Politics
Türkiye’s New Party, CHP bicker over ‘nullification’ amid election race
The Republican People’s Party (CHP) was officially divided in July, but the fight is not over for the two opposing camps of Türkiye’s oldest party. The CHP’s decision to withdraw from an appeal against a court verdict that ended former Chair Özgür Özel’s tenure has sparked another debate among supporters of current Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the New Party (YP), founded in July by Özel.
Özel filed an appeal against a case stemming from allegations of vote buying in a 2023 intraparty election that propelled him to power in the party. The same case cost him the chair in May and reinstated his predecessor, Kılıçdaroğlu. Things appeared to be returning to normal after a bitter row between Özel and Kılıçdaroğlu, but the case triggered another debate after the Kılıçdaroğlu administration decided to withdraw the appeal to prevent delays in what it called the congress calendar. Kılıçdaroğlu has pledged to hold a new election in the party after his reinstatement.
The case is now before the Court of Cassation. Özel’s YP, meanwhile, argues that the withdrawal would not affect the case, as the former chair is still a party to it even though he has severed all ties with the CHP.
CHP spokesperson Müslim Sarı said earlier that Özel and others in the YP had legally lost their status as parties to the case after they established the YP.
YP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Murat Emir, however, says the “absolute nullity” verdict that ended Özel’s role as chair can be overturned if the top court reviews the case. He accused the CHP of withdrawing the appeal for fear that Özel’s rights would be reinstated.
The CHP administration announced a new regular congress calendar on Sept. 10. Under the calendar, following the submission of membership lists to the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, the lists will be posted for public review on Oct. 28.
The congress will be a test for Kılıçdaroğlu’s second tenure. The former chair has been quiet about his ambitions to be elected again since his reinstatement, but this week, he was openly challenged for the first time. Aytuğ Atıcı, a former lawmaker, announced that he would run for party chairperson and held talks with Kılıçdaroğlu about his intention. Atıcı told journalists after the meeting that he did not “seek permission to run” from Kılıçdaroğlu, who did not say much about his intention other than wishing him success.
Kılıçdaroğlu, on the other hand, aspires to restore the party to its heyday as the main opposition.
Turkish media outlets reported that the veteran politician will hit the road in October, seeking to reach out to the party’s dwindling support base after the party split in July.
When Kılıçdaroğlu began his ambitious campaign to “cleanse” the CHP of corruption allegedly linked to Özel’s associates, including mayors arrested on bribery charges, he was branded a “traitor” by the Özel camp, which also claimed that Kılıçdaroğlu would not even go out for fear of being booed. Kılıçdaroğlu made a few field trips over the summer and managed to attract crowds, but it may take more than that to keep the CHP intact after the YP grabbed the coveted title of “main opposition” by transferring most of the CHP’s lawmakers.
Apart from a few instances, Kılıçdaroğlu has not faced a dire reaction, and in some cases, the events he attended drew large crowds. Encouraged by this, the party launched a timetable for a congress and started appointing new figures to local branches.
In October, Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to visit Istanbul and the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır and Şırnak. Like Özel, he is expected to focus on economic issues during his revival campaign, a favorite subject of Özel in his efforts to bring the opposition to power. In predominantly Kurdish Diyarbakır, Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to hold talks with locals on “terror-free Türkiye,” a government-backed initiative to end the PKK’s campaign of terrorism, which has long exploited the Kurdish community under the guise of fighting for so-called Kurdish self-rule in the southeast.
It has been 108 years since Azerbaijan’s capital Baku was liberated from Bolshevik and Armenian gangs, but the Caucasian Islamic Army, led by a Turkish general, is still fondly remembered.
On Tuesday, people left flowers at a monument in Baku in memory of Nuri Pasha and the soldiers of the Caucasian Islamic Army. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a message commemorating the pasha and his heroes as he celebrated the liberation of Baku, “the capital of our friend, brother Azerbaijan,” from enemy occupation.
Türkiye and Azerbaijan trace the roots of their relations to a deal between newly independent Azerbaijan and the Ottoman Empire in June 1918. The agreement allowed Azerbaijan to request assistance from the Ottoman government against the threat of occupation by Armenian and Bolshevik gangs. The Ottoman government’s Minister of War, Enver Pasha, tasked his brother Nuri Pasha, an accomplished officer who had previously worked to mobilize Libyans against Italian and British forces. Nuri Pasha formed the Caucasian Islamic Army from several military units, including infantry and artillery regiments from the Palestinian front of World War I. It merged with a 1,000-strong reinforcement from the Azerbaijani Corps. After 30 hours of clashes, the 12,000-strong army liberated Baku on Sept. 15, 1918.
The army stayed in Baku for two months and left the city after the Ottomans lost the war and were forced to sign an armistice that required their military forces to withdraw to the remaining borders of the Ottoman Empire. Still, the Caucasian Islamic Army is viewed today as a key factor in ensuring Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
Speaking at a ceremony in Baku on the occasion, Turkish Ambassador Birol Akgün stated that the struggle the Islamic Army carried out together with its brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan was remembered with appreciation decades later. In remarks penned at the memorial dedicated to Nuri Pasha, Akgün recalled how the young commander became the architect of unshakable bonds between the two countries, “blossomed in the blood of martyrs.”
Akgün said the army’s victory was also an inspiration for the Shusha Declaration of 2021, signed by Erdoğan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, which upgraded the alliance between the two countries, as well as for Karabakh’s liberation from Armenian occupation.
Representatives of the Western Thracian Turkish community condemned Monday an attack on the Çınar Mosque in Xanthi (Iskeçe), in Greece’s Western Thrace, after insulting messages targeting Islam and sacred values were written on an exterior wall of the mosque.
The elected Mufti’s Office of Komotini (Gümülcine) condemned the incident, saying the messages disregarded “moral and humanitarian values.”
The office said negative rhetoric targeting the religious and cultural values of the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace has increased recently, warning that such acts undermine social peace and a culture of coexistence.
Xanthi lawmaker Burhan Baran also condemned the attack, saying disrespect toward places of worship was unacceptable and calling on authorities to identify those responsible and take necessary legal action.
Fellow Xanthi lawmaker Hüseyin Zeybek said the incident should not be regarded as ordinary graffiti, describing it as a provocation targeting social peace and coexistence.
Türkiye’s Consul General in Komotini Aykut Ünal visited the mosque following the incident and expressed solidarity with members of the Turkish community. He also voiced hope that those responsible would be identified and brought to justice.
The offensive messages targeting Islam and Allah were written by an unidentified person or persons on a wall near the mosque’s entrance on Sunday, Sept. 13.
The Western Thrace region, located near Greece’s northeastern border with Türkiye, is home to a substantial, centuries-old Muslim Turkish minority numbering around 150,000.
The rights of Western Thracian Turks are guaranteed under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. But over the decades, the situation has seriously deteriorated for the community, which is also economically one of the poorest in Greece.
The Western Thracian Turkish community often complains of double standards and continuing inequalities in the country, namely socioeconomic discrimination, lack of equal access to quality education for children of minorities, and political rights.
An Israeli business newspaper has highlighted Türkiye’s expanding regional influence under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, describing Ankara as an increasingly consequential actor in the Middle East and a growing rival to Israel.
In an analysis, Israeli financial daily Calcalist said on Sunday that Erdoğan had significantly expanded Türkiye’s influence in Washington and across the Arab world.
“Erdoğan has made Türkiye a player that is difficult to ignore in the Middle East and, for Israel, a rival with growing influence in the areas surrounding it,” the newspaper said.
The report underlined that relations between Türkiye and Israel have continued to deteriorate, pointing to a near-total breakdown in economic, commercial and aviation ties. It cited Turkish Trade Ministry data showing that direct trade with Israel has remained at zero since May 2024.
Calcalist also said tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv have increasingly extended beyond the Gaza Strip into Syria.
Türkiye has emerged as one of the key backers of Syria following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the report said, noting Ankara’s security support for Damascus and efforts to deepen economic integration between the two neighbors.
Türkiye has set a target of increasing bilateral trade with Syria to $5 billion within two years.
Meanwhile, speaking during a visit to Syria on Sunday, Fidan said Israeli policies represented the “biggest obstacle” to positive progress in the fight against terrorism and argued that Israeli attacks were damaging joint counterterrorism efforts.
“Israel is trying to destabilize Syria through its attacks,” Fidan stressed, accusing Israel of supporting terrorist groups such as Daesh. “We know that Israel has a hand in the instability here, and they do not deny it.”
The minister reiterated that Türkiye wanted to see a Syria that had fully established its sovereignty and could contribute to stability for its neighbors.
He also highlighted rapidly expanding ties between Ankara and Damascus, saying Türkiye-Syria relations had gained significant momentum over the past two years.
The analysis also pointed to Ankara’s growing diplomatic role in Washington and the Arab world. It cited Türkiye’s participation as a founding member of the Gaza Peace Council at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump and its defense cooperation with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Moreover, Calcalist also highlighted strengthening ties between Ankara and Washington, noting Trump’s participation in the NATO summit held in the Turkish capital on July 7-8.
U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained close ties with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, frequently highlighting his personal relationship with the Turkish leader and praising his leadership.
The relationship was on display during the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump thanked Erdoğan for hosting what he described as a “very successful” gathering of the alliance.
Trump called Erdoğan “a great leader” and a longtime friend, while praising his strong leadership and Türkiye’s growing role within NATO.
The report further said the developments have reinforced Türkiye’s regional standing while sharpening its rivalry with Israel amid continued disagreements over Gaza and Syria.
Israeli violence continues
Israel continued attacks in the Gaza Strip and neighboring Lebanon despite cease-fire arrangements, with Lebanese authorities reporting artillery fire and other military activity in the country’s south on Monday.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, Israeli troops set fire to several homes in the town of Tayr Harfa in the Bint Jbeil district of Nabatieh province.
Israel launched an intensive air campaign against Lebanon on March 2 and occupied several areas in the country’s south. The Lebanese government said more than 1 million people were displaced during the fighting.
A cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon took effect on April 17 and was later extended several times. The Lebanese Health Ministry has said at least 4,383 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2.
Meanwhile, Israeli attacks continued in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Health Ministry said the death toll since Oct. 7, 2023, had risen to 73,786.
The ministry said two Palestinians were killed and 25 others wounded in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours.
It said 1,372 people have been killed since a cease-fire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, while 831 bodies have been recovered from rubble and 4,659 people have been wounded during the same period.
According to the ministry, a total of 174,771 people have been wounded in Gaza since the start of Israel’s attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to Syria’s unity, stability and prosperity after a two-day visit to Damascus, where talks also focused on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s planned visit to the Syrian capital.
In a statement on X, Fidan said he traveled to Syria at a critical time for the region and was received by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the first day of his visit. He also held talks with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Interior Minister Anas Khattab.
During the meetings, the two sides reaffirmed their shared determination to preserve Syria’s unity and territorial integrity and help the Syrian people achieve the peace and prosperity they deserve, Fidan said.
The talks also addressed Erdoğan’s planned visit to Damascus, which will be his first since the Assad regime collapsed in 2024.
On the second day, Fidan met with members of Syria’s Turkmen community, whom he described as an integral part of the country.
He praised Syrian Turkmens for their role on the front lines of the struggle against the Baath regime and said they were continuing to make significant contributions to building a stable and prosperous Syria.
Fidan also visited several sites reflecting the two countries’ shared historical and cultural heritage, including the tombs of Ibn Arabi, Mawlana Khalid al-Baghdadi and Salahuddin Ayyubi, as well as the Turkish Air Martyrs’ Cemetery and the Suleymaniye Complex.
Reflecting on the two-day visit, Fidan said he saw the streets of Damascus becoming increasingly peaceful and vibrant.
He welcomed the Syrian people’s efforts to build, through their own will, a secure, stable and prosperous country that embraces all segments of society.
“We will continue to stand by Syria throughout this process,” Fidan said.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Monday rejected statements by Greek authorities concerning the period when Greece sought to occupy Anatolia, calling the claims “baseless” and urging Greek officials to act with “seriousness and common sense.”
Ankara also recalled that Greece carried out mass killings and destruction against civilians in Anatolia during the period, saying Athens acknowledged those acts and its obligation to pay reparations under Article 59 of the Treaty of Lausanne.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry last week released archival documents and photographs that show atrocities committed by Greek forces in Anatolia between 1919 and 1922.
The ministry shared the material on its social media accounts, saying the records document actions carried out by Greek forces during their occupation of Anatolia and subsequent withdrawal.
“During the occupation of Anatolia and while retreating, Greek forces pursued a systematic policy of destruction, as acknowledged by the Treaty of Lausanne and international reports,” the ministry stated.
The ministry said the archival records included evidence from a village near Bursa, describing it as “a painful example of the massacre carried out against Turkish civilians.”
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias had earlier Monday commented on the wartime period in Anatolia in a post on social media platform X.
In his remarks, Dendias stated the contributions of Greeks who migrated from Anatolia to Greece and offered his account of events during the Turkish War of Independence, prompting a response from Ankara.
Statements from witnesses in a case against Alihan Kuriş, the leader of the Süleymancılar movement accused of running a criminal gang, point to connections between the group and the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).
The Süleymancılar are a religious movement, much like FETÖ portrayed itself before launching an all-out offensive to topple the government through its infiltrators.
The investigation into Kuriş’s alleged wrongdoings and the suspicious death of former Transportation Minister Arif Ahmet Denizolgun, who led the movement before Kuriş, revealed the connections.
R.Ş., a witness who was part of Süleymancılar for years, told prosecutors that Kuriş was “handled” by FETÖ. M.K., a businessperson, also testified that Denizolgun was opposed to FETÖ. M.K. told prosecutors that Denizolgun told him and a fellow businessperson before FETÖ’s first attempt to topple the government in December 2013 that FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen sought to cooperate with him “in the near future.”
“He told us that Gülen sent him a letter about cooperation, and he was considering rejecting the proposal. ‘We stand with the state,’ Denizolgun added,” M.K. said.
Y.K., another witness, said Kuriş had always been a greedy man and sought to lead the movement. Y.K. said he believed that Denizolgun’s death was not from natural causes. “Kuriş had been greedier (before Denizolgun’s death). He was ambitious; he wanted to lead. Both he and his mother repeatedly spoke about these ambitions,” he said.
Denizolgun died in Istanbul in 2016 at the age of 60 from a brain hemorrhage. His nephew, Fatih Süleyman Denizolgun, pointed the finger at Alihan Kuriş over his death. Kuriş was arrested last month on corruption charges, along with other top figures of the group. Earlier this month, authorities announced that Denizolgun’s body had been exhumed over suspicions of foul play.
R.Ş. said that Denizolgun was aware of the ambitions of Alihan Kuriş and his mother, Ayşe Gülderen, and feared that they would kill him. “He told his close circle that Alihan and his mother might attempt to poison him,” R.Ş. told investigators.
He stated that Kuriş was a puppet of FETÖ. “He knew he would be removed as leader of the movement if he did not pledge allegiance to FETÖ. FETÖ opposed Arif Ahmet Denizolgun’s leadership because he was loyal to the state,” he said.
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