Politics
Ex-Istanbul mayor begins defense with political remarks, not charges
Former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who is standing trial on organized crime and corruption-related charges, began presenting his first defense Wednesday, focusing on current political developments rather than the allegations against him.
Imamoğlu, who remains in pretrial detention and is identified by prosecutors as the alleged leader of a criminal organization, addressed the court on the 34th day of the trial’s second hearing.
During the initial session, Imamoğlu discussed political developments but did not directly address the specific allegations outlined in the indictment.
The proceedings follow a tense exchange between Imamoğlu and the presiding judge during a July 8 hearing, when the defendant objected to restrictions on the time allocated for his defense.
The judge told Imamoğlu that he could either present his defense or exercise his right to remain silent.
“I am not exercising my right to remain silent,” Imamoğlu responded, before insisting that the court could not determine what he would say.
During the confrontation, Imamoğlu also declared that he would put those responsible for preparing the indictment on trial.
Prosecutors subsequently opened a separate investigation into Imamoğlu on suspicion of threatening a public official, citing his remarks directed at the judicial proceedings.
The latest hearing marks the beginning of Imamoğlu’s substantive defense phase in the high-profile trial, although he had yet to respond to the charges during Wednesday’s opening session.
The indictment identifies Imamoğlu as the alleged “leader of a criminal organization” and accuses him of offenses including forming an organization to commit crimes, bribery, money laundering, fraud against public institutions, unlawfully recording and obtaining personal data, concealing evidence, obstructing communications, damaging public property, publicly disseminating misleading information, extortion, bid-rigging, deliberate environmental pollution and violations of tax, forestry and mining laws.
Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of between 828 years, two months and 2,352 years for the ex-mayor over 142 alleged acts.
New Party (YP) Chair Özgür Özel and several party lawmakers attended the proceedings, alongside Imamoğlu’s wife and parents.
Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Nechirvan Barzani said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve Türkiye’s longstanding “Kurdish issue,” expressing support for Ankara’s ongoing “Terror-free Türkiye” initiative to disarm the terrorist group PKK. The PKK claims to fight for a so-called Kurdish cause in Türkiye.
Speaking at a forum, Barzani said he initially had doubts about the seriousness of the initiative but became convinced of Ankara’s commitment following a meeting with Erdoğan.
“Whoever resolves the Kurdish issue in Türkiye deserves the Nobel Prize, and President Erdoğan is at the forefront of that,” Barzani said.
He acknowledged criticism over the pace of the initiative but stressed that resolving longstanding issues would require time and sustained political commitment.
“The Terror-free Türkiye initiative is a serious process, but there may be complaints that it is moving slowly. I think that is natural. It cannot be resolved overnight,” Barzani said.
He added that while progress might not be as rapid as expected, the initiative was moving in the right direction.
Barzani reiterated the KRG’s support for the process, saying the regional administration was prepared to contribute to its success.
“The process benefits everyone, both us and Türkiye,” he said, arguing that a successful outcome would strengthen Türkiye’s regional standing.
Progress in Syria
Turning to developments in neighboring Syria, Barzani expressed optimism about President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s approach toward the Kurdish population, saying he believed the Syrian leader was committed to addressing longstanding grievances.
Barzani said he had not encountered anti-Kurdish attitudes during his meeting with al-Sharaa in Damascus and noted progress in efforts to integrate Kurdish forces into Syria’s security institutions.
He also highlighted steps toward expanding Kurdish-language education, describing them as significant developments following decades of restrictions under the former Assad regime.
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.
In late August, the U.S.-backed YPG terrorist group announced that its so-called autonomous administration and all its military and civilian structures have been dissolved.
Approximately 13,000 people have joined the Syrian army, while another 17,000 have entered security institutions, although he did not specify the timeframe for those figures, according to Barzani.
He recalled that Kurds in Syria previously faced difficulties obtaining citizenship documents and said recent measures represented meaningful progress.
Barzani also described symbolic gestures during his visit to Damascus, including a Kurdish-language welcome at the airport, the display of Iraqi and KRG flags, and menus prepared in Kurdish.
He said these gestures reinforced his impression that al-Sharaa wanted to improve relations with Kurdish communities.
However, Barzani cautioned that Syria faces substantial challenges in rebuilding after years of conflict, citing widespread damage to infrastructure, social institutions and urban areas.
Reconstruction and political stabilization would require considerable time, he added.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss recent regional developments and attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, Türkiye’s presidency said Tuesday.
During the conversation, Erdoğan strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and expressed his condolences over the loss of life.
Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stressing that Ankara would continue to stand by Riyadh amid ongoing regional tensions.
The Turkish president also expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia would overcome the challenges posed by the attacks.
The two leaders discussed the latest developments in the region, according to the statement, which did not provide further details about the attacks or potential casualties.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday to discuss the latest regional developments and diplomatic efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said.
The talks come as Ankara continues its diplomatic push to ease tensions in the Middle East, particularly amid efforts to end the prolonged conflict involving Iran and the United States.
Türkiye has been actively engaged in regional mediation efforts, maintaining contacts with Washington and Tehran to prevent further escalation and facilitate negotiations.
Fidan recently said diplomatic efforts were continuing despite the lack of a breakthrough in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, including discussions over Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran confirmed last week that it had received a U.S. response to its latest proposal to end the conflict, although officials did not disclose its contents. Mediators have continued efforts to bridge differences between the two sides and secure an agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he may seek President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s support in addressing escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, expressing confidence in the Turkish leader’s willingness to contribute to efforts to ease regional tensions.
Speaking to reporters before departing for a campaign trip to Alaska, Trump suggested Erdoğan could play a role in addressing the crisis, saying, “President Erdoğan, I think, would do as I ask.”
Trump did not elaborate on what role he might ask Erdoğan to play or indicate whether Washington had formally approached Ankara about possible involvement.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Erdoğan held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss recent regional developments and attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, Türkiye’s presidency said.
During the conversation, Erdoğan strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and expressed his condolences over the loss of life.
Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stressing that Ankara would continue to stand by Riyadh amid ongoing regional tensions.
The Turkish president also expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia would overcome the challenges posed by the attacks.
Asked whether Washington had decided to launch strikes against Houthi targets, Trump declined to give a direct answer but condemned the Iran-backed group’s recent actions.
“They’re behaving very badly,” he said.
Trump’s remarks came amid escalating hostilities in Yemen, where the Houthis have intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia as the repercussions of the eight-month U.S.-Iran war spread across the Middle East.
The group recently targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in attacks that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others, forcing authorities to close the city’s airspace.
The Houthis have also stepped up attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait, raising concerns over regional security and international shipping routes.
The latest escalation follows renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition.
Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces launched an offensive dubbed “Dawn of Yemen,” aimed at recapturing Houthi-controlled territories and restoring government authority.
The Houthis have controlled the capital, Sanaa, and several other provinces since 2014, when the country’s civil war intensified. A Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.
Fighting intensified again in July following the breakdown of a truce established in 2022, further complicating efforts to secure a lasting political settlement.
Trustees were appointed to Halk TV, a broadcaster serving as the mouthpiece of the main opposition New Party (YP), on Wednesday, in an investigation into alleged corruption by the channel’s owner, Cafer Mahiroğlu. Mahiroğlu, who lives abroad, is among 17 suspects wanted in the investigation, while police detained 11 among them in several raids.
Police squads surrounded the Halk TV headquarters in Istanbul in the early hours of Wednesday while the TV station broadcast archive footage of old shows instead of live coverage. The opposition was quick to portray the raids and trustee appointment as politically motivated. Authorities, however, say Mahiroğlu was involved in a bribery and corruption scheme involving the municipality of Izmir, which was an opposition stronghold up until recently.
Suspects are accused of bribery, tender rigging and money laundering in the investigation based on statements of eyewitnesses, statements of suspects detained in other operations and other evidence.
Authorities said that the investigation uncovered findings pointing out that Mahiroğlu had connections with the Izmir municipality and set up a vehicle maintenance company which reaped illicit gains from business done with the municipality. They also said the corruption allegations also involved payment of bribes amounting to more than TL 14 million linked to tender processes. According to investigators, Mahiroğlu funneled cash derived from irregularities in tenders to his own companies and companies linked to him.
Investigators also found contradictions between assets declared to be owned by Mahiroğlu and his actual revenues, raising suspicions regarding money laundering.
Mahiroğlu was already implicated in a tender-rigging investigation linked to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) last year and left the country while he was wanted for tender-rigging.
In a social media post attempting to discredit the police raid, in a matter that also implicates him, Mahiroğlu said from the U.K., “Kılıçdaroğlu and his crew must be happy now,” referring to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, chair of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Kılıçdaroğlu has been targeted by the YP after a court verdict reinstated him to the leadership of the opposition party.
Halk TV has quickly adopted the rhetoric of Özgür Özel, founder of YP, who was ousted as CHP chair in May, with coverage accusing Kılıçdaroğlu of betraying Türkiye’s oldest party. Previously an outlet for the CHP, Halk TV sided with Özel after his expulsion and became a mouthpiece for the YP after its foundation in July.
Three days before the police raids, Kılıçdaroğlu accused Halk TV of “airing lies around the clock” in an interview with KRT TV station. He questioned why the channel’s owner was abroad and said they filed a complaint with the broadcast watchdog over the “fake news” Halk TV disseminated about his administration at the CHP. Mahiroğlu, in response, has branded Kılıçdaroğlu as the “most unfortunate thing to happen to Turkish politics.”
Main opposition New Party (YP) Chair Özgür Özel barely restrained himself on Tuesday as he hit back at his critics for picking Cemil Tugay as mayor of the opposition stronghold of Izmir.
In an address to his party’s parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, Özel said he wished he had not nominated “that namussuz” back when he was the chair of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), using a Turkish insult which means “dishonest,” but the severity also amounts to a certain curse word starting with B in English. Tugay, who quit the CHP last summer, joined the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) last week, prompting a wave of condemnation both from the YP and CHP. The CHP has blamed Özel for picking him as the candidate in the 2024 municipal elections while there were better candidates.
“Here is your self-criticism. I wish my hand was broken after I signed the papers to approve the candidacy of this namussuz,” Özel told fellow lawmakers, using a Turkish saying.
Tugay is among dozens of mayors to join the AK Party since 2024, and most of them were reportedly handpicked by Özel as candidates in elections two years ago. This played into the hands of the CHP, now led by Özel’s predecessor Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, which taps into every opportunity to lay the blame for the party’s failure on Özel. Özel branded Tugay as a traitor, adding that it would not be the first, “nor the last.” He also pledged that the YP would win the next municipal election in Izmir.
CHP ‘robbed’
Özel’s associates, in the meantime, are also accused of siphoning off the cash owned by the party. Media reports say that Özel instructed a bank where the party’s bank account is to pay a refund of TL 57,000 ($1,155) for dozens of lawmakers of the party, as part of an early deal with the bank where lawmakers volunteered to donate a portion of their salaries. Some lawmakers, on the other hand, claimed that they were unaware of the withdrawal of the cash, and Özel and his associates apparently forged their signatures for the withdrawal. The amount of the cash the Özel camp took with them to the YP was more than TL 5 million and recorded as a “donation” to the new party.
Mehmet Sevigen, former secretary-general of the CHP, told the Sabah newspaper that it was a major scandal. “They obviously plotted this robbery,” he said. Sevigen noted that Özel’s supporters also “looted” CHP offices across Türkiye as they were evacuating the buildings when a court verdict ordered Özel to hand over the chairmanship of the party to Kılıçdaroğlu last May.
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