The tender was bribed by the criminal organization allegedly led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, and the mayors, including Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, the evacuated Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar and the released and reinstated Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, who were suspended from their duties after their arrest. Within the scope of the indictment prepared for the allegation of organizing the criminal proceedings, 200 defendants appeared before the judge for the first time on Tuesday, January 27. During the two-week period of the trial, which was held in the large courtroom at the Marmara Penal Institutions Silivri Campus, the defenses of 33 defendants, including the detained defendant Rıza Akpolat, who was suspended from his post as Beşiktaş Mayor and requested to be imprisoned from 113 to 337 years, and other detained mayors, were completed. As the trial enters its 3rd week tomorrow, in the hearing to be held this week, the defenses of 158 undetained defendants will begin to be taken, especially the undetained defendant Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who was requested to be imprisoned from 187 to 450 years in the indictment and who was cited as the leader of the organization and who was released on June 4, 2025 within the scope of effective remorse provisions. UAV

Following the normalization process that started between Türkiye and Greece, there was an increase in high-level contacts. Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis will come to Türkiye on Wednesday as the guest of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During Mitsotakis’ visit, the 6th Meeting of the Turkey-Greece High Level Cooperation Council will be held. Political, economic, commercial and cultural relations will be discussed. Steps that can be taken to increase the bilateral trade volume, which is 6.7 billion dollars in 2025, to 10 billion dollars will be discussed. Views will be exchanged on regional security, geopolitical developments and global issues. Türkiye’s contribution is expected to come to the agenda, especially in the face of the NATO mission and Europe’s security priorities. At the annual evaluation press conference held last month, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, when asked about the expectations from the Erdoğan-Miçotakis meeting, said, “There is only one step. We will sit down with an intention and will to solve the existing problems and we will not leave the table until the problem is solved.”

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç attended the mawlid program held at the Sultanahmet Mosque for Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi, who lost his life in a knife attack in Kadıköy, and made important statements.

Stating that the legislation regarding children dragged into crime should be re-evaluated, Tunç said, “The idea that a comprehensive research should be carried out in terms of eliminating the reasons that push children to crime and the measures to be taken and a law change should be made according to the results has emerged in our parliament. Currently, this commission is continuing its work. These legal regulations will be brought to the agenda in our parliament according to the report that will be created after the commission’s work is completed.”

Stating that they meticulously followed the investigation into the murder of Atlas Çağlayan in Güngören, Minister Tunç said, “Four people who threatened the Çağlayan family on social media were identified and arrested. Again, Ahmet Minguzzi’s family was threatened on social media. 3 people who threatened the family and 1 person who destroyed the grave were sentenced to up to 5 years in prison.”

Ahmet Minguzzi’s mother, Yasemin Minguzzi, said, “There are two acquittals. They must definitely go in. We do not accept this. We met with the Minister of Justice and our President and got their word.”

“CHP IS BEING AWAY FROM ITS CORE VALUES”

Drawing attention to the founding identity of the Republican People’s Party, Özarslan said, “This is Atatürk’s party, the founding element of the Republic. However, they are trying to distance it from its core values. It is unacceptable to protest the country in foreign countries. This is one of the biggest mistakes made.” Özarslan also touched upon MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli’s approach to the Kurdish issue and criticized CHP’s attitude on this issue. Özarslan said, “It is not understandable to avoid the table on an issue based on brotherhood, which is put forward for the future of the country. In my opinion, this is among the wrong policies.”

“ÖZGÜR ÖZEL SHOULD NOT DECEIVE CHP members”

Social media is collapsing, I said this too shall pass. I was a CHP mayor, the first message came at 23.59, messages came one after another. Unreasonable expressions, unspeakable insults, I have never seen such messages. The leader of a party founded by Atatürk could never be this light-hearted. I am calling out from here, Özgür Özel, with what right do you have the right to put out these messages with dirty accusations of cataracting my mother and my late father, you have neither humanity, morality, manliness, nor CHP membership. If you have honor and integrity, you would resign from the head of the party. Let him come out and deny it, the one who doesn’t prove it is dishonorable. I will resign from the Mayor of Keçiören, he should also resign from the Mayor, shouting in the squares is not enough. He should not deceive CHP members, he should not deceive nationalists, he should not go to Belgium and criticize our country. This country was not established easily.

WARNING TO MANSUR YAVAŞ: ‘IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU TOO TOMORROW’

Addressing Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, Özarslan argued that what he experienced could happen to other mayors as well. Özarslan said, “Everyone stays in an environment where they are happy, peaceful and safe. I am calling out to Mayor Mansur and other mayors: This situation happened to me today, it will happen to you tomorrow too.” “Are you angry with Mansur Yavaş?” Answering the question, Özarslan said, “I am only angry because he has not taken care of me lately. I have no other resentment.”

Minister Tunç’s post is as follows;

Regarding the criminal statements shared on social media against Eskişehir Mihalgazi Mayor, Ms. Zeynep Akgün, an ex officio investigation was initiated by the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for the crime of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility or humiliation” in accordance with Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code, within the scope of crimes against public peace, and the suspect was taken into custody. The judicial process is being carried out meticulously. Targeting a woman based on her clothing, beliefs and lifestyle; These ugly and discriminatory statements aimed at degrading his dignity and personality are never acceptable. This language of hatred directed against an elected public official and the national will will definitely find its response before the law and conscience.

Regarding the criminal statements shared on social media against our Mayor of Eskişehir Mihalgazi, Ms. Zeynep Akgün, the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has declared “the public to be held in hatred and hatred” in accordance with Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code within the scope of crimes against public peace.

— Yılmaz TUNÇ (@yilmaztunc) February 8, 2026

He targeted Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Güneş! A slap in the face response from the AK Party was not delayed

İYİ Party member Mehmet Emin Korkmaz shared the photo of Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Güneş in local clothes on his social media account and used harsh expressions. Korkmaz included the following statements in his post:

“Is the duty of this political Islamist woman in shalwar suits to govern the district or to milk cows in her barn? The poor man must be lost in his place… At least my mother has the clothes and education!”

HARD REACTION FROM MINISTER GÖKTAŞ: WE WILL INTERVENE IN THE LEGAL PROCESS

Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş made a statement on the subject from his virtual media account. Minister Göktaş said, “This immoral attack targeting our Mihalgazi Mayor, Mr. Zeynep Akgün, who has been elected by the votes of our nation for three terms, is a clear disrespect directed not only at a mayor, but at millions of women who stand by their labor, work, produce, add value to our country, and directly to the will of our nation. We will never accept or normalize this indecent and self-aware mentality directed at women. We will intervene in the legal process initiated for this action, which is not only a personal attack but also a crime.” he said.

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced that the person who insulted Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Akgün was detained.

EXACT INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN STARTED

According to Minister Tunç’s statement, an ex officio investigation was launched by the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for the crime of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility or humiliating” in accordance with Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code, within the scope of crimes against public peace. It was stated that the suspect was detained within the scope of the investigation and judicial proceedings are continuing.

EMPHASIS ON HATE AND DISCRIMINATION

Minister of Justice Tunç stated that statements targeting a woman based on her clothing, beliefs and lifestyle clearly contain hatred and discrimination, and that such statements damage the honor and personality of the individual. Tunç emphasized that such ugly and discriminatory approaches cannot be accepted in any way.

HARD RESPONSE FROM AK PARTY: “THEY ARE FIGHTING WITH THE ESSENCE OF THIS LAND”

The reaction to the post in question was immediate. AK Party Eskişehir Provincial Chairman Gürhan Albayrak, in his statement, described Korkmaz’s statements as “insolence” and supported Zeynep Güneş. Albayrak emphasized that criticism over clothing is an attack on the will of the people.

Albayrak noted the following in his post:

“This superior mentality, which considers Anatolian women’s shalwar and traditional clothing as “ignorance”, has actually demonstrated its own ignorance. Attacking a president who has been elected by the votes of our citizens of Mihalgazi for 3 terms, through his appearance and clothing, is to insult the values of this nation. We condemn this indecent language that targets the will and clothing of the nation. Those who fight with the essence of this land are always doomed to lose. Your arrogance is our Anatolia.” “He could not defeat our wisdom and he will never be able to defeat it! We are always with our president Zeynep Güneş against these evil-mouthed types.”

Reacting to Korkmaz’s words, AK Party MKYK Member – Eskişehir Deputy Nebi Hatipoğlu said, “This poor mentality, which thinks it is politics to attack women, beliefs and the values of our nation through our Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Güneş, has once again made clear that its real concern is not service, but hatred and humiliation. Making fun of a woman’s headscarf, clothes and lifestyle is not criticism, but immorality. It is not politics, it is lack of character. What you are disturbed about is Zeynep.” It is not the sun; it is the women who come out of the nation with their heads high. It is not your tongue that keeps this country alive, but those you despise, and know that anyone who speaks ill of the values of the nation will fall under that tongue sooner or later.” he said.

İYİ PARTY ÖZEL: HE WAS REFERRED TO THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD WITH A REQUEST FOR DEFINITIVE DISMISSAL

İYİ Party Secretary General Osman Ertürk Özel, in his post on his virtual media account, said, “Trying to humiliate people through their clothing choices is a rudeness that can only be done by despicable people. The Turkish woman, who gained the right to vote and be elected with Atatürk as a great republican achievement, can rule the world no matter what clothes she chooses. This is our view and stance. The person who used these outrageous expressions was cautiously referred to the disciplinary board with a request for definitive expulsion. Mihalgazi Mayor, precious Zeynep “We convey our wholehearted support to Güneş regarding the rudeness she has been subjected to,” he said.

HARD REACTION FROM AK PARTY

Regarding the social media post targeting Eskişehir’s Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Güneş, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik said, “We condemn the hate speech directed at our esteemed president. We will continue to fight against the politics of hate. We will also hold this focus of hate, which attacked our president, to account on the legal grounds.” he said.

Çelik reacted to the social media post targeting Mihalgazi Mayor Güneş on his NSosyal account.

Conveying the party’s sincere greetings to Güneş, Çelik said:

“We express our gratitude to our citizens from all segments of society who condemn the poisonous language directed at our president. The common sensitivity of our female citizens from all walks of life and views against hate language is also valuable. We condemn the hate speech directed at our esteemed president. We will continue to fight against the politics of hate. We will also hold this focus of hate, which attacked our president, accountable on the legal basis. We expect the İYİ Party to do what is necessary against this focus of hate.”

ARRESTED

Mehmet Emin Korkmaz, who was detained due to his post about Eskişehir’s Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Güneş Akgün, was referred to the Criminal Court of Peace after the prosecutor’s interrogation. Korkmaz, who also testified in court, was arrested and imprisoned on the charge of ‘inciting the public to hatred and hostility’.

STATEMENT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE

In the statement made by the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, “Our Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor has launched an ex officio investigation against the suspect for the crime of inciting the public to hatred and hostility, due to the social media user with the nickname ‘MEKorkmazTR’ on the social sharing platform named “The interrogation process of the person has been completed and he has been referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on Duty with a request for his arrest within the scope of the crime of Inciting the People to Hatred and Enmity, and he has been arrested and handed over to the Closed Penal Institution. It is respectfully announced to the public.”