Politics
Turkiye’s justice minister vows stronger judiciary, tougher crime fight
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said Thursday that the government will continue reforms aimed at strengthening the judiciary, improving the efficiency of trials and ensuring citizens can access their rights more quickly.
Speaking during a visit to the Trabzon Governor’s Office in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, Gürlek said authorities are also continuing to strengthen the physical infrastructure of justice services in the Black Sea province.
“We have completed the project work for the Vakfıkebir Courthouse and held the construction tender,” Gürlek said. “We have also prepared the Of Justice Palace project to provide stronger and more effective judicial services.”
He said officials would inspect the facilities needed to activate new civil and criminal chambers at the Trabzon Regional Court of Appeal, adding that new chambers could be established if necessary.
Gürlek also reiterated the government’s commitment to drafting what he described as a civilian, democratic and inclusive constitution.
“We will not give up on the goal of a civilian, democratic and inclusive constitution that our nation has deserved for years,” he said.
“We want to build “the Century of Türkiye” not on a constitutional foundation inherited from the tutelage mentality of the past, but on a strong legal order that places the will of the people at its center and guarantees human dignity and fundamental rights.”
Gürlek said the government’s goals were ambitious but argued that the strength of the Turkish people was greater.
He said Türkiye had moved from fighting for independence under difficult conditions a century ago to developing its own defense industry and technology and playing a greater role internationally.
“We now have a new period ahead of us: a Türkiye completely free from the shadow of terrorism, where criminal organizations have been deprived of their room to operate, legal certainty has been strengthened, and the country moves toward much greater goals with its economy, production and human resources,” he said.
Gürlek also vowed to pursue the financial resources that sustain criminal organizations, saying the government would continue operations against organized crime.
“We are not only pursuing crime and criminals, but also the illicit money that keeps the criminal order alive,” he said. “You cannot cut off the breath of a criminal organization without cutting off the veins of crime and drying up this source.”
He said authorities would show no tolerance toward any structure that threatens public peace and would act within the law.
“There is no structure more powerful than the state,” Gürlek said. “There is nowhere they can escape Turkish justice. Whoever commits a crime, wherever they go, will not get away with what they have done.”
Gürlek also pledged to revisit unresolved cases, including unsolved killings and suspicious deaths.
“Time may pass before justice, but truth does not fade,” he said, adding that a case could remain on a shelf for years but that every unsolved death remains an unresolved matter for the state.
“We will continue to reopen unsolved cases, suspicious deaths and cases that have left a mark on the public conscience,” Gürlek said. “We will dispel doubts, follow the trail of evidence and identify the perpetrators. We will bring those responsible before justice.”
He vowed to pursue cases regardless of where the evidence leads or whom it implicates.
“We are determined and resolute. No matter where it leads or whose path we cross, we will not deviate from our course,” he said.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said Thursday that a newly signed defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is not intended as an alternative or rival to NATO but as a mechanism designed to complement the international security architecture and strengthen regional stability.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Rear Adm. Zeki Aktürk, said the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Aug. 7, aims to institutionalize and deepen existing defense and security cooperation among the three countries.
“The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is not an alternative or rival structure to NATO,” Aktürk told the ministry’s weekly briefing in Ankara. He said the pact is regarded as a complementary mechanism that would contribute to regional security and stability.
The agreement is defensive in nature and does not designate any country as a common enemy or adversary, the ministry underlined.
Under the pact, the three countries plan to establish strategic political and military mechanisms involving their defense and foreign ministers as well as chiefs of general staff or armed forces commanders.
Military cooperation is expected to expand gradually, beginning with command-post and field exercises before progressing to joint drills involving land, naval and air forces, air defense assets and unmanned systems.
The ministry said other countries could eventually be considered for participation if the mechanism matures and the three members reach a consensus.
“The ultimate goal is to establish an institutional mechanism that functions effectively in peacetime, is prepared for potential crises and can provide concrete military support when necessary,” he said.
Saudi Arabia, whose critical infrastructure and oil facilities have come under attack as part of the war in Iran, has been looking to diversify its defense partnerships. In September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact that also defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. The agreement also comes amid rising tensions between Türkiye and Israel over Gaza and other regional conflicts, including the war in Iran and Lebanon.
Terror-free Türkiye
Aktürk also addressed Türkiye’s ongoing “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, describing it as historically significant for permanently removing terrorism from the country’s agenda and strengthening social cohesion and regional stability.
The Defense Ministry has begun work with other state institutions to implement Article 8 of recently adopted legislation related to the process, he said.
Three more PKK members who fled the terrorist group’s shelters surrendered over the past week, according to the ministry.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) would continue operations against threats to the country’s security “without interruption and with determination” both within Türkiye’s borders and beyond, he said.
On border security, Aktürk said Turkish forces detained 499 people attempting to cross the country’s borders illegally over the past week, including one suspected member of a terrorist organization, while another 716 people were prevented from crossing.
Since Jan. 1, authorities have detained 7,942 people attempting illegal border crossings and prevented another 45,518 from crossing, he added.
Gaza, regional security
Turning to developments in the Middle East, Aktürk said lasting regional peace and stability depended on Israel ending its attacks and occupation in Gaza and Lebanon.
He accused Israel of continuing attacks that have deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called on the international community to take a stronger position based on international law and humanitarian principles.
Aktürk also criticized Israel over its rejection of a 15-point Gaza plan and said Israeli military activities in southern Lebanon were continuing despite a framework agreement.
Separately, the ministry said Türkiye is participating in talks on establishing a Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Saudi Arabia hosted a technical-level meeting in Riyadh on July 28, followed by talks among chiefs of general staff on July 30, the ministry said.
Türkiye is also participating in coordination meetings being held in Jeddah on Aug. 12-13.
The ministry said Ankara would continue working with Saudi authorities to help reduce tensions in the Gulf region and ensure the uninterrupted flow of international trade.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş on Thursday called for the release of jailed Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi and urged authorities to provide him with adequate medical care and humane conditions amid concerns over his health.
Kurtulmuş said he was closely following developments surrounding Ghannouchi, the leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda movement and former speaker of the Tunisian Parliament, who recently ended a hunger and medication strike at the request of the team monitoring his health.
“Considering his advanced age and existing health problems, the seriousness of Ghannouchi’s condition must not be overlooked,” Kurtulmuş said in a social media post.
He called Ghannouchi a prominent figure in the struggle for “peace, democracy and solidarity” and praised his political role in Tunisia.
Kurtulmuş said Ghannouchi had remained committed to his political and democratic principles despite pressure, exile and imprisonment and had gained recognition in Tunisia and internationally for his role during the country’s political transition.
Citing long-standing ties between Türkiye and Tunisia, Kurtulmuş wished Ghannouchi a speedy recovery.
“It is our greatest hope that he is provided with all necessary medical support, given fair and humane conditions befitting human dignity and released,” he noted.
Ghannouchi was detained on April 2023, and subsequently jailed on charges of “incitement against state security.” He has since received prison sentences in several separate cases.
Ghannouchi’s defense team said in a written statement that officials at Mornaguia Prison had informed his lawyers that he had ended the hunger and medication strike he began on Aug. 6.
The team also demanded an end to Ghannouchi’s isolation and called for him to be allowed to meet with his lawyers and family.
In an earlier statement, Ghannouchi’s defense team said the 85-year-old politician had been transferred to a hospital on July 29 and had been held in “complete isolation” since then.
He recently ended the strike at the request of the medical team at the hospital.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan explained the background of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. Erdoğan said in remarks published on Wednesday that Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan launched a new era of cooperation in the region and they would welcome other countries to join the pact.
Erdoğan flew to Saudi Arabia last Friday in a last-minute trip, which was later revealed to be the occasion for the agreement overseen by the Turkish President, Saudi crown prince and Pakistan’s prime minister.
The vision in the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement “is not limited” to only Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Erdoğan said in the interview.
“Indeed, our vision is not limited to three countries. We want it to expand further and, if possible, one day bring all countries in the region under this framework. This would be one of the most important steps toward achieving lasting regional stability,” Erdoğan said.
While U.S.-Iran tensions are important to regional developments, the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement should not be viewed merely as a response to them, Erdoğan said, adding: “Such an interpretation would fail to properly understand the policies and intentions of our countries.” Noting that the agreement does not pose a threat to any country, the president said the deal is open to participation by “all brotherly countries that seek peace, prosperity, and stability in our region.”
There is a history behind the deal, Erdoğan said, pointing to discussions with the other signatories and other regional countries that have been ongoing “for a very long period.” Noting his remarks on remaining in regular consultation with regional countries in order to strengthen peace, stability and security in the region, the president said Ankara has acted “accordingly” in this regard.
“We know the kinds of disasters that externally imposed prescriptions have caused in attempts to resolve the region’s problems. For this reason, Türkiye has always pursued a policy aimed at making the will and collective wisdom of regional countries decisive,” he said. The deal is a representation of “a strategic determination” in response to changing regional circumstances, he said, adding that the trilateral mechanism is not a reaction to “day-to-day developments.”
“Türkiye has always favored diplomacy over tension, dialogue over conflict, and stronger regional cooperation over division. As a country capable of speaking with all parties and assuming responsibility on difficult issues when necessary, we will continue to do our part to establish lasting peace and stability in our region,” he further added.
‘New circumstances’
The agreement is “the result of the new circumstances” and a shared sense of responsibility, Erdoğan stated. “We have always favored regional countries taking ownership of regional issues and resolving them themselves,” he added. “The problems of the region should be resolved by the region’s own actors, and we can say that we have now taken the first step in that direction,” he stressed.
Recent developments have highlighted the necessity of solidarity among friendly and brotherly nations, whereas long-term peace necessitates not only an end to conflict but also mutual trust, political will and a shared vision for the future, he noted.
The agreement represents more than cooperation among Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Erdoğan said, adding that it is intended as a broader framework for regional stability and remains open to other countries seeking peace and security. Ankara views the deal as the beginning of a new era of regional cooperation and solidarity, with the possibility of expanding participation in the future, he said.
He underlined that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is built on the principle of collective deterrence and aims to deepen security and defense cooperation among its members while contributing to regional stability. The agreement will pave the way for joint defense industry projects and strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, he explained, stressing that it does not target any country. Under the deal, a threat to one member’s security will be treated as a common security concern by the other parties, he said. He added that the agreement should not be viewed solely as a military arrangement, saying its broader purpose is to reinforce deterrence, strengthen mutual security through solidarity and preserve peace and stability in the region.
Erdoğan also said the signatories are sending a message that they will not pose a threat to one another but will instead work to guarantee each other’s security. “The security of one of us is the security of all of us,” he said, adding that an inclusive application of this approach can help establish lasting peace, stability and prosperity across the region.
He said regional countries must take greater responsibility for their own security, stability and future, arguing that the region’s challenges are best addressed by its own countries and peoples. Stronger regional ownership, solidarity and coordination will not only bolster stability in the Middle East but also contribute to global stability, the president said. He stressed the importance of establishing stronger and more permanent mechanisms among regional countries, including institutionalized cooperation aimed at safeguarding both security and economic stability. “The future of the region cannot be shaped independently of the will of the countries of the region,” Erdoğan said. Türkiye’s diplomacy in the broader region has long been based on “regional ownership” as Ankara argues that hegemony of the past in the Middle East imposed by the West should cease and foreign interventions should be replaced with acknowledgement that each country has a right to resolve its own issues.
He added that Türkiye does not seek exclusionary blocs, but rather a regional cooperation framework based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual trust and shared interests. Türkiye, he said, will continue to assume responsibility when necessary and pursue diplomatic initiatives to strengthen regional peace, security and stability.
The president said he believed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement will help enhance security in the Gulf region, adding that it aims to promote the region’s prosperity, peace and security.
He underscored the importance of security in the Gulf region for the global economy and international trade. The security of the Gulf region is of great importance not only to the countries of the region but also to the global economy and international trade. “Many issues, from energy supply security and the safety of maritime routes to the continuity of trade and global economic stability, are directly connected to peace and stability in this region,” he further said. “This is not merely a theoretical statement; developments over the past few months have demonstrated it clearly,” he added. Erdoğan said every step to strengthen security and stability in the Gulf would benefit not only the region but also global peace and prosperity. He said the agreement could deepen regional security cooperation and solidarity, stressing that security and economic development are closely linked.
Pointing to Europe’s postwar experience, Erdoğan said political stability can pave the way for economic integration and prosperity, adding that trade and investment cannot be sustained without peace. He also described security in the Gulf as strategically important for economic links connecting Asia, Europe and Africa, saying Türkiye views peace and stability in the region as closely tied to its own security and to broader regional peace. He expressed Türkiye’s determination to assume “every responsibility that falls upon us and continue our constructive diplomatic efforts.”
Iran called on six major Muslim nations Wednesday to take a leading role in strengthening unity across the Islamic world, placing Türkiye among the countries Tehran says bear particular responsibility for advancing cooperation.
During a meeting in Tehran with Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Rezaei described Pakistan’s government, armed forces and people as among the Islamic world’s greatest assets. He also welcomed what he described as the growing role of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in regional developments, according to Mehr News Agency.
Rezaei said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attaches special importance to relations with Pakistan and believes bilateral trade between the two countries should increase severalfold.
He described Iran-Pakistan ties as rooted in genuine affection and shared beliefs, saying leaders of both countries have long regarded the other as strategic depth.
According to the official IRNA news agency, Naqvi thanked Pezeshkian, as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, for their efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.
Naqvi also praised what he described as exceptional solidarity between Iranian and Pakistani people, saying the close bond between the two nations should translate into deeper cooperation and more tangible results.
He said the two countries need greater engagement and sustained efforts to achieve shared objectives, expressing confidence that the determination of their leaders and officials would help realize those goals.
Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for an official visit. He has held talks with Momeni and Araghchi on bilateral ties and regional developments.
Turkish authorities detained 30 suspects, including alleged crime group leader Alihan Kuriş, in a large-scale financial crime operation spanning 17 provinces, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.
The raids were carried out simultaneously at 123 addresses, primarily in Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya, as part of an investigation into allegations including establishing and leading a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization, laundering proceeds of crime, fraud causing losses to public institutions and violations of tax law.
Prosecutors issued detention warrants for 49 suspects and authorized searches and seizures at 43 addresses linked to individuals and 80 addresses belonging to 33 companies. Thirty suspects were detained, nine were found to be abroad, while efforts were underway to apprehend the remaining 10.
Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) prepared a report examining the suspects and companies allegedly linked to the organization.
According to the report, several companies associated with the group recorded sharp increases in financial transaction volumes after 2020. Investigators identified company divisions and transfers in which new firms were established with unusually high capital, sometimes in different provinces and operating in sectors unrelated to the original companies.
MASAK also found that some companies had no apparent financial resources other than their registered capital and showed little evidence of active commercial operations, while funds were used to finance affiliated companies.
Investigators suspect the corporate structure was designed to make company records and financial transactions more difficult to trace.
The report also flagged large cash flows, transfers through payment institutions and significant cash injections from company shareholders whose sources require further explanation. Some of those funds were subsequently used in capital increases.
Investigators also identified high-value transactions between companies that raised suspicions of potential fraudulent invoicing, as well as foreign-currency transfers from overseas companies that appeared inconsistent with corporate records.
The financial investigation is being expanded to examine allegations that more than TL 100 billion ($2.4 billion) in transactions involving individuals and companies allegedly linked to the group may have been transferred abroad.
Authorities stressed that the amount, the nature of the transfers and any connection to proceeds of crime have yet to be conclusively established and remain subject to financial and judicial examination.
Investigators are also examining allegations of financial transactions with links to Israel as part of their review of overseas money flows.
Authorities have imposed seizure and other protective measures on certain companies and assets suspected of being connected to criminal proceeds. The full scope of the measures and investigation is expected to become clearer following further examination of MASAK reports, corporate records, bank transactions and other evidence.
Furthermore, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi provided details Thursday during a live broadcast on the operation targeting the alleged criminal organization, saying authorities believe the group was building a major headquarters in Cologne, Germany, as part of plans to shift its operations abroad.
“We know that they are building a large center in Cologne, Germany. Once completed, the headquarters will represent a massive $70 million investment. We assess that, once the building is finished, all activities will be transferred there and conducted from that location,” Çiftçi said.
Çiftçi noted that authorities had been conducting a detailed investigation into the organization’s structure and financial operations for an extended period.
Providing details about the group’s alleged overseas organization, Çiftçi said Kuriş took over the organization in 2016 and that its activities subsequently began to be conducted with greater secrecy.
“Alihan Kuriş took over this organization in 2016. After he assumed control, its activities began to be conducted with much greater secrecy,” Çiftçi said.
He added that the results and details of the operation will become much clearer in the coming days.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s trip to Libya in a new era of relations took him to a Turkish military barracks in Tripoli and a warm meeting with Saddam Haftar, the son of Khalifa Haftar, who was once Türkiye’s chief opponent in the North African country.
Fidan, who arrived in Libya on Tuesday, first visited Tripoli and met with Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, prime minister of the Government of National Unity. After talks with other high-ranking officials there, Fidan visited the Libya Mission Group Command of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
On Wednesday, he flew to Benghazi, where he was welcomed at the airport by Saddam Haftar, who serves as deputy general commander of the Libyan National Army.
The top diplomat’s trip comes one day after the suspected assassination of a senior Libyan intelligence officer serving with the eastern-based forces led by Khalifa Haftar, and amid Türkiye’s efforts to promote unity in Libya.
Libya remains divided between two rival governments: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, headed by Dbeibah and based in Tripoli, which administers western Libya, and a government appointed by the House of Representatives in early 2022, currently headed by Osama Hammad and based in Benghazi, which administers the east and most of the south.
For years, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has sought to broker a political settlement leading to elections, which many Libyans hope will end the political divisions and armed conflict that have persisted since the 2011 ouster of Muammar Gaddafi.
Turkish diplomatic sources said ahead of Fidan’s visit that the desire to further develop Türkiye’s existing cooperation with Libya in the energy sector on the basis of mutual benefit and to implement new projects was expected to be expressed during Fidan’s talks.
Fidan was also expected to highlight that the safe and sustainable continuation of the activities of Turkish companies, which have a significant presence in Libya, particularly in the construction sector, would contribute to taking economic and commercial cooperation to a higher level and further deepening it.
An exchange of views was also expected on regional and global developments, particularly the Palestinian issue and the situation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Türkiye and Libya share longstanding historical, cultural and people-to-people ties. Relations between the two countries are being developed in all possible areas on the basis of mutual benefit, with the objective of contributing to the establishment of lasting peace, stability and security in Libya.
In this context, reciprocal high-level visits continue to gain momentum. Most recently, Libya’s Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, was received by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 18, 2026.
Within the framework of its “One Libya” policy, Türkiye gives priority to preserving Libya’s unity, territorial integrity and cohesion and continues its active efforts to establish lasting stability and preserve calm in Libya.
Based on this approach, Türkiye maintains dialogue with all sides in Libya, without distinction between the West, East and South, and works together with Libyans to advance relations in all fields.
Türkiye supports U.N. efforts aimed at holding credible, fair and transparent elections in Libya and cooperates with all Libyan stakeholders and the international community.
Türkiye emphasizes the importance of ensuring that steps taken as part of political efforts toward the goal of a prosperous and united Libya, to which the Libyan people aspire, are carried out under Libyan ownership and leadership.
As part of its “One Libya” policy, Türkiye also continues its efforts toward the unification of Libya’s military institutions. The active participation of forces from both western and eastern Libya in the EFES 2026 exercise, held from April 11 to May 21, 2026, constituted a significant step in this direction.
Bilateral trade between Türkiye and Libya reached approximately $3.5 billion in 2025.
Despite the prevailing fragile conditions, Libya remains an important market for the Turkish private sector. Bilateral economic relations continue to develop across various fields, particularly in the construction sector.
In this context, the 22nd Türkiye-Libya Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting was held in Tripoli on Jan. 24, 2026.
The Turkish contracting sector undertook its first overseas project in Libya in 1972. To date, Turkish companies have undertaken 633 projects in Libya with a total value of $31 billion. In this regard, Libya ranks as the fourth country where Turkish companies have undertaken the largest number of projects.
More than 40 projects undertaken by Turkish companies are currently ongoing in Libya, with a total value exceeding $2.3 billion.
The steadily developing relations between Türkiye and Libya are also creating new opportunities in the energy sector. In February 2026, TPAO was awarded the right to jointly operate two oil fields in Libya in the country’s first licensing round in 17 years. The agreement concerning these fields was signed in Tripoli on June 15, 2026.
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