Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç explained that new amendments will allow authorities to sentence convicts handed down the lowest sentences to serve a jail term.

Tunç’s statements on Wednesday were in response to the public perception of impunity in some crimes that was brought to the spotlight with several cases of offenders with long criminal histories slapped with relatively lenient sentences.

Speaking at an event on judiciary control held at a former prison turned into museum in the capital Ankara, Tunç said the latest amendments passed in Parliament will ensure that people convicted of crimes with one-year prison sentences will be required to remain incarcerated at least 18 days and the number of days required to be served will be proportionally increased based on prison terms. Under previous laws, convicted people were often spared from spending time in prison if they were handed prison terms varying between one and two years.

Tunç emphasized that the purpose of justice is to protect human dignity and rights, stressing that justice is the guarantee of social peace. Speaking about the importance of rehabilitation and reintegration, Tunç said that one of the most significant reflections of this understanding in practice is the probation system.

“Probation is not merely a method of execution but the living face of a justice philosophy centered on humanity,” Tunç said.

“The value of justice is not measured solely by the severity of punishment but by how much that punishment aligns with human dignity and rights.”

Tunç underlined that they do not view justice solely as punishment but as a mechanism that enables individuals to turn away from wrongdoing and reintegrate into society.

“Probation is a bridge that allows individuals who have committed a crime to reconnect with society,” he said. “It is a social rehabilitation initiative that repairs broken ties, revives shattered hopes and helps lost paths to be rediscovered. It reflects a high vision of justice that sees every person as having potential and every mistake as an opportunity for purification.”

The minister added that probation does not label offenders as irredeemably evil. Instead, it represents a comprehensive approach that still sees a human being, hope and the potential for change within the individual. “This system offers a path to recovery rather than leaving the offender in the whirlpool of social exclusion.”

Addressing misconceptions, Tunç stressed that probation is not a form of impunity but an effective method of execution that aims to help individuals live harmoniously within society.

“This system has impacted 5.6 million individuals over the past 20 years,” Tunç said. “Its success is measured not just by numbers but by lives filled with hope, restored family bonds and individuals reintegrated into society.”

Since its inception in 2005, the probation system has executed 8.46 million judicial decisions, conducted 3.63 million rehabilitation activities, carried out 1.48 million addiction intervention efforts and assigned 1.45 million individuals to community service. Additionally, 74,000 individuals received financial or material aid, 71,000 were monitored through electronic tracking, and environmental initiatives resulted in planting 2.4 million saplings.

Tunç also highlighted significant reforms enacted under the 10th Judicial Package passed by Parliament, which introduced critical changes to the probation system.

“With this amendment, offenders are now required to serve at least one-tenth of the time remaining until their conditional release in prison,” he said. “Previously, those sentenced to less than two years effectively avoided prison due to fixed probation periods, creating a perception of impunity.”

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday held talks with heads of state and government on the sidelines of a critical NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands.

In his meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Erdoğan discussed bilateral ties, and pressing regional and global issues.

During the meeting, Erdoğan voiced hope that Iran and Israel would stick to the cease-fire reached on Monday, stressing that these tensions must not be allowed to overshadow the Gaza humanitarian crisis, according to the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications. Underlining that violations of international law by Israel’s government in Palestine are unacceptable, Erdoğan stressed that Türkiye’s priority is the establishment of a lasting cease-fire in Gaza and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.

Reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to supporting the stabilization of Syria while preserving its territorial integrity and political unity, Erdoğan warned that Israel’s attacks on Syria could also endanger regional security, and added that improvements in social and economic welfare would facilitate the large-scale return of refugees to Syria.

The Turkish president also emphasized his country’s commitment to promoting a just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Türkiye will continue to enhance relations with the aim of boosting the bilateral trade volume to $30 billion, with efforts ongoing to strengthen cooperation in all areas, particularly in the defense industry, the Turkish leader said.

During the meeting, the president was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın, Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Akif Çağatay Kılıç, chief presidential adviser on foreign policy and security, and Justice and Development (AK) Party Deputy Chair Halit Yerebakan.

Erdoğan later held talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In statements after the meeting, Merz said he thanked Erdoğan for his mediating role between Russia and Ukraine. “I also asked President Erdoğan to exert influence on Russia and the Russian president to come to the negotiating table so that, after these terrible three and a half years of war in Ukraine and the bloodshed there, a peace solution could finally be reached,” he said.

The president later met French President Emmanuel Macron in a closed-to-press meeting.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Ali Nuhoğlu, a businessperson detained last March in a corruption probe against Istanbul municipality and its Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, unveiled more bribes that the municipal officials took from him. Nuhoğlu was among dozens of suspects detained as part of the probe. Imamoğlu and others arrested in the case are accused of taking bribes from businesses in exchange for building permits and rigging public tenders. Most of those arrested in the probe are the municipality’s top bureaucrats and businesspeople who bribed their way into lucrative tenders.

Nuhoğlu collaborated with authorities earlier in exchange for release and testified twice about the alleged wrongdoings of the municipal officials. His third statement, published by the Sabah newspaper on Wednesday, showed he shared the evidence of bribes he paid disguised as legitimate payments.

The construction tycoon made the headlines when an investigation found he sold three villas in Istanbul’s upscale Emirgan quarters to a construction company owned by the mayor’s family, for a price well below market value. Nuhoğlu came forward in June, agreeing to a plea deal. In his earlier testimony, Nuhoğlu presented official documents about payments he made (through his employees) to municipal officials and others linked to Imamoğlu. On one occasion, he paid $640,000 to Zafer Keleş, brother of Fatih Keleş, who chaired Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s (IBB) sports club before his arrest alongside Imamoğlu, and the cash was delivered in person to the younger Keleş by an employee of Nuhoğlu in 2022 as a form of bribe. He confessed he also delivered $700,000 to Keleş a few months later in the same year.

Nuhoğlu told investigators that he also handed over $1.5 million in March 2024 to Ibrahim Bülbüllü, legal adviser for IBB, who remains at large in the corruption probe. “I paid it to facilitate payments to my company,” he confessed. He also shared details about locations and dates of payments his employees delivered to IBB in cash, from a construction site to restaurants run by the municipality. He testified that only after he delivered the cash through his employees was he able to receive progress payments for contracts he made with the municipality.

Earlier this month, the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) issued a report accusing Imamoğlu of seven counts of laundering ill-gotten assets. Imamoğlu, along with Tuncay Yılmaz, general manager of Imamoğlu Construction Company, is suspected of laundering 25 immovable properties, TL 63.5 million ($1.6 million) and 637,106 euros ($731,078), MASAK said in a report. The seven counts of laundering range from illicit real estate purchasing contracts and unlawful sale of immovable properties to cover up financial transactions by pushing sums through various personal and corporate bank accounts and cash submissions by individuals with red-flagged financial profiles.

MASAK said the investigation was expanded to include Yılmaz, Imamoğlu Construction Company, SSB Real Estate Industry and Trade Inc. and Güllüce Agriculture Industry and Trade Inc. The board detected TL 35.2 million in the bank accounts of Imamoğlu Construction Company, all of which was submitted in cash and whose source could not be determined.

The board also found irregularities in the transfer of Güllüce Agriculture shares owned by Ali Nuhoğlu, who was released after pleading effective remorse, to Imamoğlu’s construction company.

According to the board, Imamoğlu and the companies involved supplied financing with high sums whose origins could not be traced and registered in the current accounts differently from the normal process. They also made a purchase strongly suspected to be prearranged look like a commercial purchase and even created an invoice that was recorded in the company’s legal books.

All of these were preceded by accounting tricks in commercial records, the report said.

The report also included testimonies from some suspects in the case.

Furkan Hamzaoğlu, a construction company owner and one of the suspects in the case, alleged he gave away shops and apartments to Adem Soytekin, another businessperson arrested alongside Imamoğlu, to obtain a construction license in Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district. He claimed four of these apartments were transferred to the ownership of Imamoğlu’s father, Hasan Imamoğlu.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The European Union’s law enforcement agency issued its latest report on trends in terrorism on Tuesday and revealed the PKK terrorist group has maintained its “significant presence” across the EU.

The report says the group engaged in political advocacy, fundraising, recruitment and propaganda dissemination.

The PKK, which has killed thousands of people since the 1980s across Türkiye, is designated as a terrorist group by the EU, although its supporters enjoyed free rein on the continent to the chagrin of Ankara.

The Europol report said that in 2024, the group continued to leverage its networks to sustain operations and influence the Kurdish diaspora. The PKK claims to fight for a self-styled Kurdish state in southeastern Türkiye.

The report notes that the group blended legal and illegal methods for financial and recruitment efforts. “The PKK operates through various front organizations and advocacy groups across Europe, lobbying for political recognition and the removal of its terrorist designation. Kurdish Democratic Centres (CDKs) serve as key hubs for PKK activities, organizing demonstrations, cultural events and conferences to promote its political struggle, while simultaneously facilitating recruitment and ideological indoctrination,” the report said.

The PKK nowadays appears engaged in the terror-free Türkiye initiative launched by Devlet Bahçeli, an ally of the Turkish government. Last May, the group announced it would heed the call of its jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan and dissolve itself. The dissolution will largely involve terrorists hiding in Iraq, especially senior leadership. However, the future of the PKK’s Syria wing, YPG, and its supporters in Europe remains unclear for now, as the former did not openly respond to the dissolution declaration.

The Europol report says PKK recruits undergo training in Europe before their transfer to “military camps” in northern Syria, where the YPG is active, and in Iraq. “Fundraising remained a cornerstone of the PKK’s operations in Europe, through voluntary and coerced donations, membership fees and fundraising events. The annual “Kampanya” donation generates substantial revenue, with estimates indicating that the PKK raises over 30 million euros ($34.77 million) across Europe each year. These funds support media operations, logistical infrastructure and armed activities,” the report said.

According to the report, the PKK also continued to engage in illicit financial practices such as money laundering, extortion and fraud.

“Business owners within Kurdish communities are often pressured into contributing financial support, while underground gambling networks and fraudulent humanitarian donations further supplement PKK finances. The PKK’s extensive propaganda network to maintain support and mobilize its base also continued throughout 2024. Kurdish-language media outlets, social media platforms and print publications serve as key tools in disseminating PKK ideology,” the report concluded.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Tuesday called for reducing tensions between Israel and Iran, while reaffirming support for a two-state solution to resolve the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

In a phone call, the two top diplomats exchanged views on regional developments, focusing on efforts to de-escalate the Israel-Iran conflict and address the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.

Fidan condemned Israel’s continued attacks in Gaza, describing them as acts of genocide, and voiced concern over deteriorating conditions for Palestinian civilians.

Both ministers emphasized the need to revive the two-state solution as the only viable path toward lasting peace in the region.

The discussion also touched on strengthening bilateral ties. Fidan and Wang expressed a mutual commitment to expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, investment and political dialogue.

In a separate statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wang criticized the Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran as violations of international law and sovereignty, warning they set a dangerous precedent that threatens the global nuclear non-proliferation system.

Wang reiterated that the Palestinian question remains central to Middle East peace and emphasized China’s support for dialogue, peace initiatives, and regional stability.

“China encourages all parties to speak with one voice against war and in favor of reducing tensions,” Wang said, adding that Beijing hopes Türkiye will continue playing an active role in promoting peace in the region.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Speaking at a news conference in Ankara on Tuesday before flying to the Netherlands for a leaders’ summit of NATO, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said they welcomed a cease-fire between Iran and Israel after days of reciprocal attacks. He underlined that diplomacy should be given a chance in the process. “Global actors should take efficient measures to end this craze. Otherwise, the whole world will pay the price for it,” he said.

Erdoğan highlighted that they undertook diplomatic efforts focusing on negotiations between the sides during the process, which began with Israel’s attack on Iran. “I had discussions with many leaders and met foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member states in Istanbul. We appreciate every effort on the road to a cease-fire. We certainly welcome the cease-fire agreement and call on the sides to fully comply with it. Our region cannot bear the impact of a conflict whose repercussions may be felt across the world. Diplomacy should be given a chance for the resolution of disagreements,” Erdoğan said. The president noted that Türkiye was committed to its stand based on international law.

“Israel’s attacks on Iran fueled a greater threat toward our region. Its reckless steps are unacceptable. We will continue to invite everyone to act with common sense and highlight that diplomacy is a solution to all issues,” he said. Erdoğan also criticized Israel over its actions in Gaza and called on Tel Aviv to stop “weaponizing hunger” in the Palestinian enclave. “A permanent cease-fire is immediately needed in Gaza. Israel’s aggression across our region should stop,” he said. His remarks echoed an earlier statement by the head of a U.N. agency, which accused Israel of engaging in a war crime by “shooting at people trying to get food.”

The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began handing out food in Gaza on May 26 after Israel completely cut off supplies into the occupied Palestinian territory for more than two months, sparking warnings of mass famine.

The U.N. and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.

“Israel’s militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution,” said U.N. human rights office spokesperson Thameen al-Kheetan. “The weaponization of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime.” Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, slammed GHF as “an abomination that humiliates and degrades desperate people.” “It is a death trap costing more lives than it saves,” he told a press conference in Berlin.

Defense, ties with NATO

Erdoğan also stated that NATO members should unconditionally lift defense trade limitations. “We advocate reinforcing the security of Europe. We are developing our own defense capabilities and at the same time, contributing to the deterrence of the Alliance. So, it is not fair that the allies block the trade of defense products of others while we are working together for a stronger defense and a more efficient army,” he said. “Our country should be included in the defense initiatives of the EU and the Alliance,” he said. The United States imposed sanctions on Türkiye in 2020 after Ankara acquired the S-400 missile defense system from Russia. The move booted Türkiye out of its F-35 program. Türkiye also sought to acquire Eurofighter Typhoons built by a four-nation consortium of Germany, Britain, Spain and Italy, and reportedly faced opposition from Germany, though reports were not confirmed.

Hours before Erdoğan’s press conference, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Türkiye’s defense industrial base and said the country’s defense industry should be more closely connected with the U.K., Norway and the European Union.

“Türkiye has a very big defense industrial base. Sometimes (we) forget what they have. I visited some of their companies, it’s really impressive,” Rutte told the NATO Public Forum in The Hague. “We have to make sure that the Turkish defense industrial base is as closely connected as possible to the U.K., Norway and the European Union,” he added. Rutte warned against creating internal divisions within the alliance based on defense cooperation frameworks, saying: “Let’s not have these fences drawn up within NATO. It won’t help.”

Leaders of NATO’s 32 member states are gathering in The Hague on June 24-25 for the summit dominated by debates over increased defense spending and Ukraine’s membership bid.

In the meantime, the European Union is seeking a new direction in defense after President Donald Trump opted to distance the United States from European security. Having lost its most important ally, Brussels has focused on ensuring the security of the continent on its own, both due to pressure from Washington and the ongoing threats from Moscow. The European Commission announced a new strategy, known as the White Paper, on March 19, which includes increasing military expenditures and production, as well as allocating resources to joint defense projects until 2030. The EU, which seeks to share its topics of discussion and planned steps with NATO’s leading countries in defense, has created a platform for the exchange of ideas under the name of “like-minded countries” for the security of the continent. Türkiye, both a candidate country for the EU and a NATO ally, has also joined the platform, boasting defense industry breakthroughs in recent years.

“We are in close consultation with non-EU allies like ourselves regarding this matter. As NATO, we plan to address supporting measures for the European pillar,” Erdoğan said, ahead of the NATO Summit. He added that Türkiye, having contributed the most to NATO’s counterterrorism framework years ago, will also draw attention to what more the alliance should do in that area.

Istanbul talks

On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Erdoğan said Türkiye was planning new steps for progress in the recent Istanbul talks it hosted between representatives of the two countries. He noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would hold talks with NATO member countries. “We will convey our efforts for diplomacy to end the conflict. We recently had the sides meet in Istanbul and this paved the way for the exchange of prisoners. We have plans for more talks. We did everything for peace between Ukraine and Russia. We earned the trust of both sides and made tangible progress,” he said.

Erdoğan said the conflict cannot continue forever. “We will tell our counterparts at the NATO summit our vision and pledge we will not stop until peace is maintained,” he said.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.