftly, saying: “Don’t lose too much time.” As for Trump’s involvement, the bishop said he was someone who held Patriarch Bartholomew “in high regard.”
Not only did the seminary have a history of educating distinguished clergy, but it also reached out to other faiths, he said. “We should not look at it solely from the perspective of Christianity, it also achieved major success in interfaith dialogue. The school’s mission was to educate broad-minded students, not people with a narrow outlook on the world,” Nikolar said.
“That is why this school is valuable to Trump, and our president is also aware of its importance. The fact that such a valuable institution has remained closed and been unable to train clergy is a major loss.” Even though it is still closed, there’s already a high demand to study at the seminary, he said. “It’s a valuable institution. This school has never been forgotten.”
The U.S.-backed YPG terrorist group announced Tuesday that its so-called autonomous administration and all its military and civilian structures have been dissolved.
Ferhat Abdi Şahin, one of the group’s ringleaders, made the announcement to reporters at the People’s Palace in the Syrian capital.
“Following the agreement reached with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and upon completion of the process of integrating our forces into the brigades of the Syrian army, we announce today, with a great sense of responsibility, that we are dissolving ourselves as an independent military force,” said Şahin.
The YPG was established in 2015 with U.S. backing as the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist group. Washington partnered with the group in its campaign against Daesh despite longstanding objections from NATO ally Türkiye over its ties to the PKK.
The PKK, which has waged a decades-long campaign against Türkiye, is designated a terrorist group by Türkiye, the U.S. and the European Union.
The group became Washington’s principal partner on the ground against Daesh and eventually gained control of large parts of northern and northeastern Syria, including areas containing much of the country’s oil resources.
The Syrian administration and the YPG terror group reached a new agreement Jan. 29 that provided for a cease-fire and the group’s gradual integration into state institutions.
“Circumstances have changed today, and the country has entered a new phase characterized by peace and participation,” Şahin said.
The political and military landscape shifted dramatically following the fall of ousted longtime ruler Bashar Assad in late 2024 and the establishment of new authorities in Damascus under the leadership of al-Sharaa.
Clashes between government forces and the YPG in January resulted in Damascus regaining significant territory, including areas in Raqqa and Deir el-Zour. The two sides subsequently reached an agreement to integrate military, security and civilian institutions in the northeast into state structures.
Al-Sharaa also met on Tuesday with Şahin to discuss steps for its integration into state institutions.
The meeting addressed “a number of issues related to integration within Syrian state institutions and the steps for the next phase to strengthen the state’s presence and support security and stability,” Şahin added.
Last month, Syrian officials said the country had integrated about 9,000 former members of the 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.
The integration marked 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.
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.
AK Party welcomes statement
Ankara has repeatedly maintained that eliminating parallel armed structures and preserving Syria’s territorial integrity are essential for lasting stability in the neighboring country.
The YPG’s dissolution represents a significant step in Damascus’ efforts to restore central authority throughout Syria after more than a decade of fragmentation and conflict.
Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesperson Ömer Çelik on Wednesday welcomed the dissolution of the terrorist group, saying the move marked an important threshold in strengthening Syria’s internal unity and reaffirming Ankara’s support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We have always supported the protection of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Çelik emphasized in a statement on social media. “Syria must move toward the future as one and whole.”
Çelik said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had waged a major struggle to protect Syrians from terrorism and what he described as “imperialist attacks” during some of the most difficult periods of the Syrian conflict.
“Years and history are witnesses to this noble struggle,” he said.
Çelik said the dissolution of the YPG represented a significant development for Syria’s internal cohesion.
He also praised steps taken by the administration of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa toward what he described as inclusive governance, saying they were helping the country move beyond years of conflict and toward a more stable future.
Çelik linked developments in Syria to Ankara’s broader “terror-free Türkiye” and “terror-free region” objectives, saying the initiatives represented a determination to thwart attempts by outside actors to divide and exploit Türkiye’s neighboring region for their own interests.
He said the policy also offered prospects for a more stable future for Kurdish communities across the region.
Çelik added that Türkiye would continue to support steps aimed at strengthening the stability, security and prosperity of Syria and neighboring countries as part of what he called Erdoğan’s “politics of brotherhood.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for seeking to perpetuate bloodshed and instability across the region, declaring that Türkiye would not allow his “bloody scenarios” to be carried out.
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting in Ahlat, Bitlis, Erdoğan said Türkiye’s efforts to promote regional peace and help neighboring countries regain stability were disrupting plans built around conflict and violence.
“We see what kind of bloody scenarios are being drawn up for our region. God willing, we will not allow them to be put into practice,” Erdoğan said.
Türkiye would not abandon its neighbors merely because its policies disturbed what Erdoğan described as “murder networks with the blood of innocents on their hands.”
“We will not stop supporting our neighbors in getting back on their feet just because murder networks with the blood of innocents on their hands are disturbed by it,” he said.
Erdoğan vowed that Ankara would continue pursuing regional peace regardless of opposition or concerns from those whose plans were being disrupted.
“We will not step back from our struggle to establish peace in our region simply because some do not want it, some are concerned or some people’s plans are being disrupted,” he said.
The president said Türkiye’s pursuit of peace was increasingly frustrating those seeking to keep the region trapped in violence.
“As Türkiye seeks peace for everyone in the region, along with its own citizens, the plans of murder networks built on bloodshed and conflict are being disrupted,” Erdoğan said.
Türkiye stepped up regional diplomatic contacts Thursday as Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke separately with top diplomats from Egypt and Saudi Arabia amid evolving developments across the region.
“We evaluated the problems that have emerged in implementing the Gaza peace plan and the steps we can take,” Fidan said on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, noting that both ministers were part of his diplomatic contacts on recent regional developments.
The ministers also discussed the latest developments in Syria. Fidan said they reiterated their strong support for efforts to establish peace and stability in Palestine.
The talks also covered the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the latest status of negotiations between countries involved in the dispute.
“As three brotherly countries that want peace and prosperity in our region, we will continue to strengthen our cooperation and coordination in all areas,” said Fidan.
Fidan’s calls come less than two weeks after he traveled to Egypt on Aug. 13-14 for talks with Abdelatty and other senior officials aimed at deepening bilateral and regional cooperation. The diplomatic outreach also follows the Aug. 7 signing of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a collective defense pact under which an armed attack on one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all.
Turkish security forces detained 40 suspects in separate operations targeting the Daesh terrorist group in Istanbul and the western province of Izmir, authorities said Tuesday.
In Istanbul, prosecutors launched an investigation into suspected financing networks linked to Daesh as part of efforts to disrupt the terrorist group’s financial resources.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued detention warrants for 15 suspects allegedly involved in financial transactions linked to Serdar Soylu, who had previously been investigated on accusations of providing funds to Daesh members killed in conflict zones and collecting money for the terrorist group.
Soylu was also accused of raising funds purportedly for Muslims held in camps in Syria, including al-Hol camp, according to prosecutors.
Security forces carried out simultaneous raids at 20 addresses, including 17 in Istanbul and others in the provinces of Kocaeli, Adana and Adıyaman.
Fourteen suspects were detained, while efforts were underway to capture the remaining fugitive. Authorities also seized numerous digital materials and documents during searches of the suspects’ residences. The investigation remains underway.
Separately, police detained 26 suspects in Izmir in another operation targeting alleged Daesh activities.
The operation was conducted under the coordination of the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office following intelligence and technical surveillance by the provincial police department’s counterterrorism and intelligence units.
Authorities identified 27 suspects accused of conducting propaganda for Daesh through social media accounts or having previously carried out activities on behalf of the terrorist group.
Police launched simultaneous raids at predetermined addresses early Tuesday, detaining 26 of the suspects.
Authorities seized digital materials as well as publications linked to the terrorist group that had previously been ordered confiscated.
Police were continuing efforts to locate one remaining suspect, while procedures for those detained were ongoing.
Türkiye considers the Daesh terrorist group one of the biggest threats to the country’s security and peace, as the group faces nationwide raids, and was one of the first countries to declare it a terrorist group in 2013.
Officials said counterterrorism operations targeting Daesh networks and financing structures will continue across the country.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday that Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to eradicate terrorism would usher in a new era for the country and contribute to stability across the region, as he addressed an event in eastern Türkiye marking the 955th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt).
Speaking at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan National Garden in Ahlat, a district of Bitlis province, Erdoğan said Türkiye would move toward a stronger future through national unity and solidarity.
“Let no one have any doubt: We will all witness the rise of a great and powerful Türkiye on the horizon, just as these monuments here bear witness to history,” Erdoğan underlined. “Together, we will shoulder the sacred legacy of our martyrs and veterans and carry Türkiye toward a much stronger future.”
Erdoğan placed particular emphasis on solidarity among Turks, Kurds and Arabs, saying Türkiye’s progress would also benefit other peoples across the region.
“We know who is disturbed by this. We know who is concerned about it,” he noted. “Whatever you do, you cannot turn us away from our path. You cannot prevent us, as Turks, Kurds and Arabs, from embracing one another in brotherhood.”
The president said the country’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, which he said was first signaled in Ahlat two years ago, would open the door to a new period when it achieves its objectives.
“Our economy will grow stronger along with our brotherhood, and the resilience of our home front will increase along with our prosperity,” he said.
The president added that Türkiye’s immediate neighborhood, particularly Syria and Iraq, could achieve the peace and stability it has sought for years.
“The winners will be humanity, brotherhood, peace and stability. The winner will be the Turkish nation with its 86 million citizens.”
Erdoğan said Türkiye had entered a new phase in its development, declaring that “the dawn of a great and powerful Türkiye has broken” and that the construction of the “Century of Türkiye” had begun.
The president’s remarks came as Türkiye prepared to commemorate the Battle of Malazgirt, fought on Aug. 26, 1071, when Seljuk forces led by Sultan Alp Arslan defeated the Byzantine army. The victory is widely regarded in Türkiye as a turning point that paved the way for the settlement of Anatolia by the Turks.
Events commemorating the 955th anniversary were held in Ahlat on Aug. 23-25, drawing visitors to the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan National Garden. Crowds carrying Turkish flags began gathering at the venue early Tuesday ahead of Erdoğan’s address.
Erdoğan is expected to chair a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ahlat. His program is also expected to continue with a dinner attended by Cabinet members, regional governors and relatives of fallen soldiers.
Furthermore, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli also issued a statement Tuesday commemorating the anniversary, describing the 1071 victory as a defining moment that changed the course of history and shaped the future of Anatolia.
“The Turkish nation’s march on the stage of history has witnessed the establishment of many world states, conquests that became legends and victories whose memories have been carried with pride through generations and illuminated the future,” Bahçeli said.
He traced the historical developments preceding Malazgirt, citing the Seljuk victory at Dandanaqan in 1040, early expeditions into Anatolia, the Battle of Pasinler in 1048 and Alp Arslan’s conquest of Ani in 1064.
Bahçeli said the Battle of Manzikert represented the culmination of a longer political and military process that established a lasting Turkish presence in Anatolia.
He also emphasized the continuity of Turkish statehood from the Seljuk period through the Ottoman Empire and the modern Republic of Türkiye.
“Malazgirt is our past, Anatolia is our honor, Türkiye is our future,” Bahçeli said. “The Republic of Türkiye is our destiny.”
The annual Malazgirt commemorations hold symbolic importance in Türkiye, with senior officials frequently invoking the 1071 victory as a milestone in the country’s historical presence in Anatolia.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications set up a stand at the anniversary events in Ahlat to provide visitors with information about the historic victory.
Two digital kiosks featured an interactive quiz prepared specifically for the anniversary as well as an archery-themed game.
The directorate also distributed copies of a book titled “The Malazgirt Victory: Turkish Art of War and Artistic Aesthetics” to visitors.
A 360-degree rotating photo platform at the stand also drew interest from participants, allowing visitors to take photographs commemorating the anniversary events.
Staff from the Directorate of Communications provided information about the institution’s activities and the publication as part of the three-day commemorations.
Turkish authorities detained 38 suspects in a third wave of operations targeting an alleged organized crime group led by Alihan Kuriş, judicial sources said Tuesday.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued detention warrants for 54 suspects as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering, fraud targeting public institutions and violations of tax laws.
Authorities also ordered trustees to be appointed to 11 companies and four associations linked to the investigation, according to judicial sources.
Teams from the Ankara Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit carried out simultaneous raids as part of the operation, detaining 38 suspects.
Of the remaining suspects, two were found to be abroad, and one was already in prison, while authorities continued efforts to locate 13 others.
The suspects face allegations including establishing and leading a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization, laundering proceeds of crime, fraud against public institutions and violations of Türkiye’s Tax Procedure Law.
The latest raids follow a second-wave operation targeting the group in Istanbul, Konya, Mersin and Muğla, in which 12 suspects were detained.
Hilmi Tuna Kuriş, the brother of Alihan Kuriş, was previously captured in the southwestern resort town of Marmaris.
The investigation has also focused on alleged financial transactions involving individuals linked to the Kuriş family.
According to investigators, Mehmet Özmen, who allegedly helped facilitate Hilmi Tuna Kuriş’ movements while he was evading authorities, transferred TL 2.4 million (about $50,000) to purchase a vehicle on behalf of Alihan Kuriş’ wife, Seda Kuriş.
A Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) report dated Aug. 20 and included in the investigation also examined financial and property transactions involving Kuriş and people in his immediate circle following the 2016 death of Arif Ahmet Denizolgun, who served as a transport minister and former leader of the Süleymancılar religious community.
Investigators allege that the period following Denizolgun’s death saw a significant increase in property and financial transactions involving Kuriş and his relatives.
The group known publicly as “Süleymancılar” originated as a religious movement named after 20th-century Islamic scholar Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan, Kuriş’ great-grandfather.
Initially operating through informal religious instruction in homes and mosques, the group later expanded across Türkiye through Quran courses and student dormitories, largely financed by membership contributions and donations. Over time, its activities expanded into commercial sectors including food, health care, tourism, textiles, construction and real estate.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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