Amid a flurry of well-documented cases against Muslims practicing their faith, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan renewed the pledge of his successive governments: intolerance against Islamophobia in the country. Erdoğan, who rode a wave of popularity in the period after the notorious 1997 coup which primarily targeted conservative people, was speaking at a meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Ankara on Thursday where three more mayors joined the party.

A rally in northern Türkiye against a ceremony for graduates of Qur’an classes organized by local branch of Presidency of Religious Affairs, social media reaction to girls covering their heads at an event in line with their Muslim faith and a man captured on camera while insulting two headscarf-wearing women were latest instances in a week of anti-Muslim sentiment in the country. A woman’s social media call for “killing of headscarf-wearing women” further exacerbated the situation. In most cases, criminal investigations were launched against those involved, on charges of insulting the public values.

“Avoiding tension and polarization does not mean that we will remain indifferent when the rights and laws of our people are violated. We were also entrusted with authority to defend the dignity of our brothers and sisters whose rights had been postponed for years and who were pushed aside in their own homeland. We received this mandate to ensure that those who suffered under the oppression of the coup plotters during the February 28 (1997) process would not be subjected to the same tyranny again. We did not allow an arrogant minority to impose its lifestyle on others. We did not tolerate Jacobins interfering with our people’s beliefs,” he said.

“From time to time, we witness attempts to silence the silent majority. We continue our struggle against such efforts within the framework of the law. We will not allow a repressive mentality that longs for the February 28 era to prevail,” he added.

“Our principle is clear: freedom of belief is guaranteed by the Constitution. No one has the right to pressure anyone else. A small, narrow clique cannot dictate a way of life to this nation. The days when a handful of self-important elites scolded women, discriminated against them based on their clothing, and insulted them as “reactionaries” or “bigots” are now behind us. Although those who long for their former arrogance do not remain idle, those dark times will never return. In this country, we will not tolerate anyone being humiliated because of their beard or headscarf, nor will we allow anyone to feel marginalized. We will continue to expand rights and freedoms for every citizen and to regard all 86 million people as one and equal,” he stated.

New AK Party mayors

The meeting was also an occasion for new transfers of AK Party. Mesut Özarslan, mayor of Ankara’s Keçiören district, Mehmet Özcan, mayor of Edirne’s Keşan district and Rasim Arı, mayor of Nevşehir, formally joined the party at the event. Özarslan and Özcan have earlier resigned from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) while Arı has run on the opposition Good Party (IP) ticket in the last municipal election. On Wednesday, Nimet Özdemir, a lawmaker who resigned from the CHP, has also joined the AK Party which boasts growing support in the past two years despite faring worse than past elections in the 2024 municipal vote.

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Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Wednesday successfully completed the maritime phase of the Martyr Ensign Caner Gönyeli 2026 Search and Rescue Invitation Exercise, concluding a joint drill aimed at strengthening operational coordination and emergency response capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The exercise began as the command vessel TCSG Yaşam departed the Port of Gazimağusa before proceeding to the designated exercise area, where participating military and civilian units carried out a series of search and rescue scenarios at sea.

The maritime phase was observed by TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Deputy Interior Minister Kübra Güran Yiğitbaşı, Coast Guard Commander Vice Adm. Ahmet Kendir, and TRNC Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Ilker Görgülü, as well as domestic and international observers.

The exercise formed part of the annual joint training program between Türkiye and the TRNC, which has been conducted since 2002 to improve interoperability among search and rescue organizations operating in the region.

Rescue scenario

The main scenario simulated a collision between a cargo ship carrying a large number of irregular migrants and a commercial yacht in international waters within Türkiye’s search and rescue region, but outside TRNC territorial waters.

Following distress signals from both vessels, Turkish and TRNC search and rescue authorities launched a coordinated response. A coast guard search and rescue aircraft was dispatched to locate survivors before helicopters and rescue teams were deployed to the area.

Rescue personnel aboard helicopters recovered several victims from the sea using the quick strop method and floating stretchers before transporting injured survivors to the command vessel for medical treatment.

To assist other survivors, an aircraft dropped a search-and-rescue kit containing an inflatable rescue boat into the water. Fast rescue boats later reached the remaining victims and transferred them safely aboard rescue vessels.

The exercise also included an airborne insertion by the Turkish air force. A rescue aircraft released a rescue boat from an altitude of 1,000 feet before climbing to approximately 5,000 feet to deploy a search-and-rescue team by parachute.

After entering the water, the personnel located injured survivors and coordinated their evacuation with coast guard vessels using dedicated rescue platforms and ship maneuvering procedures.

Additional casualties were recovered by ships, helicopters and airborne rescue personnel before being transported to the Port of Gazimağusa for transfer to hospitals as part of the scenario.

Maritime interdiction

After the vessel ignored repeated warnings and interception maneuvers by coast guard units, the Coast Guard Special Operations Team conducted a boarding operation to secure the ship and evacuate those on board.

According to the scenario, a fire broke out aboard the vessel after it had been brought under control. Coast guard teams evacuated both the crew and irregular migrants while firefighting units extinguished the blaze from nearby rescue vessels.

The exercise concluded with participating air and naval assets performing a ceremonial sail past in front of the command ship TCSG Yaşam following the successful completion of all planned scenarios.

Speaking after the exercise, TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel described the drill as a reflection of the strong partnership between Türkiye and the TRNC and said it demonstrated the determination of both sides to safeguard security in the Eastern Mediterranean.

He said the region is undergoing a critical period marked by shifting geopolitical dynamics and emphasized that close cooperation between the two countries remains essential for regional stability.

Deputy Interior Minister Kübra Güran Yiğitbaşı said search-and-rescue operations require meticulous planning, qualified personnel and seamless coordination among institutions. She noted that all coast guard vessels participating in the exercise were built at Turkish shipyards and announced that new domestically produced coast guard ships currently under construction are expected to enter service within two years, further strengthening Türkiye’s maritime capabilities.

Coast Guard Commander Vice Adm. Ahmet Kendir said the exercise successfully tested command-and-control procedures, communication systems and interoperability between military and civilian search-and-rescue organizations from Türkiye and the TRNC.

He added that the drill demonstrated the ability of both countries to conduct coordinated search-and-rescue missions under all weather and sea conditions, stressing that their rescue units remain on duty around the clock under the principle of placing human life first.

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Amid media reports regarding a new plan for the status of divided Cyprus, Türkiye renewed its pledge to stand with Turkish Cypriots. “Our country’s stance on resolving the Cyprus question is clear and unchanged. Any initiative ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriot people and aiming to disrupt the delicate balance on the island is unacceptable. The security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the security of Türkiye,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Cyprus has been divided for decades, and talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots failed to produce a result for the island’s status. Türkiye, a guarantor state on the matter, stands with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in its quest for a sovereign Turkish Cypriot state on the island. The TRNC is not recognized internationally, while the Greek Cypriot administration managed to secure a self-styled sovereignty on the southern part of the island years ago.

According to a report in the Greek Cypriot press, the solution model discussed during the recent contacts of the U.N. secretary-general’s personal envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, does not envisage a return to the “heavy federation” concept that had been discussed in previous years. It was claimed that the model under discussion is a “loose federation” approach aimed at reconciling the Greek Cypriot side’s position of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with the Turkish Cypriot side’s demands for sovereign equality and equal international status under a single framework.

The report stated that the proposed structure could be described by Greek Cypriots as a federation and by Turkish Cypriots as a confederation. It further alleged that the discussions centered on the previously debated concept of “territory in exchange for recognition and political equality.” Within this framework, it was suggested that areas such as Varosha, Morphou (Güzelyurt), and the Mesaoria region were included in various scenarios, similar to the maps discussed during the Crans-Montana process. In return, it was reportedly intended that the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot side would be recognized not merely verbally but in a functional manner within the state mechanism.

The report further claimed that the model envisages a state structure shaped by loose ties between two constituent states. Unlike previous federal proposals that included approximately 120 shared competencies, the new approach reportedly aims to significantly reduce common powers, leaving most day-to-day governance to the constituent states. The central authority would be limited to powers necessary for the effective representation of the new state internationally and within the European Union. According to the report, the system under consideration would include two constituent states, two separate legislatures, and a federal structure that would primarily serve a supervisory role for federal matters. Instead of an elected federal parliament, a body resembling the Council of Europe model and composed of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot representatives was allegedly being considered. This body would deal only with matters that the two constituent states could not decide independently. The aim, it was argued, would be to address Greek Cypriot concerns about governmental deadlock caused by veto powers while also alleviating Turkish Cypriot concerns stemming from the Greek Cypriot population majority.

Within this framework, it was reportedly being considered that the presidency would rotate in favor of the Greek Cypriot side on a 2-to-1 or 3-to-1 basis. The formula was said to seek a more flexible understanding of political equality than the traditional rotating presidency model. It was also suggested that Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides might be open to discussing such a model if the rotating presidency were limited to a symbolic federal presidency, while actual executive authority remained with a Greek Cypriot prime minister.

The Turkish Cypriot side, meanwhile, was said to regard as an essential element of political equality the requirement that at least one Turkish Cypriot minister vote in favor of decisions taken by the Council of Ministers.

Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhürman flatly rejected plans in a statement on Thursday and said neither they nor Türkiye would approve such a plan.

“There is no room for doubt or hope. It is all in vain. Are there still people who think that we, who have said from the beginning that we would conduct this process seriously, patiently, calmly, and decisively, would react emotionally or make statements under manipulation? If anyone is wondering, let me say this: We do not engage in manipulation through the media, nor will we. Instead, we have convened our Political Parties Council, our Youth Coordination Desk, and we will meet with our trade unions and economic organizations. We are meeting with members of the media in groups. We are providing accurate information about the current stage of the process, and we will continue to do so.”

“We will neither be drawn into games nor provoked. We will continue to inform our people through proper methods and at the appropriate time, and we will never compromise our seriousness, patience, calmness, or determination. Let me say once again: Our people should rest assured,” he said.

Türkiye’s Defense Ministry echoed Erhürman’s statements and said a fair, lasting solution on the island should be based only on two states, a solution where Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign equality and equal international status were confirmed.

“We are determined to safeguard the Turkish Cypriot people. As a guarantor state, our country will protect peace, security and stability in Cyprus based on its legitimate rights and authority stemming from international agreements and international laws,” the ministry said.

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Türkiye is home to 3.63 million foreign nationals with legal residence status, including more than 2.26 million Syrians under temporary protection, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said Thursday as he outlined the government’s migration and border security policies.

In a statement following a parliamentary consultation meeting attended by lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Çiftçi said 3,632,064 foreign nationals currently have legal status in Türkiye.

Of those, 2,264,983 are Syrians living under temporary protection, he said.

The minister added that 1.425 million Syrians returned to their homeland voluntarily, safely and with dignity between 2016 and 2026.

Türkiye has hosted the world’s largest refugee population since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, while authorities have increasingly emphasized voluntary returns as security conditions improve in parts of northern Syria.

Moreover, Çiftçi also underlined that the government continues to combat irregular migration and migrant smuggling through an integrated border security strategy covering land and maritime borders.

According to the minister, Türkiye has completed 1,329 kilometers (825 miles) of border security walls, while construction continues along another 110 kilometers.

He said border security is supported by electro-optical surveillance towers, thermal cameras, observation posts, surveillance vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles operating around the clock.

The Turkish coast guard, meanwhile, patrols the country’s approximately 4,500-kilometer coastline with 323 maritime assets and 23 aircraft to strengthen coastal and border security, Çiftçi noted.

Çiftçi said the government would continue protecting Türkiye’s borders, combating irregular migration, supporting disaster recovery efforts and providing humanitarian assistance under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

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A Reuters report that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has instructed officials to hold talks on reopening the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary, which has remained closed since 1971, along with his recent meeting with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew and previous remarks made alongside U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, has renewed questions over the future of the historic theological school.

“The fundamental issue is not whether the seminary should reopen, but under what legal framework it would operate,” Zakir Avşar, a professor from Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, told Daily Sabah. “If such an institution were established outside Türkiye’s higher education system as an autonomous or semi-sovereign entity, it could erode the state’s authority to regulate and oversee education.”

According to a report by Reuters, President Erdoğan has reportedly instructed officials to begin talks on reopening the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary.

The move followed Erdoğan’s June 16 meeting with Bartholomew at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.

The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, has fueled speculation that efforts to reopen the historic seminary may be gaining momentum.

“The question of reopening the Halki Seminary is frequently reduced to a debate over religious freedom in Türkiye,” Avşar said.

He noted that the issue is far more layered, involving constitutional law, minority rights, international law, state sovereignty and diplomatic negotiations. It cannot be properly assessed without taking into account both its historical background and its legal foundations.

The Halki Seminary, located on Heybeliada, was founded in 1844 under the name Higher Orthodox School of Theology to train Orthodox clergy.

The seminary effectively ceased operations in 1971 after its theology department was closed following a ruling by Türkiye’s Constitutional Court requiring private higher education institutions to be affiliated with state universities.

The patriarchate declined to accept the requirement, bringing theological education at the institution to an end.

“In modern state theory, education is regarded as one of the core functions of state sovereignty. The provision of religious education for minority communities cannot be considered outside this constitutional framework,” Avşar said.

He offered that any potential model should therefore be designed in full compliance with the constitutional order and national education legislation.

Following the meeting between Erdoğan and Bartholomew on June 16, Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, was also received by the Turkish leader on Tuesday in Ankara. The patriarch was accompanied by a delegation of clerics from the community.

The Syriac community had its first church in the republic era built under Erdoğan’s governments. The church was opened in 2023 in Istanbul’s Yeşilköy neighborhood in a ceremony attended by Erdoğan. It is estimated that about 17,000 Syriac residents live in the city. Assyrian Christianity traces its history to communities that lived in the A.D. first century in a region stretching from southeastern Türkiye to Syria and Iraq.

Avşar noted that under international human rights law, the ability of religious communities to train their own clergy is generally recognized as part of the institutional dimension of freedom of religion, adding that this principle has also been reflected in various rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.

“However, contemporary legal scholarship does not treat this as an absolute or unrestricted right,” he said.

Reminding that legitimate limitations based on public order, constitutional sovereignty and national security are recognized even in liberal democracies, he underlined, “The issue is therefore not a conflict between religious freedom and state sovereignty, but rather one of maintaining a careful normative balance between the two.”

The seminary provided a rigorous education in theology, philosophy and the arts, fostering a generation of educated clergy capable of leading the Orthodox community both spiritually and intellectually.

Halki quickly gained a reputation as the premier institution for Orthodox theological education, attracting students from Greece, the Balkans, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe. Its curriculum encompassed Orthodox doctrine, biblical studies, liturgics and pastoral care, preparing graduates for leadership roles within the church.

According to Avşar, Erdoğan’s approach to this issue, as well as to other areas involving religious sensitivities, is based on freedom, fairness and the preservation of sovereignty.

“What stands out here is the preference for controlled diplomatic flexibility rather than categorical rejection or unconditional acceptance,” he added.

Moreover, the state of Halki seminary was among the topics discussed between Erdoğan and Trump during the two leaders’ meeting at the White House on Sept. 28, 2025.

Erdoğan signaled that he will soon meet with the Greek Orthodox patriarch to discuss the possible reopening of the school. “We are ready to do whatever is incumbent upon us regarding the Heybeliada school,” Erdoğan told Trump during their meeting. “I will have the opportunity to discuss this matter with Bartholomew upon my return.”

Avşar stressed that a sound solution would require a model that reconciles rights-based demands with the institutional continuity of the state within the same legal framework, rather than treating them as opposing poles.

“Türkiye’s historical state experience, legal tradition and diplomatic capacity provide a strong intellectual and institutional basis for establishing this balance,” he concluded.

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Outgoing Hungarian Ambassador Viktor Matis says he will leave Türkiye with “a part of our hearts,” reflecting on more than 13 years spent in the country as he prepares to conclude his diplomatic mission after overseeing one of the strongest periods in modern Turkish-Hungarian relations.

Speaking in an interview at the former Hungarian Embassy building in Ankara, Matis said his years in Türkiye transformed not only bilateral relations but also his family’s life, making the country a permanent part of their identity.

“My family truly became a family here,” Matis said. “One of my sons was born in Ankara. Türkiye’s capital will always remain a part of our lives.”

Matis first served in Türkiye before being appointed ambassador in 2019, bringing his total time in the country to 13.5 years. During his tenure, he witnessed major events ranging from the July 15, 2016, coup attempt to the devastating earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye in February 2023.

He described the earthquakes as the most unforgettable experience of his diplomatic career.

“I thought July 15 would always remain the most unforgettable night of my life,” he said, recalling his time as Hungary’s charge d’affaires during the failed coup attempt. “But after the earthquakes in 2023, I experienced something I will never forget. That was when I truly saw how resilient and strong the Turkish people are.”

Following the earthquakes, Hungarian search-and-rescue teams were deployed to Türkiye, while Matis and embassy staff traveled to Hatay, one of the hardest-hit provinces.

Outside official duties, Matis said he made a conscious effort to integrate into daily life in Ankara.

For more than seven years, he and his family lived in the Çankaya and Ayrancı districts, buying simit from neighborhood bakeries, shopping at local stores and becoming familiar faces in the community.

“We tried to become real residents of Ankara,” he said.

His travels extended well beyond the capital.

Matis said he had visited 74 of Türkiye’s 81 provinces, often driving with his family rather than traveling solely on official business.

From Kars in the east to Datça on the Aegean coast, he noted that he sought to experience Türkiye’s landscapes, cultural heritage and regional traditions firsthand, while also trying to visit every UNESCO World Heritage Site in the country.

“You have a truly wonderful country,” he said. “For foreign diplomats, it is an extraordinary opportunity.”

Asked which cities left the strongest impression, Matis described Ankara as his family’s first home, praised Istanbul for its history and culture, and said Antalya and its surrounding coastline remained among his favorite destinations for nature.

He also highlighted Mardin’s multicultural atmosphere and Gaziantep’s renowned cuisine.

Known among Turkish football fans for supporting Gençlerbirliği, Matis recalled purchasing a season ticket during his earlier diplomatic posting and continuing to attend matches throughout his time in Ankara.

He laughed while recounting an evening when security staff and fellow supporters were surprised to find Hungary’s ambassador waiting in line with ordinary fans rather than entering through a VIP gate.

“I wanted to watch football like everyone else,” he said.

His children, he added, own several Gençlerbirliği jerseys, which have become some of their favorite clothing.

Matis also reflected on the rapid development of Turkish-Hungarian relations during his tenure.

“When I began my mission in 2019 and compare it with where we are today in 2026, relations have gained remarkable momentum,” he said. “I was in the right place at the right time.”

He further noted that bilateral trade had more than doubled despite temporary disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching approximately $5.5 billion (TL 255.83 billion).

The ambassador also pointed to the decision by Ankara and Budapest to elevate their partnership to an enhanced strategic level in December 2023, coinciding with the centennial of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Subsequent initiatives, including the Turkish-Hungarian Cultural Year in 2024 and the Turkish-Hungarian Innovation Year in 2025, further expanded cooperation in tourism, education, culture and technology, he said.

Looking ahead, Matis reaffirmed Hungary’s support for Türkiye’s European Union membership process and praised cooperation within NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), where Hungary holds observer status.

He argued that both countries play significant roles in maintaining regional stability and emphasized Türkiye’s strategic importance within NATO.

“The NATO summit being held in Türkiye is not merely symbolic,” he said. “It represents the beginning of a new period for the alliance.”

As he prepares to return home, Matis said his family would take countless memories, books and handcrafted souvenirs from across Türkiye.

“But if you ask what we are leaving behind,” he said, “it is a part of our hearts.”

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