Politics
Türkiye pushes for peace in Sudan, Pakistan-Afghanistan truce
Speaking to journalists during a return trip to Türkiye from Azerbaijan on Saturday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the Turkish foreign minister and intelligence chief would be part of a delegation to Pakistan this week to resolve issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
On Sudan, Erdoğan said Ankara would not just watch what was happening in the country locked in a dire conflict and said diplomatic efforts would continue.
Erdoğan also touched upon normalization with Armenia and said they were “in sync” with Azerbaijan in their push for the revival of ties with Armenia.
The Turkish leader has joined Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Baku on Saturday on the occasion of Victory Day, or the anniversary of the liberation of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh from the Armenian occupation.
The president told journalists in remarks published on Sunday that he had held bilateral talks with Sharif in Baku, both on their countries’ ties and measures to prevent military escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “These are two brotherly countries for us, and together with Qatar, we are working to end this dispute as mediators. Our target is implementing measures and mechanisms for a lasting truce and permanently ending acts of terrorism in the region,” Erdoğan stated. The president said Türkiye’s mediation has been positive, and they hope for a good outcome from the Pakistan-Afghanistan talks.
“This week, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and our National Intelligence Organization (MIT) director will travel together to Pakistan. Allah willing, they will pave the way for concluding the process that started in Doha in Ankara. We hope for a lasting truce and peace, and continue advising the sides to act moderately,” he said.
The two neighbors have seen tensions rising after deadly border clashes. The clashes subsided after Qatar mediated a cease-fire on Oct. 19. Since then, representatives of the two countries have engaged in talks in Istanbul for a lasting peace. Mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, the process is the most significant diplomatic effort to resolve problems between the two neighbors since a new administration came to power in Afghanistan four years ago. Although talks have not yielded tangible results so far, the sides remain committed to the cease-fire.
Erdoğan also answered a question on Türkiye’s stance on the ongoing conflict in Sudan. “We have to implement plans first. Sudan is a country always waiting for Türkiye to reach out to them. Every suffering, every massacre there gives us immense pain. They are looking to us and we are working on what we can do for them now,” he said.
The president noted that thousands of people have died in Sudan in the past two years and that millions of others have been displaced, while the children were embattled with starvation and diseases. “What is happening there hurts the conscience of humanity. We believe this dispute should end as soon as possible, and problems should be resolved through dialogue. Türkiye has a heavy burden and cannot simply watch the developments there. We will continue our diplomatic efforts for peace and security in Sudan,” he said. Erdoğan added that the people of Sudan should “rest assured that Türkiye is with them.”
Since April 15, 2023, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Force (RSF) have been locked in a war that regional and international mediations have failed to end.
Türkiye’s rising profile in diplomacy under the leadership of Erdoğan reaps results in peace-making efforts. Erdoğan’s recent visits abroad were all aimed at advancing peace efforts in conflicts around the world.
The veteran politician has reshaped Turkish foreign policy to safeguard Türkiye’s interests and the rights of the oppressed.
In the Karabakh conflict, a major issue for friendly Azerbaijan, Erdoğan voiced Türkiye’s support in Baku’s fight against the Armenian occupation. The president’s military and political support ended in the resolution of the issue in 44 days, with Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Karabakh War that began on Sept. 27, 2020. It effectively ended 26 years of illegal Armenian occupation and helped Azerbaijan to liberate its lands.
Erdoğan’s diplomatic efforts and support for the elected legitimate government helped Libya end the political turmoil that began in the post-Gadhafi era. Libya has moved from a process where armed militia backed by international actors attempted to force their way into the capital, Tripoli, for a coup and heightening conflict to a change of balance in power, thanks to Türkiye’s support.
The winds of peace prevailed in Africa, which had long been subject to the West’s imperialist designs, following Erdoğan’s mediation efforts. In 2024, the president stepped in to resolve the crisis between Somalia and Ethiopia. He hosted Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. What followed was a news conference with the two leaders on each side of Erdoğan, who announced that the sides had reached a compromise in their conflict. Prior to that, Türkiye had hosted rounds of talks between Somalia and Somaliland in 2013 and 2014, laying the groundwork for future negotiations.
In 2021, Türkiye offered to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia following a dispute over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Türkiye also reached out to Ethiopia to mediate an end to the conflict in the Tigray region. Also in 2021, Erdoğan offered to mediate in a peaceful solution to a border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan.
Under Erdoğan’s leadership, Türkiye also served as a broker for peace in the Middle East, joining Qatar and Egypt in mediating Israel-Hamas talks and securing a cease-fire to end Israel’s attacks since October 2023 in Gaza.
The longstanding Assad regime in Syria, which thrived on the oppression of its dissidents, also ended in late 2024 thanks to Türkiye’s political support for the new rulers of the neighboring country.
In a speech last August, Erdoğan said that Türkiye has emerged as a trusted and sought-after actor in international peace efforts, advancing with confidence on both diplomatic and economic fronts while maintaining a principled foreign policy that protects the oppressed and avoids reckless adventurism.
Normalization with Armenia
On the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace, Erdoğan said they were pleased with the steps taken to that extent between the two countries, especially the landmark Aug. 8 deal agreed on in the United States.
Erdoğan said the window of peace opened in the southern Caucasus after more than 30 years of stability.
“A successful conclusion to the peace process will make Azerbaijan, the victor in the Karabakh war, an architect of peace,” he stated.
Türkiye and Azerbaijan have solid ties as two allies united under the motto of “two states, one nation,” referring to their Turkic identity. Erdoğan noted that Türkiye would support Azerbaijan “to the end” during the Karabakh war, and Turkish armed drones have became a symbol of this solidarity. “After the victory, winds of peace are blowing in the region,” he said.
In parallel with Azerbaijan’s dispute with Armenia, Türkiye has suspended ties with Armenia since the 1990s. Erdoğan said now they were synchronizing their efforts with Azerbaijan for normalizing Ankara’s ties with Yerevan.
Türkiye and Armenia reiterated their determination to pursue normalization of ties without preconditions and agreed to speed up the process to open border crossings between the two neighbors, as special representatives for the normalization process, as they met for the sixth round of talks in September.
Türkiye and Armenia have held five rounds of normalization talks in recent years, seeking to restore diplomatic ties and reopen borders closed since the early 1990s.
The two countries share a complex history. Armenia, for a long time, has accused Türkiye, or rather, the Ottoman Empire, of committing “genocide” against the Armenian population in the country during World War I. Türkiye has repeatedly denied the claims, although it has acknowledged a high number of deaths among Armenians due to isolated incidents and diseases.
Borders have remained closed since 1993 following Armenia’s illegal occupation of the Azerbaijani territory of Karabakh. Relations began to thaw after the 2020 Karabakh war, with both sides appointing special envoys to pursue normalization talks and negotiating the reopening of their land border. So far, limited agreements have allowed third-country citizens and diplomats to cross, but a full reopening remains elusive.
Despite the hurdles, there have been tentative gestures toward cooperation. The Margara border crossing has been used twice in recent years for humanitarian purposes: in February 2023 to deliver Armenian aid trucks following a devastating earthquake in southeastern Türkiye, and in March 2024 for humanitarian aid shipments to Syria via Türkiye. Armenia has also upgraded the crossing in anticipation of future use.
Aid to Gaza
Erdoğan also commented on the situation in Gaza, where a tentative cease-fire is in place. Responding to a question about aid delivery to Gaza, Erdoğan said they were mobilized to “deliver what our nation entrusted to us to our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” he said. He noted that their 17th “Goodness Ship” carrying aid reached Egypt’s al-Arish port, but the aid corridor was deliberately obstructed (by Israel).”
“They were supposed to allow 600 trucks carrying aid daily to Gaza, but this promise was broken,” Erdoğan lamented. He said Ankara is in talks with allies for the planning of aid. “It is crucial to deliver emergency aid to Gaza. This is a matter of humanity. We transported food, medicine, clothes, etc. And continue transporting them,” he underlined.
F-35 issue
On a question about Türkiye’s acquisition of fighter jets from abroad, namely F-35s from the United States and Eurofighter jets from Europe, Erdoğan said there have been positive steps with the United Kingdom and Germany for Eurofighters. The British prime minister and German chancellor met Erdoğan in a span of a few days recently, and the U.K. and Türkiye signed a deal for Eurofighters during the prime minister’s visit. The jets are manufactured by a consortium of European countries, including the U.K. and Germany.
Erdoğan noted that they were also engaged in talks with Qatar and Oman for the possible additional purchase of secondhand Eurofighters that those countries had. “If we can conclude all these talks, we will have positive developments ahead. In parallel with these, our defense industry is taking leaps (for producing locally-made aircraft).
On the F-35 issue, Erdoğan said his last meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump led to “good steps” on this matter. “I hope their promises will be fulfilled and we will be stronger with F-35 jets,” he said.
Türkiye was removed from the U.S.-led multinational program building and buying the jets in 2019, and Washington imposed Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions following its purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems.
Boosting the population
Another issue on Erdoğan’s agenda was Türkiye’s aging population and boosting the number of families as the country declared 2025 “Family Year.”
Erdoğan said building families was crucial for Türkiye ,and they had to safeguard the institution of the family from “attacks.”
“We have to march to the future with strong steps. We cannot go astray in this march. Unfortunately, we have a 1.7% population growth rate. This is self-destructive, and we cannot allow it to go on at this rate,” he said. Erdoğan repeated his famous advice to couples to have at least three children and said this may very well be “four or five children.”
“We have to accelerate the growth,” he stressed.
Politics
Sumud Flotilla repairs ships in Türkiye for new Gaza voyage
Damaged vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla are being repaired in Türkiye’s Antalya after an Israeli attack in international waters, with volunteers working to prepare the ships for another voyage toward Gaza.
Some of the vessels were left with damaged engines, broken masts and torn sails after the attack. They were later brought to Antalya, where local and international volunteers are carrying out repairs at a shipyard.
Two vessels have already been repaired and sent to Italy as part of preparations for another Gaza-bound mission, said Sümeyra Akdeniz Ordu, a board member of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
“We are trying to recover the ships drifting at sea one by one. We are carrying out a rescue mission,” Ordu told Anadolu Agency (AA). “We are repairing these ships so they can sail to Gaza again.”
Fourteen flotilla vessels are currently in Antalya, Ordu said, adding that volunteers from different countries were helping coordinate and repair the ships.
She said each vessel had a special significance for the activists and that they were treating the ships “like their own children” as they worked to restore them.
The damage was extensive, Ordu said, describing broken masts, damaged engines and cut hoses. She also said the sails had been torn with knives.
“The mast was broken, surface cleaner and coffee had been poured into the engines, and the hoses on each ship had been cut one by one,” she said. “They caused this damage by ramming them with larger ships.”
The repairs have been difficult because of the extent of the damage, but volunteers have continued working, Ordu said.
Türkiye has provided a safe port for the repair effort, she added.
Ordu said the activists remained determined to continue their efforts despite the damage to the vessels.
“If the enemy does not give up, we cannot give up,” she said. “We are trying to be a voice here for our Palestinian friends.”
She said the damage to the vessels showed what she described as the violence and hostility directed at the flotilla.
“We, too, insist on continuing every form of resistance,” Ordu said.
Politics
Turkish officials urge end to attacks after Medina power station hit
Türkiye condemned a drone attack on a power distribution station in the Saudi city of Medina that supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, reiterating its support for Saudi Arabia amid renewed regional tensions.
Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), condemned the attack on Friday, saying targeting infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque was unacceptable.
“Attacks targeting our sacred values are illegitimate acts directed against all Muslims,” Çelik said in a social media post, adding that Türkiye strongly supported Saudi Arabia’s security and stability.
The targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second-holiest site. The attack put one transformer out of service but did not affect the electricity network.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the attack, saying strikes targeting civilian infrastructure and threatening Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security should “cease immediately and unconditionally.”
The ministry reiterated Türkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia and called on parties to avoid steps that could further escalate tensions in the region.
“We reaffirm our strong support for Saudi Arabia and emphasize the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions in the region,” the statement said.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran on Friday separately condemned the strike and said Türkiye would continue to stand by Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led coalition said an investigation and examination of drone wreckage indicated Houthi involvement in the Sept. 29 attack.
Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al Maliki said the targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Saudi Arabia said two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over the Muslim holy city. The coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca since 2017.
Earlier on Thursday, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, also condemned the attack on Medina.
The OIC described the targeting of vital infrastructure and facilities as “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy sites,” as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.
Politics
Türkiye vows continued co-op with Iraq after troop withdrawal
Bashiqa-Zilkan, a key Turkish base in Iraq, will soon be handed over to Iraqi authorities while Turkish troops are expected to withdraw from the country. The development, which comes amid the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country, which remained there as part of an anti-Daesh coalition, signals the start of a new era for Iraq and Türkiye. The Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Thursday that the handover of the base did not mean an end to cooperation with Iraq and, on the contrary, Türkiye would continue supporting Iraq’s security and stability.
Türkiye and Iraq agreed earlier this month to deepen security cooperation, restore full Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and begin the gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan military base to Baghdad under an agreed timetable.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced the steps in a joint statement following talks in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The ministry said Türkiye welcomed steps to ensure state authority in Sinjar. The base was set up in 2015 to help Iraq fight against Daesh and later maintained its presence when the terrorist group PKK sought to replace Daesh following the liberation of Sinjar.
“These steps will contribute to normalization of the region, establishing an environment of security and stability and a terror-free region,” the ministry said, using an expression referring to Ankara’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, which aims to disarm the PKK.
The statement also said it was decided to gradually hand over the compound to the central government in Baghdad, “based on improvement of security in Sinjar.”
“Our country, as it did in the past, stands with our neighbor Iraq in terms of maintaining an environment of security and stability. Throughout future contacts, we are planning to take steps that will further advance military and security cooperation. We will continue supporting Iraq’s armed forces in increasing military capacity, sharing know-how in counterterrorism and in the fields of military training and defense industry cooperation, based on bilateral agreements,” the ministry stated.
Ayhan Sarı, an assistant professor at the Turkish-German University and a security and foreign policy expert at the Turkish Research Foundation (TAV), noted that Türkiye’s withdrawal was linked to ending the PKK’s presence in Sinjar and the re-establishment of Baghdad’s authority there.
Sarı told Daily Sabah that Türkiye has been in Iraq as an exercise of its right to self-defense under international law, particularly Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes the right to individual and collective self-defense against armed attacks. “Türkiye’s presence in Iraq has been due to the PKK threat in the north. (The dissolution) of the PKK will remove the need to remain in Iraq,” Sarı said.
He noted that the PKK and other terrorist groups had, for years, filled the power vacuum that emerged in Iraq’s northern region following the beginning of the Iraq War.
“Iraq’s central government claims it can find a solution to this vacuum through recent steps and establish full authority within its borders after the U.S. withdrawal,” Sarı said.
A U.S.-led coalition deployed in Iraq more than a decade ago against Daesh formally concluded its mission on Wednesday. Daesh was largely expelled from Iraq and Syria, also thanks to Türkiye’s cross-border operations in Assad-era Syria, but U.S. forces remained. Washington and Baghdad reached an agreement two years ago to wind down the mission.
Sarı said it was only natural that Türkiye was supportive of Iraq’s steps to ensure security on its own, since Ankara was committed to developing good relations with its neighbors and centered its foreign policy on peace and stability.
“As it did in Syria, Türkiye sides with central authority, stability and security in Iraq. Türkiye will support this move and will do whatever it can to ensure that this mission succeeds in maintaining stability and security, based on its neighborly relations,” he said.
Sarı added that Iraq’s efforts were compatible with Türkiye’s foreign policy and plans. “Iraq’s success will also mean the complete expulsion of the PKK from that country. This expulsion, removal of this malignant tumor between Türkiye and Iraq, will certainly add momentum to Turkish-Iraqi relations,” he also stated.
Politics
Erdoğan calls for ‘grand consensus’ amid terror-free Türkiye success
Speaking at the inauguration of the new legislative year at the Turkish Parliament on Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed a law passed by Parliament on terror-free Türkiye, which involves the disarmament of the terrorist group PKK.
“Consensus on a terror-free Türkiye has upset the country’s foes. (Terror-free Türkiye) is already having a deterrent effect on Türkiye’s foes and is empowering the country,” Erdoğan said.
The president also urged other political parties to strengthen the “home front” amid regional tensions and reach a “grand Türkiye consensus.”
The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration was approved by Parliament in August following months of political consultations over the government’s terror-free Türkiye initiative. The 12-article legislation received broad parliamentary backing, with 468 lawmakers voting in favor, 88 against and six abstaining. It mainly involves deferral of sentences and prosecution, as part of the initiative that paved the way for the dissolution of the PKK.
For decades, the PKK remained the main security threat for Türkiye, and its violent campaign is blamed for the deaths of thousands of people and immense economic losses, especially in southeastern Türkiye. Apart from small nationalist parties, almost all political parties openly supported the initiative, something rare in polarized Turkish politics.
“The era of opposition solely based on opposing what the government did is over. It is a grave mistake to reduce politics to antagonizing the rivals, to a war of attrition, instead of making it a race in offering the best public services. Regional and global developments require us to pursue a new style of politics,” Erdoğan told Parliament amid constant applause from lawmakers from his Justice and Development Party (AK Party). The main opposition New Party (YP) left Parliament’s general assembly hall as Erdoğan took the floor.
“We have two options now: We will either continue with the old way of politics focusing on polarization, or we will build new politics based on finding common ground, finding consensus amid competition,” he said.
“If we are meant to make Türkiye great and strong again, if we are meant to utilize historic opportunities, we have to adapt to this paradigm shift altogether and without losing more time,” he said.
The president said they did not expect all political parties to fully align or have the same opinion.
“Different views are certainly the wealth of Türkiye, Turkish democracy. But all political parties should prioritize Türkiye. Every party should draw power from its own dynamics, its grassroots, to carry out ‘Türkiye-oriented politics,'” Erdoğan said.
“Reconciliation and tolerance should replace conflict and polarization. We have to find common ground on matters essential for every member of our nation. This is what we call the ‘grand Türkiye consensus,'” Erdoğan added.
New constitution
The president also focused on drafting a new constitution. “The goal of a new and civilian constitution is a struggle for Turkish democracy to prove its maturity. Our esteemed Parliament is competent and authorized to draft a constitution under all circumstances and in every period. A new constitution that will broaden Türkiye’s horizons will be the product not of a politics of polarization, but of a new politics based on competition within consensus. Our nation’s longing for a new constitution must not be held hostage by manufactured fears. Our position regarding the first four articles of the Constitution currently in force is clear. Rolling up our sleeves for a new and civilian constitution worthy of the ‘Century of Türkiye’ is a genuine test of sincerity for everyone. I hope the current legislative year will be a year of constitutional reform that expands Türkiye’s opportunities and potential,” he said.
Since the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, constitutional design has served as the backbone of the country’s legal system. The current Constitution, adopted in 1982, has been repeatedly amended over the decades, most notably in 2017, when a national referendum paved the way for the country’s transition from a parliamentary model to an executive presidential system.
Despite numerous amendments over the decades, replacing the 1982 Constitution with a new, civilian-drafted charter remains a prominent issue in Türkiye’s political debate.
Erdoğan and Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş have repeatedly advocated for a new civilian constitution, arguing that the existing charter retains the legacy of military rule under which it was drafted despite extensive subsequent amendments.
Politics
Türkiye condemns Houthis’ attack on holy city of Medina
Türkiye condemned Thursday a drone attack by Houthis on a power station in the Muslim holy city of Medina, reaffirming its support for Saudi Arabia.
The targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second-holiest site. The attack put one transformer out of service but did not affect the electricity network.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Thursday that an investigation and examination of drone wreckage confirmed Houthi involvement in planning and carrying out Tuesday’s attack.
“We strongly condemn the Houthis’ attack on civilian infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“These provocative attacks, which threaten Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security and target the sacred values of the Islamic world, must cease immediately and unconditionally,” it said.
Saudi Arabia said two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over the Muslim holy city. The coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca since 2017.
The Foreign Ministry emphasized the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions.
“We reaffirm our strong support for Saudi Arabia and emphasize the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions in the region,” the statement said.
Earlier Thursday, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, also condemned the attack on Medina.
The OIC described the targeting of vital infrastructure and facilities as “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy sites,” as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.
The organization affirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in measures taken to protect its territory, security and stability, defend Islamic holy sites and safeguard citizens and residents.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the drone attack constituted “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and a threat to its security and stability.”
The Saudi-led coalition said the Medina attack was part of what it described as repeated Houthi attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and “provoke” Muslims worldwide. It said it would continue taking measures to protect the holy sites and pilgrims.
Houthis denied the accusation.
The latest escalation is the most serious fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis since a U.N.-brokered truce largely halted cross-border attacks in 2022. Hostilities resumed this year after the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and began attacking Saudi territory and shipping, while Houthi forces also made major territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes in Yemen and backed government forces fighting to push back the Houthis.
Politics
28 detained in corruption probe involving Istanbul’s Eyüpsultan Mayor
Turkish authorities detained Eyüpsultan Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen and 27 other suspects earlier Friday as part of a corruption investigation involving the Istanbul district municipality, prosecutors said.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said detention orders were issued for 28 suspects over allegations including membership in a criminal organization, receiving and giving bribes and bid rigging.
All 28 suspects were detained in simultaneous operations carried out by financial crimes police, according to the prosecutor’s office. Authorities also conducted searches and seizures at addresses linked to the suspects and searched the Republican People’s Party (CHP)-run Eyüpsultan Municipality building.
Prosecutors said the investigation was being conducted in coordination with the Ankara Police Department’s Financial Crimes Investigation Branch.
“The investigation continues in a comprehensive and meticulous manner,” the prosecutor’s office said.
Özmen, who serves as mayor of Istanbul’s Eyüpsultan district, was among those taken into custody.
The detentions are part of an ongoing investigation, and no court has ruled on the allegations against the suspects.
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