Politics
Turkish govt ally Bahçeli warns war next door may destabilize others
Devlet Bahçeli, chairperson of the government ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), had candid remarks regarding the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war and cautioned that Türkiye and other regional countries stand to lose without measures.
Addressing the mayors of his party at an event in Ankara on Saturday evening, Bahçeli said “an uncontrolled weakening or dissolution” in Iran would not be merely a domestic issue of Iran. “It has the potential to generating a belt of instability in the regional countries. What Türkiye faces is not simply a potential crisis on the border. This is an outlook that may directly affect national security, border security and overall regional stability,” he said.
Türkiye has been the target of missiles during the ongoing conflict but no casualties or damage were reported so far after the NATO defense systems intercepted the missiles. Ankara hinted that its patience may run out if the conflict fully spills over into its territory but always championed diplomacy to resolve the conflict. Türkiye holds a leading position in the region as a country with good ties, both with Tehran and Washington.
In 2024, Bahçeli prophesied that Israel’s expansionist policies in the region may turn to Türkiye eventually and proposed a terror-free Türkiye initiative, to get rid of the PKK terrorism that had affected the country for more than four decades. The initiative was a bid to strengthen Turkish-Kurdish unity as Bahçeli said earlier, to form a “home front” against the Israeli aggression. The initiative is still underway and Ankara monitors the full dissolution of the terrorist group, which made a landmark decision to dissolve itself last year. The PKK, which claims to fight for so-called Kurdish self-rule, is associated with similar groups in Syria and Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump recently voiced that he favored those “Kurdish” groups to join the fight against Tehran though he later backtracked.
In his speech on Saturday, Bahçeli said the Middle East has long been the home of “conflicts among proxies” but the situation has changed now, creating new risks for every actor in the region. Bahçeli noted that post-World War I status quo established by United Kingdom and partially by France in the region was built on “explicitly drawn borders and security mechanisms relying abroad.”
“Today, the U.S.’ strategic approach that puts Israel on its center attempts to redesign the security in the region. It is the second time that the fate of the Middle East faces an attempt to redesign it with foreign intervention,” he warned.
Bahçeli pointed to the past decade of civil war in neighboring Syria and urged people to learn lessons. “When the central authority is weakened, armed groups, proxy groups, irregular migration, unregistered economy thrive and the country becomes a field feasible for foreign intervention. We should see what is happening in Iran in the same manner,” he said.
Delving into Israel’s recent attacks on Lebanon, Bahçeli said Lebanon was almost a scaled-down model of the situation in the greater Middle East. “Looking past the ongoing conflict over Lebanon, we see a history of the Ottoman rule, a period of foreign mandates, a civil war, the 2006 crisis and other situations that demonstrate the loss of internal balance is quickly followed by foreign intervention. The foreign intervention lessens a country’s own might. When you lose the power, armed groups trump the state authority. This is what is unfolding in Lebanon again,” he said.
“At this point, a clear question must be asked: If the Palestinian (territories) has effectively been reduced and fragmented into a limited space, where will the next line of pressure emerge?” he said. “The answer is not difficult to see. Lebanon is increasingly becoming a target. This development represents a serious geopolitical rupture not only for Lebanon but for the entire Eastern Mediterranean.”
Bahçeli emphasized that Lebanon is also one of the key junctions of the Eastern Mediterranean. He described Beirut as more than just a capital, calling it a major gateway where trade, culture and geopolitics have intersected throughout history.
Saying the country and its capital constitute one of the most sensitive links in the region’s balance, Bahçeli argued that the issue of Lebanon can no longer be addressed solely within the narrow framework of current conflicts.
“Bolder and more comprehensive options that would strengthen Lebanon’s state capacity, reinforce its sovereignty and ensure lasting stability in the Eastern Mediterranean must be openly discussed,” he said. “Strengthening Lebanon internally, establishing regional stability mechanisms and, if necessary, evaluating new political and economic cooperation opportunities with neighboring regions is now an urgent need that can no longer be postponed.
“The reality is this: If Lebanon, our maritime neighbor, collapses, it would not be just one country that collapses, a new belt of instability would emerge in the Eastern Mediterranean. If Beirut falls, it would not be only a city that is wounded, the geopolitical balance of the region would be shaken. For this reason, the Lebanon issue is not solely Lebanon’s problem. It is also a strategic matter directly linked to the future of the region and the security of Türkiye,” he noted.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye and Pakistan are working together with “brotherly countries” to help end ongoing regional conflicts and restore peace and stability, underscoring the importance of mediation efforts and expressing hope for positive outcomes from negotiations.
The remarks came as Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed bilateral ties and regional developments amid heightened tensions across the region, according to a statement made by the Presidential Communications Directorate.
Erdoğan said Ankara and Islamabad would continue taking steps to deepen Türkiye-Pakistan relations across all sectors, reaffirming the close partnership between the two countries.
The Turkish president also congratulated Sharif and the people of Pakistan on Eid al-Adha.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli called Republican People’s Party (CHP) former chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and CHP parliamentary group leader Özgür Özel on Thursday to extend Eid al-Adha, also known as Qurban Bayram, greetings, according to statements from the opposition party.
A statement from CHP headquarters said Bahçeli phoned Kılıçdaroğlu to congratulate him on the Islamic holiday.
Separately, Özel’s press office said the MHP leader also called the CHP parliamentary group leader to convey his Eid al-Adha wishes.
The statement added that Bahçeli was the first political figure to congratulate Özel on the Qurban Bayram holiday.
The holiday exchange came amid an ongoing debate within the CHP over a recent court case seeking absolute nullity regarding the party’s 2023 congress that brought Özel to the leadership. The case has fueled political tensions and speculation over a possible legal challenge to the legitimacy of the congressional process and the current party administration.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended Eid al-Adha prayers on Wednesday at Istanbul’s Grand Çamlıca Mosque, using the annual religious occasion to underline themes of unity, devotion, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Erdoğan departed early morning from his home in Kısıklı, Üsküdar, and arrived at Grand Çamlıca Mosque, where he was greeted by citizens gathered outside. He paused briefly to speak with attendees before entering the mosque for the Eid prayer.
Inside, he joined worshippers in the main prayer hall, standing in line with the congregation as imam-hatip Hafız Kerim Öztürk led the service.
The president remained for the sermon that followed, observing the traditional khutbah delivered to mark the start of Eid al-Adha, known in Türkiye as Kurban Bayramı.
After prayers concluded, Erdoğan addressed worshippers inside the mosque, framing Eid al-Adha as a religious moment centered on submission, sacrifice, and closeness to God. He referenced the story of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail as the foundation of the holiday’s meaning, saying the spirit of surrender to God should remain a guiding principle for Muslims.
He called for enduring unity and stability among believers, offering prayers for health and peace, and expressing hope that the sense of brotherhood associated with Eid would extend across generations. His remarks repeatedly returned to the idea that collective strength depends on shared faith and solidarity.
A significant portion of his address focused on the wider Muslim world, particularly conflict zones. Erdoğan cited Gaza and Palestine as central examples, saying the current conditions there reflected a deeper test for the Islamic world.
“We are seeking this submission today in Gaza and in Palestine,” he said, linking the religious message of Eid to resilience amid conflict and describing unity as essential to strength and survival for Muslim communities globally.
Following the mosque address, Erdoğan stepped outside to greet journalists and continue his Eid message in a more informal setting. He described Eid as a period defined by compassion, mutual respect, and social solidarity, while emphasizing that Kurban Bayramı carries a distinct spiritual meaning tied to sacrifice and devotion.
He drew a parallel between the ritual of sacrifice and the idea of drawing closer to God, while also referencing the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Pointing to the gathering at Arafat, he said the unity seen during Hajj should serve as a model for global Muslim cohesion, especially as pilgrims begin returning home.
Erdoğan again turned to Gaza during the press interaction, describing the situation as a defining moral issue of the holiday period. He referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “tyrant” and expressed hope that global Muslim communities would respond with stronger collective resolve. He said he expected a clearer stance against the suffering in the region and called for an end to violence.
He closed his remarks with prayers for peace and unity across the Islamic world, expressing hope that Eid would become a catalyst for greater solidarity and cooperation among Muslim nations.
Following the exchange with reporters, refreshments including chocolates and simit were distributed to members of the press.
The president was accompanied by a senior delegation that included former parliament speaker İsmail Kahraman, Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Istanbul Police Chief Selami Yıldız, and several senior ruling party officials. Businessman Acun Ilıcalı was also present among attendees.
Erdoğan’s appearance at Çamlıca Mosque continues a longstanding practice of marking major Islamic holidays in prominent Istanbul mosques, often paired with broader political messaging on domestic cohesion and international affairs.
Eid al-Adha is being observed across Türkiye from May 27 to May 30, with public sector holidays extended for the period.
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will hold a congress once a court-issued injunction is lifted, the party’s newly reinstated leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said Wednesday.
“We will hold a congress, friends. Can there be a party without a congress? A congress will be held,” Kılıçdaroğlu told reporters in response to questions about demands for a party congress.
“Of course, for this to happen, the congress must be held on legal grounds. There is an injunction decision. Once the injunction decision is lifted, the convention will be held, so there is no problem,” he added.
The CHP has descended into chaos after a May 21 court ruling that overturned a 2023 party primary which elected Özgür Özel as leader and reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu, setting off competing leadership claims between the rival camps. Three days later, riot police evicted Özel’s administration from the CHP’s Ankara headquarters after the ousted leader refused to leave. Authorities launched a probe into the violence that unfolded during the eviction. Özel has since been named the party’s parliamentary group chair.
Asked whether the party would have to wait until the Supreme Court of Appeals issues a final and binding ruling after reviewing the case, Kılıçdaroğlu said the issue would be discussed with legal experts within the party.
“We will meet with our lawyer friends, sit down and talk. What is the situation? How can we hold the convention as soon as possible? How can we organize it? We will work on these issues,” he said.
Responding to a question about Özel’s proposal to elect a party chair through the votes of 2 million members, Kılıçdaroğlu said the procedures were clear.
“It is already clear how the chairman is elected. You cannot bypass the convention. The party’s chairmen are elected by congress,” he said.
Özel and his allies are pushing for an early extraordinary congress to settle crisis, Turkish media reported earlier this week.
Despite the crisis, Özel moved quickly to scotch rumors he might leave the CHP to form a new political faction and urges his fellow party members to stay put.
“We have no intention of forming a new party,” he told journalists after attending prayers in Manisa, his hometown near the western resort of Izmir, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, also known as Qurban Bayram.
“”There are those who say ‘we should resign’, but no one should leave the party or resign. We will resolve this issue,” he said, repeating calls for a leadership primary “as soon as possible”.
Türkiye is preparing to expand its e-Hearing system to broader areas of the judiciary as part of an ongoing digital transformation drive aimed at making legal proceedings faster, more accessible and more efficient.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said Friday the new phase of the initiative would widen the use of remote hearings beyond first-instance courts and extend them to regional courts of appeal, allowing a wider range of participants to join proceedings online.
Under the planned expansion, lawyers, defendants, expert witnesses, specialists and witnesses will be able to take part in hearings through digital platforms. The reform is also expected to cover procedural steps such as preliminary hearings, interrogations, witness testimony, oaths and letters rogatory.
The Justice Ministry said work on the expanded system accelerated after Gürlek pledged to continue technological reforms designed to reduce lawyers’ workload and speed judicial processes.
“We will continue to develop digital capabilities so that our lawyers can dedicate their energy to their professional activities instead of going back and forth to the courthouse,” Gürlek said.
The initiative forms part of a broader judicial modernization effort centered on digital services and technology-assisted legal procedures. Recent reforms have emphasized shortening trial times, improving access to justice and strengthening institutional efficiency.
The e-Hearing system operates through the National Judiciary Informatics System, or UYAP, Türkiye’s long-running digital judicial network designed to manage court files, legal correspondence and case proceedings electronically. UYAP has been developed over the past two decades to reduce bureaucracy, accelerate proceedings and support paperless judicial administration.
The latest expansion follows several technology-focused initiatives introduced by the ministry in recent months. Authorities recently announced the rollout of the “e-Avukat” application enabling secure video meetings between lawyers and inmates, while Gürlek also unveiled plans for a domestic artificial intelligence-supported UYAP decision support system capable of rapidly analyzing precedent rulings and complex case files.
Ministry officials said judges may also be granted authority to order e-Hearings on their own initiative when deemed necessary, a step intended to further streamline proceedings and improve courtroom efficiency.
Lawyers have generally welcomed the expanded use of digital hearings, particularly for reducing travel burdens and easing scheduling pressures.
The ministry says the reforms are part of a longer-term effort to build a faster and more accessible justice system through technological innovation and digital legal services.
A parliamentary commission established after deadly school attacks in southeastern Türkiye has intensified its work, examining the role of family neglect, peer bullying and digital platforms in violent incidents involving children.
Yusuf Beyazıt, chair of the Turkish Parliament’s Commission on Investigating Violence and Peer Bullying in Schools, said the panel is pursuing a broad inquiry aimed at identifying the causes of school attacks and preventing similar tragedies.
The 22-member commission, established in April with support from all political parties represented in Parliament, began formal work in May following attacks in Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş that shocked the country and renewed debate over school safety and youth violence.
“These incidents have a school dimension, a family dimension, an environmental dimension, and a social media and digital platform dimension,” Beyazıt, a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) lawmaker from Tokat, told Ihlas News Agency.
“It is not possible to solve these events by looking at only one point. A holistic approach is necessary.”
The commission includes lawmakers with backgrounds in medicine, psychiatry, education and labor organizations and is expected to produce recommendations for Parliament after a three-month investigation. Its mandate includes examining school violence, peer bullying and the risks children face in digital environments.
Beyazıt said lawmakers have already visited Kahramanmaraş, where they met grieving families and school officials.
“One family told us, ‘You cannot bear the pain we are experiencing,’” he said, describing the emotional impact of the visit.
The commission plans further field visits to Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş between June 12 and June 15 while continuing consultations with academics, psychologists, ministries and public institutions.
Parliamentary meetings are expected to be held twice weekly, with one session devoted to expert testimony and another focused on coordination with ministries including education, justice and family services.
The investigation comes as policymakers and educators increasingly examine the influence of online content on youth behavior.
Beyazıt warned that children’s digital activity requires closer supervision by families.
“Don’t give your children phones and then leave them on their own,” he said. “You must monitor where they go and who they communicate with. These digital platforms have become a very dark abyss.”
His remarks reflect concerns raised during recent parliamentary hearings, where experts pointed to online radicalization and violent digital subcultures as emerging risks. Academics appearing before the commission argued that some perpetrators may imitate attackers abroad or seek validation through violent online communities that normalize aggression and notoriety.
According to Beyazıt, investigators are reviewing digital traces linked to the recent attacks, including indications that suspects may have viewed or modeled themselves after violent actors overseas. He cautioned, however, that the commission’s findings remain preliminary.
The panel is also examining broader social and psychological factors, including family relations, emotional neglect and access to counseling services.
“The judicial process is continuing, but we must also understand the social causes behind these tragedies,” Beyazıt said.
Parliament moved quickly to establish the commission following the incidents, with lawmakers across party lines describing school violence as a national concern that transcends politics. During the commission’s first meeting, Beyazıt stressed that protecting children should remain the central focus of the inquiry.
“This issue has no ruling party or opposition,” he said at the time. “What is at stake is our children and our future.”
Beyazıt said the commission’s work would focus not only on mourning those lost but also on preventing future attacks.
“We will not only pray,” he said. “It is our duty to do the necessary work so these tragedies do not happen again.”
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