The corruption investigation carried out by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against the CHP’s Şile Municipality and the expert report prepared revealed the huge profiteering in the tender for the 35th International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival. It was determined that the tender given to the “Sur Music” company, owned by Mehmet Sait Köse, for 38 million TL in official records, was actually carried out by the “Koşan Adam” management company, owned by Haluk Levent’s brother Berkant Emergency. While it was determined that Sur Music was used only as a front on paper; It has been documented that CHP Mayor Özgür Kabadayı and Private Secretary Oğuz Kaçmaz were given 4 million TL cash bribes and brand new unboxed iPhone 15 Pro Max phones in exchange for payments. Although a total of 22.79 million TL was paid to the artists by the municipality, it was determined that only 1.93 million TL was paid to the artists, and the public resource of 20.86 million TL evaporated.

In the corruption investigation carried out against Kocaeli’s Izmit Municipality, 20 suspects, including CHP Mayor Fatma Kaplan Hürriyet and her husband Murat Hürriyet, were arrested. The procedures of the suspects detained in the investigation of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office have been completed at the Istanbul Police Department. The suspects, including Izmit Mayor Hürriyet and her husband Murat Hürriyet, who were accused of “establishing an organization to commit a crime”, “bribery and tender rigging”, were sent to the courthouse. Of the suspects whose statements were completed at the prosecutor’s office, 21 were referred to the criminal judgment of peace on duty with a request for arrest and 9 for judicial control measures. The suspects are Hürriyet and Murat Hürriyet, Fatih Yaşar, Mehmet Ersoylu, Ramazan Kırıcı, Yusuf Kırıcı, Yüksel Kırıcı, Adem Ok, Ali Han Ünal, İrfan Can, Kenan Yılmaz, Nihat Önal, Seyhan Özcan, Burak Güreşen, Cemil Yılmaz, Çetin Sarıca, Gökhan Ercan, Hakan Oral, Nusret Ömürhan Yılmaz and Zekiye. Köstekli Oral was arrested. It was decided to impose judicial control measures on 10 suspects.

5 MORE NAMES WERE SUMMONED TO TESTIFY

Ece Üner, Fatih Portakal, Feyza Altun, Gökhan Özoğuz and Öykü Serter were summoned to testify yesterday within the scope of the investigation carried out regarding the allegation that “donations collected on behalf of the Friends Association were transferred to the accounts of the suspects”.

OPERATION

The Istanbul Police Department’s Financial Crimes Fighting Branch Directorate, under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, carried out work to prevent the crimes of “establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime”, “qualified fraud” and “laundering of assets resulting from crime” and to catch the suspects.

In this context, as a result of the MASAK reports prepared for the Friends Association employees, account activity reviews and technical and physical follow-up studies, it was determined that the suspects had high amounts of money movements that were incompatible with their financial profiles, high amounts of money transfers were made between them, they placed bets by transferring large amounts of money to their games of chance accounts and lost large amounts of money in this way, and they also carried out many chain title deed transfer transactions among themselves in a short time.

Among the 54 suspects detained within the scope of the investigation, 28 suspects, including the founder of the Dude Association, singer Haluk Levent and Oğuzhan Uğur, were arrested.

The assets of the association and some suspects were confiscated.

Çiftçi announced that 118 thousand 172 sports competitions were held with the participation of 21 million 234 thousand fans in the 2025-2026 season, and that 1 million 277 thousand police officers and 335 thousand private security guards were on duty for security. Çiftçi emphasized that for the first time in the new season, the rules for protocol stands will be strictly enforced and gave the message: “Protocol stands should be areas where sports ethics, common sense and exemplary behavior are exhibited, not where the rules are violated.”

Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi made important statements at the closing of the Sports Safety Evaluation Meeting, which was held with the participation of the Turkish Football Federation, Turkish Volleyball Federation, Clubs Association, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Youth and Sports and representatives of the police force. Stating that increasing peace and security in sports activities, preventing violence and disorder, strengthening inter-institutional cooperation and new term sports security strategies were discussed at the two-day meeting, Çiftçi emphasized that sports are not just about competitions, but are an important area that strengthens social unity and solidarity.

“WE WILL STAND WITH DETERMINATION AGAINST THOSE WHO TRY TO MAKE TURKISH SPORTS A TOOL OF PROVOCATIONS”

Stating that sports bring together different age and social segments around a common excitement, Çiftçi said that the organizations make significant contributions to the promotion, tourism and economy of cities. Stating that sports should be kept alive with the spirit of friendship, solidarity and sportsmanship, Çiftçi stated that holding the competitions in peace is their main priority and said, “We will stand determinedly against those who try to fuel social unrest through sports, pit fans against each other and turn Turkish sports into a tool of provocations.”

PROVINCIAL SPORTS SECURITY COMMITTEES WILL MEET UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OF THE GOVERNORS

Minister of Internal Affairs Çiftçi also announced the security measures to be implemented in the new season. Accordingly, Provincial Sports Security Boards will meet under the chairmanship of governors in Super League competitions. Fixed Competition Security Chiefs will be appointed for each stadium and team, and a total of 127 security chiefs will be on duty this season. Stating that the security chiefs who will be constantly working in the same stadiums will get to know the fan profiles and possible risks more closely, Çiftçi noted that risk analyzes will be prepared in line with the facts on the field, not at the desk.

PROTOCOL BRANDS SHOULD BE AREAS WHERE SPORTS ETHICS, COMMON SENSE AND EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR ARE EXHIBITED”

Stating that technological opportunities are also integrated into the security system, Çiftçi said that risky competitions are followed with 582 lapel cameras allocated to the provinces, and the stadiums are monitored instantly through KGYS and camera monitoring centers. Minister Çiftçi also stated that it is aimed for fans as well as managers to enter the stadiums and sports halls with the Passolig and e-ticket system, and said, “The rules should apply not only to our fans, but also to everyone entering the sports field. The order and rules in the protocol tribune are also of great importance in ensuring peace and security in sports. Protocol tribunes should not be areas where the rules are violated; they should be areas where sports ethics, common sense and exemplary behavior are exhibited.”

“LAW NUMBER 6222 WILL BE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT COMPROMISE”

Declaring that 118 thousand 172 sports competitions were held throughout Turkey in the 2025-2026 season and 21 million 234 thousand people participated in these organizations, Çiftçi stated that 1 million 277 thousand police officers and 335 thousand private security personnel worked for security. Ciftci stated that action was taken against 5 thousand 832 people in a total of 548 competitions within the scope of Law No. 6222 on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports, and emphasized that they would not be complacent despite the positive picture obtained. Addressing the police force, Çiftçi said that he demanded the uncompromising application of the law in sports fields and that legal proceedings would be continued with determination against any attempts aimed at violence, insults, damaging public property and disrupting public order.

“EVERY COLOR IS OURS, EVERY TEAM IS OURS”

At the end of his speech, Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi drew attention to the unifying power of sports and called for avoiding statements that would pit fans against each other, especially on social media. “Every color is ours. Every team is ours. Every athlete is the asset of this country.” Çiftçi stated that they will continue to strengthen a sports culture where peaceful, safe and sportsmanship prevails, together with all stakeholders, and expressed his hope that the Sports Safety Evaluation Meeting will lead to beneficial results.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned “in the strongest terms” the Israeli Minister’s raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, accompanied by an “extremist group” under the protection of Israeli security forces.

A written statement was made from the Ministry regarding the issue.

The statement said, “We condemn in the strongest terms the Israeli Minister’s raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque with the extremist group accompanying him, under the protection of Israeli security forces.” The statement was included.

It was noted that it is the common responsibility of the international community to prevent the provocative actions of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that violate the historical and legal status of the holy places in Jerusalem, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which belongs exclusively to Muslims, and its attempts to create a fait accompli.

“WE CONDEMN THE DISRESPECT TOWARDS THE MOSQUE OF MOSQUE”

AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik also shared a post on his NSosyal account regarding the attack on Masjid al-Aqsa, saying, “We condemn the disrespect towards Al-Aqsa Mosque by one of the members of the genocide network led by Netanyahu. It is the responsibility of all humanity to protect the law and historical status of Masjid al-Aqsa.” he said.

“ANY INITIATIVE TARGETING MOSQUE AL-AQSA CANNOT BE ACCEPTED”

Director of Communications Burhanettin Duran stated that he strongly condemned the provocative raid and made the following statements:

“Any initiative targeting the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque is unacceptable. Such unilateral steps of the genocidal Netanyahu government to erode the historical and legal status of Jerusalem further increase the tension in the region and harm the hopes for permanent peace. As our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expresses at every opportunity, the protection of the historical status of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa is not only a regional but also a common responsibility of the international community. As Turkey, under the leadership of our President, “We will continue to defend the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the rights of Jerusalem based on international law.”

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, accompanied by police protection and fanatic Jews, raided the Masjid al-Aqsa in occupied East Jerusalem again.

“WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND AGAINST ALL KINDS OF PROVOCATION

RTÜK President Mehmet Daniş stated the following in his statement on his social media account:

“I condemn this attack in the strongest terms, which is a reflection of the lawless approach of the genocidal Netanyahu administration. We will continue to stand against all provocations against beliefs and sacred values, and defend the just cause of the Palestinian people and the historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

“A DELIBERATE PROPOSAL TOWARDS THE SACRED VALUES OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD”

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, condemned the raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque and said, “I condemn the despicable raid carried out by a minister from the murderous Netanyahu gang, together with a provocative group, on the Masjid al-Aqsa, the first qiblah of Muslims. This lawless aggression is a deliberate provocation against the sacred values ​​of the Islamic world.” He included his statements.

Kurtulmuş made the following evaluations in his post on his social media account:

“I condemn the despicable raid of a minister from the murderous Netanyahu gang, together with a provocative group, on the Masjid al-Aqsa, the first qiblah of Muslims. This lawless aggression is a deliberate provocation against the sacred values of the Islamic world. This violation of rules, which targets the sanctity of the Masjid al-Aqsa and ignores the historical and legal status of Jerusalem, is never acceptable. This reckless step of the genocide gang Netanyahu government, the occupation and destruction of Palestinian lands “It clearly shows that the annexation policy must be stopped definitively and decisively by the ‘humanity front’. Netanyahu and his gang must be stopped immediately, and the international community must not be content with words but implement concrete measures to prevent Israel’s aggression.”

Stating that Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque are not abandoned, Kurtulmuş emphasized that they will continue to stand with determination on the side of the oppressed Palestinian people until a “free Palestinian state from the river to the sea” is established, with Jerusalem as its capital.

Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu visited Dokuz Eylül University Rectorate and İzmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (İBG), one of Türkiye’s most important biotechnology bases. Meeting with researchers at IBG, Memişoğlu signaled a historical transformation in the Turkish healthcare system.

“WE WILL CROWN THE SUCCESS IN SERVICE PROVISION WITH PRODUCTION”

Underlining that Türkiye has a strong infrastructure and competent human resources in the field of health, Minister Memişoğlu evaluated the current structure of the system with the following words:

“Turkey has so far focused on service rather than production in health. You and we are implementing the understanding we call ‘Productive Health’ for the first time. We see these centers as focal points where information is processed not only to do science, but also to say something new in the world and to produce something new.”

“YOU WILL NOT HAVE ECONOMIC CONCERNS”

Emphasizing that researchers should not waste time on marketing, finance or commercial processes, Memişoğlu said, “Scientists will not have economic concerns while working. Your job is to produce in the laboratory. It is our duty to establish that ecosystem, find industrialists and investors if necessary, and transfer what you produce to the industry.” he said.

Do you have a good idea in mind or a project that you say will “add value to health”?

We want you to be a part of the productive and innovative Healthy Türkiye Century. “I have an idea too!” We welcome everyone to our address https://t.co/nZKEG0J8m1. https://t.co/1OiUQngQ0v

— Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu (@drmemisoglu) July 23, 2026

CALL TO THOSE WHO HAVE A PROJECT: “PRODUCER HEALTH PORTAL” IS ON AIR

Minister Memişoğlu, who announced that the Productive Health Portal (uretensaglik.gov.tr) was opened to bring together researchers, industrialists and funders under one roof, made the following call to citizens and researchers on his social media account:

“Do you have a good idea in mind, a project that you say ‘It adds value to health’? We want you to have your signature in the productive and innovative Healthy Turkey Century. ‘I have an idea too!’ We welcome everyone who says “to our platform.”