Politics
Ankara gears up for historic NATO summit as schedule confirmed
The timetable for the July 6-8 NATO summit in Ankara was confirmed. The 36th edition of the event is a highly anticipated occasion for members of the military alliance, which appears to be falling out with the top contributor, the United States. President Donald Trump is among the most prominent guests of the event, while host President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to showcase Türkiye’s influence in the changing global order.
The summit will be inaugurated by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte with a news conference ahead of bilateral talks and main sessions. Rutte will speak to journalists at the International Media Center set up at the Presidential Complex at 3:45 p.m. local time on Monday.
On Tuesday, NATO Defense Industry Forum (NSDIF) will bring together representatives of member states and the defense industry at ATO Congresium, an international convention and exhibition center. Mark Rutte will inaugurate the forum at 10 a.m. local time. NATO’s official website says this will be the occasion where “Big Reveal” announcement will be made. Along with Rutte, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler will make keynote speeches at the forum. Member states and defense firms are also scheduled to sign various deals during the forum. Turkish media outlets reported that Rutte will also make a joint press statement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the forum.
At 5:30 p.m. local time, NATO’s foreign ministers will meet the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), a security partnership forum established in 2004 for enhancing bilateral cooperation with non-NATO members, particularly the Middle Eastern countries. The said countries were among those most affected by the U.S.-Israel-Iran war. The meeting will take place at the presidential complex. It will be followed by a social reception for NATO defense ministers at “Ayyıldız Headquarters,” the newly inaugurated headquarters of the Turkish army in the shape of a crescent and star.
At 6:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, President Erdoğan and first lady Emine Erdoğan will host heads of state and government and their spouses for a reception and dinner at the presidential complex. NATO-Ukraine Council foreign ministers will also meet on Tuesday as part of the summit, before a working dinner of defense ministers at the presidential complex.
Wednesday’s program will start with doorstep statements by Rutte and heads of state and government. The summit’s official welcoming ceremony will be held at 10:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday, and it will be followed by a family photo of participating leaders. Leaders will then head to a meeting. The summit will be concluded with a news conference by Rutte at 3 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate, said in a social media post on Sunday that the summit would focus on the steps taken regarding the decision to increase defense investments, the alliance’s deterrence and defense efforts, “with a 360-degree point of view.” Duran said leaders would exchange views on threats, risks and challenges to the Euro-Atlantic region, the situation in Ukraine and developments “in the south of the alliance,” referring to the Middle East gripped by Israel’s expansionist campaign and the U.S.-Israel-Iran war that jeopardized fragile stability in the region. Duran said President Erdoğan was expected to hold bilateral talks with each leader attending the summit.
The summit is regarded as a critical turning point both for the future of the Alliance and for the shaping of the global security architecture. Held within the framework of the new strategic concept referred to as “NATO 3.0,” the Ankara summit is considered by many leaders and security experts to be one of the most significant summits in NATO’s history. It is expected to become the largest NATO summit ever held in terms of participation at the leaders’ level. President Trump was expected to skip the event as he often complained about insufficient contributions to the alliance by European members. Yet, he recently reaffirmed his participation, underlining that he wouldn’t attend if it wasn’t for Erdoğan.
To cover the summit, approximately 3,000 journalists, television crews, photojournalists, digital media representatives, and international broadcasting organizations from around the world have applied for accreditation. As a result, the summit is also set to become the NATO summit with the highest number of international media representatives ever recorded. Seven hotels have been designated in Ankara to accommodate international media representatives, while transportation will be provided by 45 buses. The media center has been equipped with comprehensive technical infrastructure, including approximately 1,800 workstations, nearly 100 live broadcast positions (54 of them permanent), interview areas, television studios, press mixers, wayfinding systems, 40 editing rooms, IPTV broadcasting facilities, and announcement screens. These facilities are described as the most comprehensive working environment ever created for media representatives at a NATO summit.
The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications will deploy a total of 850 personnel throughout the summit, 500 at the main venues and 350 for side events and crisis communications. Public broadcaster TRT, under the coordination of the Directorate of Communications, will oversee the summit’s international broadcasting operations. TRT will cover the summit with 96 cameras, 18 live broadcasting vehicles, and 26 separate broadcast locations. This operation is expected to become the most extensive broadcasting effort ever conducted for a NATO summit.
Throughout summit week, promotional activities will be carried out at approximately 5,000 outdoor advertising locations across Ankara. Billboards, digital displays, and other outdoor media will feature visuals prepared under four different concepts. In addition to NATO Summit messaging, the campaign will include content highlighting Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency, the country’s defense industry products, and the GoTürkiye tourism promotion campaign. This initiative is expected to represent the most comprehensive city branding campaign ever organized in connection with a NATO summit.
For summit security, a total of 56,288 personnel will be deployed, including 48,841 officers from the General Directorate of Security and 7,447 personnel from the Gendarmerie General Command. In addition, 639 personnel will conduct round-the-clock cyber patrol operations to combat cybercrime and enhance cybersecurity.
Participants will travel through three separate airports: Esenboğa Airport, Ankara Airport (an updated version of the Etimesgut military airport renovated and expanded exclusively for the summit), and Mürted Air Base, which will handle cargo aircraft operations.
Diplomatic stage for Türkiye
The summit is expected not only to bring together world leaders but also to serve as a diplomatic stage highlighting Türkiye’s growing influence within NATO. The summit is expected to simultaneously showcase Türkiye’s military contributions, defense industry, crisis management capabilities, and leadership diplomacy.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said that Türkiye is an important NATO ally with strong military capabilities and a strategic geographic position, adding that Lithuania highly values Türkiye’s solidarity with and contribution to security in the Baltic region.
In a written response to questions by Anadolu Agency (AA) ahead of the summit, Ruginiene said she expected the summit to reaffirm transatlantic unity and all allies’ strong commitment to fulfilling their obligations under the Washington Treaty. “In this context, increasing defense spending and developing defense capabilities are of great importance to ensure a credible deterrence and defense posture,” she said. Ruginiene said Russia remained the most direct long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security and that the Russia-Ukraine war had further worsened Europe’s security environment, including for neighboring countries. The prime minister also condemned recent drone incursions from Russia and Belarus into Baltic airspace that affected NATO’s eastern flank.
Ruginiene said Lithuania expected the Ankara summit to make concrete progress toward the goal of allocating 5% of gross domestic product to defense, particularly by strengthening air defense capabilities to deter Russia and ensure a credible defense posture. “Strengthening the defense industry is among our priorities. Allies need to increase production capacity, accelerate innovation, and keep costs under control,” she said. Ruginiene said continued military support for Ukraine remained vital and that Kyiv had gained momentum on the battlefield through the contributions of all NATO allies. “Our message must be clear. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, its military buildup and hybrid activities against allies have fundamentally changed Europe’s security environment,” she said. “There is no alternative to increasing defense budgets in this new threat environment. Security cannot be taken for granted,” she added.
Ruginiene said higher defense spending also created new economic and commercial opportunities for countries.
“As European allies assume greater responsibility, the transatlantic bond remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security. Even if the U.S. role changes, it will remain indispensable and cannot be replaced by any other actor,” she said.
The prime minister said the concept of a “European pillar” within NATO was, to some extent, misleading, stressing that every ally must meet its commitments to the alliance, whether on defense spending or capability targets.
“NATO is an integrated structure in which every ally matters. Strong allies mean a strong NATO,” she said.
Ruginiene said Lithuania remained a committed supporter of deeper transatlantic cooperation and a stronger NATO, adding that it shared U.S. concerns over a more balanced distribution of responsibilities within the alliance.
She welcomed Europe’s determination to strengthen its defense readiness after years of insufficient investment.
“A stronger and more capable Europe will make a positive contribution to global and transatlantic security and will further strengthen NATO,” she said.
Ruginiene said European Union defense initiatives and increased national defense spending would significantly boost Europe’s conventional military strength.
“The alliance will gain the military capacity needed to protect European and transatlantic interests and provide stronger deterrence against external threats,” she said.
On Türkiye’s role in the alliance, Ruginiene said: “Türkiye is an important NATO ally with strong military capabilities and a strategic geographic position. We highly appreciate Türkiye’s solidarity with and contribution to the security of the Baltic region.”
“At a time when the security environment is becoming increasingly challenging, particularly because of Russia’s military buildup and hybrid activities against allies, unity and effective cooperation are more important than ever,” she added.
Ruginiene said every ally had an important role in strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities, increasing its resilience and ensuring the alliance remained prepared for all threats, whether conventional or hybrid.
Onno Eichelsheim, the Netherlands’ Chief of Defense, says Türkiye’s role in NATO will grow larger after the summit. Speaking to AA, Eichelsheim stated that they would need Türkiye as the United States retracts “some capabilities.”
Eichelsheim said he was impressed by the level of capability achieved by the Turkish defense industry and sees strong potential for cooperation between the two countries in this field.
Pointing out that the Ankara summit will mark several important milestones, Eichelsheim said: “The most important outcome that must emerge from this summit is that we deliver on the 3.5% commitment we made in The Hague. This summit should provide more detail and greater clarity about the next steps.”
Noting that his country’s preparations could serve as an example, Eichelsheim added: “We have prepared a White Paper and demonstrated our willingness to meet NATO’s 5% defense spending target.” Eichelsheim emphasized that another key issue is for European countries to begin assuming greater responsibility within NATO by filling the capability gaps left by the United States as it reduces certain contributions to the Alliance. “I believe this is another important turning point. From this perspective, the fact that Europeans are genuinely beginning to take on greater responsibility within the Alliance can be regarded as a historic moment.”
Referring to Türkiye’s role within the Alliance, Eichelsheim continued: “I believe Türkiye plays a very important role. It has always played a significant role within the Alliance. Because of its geographical location, it is the guardian of NATO’s southeastern flank. Although it performs this role together with some of its partners, Türkiye is the most important country in that region. Türkiye has NATO’s second-largest armed forces. As the United States withdraws some of its capabilities, we will also need Türkiye to help fill those gaps. Therefore, Türkiye’s role within NATO will become even greater. I have also seen that Türkiye is very willing to take on this role not only in its own region but in other parts of NATO as well. Türkiye has played a very important role up to now, and that role will become even more significant in the future.”
‘Allies in Ankara’
Türkiye’s leading think tank, the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), will collaborate with the Munich Security Conference for “Allies in Ankara,” a series of events at historic Ankara Palas simultaneously with the summit. The events will bring together ministers, high-ranking officials, and security experts from NATO member countries and other states.
For two days, the event hub will host a dynamic discussion and connection platform through a variety of panels, roundtable discussions, and side events. Burhanettin Duran is also expected to make a keynote speech at the event.
The “Looking Ahead to the Ankara Summit” event will host Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler in a session moderated by MSC CEO Benedikt Franke.
Other sessions include: “Beyond the Post-Cold War Order: Navigating an Era of Strategic Uncertainty,” “Steps Toward a Sustainable Future in the MENA-Gulf Region,” “Inside the Architecture: Türkiye’s Defense Industry as a Structural Asset for NATO” and “NATO’s Ankara Moment: From Consolidation to Burden Sharing.”
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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