⚖️ Justice System and Everyday Life in Türkiye
Trustee appointed to Halk TV companies; broadcast halted; 11 detained
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said detention orders were issued for 17 people in an investigation into Halk TV Board Chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu on allegations of bribery, bid-rigging and laundering proceeds of crime. Eleven people were detained in simultaneous morning operations on 14 October. Prosecutors allege about 14.46 million TL in unrecorded bribes linked to İzmir Metropolitan Municipality tenders through the company BUSTECH, and say MASAK data show a transaction volume of about 30.35 billion TL across companies linked to Mahiroğlu. A criminal judgeship of peace ordered the seizure of companies tied to him and appointed the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) as trustee. Police entered the channel’s Istanbul building early in the morning and broadcasting was stopped. The statement says Mahiroğlu left the country on 10 March 2025.
Court refuses to implement ECtHR ruling on Osman Kavala
Istanbul 13th Heavy Penal Court rejected requests by Osman Kavala’s lawyers for a stay of execution, release and retrial following the European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber ruling of 25 August 2026, and ordered enforcement of the 25 April 2022 aggravated life sentence to continue. The court said domestic remedies must be exhausted and that the ECtHR is not an appeals court. The decision can be challenged before Istanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court within two weeks of the reasoned decision being served.
Fund investigation: 29 names written “by mistake” on asset-freeze list
In the Istanbul prosecutors’ investigation into qualified fraud, breaches of the Capital Markets Law and money laundering, a request to freeze the assets of 141 people was sent to institutions. Journalist Bahadır Özgür reported that 29 names were included by mistake, and the relevant units were notified in writing. Prosecutors asked the Capital Markets Board (SPK) and the Central Bank to report suspicious transactions by those listed without delay; the freeze does not cover pensions. The Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) sent refund notices to some of those listed.
Damal mayor among 10 arrested in six-province bribery inquiry
Ten suspects, including Damal Mayor Kemal Çamlıyurt, were remanded in custody in a bribery investigation covering six provinces and centred on Ardahan.
Investigation opened into Sözcü TV presenter Serap Belovacıklı
Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an ex officio investigation into Sözcü TV presenter Serap Belovacıklı for “inciting hatred and enmity or denigration”, citing her social media posts, and summoned her to give a statement. The posts were replies to criticism of her spouse, YENİ Party’s Ümit Özlale, over a claim about Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş’s father; the minister denied the claim. Belovacıklı later deleted the posts.
Court annuls “no EIA required” decision for Söğüt gold-silver mine
Eskişehir 2nd Administrative Court annulled the “ÇED Gerekli Değildir” (no environmental impact assessment required) decision for Türk Altın İşletmeleri’s open-pit project in Yakacık village, Söğüt, Bilecik, in a case brought by Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality. The court cited risks to water quality, farmland and biodiversity, and an expert report that found the project file incomplete and inconsistent.
Cargo ship drifts and turns around in the Bosphorus
The 147-metre Bilbao Trader, bound from Istanbul to Derince, suffered a malfunction off Kuruçeşme at about 21:30 and drifted, reversing its heading and stopping metres from the shore. Coast Safety vessels were dispatched, the fault was fixed quickly, and the ship left the strait under escort.
Source: Cumhuriyet, 13 October 2026, 23:23.
Eighty workers hospitalised in İzmir after suspected food poisoning
About 80 workers in Kemalpaşa, İzmir, sought hospital care with nausea and vomiting after eating meals supplied by the same catering company to several workplaces. Food samples have been sent for laboratory analysis and an investigation is under way.
🤝 Ruling Government (AKP, MHP, CHP and DEM coalition aka People’s Alliance)
Bahçeli: peace process to be concluded “as soon as possible”
Speaking at the MHP group meeting in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM), MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli said the “Terror-Free Türkiye” steps would continue and be concluded as soon as possible. He asked state institutions to inform the public about the results of the fund investigations, claimed the opposition was using the probe to cover municipal corruption cases, and called for military support for Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. “Türkiye will not turn back from its path,” he said.
Bakırhan: DEM Party will not leave the negotiating table
Speaking at a forum organised by the Middle East Research Institute in Erbil, DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan said the party would stay in the negotiations, urged patience because a century-old issue could not be resolved in a few months, and credited Masoud and Nechirvan Barzani with important roles in the peace process.
🗳️ Opposition Parties (New Party and İYİ Party)
Özel condemns Halk TV trustee appointment
YENİ Party leader Özgür Özel condemned the police raid on Halk TV as something only dictators would do, said its timing coincided with the start of İmamoğlu’s defence, and declared: “Millet kazanacak” (the nation will win).
İBB trial: İmamoğlu to begin four-day defence
On the 97th day of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) trial, with 436 defendants before Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court at Silivri, defendants named in the supplementary indictment gave their defences. Ekrem İmamoğlu is due to give his defence over four days, Wednesday to Saturday, and the court said a monthly detention review will follow the end of the second hearing on Saturday.
CHP wins Mersin Metropolitan acting mayor vote
CHP candidate Gülşah Yıldırım Genç won the acting mayor election after Mayor Vahap Seçer was arrested and removed from office, receiving 47 votes in each of three rounds among 73 members voting.
Çiğli council fails to meet quorum after mayor joins AKP
After Çiğli Mayor Onur Emrah Yıldız joined the AKP, the municipal council’s session could not be held: 17 members were required but 16 attended, as CHP and YENİ Party members stayed away. The session was postponed to 14:00 on Friday, 16 October.
Kılıçdaroğlu meets Bahçeli at TBMM
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, installed as CHP chairman by the “mutlak butlan” (absolute nullity) ruling, met Bahçeli at TBMM after both spoke at group meetings. Kılıçdaroğlu said: “The only haven for mayors who steal is AK Party headquarters.”