CHP Istanbul Provincial Directorate made a splash with the intra-party holiday program it organized recently. The organization, which brought together hundreds of members of the opposition wing, caused discomfort in the headquarters. During the celebration ceremony, the call to ‘purify corruption’ once again came to the fore. Making a statement to SABAH, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Gürsel Tekin said, “Hundreds of people participated in our celebration program. We did not bring anyone by force. If we wanted to, we would have brought thousands of our party members.” Tekin criticized the party management by making important evaluations about the sharp differences of opinion and division in the CHP and said, “In order for the party to be on the right track, you must first solve the problems in your home. The duty of political party managers is not to create problems, but to solve problems. If there are people involved in crime, they must be cleared from the party.”

CRITICISM TO CHP MEDIA

Reacting with harsh words to CHP-supported media organizations and journalists insistently refusing to offer him a microphone, Tekin said, “CHP must stop creating the perception of victimization and face the facts. I criticize the headquarters, their journalists give me the answer. You were the ‘free’ media? They blamed me for filing a criminal complaint against Aziz İhsan Aktaş. Can such a thing happen? I am calling out to the media that sees itself as ‘free’ media through SABAH Newspaper. “Why don’t you hold out a microphone, why are you shy? I have never seen journalists take sides so militantly,” he said.

Nationalist Movement Party Chairman Devlet Bahçeli gave important messages about the agenda at his party’s group meeting in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Bahçeli explained the current situation in the war waged by the USA and Israel against Iran with regime change plans and made a meaningful call to the USA:

During the month of Ramadan, Türkiye was surrounded by the weight of war. The Zionist, imperialist murder network did not say Ramadan, did not say Eid, and tried every violent way to turn our holy days into prisons and poison them. Israel has turned into a device of death that is blind, drinks blood, takes lives, and attacks anyone it comes across. Neighboring geographies are left in dust due to the disproportionate, unfair and unjustified attacks carried out by the USA and Israel in coordination against Iran. Targeting Iran’s religious leaders and prominent figures in state and political life with pinpoint operations not only expands the hostility but also deepens the conflicts and confrontations that will last for many years. Since February 28, it has become clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not an easy prey. The Iranian people, united as one heart and united around the regime and state administration, have literally built a wall of flesh against the attacks. The real regime change, the real change of management should happen in Israel. This should be the first agenda of the US President. It is a great danger for Israel to penetrate the US administration system and direct its decision-making and control bodies in one way or another, and it is a direct insult to the American people.

MOSJID-I-AQSA CANNOT BE THE ZIONIST’S TOY

Eid prayer has not been performed in Masjid al-Aqsa, our first qibla, for 59 years. This despicable treatment has greatly disturbed and offended Muslim hearts and the Islamic world. No one can tamper with the spiritual fabric and historical status quo of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Those who attempt this cannot avoid being condemned to pay the heaviest price in both worlds. Jerusalem is Islam, Masjid al-Aqsa is Islam, it is the first pain of all of us, it is our first qibla, and it can never be tolerated as the toy of zionism.

OUR GOAL OF A TERRORIST-FREE Türkiye HAS BEEN CONFIRMED

The ongoing war on the other side of our borders has shown that no hostile power has a chance of success without dissolving a people, a nation from within. That is why it has been documented and, thank God, confirmed, that our goal of ‘Terrorism-Free Turkey’ is both a blessing from God and the wise wisdom of the magnificent and effective will of the beloved Turkish nation in the pillars of history, culture and sovereignty. The goal of a terrorism-free Türkiye is a historical opportunity. We are on our way, hopefully we will arrive. We set a goal, we will achieve it.

WE WILL CRUSH ANYONE WHO COME INTO OUR STATE

We will not abandon our national unity and the honor of our heart and cultural geographies to colonial calculations, Zionist plans, or the initiative of the dominant powers. Wars will not end unless oil, gas, water, and land to share runs out. It seems that the tears will not stop unless these resources are exhausted. We will not tolerate any threats. We will not compromise our rights, we will crush anyone who stands against our faith, our will and our chastity that comes from being a state.

WE ARE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE

The implementers of Turkish foreign policy are careful and serious in their duties, respectful and prepared in their contacts, brave and kind in their words, mature and constructive in their thoughts, and persistent and level-headed in their actions. Our President’s diplomatic contacts continue uninterruptedly. While our Minister of Foreign Affairs explains Türkiye’s messages, sensitivities and the level of policy followed to his interlocutors in a very balanced and conscious manner, he actively strives for the atmosphere of peace and reconciliation to emerge. The international community should also stop watching the hot war environment from the stands. Every country should be inspired by the “dignified, principled and courageous” attitude of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appeared in front of the cameras after the three-hour cabinet meeting. Erdoğan stated that they did not fall into the traps that some people tried to lure Türkiye into, and said that they did what was necessary against the scoundrels who played with the nation’s nerve endings by using Nevruz as an excuse. President Erdoğan briefly stated the following:

The closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which twenty percent of world energy trade passes, has put the global economy in serious turbulence. The price of Brent oil has increased by 40 percent since February 28. In the face of the ever-increasing economic cost, calls for an immediate end to the war have gained momentum.

AS Türkiye, WE ARE VERY WELL PREPARED

Although the war is Israel’s war, the whole world pays the price. The war is Netanyahu’s war of success, but 8 billion people are paying the price. The massacre network led by Netanyahu must be stopped immediately for the sake of regional peace and humanity, and every country must take a brave and proactive stance on this issue. This meaningless and unlawful war must end, the door to dialogue must be opened, and the productive negotiation process must be started quickly, before there is more destruction, more bloodshed, and damage to the global economy that will take years to repair.

Just like a century ago, our region has once again been determined as the battlefield of the new world order. As Türkiye, as the government, we have prepared very well for this new conflict and war conjuncture of the world. We have taken steps to strengthen Türkiye’s energy supply security. We have implemented projects that will both diversify resources and put our own underground resources into use.

WE DON’T WANT A WAR OF ATTRIBUTATION

We are determined to keep our country out of this ring of fire. We never want the war to turn into a war of attrition between the countries of the region. War leaves deep scars not only in cities and production facilities, but also in the minds and hearts with the destruction it causes. Reprisals, especially against countries in the Gulf, pose such a risk.

These will increase mutual anger, fuel hatred, and pave the way for sowing new seeds of discord between brothers. This should not be allowed. As the war drags on, other complications arise.

NO PROVOCATORS ALLOWED

Nowruz; It has been celebrated in a festive atmosphere for centuries. Although there have been unpleasant incidents that do not suit the spirit of Nevruz before, we see that these incidents have decreased significantly in the last 2 years with the influence of our ‘Terror-Free Türkiye’ process. We do not allow any provocation that casts a shadow on the values ​​that Nevruz represents. Such provocations aiming to undermine our terrorism-free Türkiye process will receive the necessary response from us. We will bring the process we have been carrying out with great common sense for 17 months to its full potential.

WE WILL NOT FALL INTO TRAPS

Türkiye is one of the rare countries that have the courage to call right right and wrong wrong. After the attacks against Iran, which started under the pressure of Israel, this characteristic of our country began to be talked about more. Turkey is one of the countries that has correctly read and analyzed this process, which has drowned our region in the smell of blood and gunpowder, since the first day, and has made a name for itself as the representative of the state mind. We have never been deceived in any period of our history, and today we do not fall into the traps that some people want to lure us into.

TURKISH ECONOMY IS RESILIENT

We closely follow the fluctuations in the markets caused by the war in Iran. This global shock, which suddenly increases oil prices, also has repercussions on the Turkish economy. In order to protect our citizens from this process that negatively affects the whole world, we are taking different measures such as Ecel Mobil. The ‘resistance threshold’ of the Turkish economy in the face of such unexpected shocks is currently at the highest level in its history.

GOOD NEWS FOR DRIVERS

We have instructed our Ministry of Internal Affairs to manage the implementation process regarding license plate, image and sound systems, which has caused complaints from vehicle owners in recent days, very carefully, without causing new grievances to our citizens.

Football player Metehan Baltacı and his lawyer were present at the hearing held today at the 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance of Istanbul Courthouse. Before the hearing, Galatasaray managers Metin Öztürk, Abdullah Kavukcu, Eray Yazgan and Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk also came to the hearing to support Baltacı.

‘I WAS NOT IN CONTACT WITH ANYONE FROM THE TEAM ON THAT DATE’

In his defense, Metehan Baltacı said, “I do not accept the crime charged against me. I was in the U19 team on the two dates of action mentioned in the indictment, that is, I was in the under-19 team squad. I was not in the A team. I had a betting membership on the legal site on March 19, 2021 and April 17, 2021. I bet on these two matches. Those in the U19 team are not in the same area as those in the A team. I was also removed from the team on that date. “I was not in contact with anyone. Since I was not in the A squad, I had no contact with the players in the Galatasaray-Rizespor match and Göztepe-Galatasaray match. I did not win any money from the bet in question. The bet I placed was a goal bet.”

Continuing his defense, Baltacı added: I took part in the A team of Galatasaray Sports Club in the 2023-2024 season. I played my first official match this season. As far as I know, I was not a member of illegal betting sites. I did not place any bets after I joined the A team. I never bet on matches I played myself. As can be seen from the messages in the friend group, I did not make a match-fixing agreement with anyone. There is no coupon mentioned in the messages. “There is no money coming into my account,” he said.

‘I DO NOT ACCEPT THE FRAUD ACCUSE’

Baltacı said, “I do not accept the charge of fraud. I did not know that betting was a crime. I did not deceive anyone with any fraudulent act. I have been interested in football since the age of 12. I have been working hard for years. I am very sorry to be in this situation and I do not accept it. I received a deprivation of rights penalty from TFF. I have been detained for 4 months. I demand my release and acquittal.”

An indictment was prepared against football player Metehan Baltacı, who was arrested on December 9, 2025, within the scope of the ‘betting on football’ investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. In the indictment, it was requested that Baltacı be sentenced to imprisonment from 4 to 13 years for ‘Fraud’ and ‘Fixing and incentive bonus’ crimes.

REQUEST FOR EVACUATION

The prosecutor requested Baltacı’s release. The hearing was adjourned.

Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi received a comprehensive briefing on the work carried out by the General Directorate of Legal Services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. At the meeting, detailed information about the duties, powers and functioning of the General Directorate of Legal Services was shared, while the activities carried out by the departments affiliated to the General Directorate were also discussed. In addition, comprehensive evaluations were made about the prosecution services regarding the cases to which the Ministry is a party within the scope of the Decree Law No. 659 and the transactions carried out within this framework.

STUDIES FOR THE LEGAL PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES

During the briefing, processes related to legislative studies concerning the Ministry and its affiliated organizations were also discussed in detail. At the meeting, the effectiveness of the legal consultancy services provided to the administration, measures to prevent disputes, and efforts to ensure the legal, effective and rapid execution of public services were evaluated.

DEPUTY MINISTER AND HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATED

Deputy Minister Bülent Turan, General Director of Legal Services and department heads attended the meeting.

MESSAGE OF DETERMINATION

It was emphasized that the Ministry of Internal Affairs continues to resolutely strengthen the effectiveness and institutional capacity of public services by basing all its work and transactions on the principle of the rule of law.