Turkish police detained 16 suspects on Friday in the third phase of an investigation into alleged bribery, procurement fraud and zoning irregularities at Istanbul’s Şile Municipality, prosecutors said.

The operation was carried out simultaneously in Istanbul and the western province of Izmir under the coordination of the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Investigators said the suspects were linked to alleged irregularities involving direct procurement contracts, zoning procedures, business licenses and occupancy permits, through which public officials allegedly accepted bribes and secured unlawful financial benefits.

The suspects were taken to Istanbul police headquarters for questioning.

The latest operation follows two earlier waves of arrests in the same investigation. In July 2025, Şile Mayor Özgür Kabadayı and five other suspects were detained on accusations including establishing a criminal organization, extortion, bribery and bid rigging. Kabadayı and four others were later arrested, while one suspect was released under judicial supervision.

The Interior Ministry subsequently suspended Kabadayı from office.

A second operation in December 2025 resulted in the detention of 22 additional suspects after investigators reviewed phone records and financial transactions.

Fifteen were later jailed pending trial, while seven were released under judicial supervision.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is under mounting scrutiny as a wave of corruption, bribery and terrorism-related investigations sweeps across its municipalities.

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A series of incidents in June and a debate over an Istanbul mosque demonstrated that an anti-Muslim mindset prevails in Türkiye, though not as strong as it was in the past.

Cases of discrimination, especially against headscarf-wearing women, sparked concerns over a social division that has evolved over decades.

In Mersin, a woman wearing a burkini was denied entry to a swimming pool in the residential complex she lives in. The case triggered a legal investigation, and the pool employee denying access was detained on charges of inciting public hatred and insult.

In another case, a video released on social media by a woman living in Istanbul calling for “destroying headscarf-wearing women” sparked outrage, and the woman was subsequently detained on charges similar to the case in Mersin. Days later, a video of a man harassing two young women over their headscarves at a supermarket in Antalya’s Kaş district emerged. One of the women in the video filed a criminal complaint against the man who was detained later.

Though they seem like isolated incidents, the anti-Muslim sentiment also resurfaced in Zonguldak. A group of people in the northern city staged a protest calling for “secularism to be implemented” after the images of young students celebrating their completion of Quran classes at a ceremony in the city emerged. Similarly, social media was awash with anti-Muslim comments when a video of a group of young girls wearing Muslim outfits as they celebrated completion of Quran courses in the eastern city of Batman surfaced.

These incidents and outrage preceded with a public debate and protests over a mosque planned to be built in Kadıköy, a district on Istanbul’s Asian side. The mosque, currently under construction after a court greenlit it by dismissing opposition, will be a prominent place of worship on the Kadıköy waterfront, a busy quarter of the city home to Ottoman-era and modern mosques. Supporters of the mosque cite the need for bigger mosque in the area whose population has significantly expanded in recent years, while opponents claim it is not necessary and point out “nearby mosques.”

The incidents prompted criticism from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who championed an end to bans targeting Muslims, especially headscarf-wearing women. In a speech last Thursday, Erdoğan reiterated how they have worked to defend the dignity, honor and freedoms of people who have been sidelined and mistreated. He noted that people voted for his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to ensure that “those who suffered under the oppression of the perpetrators of the Feb. 28 process would never again be subjected to the same tyranny.”

Feb. 28 refers to the 1997 coup and the date powerful military elite issued a stern ultimatum to the government against “reactionary threat,” a derogatory term used to describe conservative Muslims. Before the ultimatum led to the collapse of the government within months, Muslim men and women were targets of a witch hunt by a coalition of elites, from military and judiciary to bureaucracy. Girls wearing headscarfves were barred from attending schools unless they removed their headscarves, while men in the public sector were blacklisted or fired from their jobs for performing prayers or simply growing a beard in the fashion of conservative Muslims. Long after the collapse of the coalition government, those practices continued, with the purpose of excluding practicing Muslims from social spaces. Civil servants lost their jobs for wearing headscarf or praying five times a day as their faith required. A large number of girls, including the daughters of Erdoğan, were among those affected by the bans, forcing to study abroad.

Erdoğan defined the recent incidents as “attempts by voices of arrogance to silence, intimidate and threaten the silent majority.” “We will not allow the revival of an oppressive mindset that still longs for the Feb. 28 era,” he said.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday that Türkiye will remain actively engaged in efforts to resolve tensions between the United States and Iran, while warning that Israeli provocations risk undermining the diplomatic process.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Fidan stressed that ensuring uninterrupted and permanent freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is essential.

“As Türkiye, we will continue to contribute to the ongoing negotiation process between the United States and Iran. Israel must not be allowed to sabotage these talks, and the international community should remain highly vigilant on this matter,” he said.

He urged the international community to remain vigilant against any Israeli actions that could jeopardize regional stability.

Fidan said Türkiye and Canada have grown closer through increasingly aligned positions on major regional and global issues, welcoming the U.S.-Iran cease-fire agreement and describing its extension to Lebanon as a positive development. He said Ankara hopes the truce will pave the way for lasting regional stability through diplomacy.

Reiterating Ankara’s support for diplomacy, he said Türkiye wants the conflict to end as soon as possible through dialogue and on the basis of international law.

Regarding the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara next month, Fidan said preparations are continuing at full pace, describing the gathering as a “historic” meeting.

In response to a question about the status of Turkish earthquake survivors staying in Canada on the TS2023 visa, Fidan said the two sides have discussed all visa-related matters in their meeting.

For her part, Anand said Canada ​is discussing nuclear ⁠energy cooperation ⁠and working ​toward ​a ⁠free trade agreement with Türkiye.

She ⁠added that conversations ​on possible ​nuclear ⁠energy cooperation ‌are “in ‌early ⁠days.”

In a later statement, Fidan said his two-day visit to Ottawa and Toronto, the first official bilateral visit by a Turkish foreign minister to Canada, produced productive talks that underscored the growing momentum in bilateral ties.

Thanking his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand for her hospitality, Fidan said the two countries are advancing toward a stronger partnership in line with the vision set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

He said the sides reviewed ongoing cooperation in trade, investment, transportation and the defense industry, while working to finalize a Türkiye-Canada Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible.

Fidan also identified civilian nuclear energy as a promising area for cooperation, noting that the two ministers visited the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station near Toronto to discuss potential joint initiatives. During the visit, Fidan also met with Turkish business leaders and representatives of the Turkish and Muslim communities in Canada, reaffirming Ankara’s commitment to elevating relations with its NATO ally to a strategic level through continued high-level engagement.

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Slovenia and Türkiye expressed interest in preparing a new action plan to further strengthen their strategic partnership and expand economic cooperation during talks on the sidelines of the Dubrovnik Forum, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said.

According to a statement posted on the ministry’s X account on Friday, Slovenian State Secretary Tone Kajzer met Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay, with the two officials also exchanging views on current foreign policy issues.

“Dialogue, cooperation and diplomacy remain the only path to the peaceful resolution of conflicts,” Kajzer said following the meeting.

Türkiye and Slovenia established a strategic partnership in 2011 after then-Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor visited Türkiye and signed a bilateral agreement with Turkish leaders.

Many sectors, such as energy, logistics, health, construction, telecommunications, security, energy, oil and gas, transportation, steel construction, logistics and storage, aluminum and metal, defense and aviation, have great potential for further development of cooperation between the two countries.

The partnership has since supported closer political dialogue, economic cooperation and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The framework was renewed through a 2024-2026 action plan, and both governments marked the partnership’s 15th anniversary in March 2026 with joint statements reaffirming their commitment to peace, stability and shared prosperity.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand and visited the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Toronto on Thursday as part of an official visit to Canada, Turkish officials said.

Fidan arrived in Canada for a series of official meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral contacts between Ankara and Ottawa. During his visit, he met Anand in Toronto before the two ministers toured the Darlington nuclear facility and received briefings on the site.

The visit came as Türkiye seeks to expand international cooperation in strategic sectors, including energy, technology and trade.

Türkiye is seeking to expand its nuclear power capacity beyond the four-reactor Akkuyu plant, which is being built by Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rosatom in the southern Mersin province and is expected to begin generating electricity later this year.

Ankara plans to construct two additional large-scale nuclear power plants, one in Sinop on the Black Sea coast and in the Thrace region, with negotiations continuing with South Korea for a second facility and discussions with Canada accelerating in recent months for a third project.

Fidan also met Şima Açan, a Canadian Parliament member of Turkish descent representing Oakville West, according to a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry on NSosyal social media account.

As part of his Toronto program, Fidan also held talks with Turkish businesspeople based in Canada. He later attended an event organized by the Union of International Democrats titled “Türkiye’s Foreign Policy in an Age of Global Uncertainties,” where he met representatives of Turkish and Muslim communities living in Canada.

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Preparations intensified across the Turkish capital ahead of the 36th NATO summit on July 7-8, with authorities rolling out extensive security, traffic and logistical measures as Ankara prepares to host dozens of heads of state and government.

Workers continued installing summit-themed billboards and landscaping along the main protocol route linking Esenboğa Airport to the Presidential Complex. Large signs carrying the slogans “The Key to Peace,” “The Key to Security” and “A Shared Future in Peace” were placed along Turgut Özal Boulevard, one of the main arteries expected to be used by official delegations.

Additional billboards promoting Türkiye’s hosting of the COP31 U.N. Climate Change Conference and showcasing domestically developed defense systems, including the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship, the Tayfun ballistic missile and the HÜRJET advanced jet trainer, were also installed along the route.

The Ankara Governor’s Office on Thursday announced a series of temporary road closures and traffic restrictions to ensure the security of summit participants and maintain public order during the high-level gathering.

According to the governor’s office, roads surrounding the Presidential Complex, where the summit meetings will take place, will remain closed to vehicle traffic from 7 a.m. on July 7 until 11:59 p.m. on July 8. Parking will also be prohibited along designated routes, with improperly parked vehicles subject to removal.

Authorities said additional restrictions would be implemented around hotels hosting foreign delegations beginning July 6. Temporary road closures will also be enforced during motorcade movements, while alternative routes have been identified for local traffic. Detailed maps of restricted areas and alternative roads have been published through the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications.

Health officials also sought to reassure residents that public services would continue uninterrupted throughout the summit.

The Ankara Provincial Health Directorate said hospitals and health care facilities across the city would continue operating at full capacity, including emergency departments, operating rooms, intensive care units and inpatient services.

Officials said appointment schedules within the Central Physician Appointment System (MHRS) had been adjusted to account for possible traffic congestion and to ensure uninterrupted access to health care services.

“The measures taken during international events such as the NATO summit are routine practices that comply with international standards,” the health directorate said in a statement, adding that the planning reflects Türkiye’s organizational capacity while protecting citizens’ access to medical services.

DMM denies false claims

Meanwhile, Turkish authorities rejected several claims circulating on social media regarding security arrangements for the summit.

The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications’ Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM) denied allegations that barriers and temporary panels erected along parts of the summit route were intended to conceal buildings or informal housing areas from visiting leaders.

The center said the installations were standard security and logistical measures routinely implemented during major international events, including NATO, G-20 and U.N. summits. It said physical barriers are commonly used to reduce security risks, facilitate the movement of official delegations and minimize environmental and traffic disruptions.

The DMM also dismissed claims that Ankara’s Dikmen Valley and Botanik Park would be closed to the public to accommodate a morning walk by French President Emmanuel Macron.

In a statement, the center described the reports as “completely unfounded,” saying no decision or plan existed to restrict public access to either park for that purpose.

Officials urged the public not to rely on what they described as misleading social media posts intended to create confusion ahead of the summit.

Türkiye will host NATO leaders in Ankara at a time when the alliance faces growing security challenges, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, instability across the Middle East and increasing emphasis on defense spending and industrial cooperation.

Some 40,000 security personnel, including police and gendarmerie officers, will be tasked with the security of the summit. Along with uniformed officers, plainclothes officers will be in charge of security in Ankara.

In addition to CCTV cameras across the city, authorities will install high-tech “observer cams” at 100 critical locations during the summit.

Preparations are being made for the needs of at least 6,000 people who will attend the summit.

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