Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated in his post on his social media account that the fight against criminal organizations, organized crime structures and all kinds of dirty relationship networks that try to create space for these structures is continuing with determination.

Gürlek stated that in the investigation carried out by the Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was determined that the managers and members of the organization received criminal records, search records, arrest records, red notices, vehicle interrogation and customs passage information from some public officials who acted contrary to the definition of duties and powers, and in this context, 2 probation officers, 1 record clerk, 1 deputy customs enforcement director, 15 customs enforcement officers, 10 police officers and 2 lawyers were included. He reported that detention orders were issued for a total of 50 suspects.

Stating that simultaneous operations were carried out in Muğla, Bursa, Edirne, Çanakkale, Sivas, Tekirdağ, Diyarbakır, İzmir, Balıkesir, Ankara and Kayseri, Gürlek said, “There will be no tolerance for anyone who attempts to put the state’s resources at the disposal of criminal organizations, the dignity of public office and our nation’s trust in the state; legal proceedings will be taken against those who attempt to use public power for personal or organizational interests.” “It will be established without delay,” he said.

Gürlek stated in his post, “The main purpose of this struggle is to protect the peace of our nation, strengthen public order and further increase our citizens’ trust in the state, justice and law. We will continue to demonstrate the power of the state of law in the most determined way against criminal organizations in the Turkish Century.”

The first phase of the restoration work at Diyarbakır E Type Prison, which will be converted into a museum, has been completed. Diyarbakır Prison, the construction of which started in 1972 in the Bağlar district of Diyarbakır, was opened on July 4, 1980. The name of the prison, which was transferred to military administration after September 12, 1980 and used as “Martial Law Military Prison”, was associated with ill-treatment and torture. Work was initiated after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement during his visit to the city on July 9, 2021, “We are soon evacuating Diyarbakır Prison, which has been associated with cruelty, torture and inhumane treatment for a long time in the past, and present it to you as a cultural center.” Following the protocol signed between the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on October 11, 2022, the restoration work of Diyarbakır Prison, which was transferred to the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, started.

It was converted into a Memorial and Ethnography Museum by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the cells and wards were rearranged. Pictures from the old period were prepared and representative sculptures depicting the visitors were made. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to open the museum, which is expected to be completed completely by the new year.

His paintings from the archives of the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses also took their place in the museum. Among the pictures are Prison Commander Captain Esat Oktay Yıldıran, known for his bad practices in Diyarbakır Prison, and his dog Joe.

The statements of 19 people arrested in the investigation carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the helicopter crash in which BBP Chairman Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu and 5 people with him lost their lives were revealed. Even though the suspects denied the accusations, their statements; It revealed search-and-rescue scandals, attempts to suppress evidence, and how crime scene security was disregarded. The most critical link of the investigation was the mysterious theft of the ARGUS 5000CE navigation device from the wreckage, which was the most vital technical evidence that could shed light on the helicopter’s cause of accident, flight route and possible jet interventions.

Mehmet Sevdim, Ferudun Seren and Kerem Mumcuoğlu, who were in the civil accident crime committee, admitted that they noticed that the device was not in the cockpit during the inspection on March 31. The suspects said, “We did not write this vital situation in the official accident report to avoid public speculation.” It was determined that the report regarding the loss of the device was prepared fakely in May 2009, with a retroactive date.
The head of the military delegation, Ebubekir Semih Yüksekkaya, claimed that the devices were lost while in the hands of the civilian team or were hidden by photo manipulation. Yüksekkaya claimed that the part called “return recorder” belonging to the helicopter was also found during the search in the civilian delegation’s room.
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek emphasized that FETO’s secret structure, fugitive Adil Öksüz’s connections and ByLock correspondence were being examined and said, “No matter where the investigation leads, our state will go to the end.”

Turkey responded to the scandalous decisions of the European Parliament and then the European Union regarding Cyprus by making determination flights in the south of the island before the 52nd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation. Following the European Parliament, which signed a resolution targeting the Cyprus Peace Operation and denigrating the Turkish Armed Forces with the initiative of the Greek-Greek MPs in the first week of July, the European Union also targeted Türkiye with a prejudiced and distorted understanding regarding the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus in the “Common Understanding” document it published. While Turkey expressed its reaction in the harshest way through the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it gave its clearest answer on the field. Combat and support aircraft taking off from various bases affiliated with the Turkish Air Force carried out training flights in the international airspace of the Mediterranean, in the south of the Cyprus Island. With this flight, a meaningful message was given to both the Greek Cypriot-Greek duo, the EP and the EU.

Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and the Turkish Armed Forces command level visited the Barbarism Museum in Nicosia, which exhibits the brutal massacres committed by the Greek Cypriot terrorist organization EOKA.

‘ALWAYS, EVERYWHERE’
In the post of the Ministry of National Defense regarding the training flights carried out in the south of Cyprus, it was stated: “A training flight was carried out in the international airspace of the Mediterranean, in the south of the Island of Cyprus, with the participation of our combat and support aircraft taking off from various bases affiliated with our Air Force Command. We are the indomitable guardians of our skies, always, everywhere.”

52 years have passed since the Cyprus Peace Operation carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) to save the Turkish Cypriots from the danger of total annihilation. Mehmetçik, who stopped the inhumane attacks ranging from Bloody Christmas to the Beach Massacre, changed the course of history by using his right of guarantor on July 20, 1974. The operation, which started on the morning of July 20, was not only a military success; It was a declaration to the world of the will of the nation, the law of guarantor and the Turkish state’s determination to stand by the oppressed. The basis of the peace prevailing in Cyprus today is the epic that Mehmetçik wrote at the expense of his life.

SYSTEMATIC MASSACRE BY EOKA
* The EOKA terrorist organization, founded on April 1, 1955, systematically targeted Turks. Villages were evacuated, innocent civilians were massacred, hundreds of people lost their lives. In the face of attacks, Turkish Cypriots united under the umbrella of the Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT) and organized resistance in 1958. The Republic of Cyprus, which was established with the Zurich and London Treaties in 1959, became de facto inoperable when the Greek administration usurped the constitutional rights of the Turks in 1963.

* In the attacks that started on December 20, 1963 and went down in history as “Bloody Christmas”, hundreds of Turkish Cypriots were martyred, 103 Turkish villages were evacuated, and approximately 25 thousand people were forced to migrate. In the subsequent Kumsal Massacre, the murder of Major Nihat İlhan’s wife Mürüvvet İlhan and their three little children Murat, Kutsi and Hakan in the bathtub became one of the most painful symbols of Greek brutality in memory. ❱ Attacks by Greek Cypriots and Greek troops continued in 1964. Following the attacks targeting the Turkish people in Erenköy, Türkiye prevented a major massacre by organizing a limited air operation. Air Pilot Captain Cengiz Topel, whose plane was shot down in this process, was martyred under torture after being captured and took his place among the heroes of the Turkish nation.

TURKISH MILITARY LANDED IN CYPRUS
* After the Greek-backed coup in 1974, the existence of Turkish Cypriots came under great threat again. Thereupon, Türkiye, using its guarantor right arising from international agreements, launched the Cyprus Peace Operation on the morning of July 20, 1974. As soon as the Mehmetçik landed on the island, they carried not only land but also hope. Thus, the security of Turkish Cypriots was ensured and the foundations of permanent peace were laid on the island.

THE PRICE OF PEACE HAS BEEN PAID
* During the operation, 498 Turkish soldiers and 786 Cypriot mujahids were martyred. While the Turkish Cypriots looked to their future with confidence, thanks to the sacrifice of the holy martyrs, the Turkish nation once again showed the whole world that it would not give up standing by the oppressed throughout history. Even though 52 years have passed, the Cyprus Peace Operation continues to live as one of the greatest epics symbolizing the courage, brotherhood law and national will of the Turkish nation.

Pointing out that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Oman in the Gulf region have made serious progress over the years, Fidan stated that these countries have created very strong states and cities at world standards by improving development and basic services. Fidan stated that the US-Iran war affected the regional economy and noted that the risk of this war becoming widespread could cause more problems in the region. Reminding that there are currently attacks on infrastructures, Fidan said, “Our wish is to return to an agreement between Iran and America as soon as possible. As you know, a memorandum of understanding was created with the mediation of Pakistan, the intense contributions of Qatar and the contributions of Türkiye. But then we moved away from here. It needs to be returned to again.” he emphasized. Fidan stated that they discussed these issues in the meetings he held during his visit to Qatar and made the following statements:

“I see with pleasure that Qatar is trying to do its best by using all constructive techniques and all channels to solve this crisis. I hope we will get good news these days. Turkey is in close coordination with Qatar on this issue. Both the security of Qatar, the peace of Qatar, the security of the region and the stability of the region are issues that are in Türkiye’s interest. Therefore, we will continue to work together with both the Gulf Region and other countries of the Islamic world on this issue, as in many other issues.”