⚖️ Justice System and Everyday Life in Türkiye
Istanbul flooding: three dead, six missing
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said three people died in Istanbul (one by electrocution, two by drowning) and six are missing (five in Istanbul, one in Kocaeli), with search operations continuing. Rainfall reached up to 272 mm in places. Of 12,372 reports received across warned provinces, 9,755 came from Istanbul, and 3,055 stranded people were rescued there. 58,085 personnel were deployed nationwide. Schools in several provinces were closed for 16 October.
Journalist Murat Ağırel and four others detained in fund-linked money-laundering probe
Journalist Murat Ağırel, already under house arrest over his reporting on the investment-fund affair, was detained on the morning of 16 October together with Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Volkan Aslanbaş and Cavidan Tanrah Artuner; a detention order was also issued for Emir Sarıgül. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the case stems from complaints by two German citizens alleging money laundering through companies and a planned transfer of a “1 milyar Euro” fund abroad, and that they were threatened after giving documents to Ağırel. Allegations concerning MP Mustafa Sarıgül will be handled separately by the Ankara prosecutor’s office.
Halk TV journalist Bahadır Özgür detained for allegedly breaching investigation confidentiality
Bahadır Özgür, a Halk TV presenter, was detained at about 17:00 on 15 October and held overnight, with referral to court expected on 16 October. He rejected the charge, saying his report relied on public remarks by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek. His lawyer Mürsel Ünder called the detention a violation of personal liberty. An access ban was reportedly ordered on his X account of 163,000 followers.
Access to all Halk TV social media accounts blocked
After the channel was placed under a trustee (kayyım) and its broadcasts halted, access to its social media accounts was blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651, citing national security and public order. According to the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD), the accounts include YouTube (about 2.59 million subscribers) and X (3 million followers). Owner Cafer Mahiroğlu is under investigation for alleged bribery, bid rigging and laundering of proceeds of crime.
Court orders withdrawal of Mahir Çayan book
Ankara 8th Criminal Judgeship of Peace ordered the withdrawal of “Mahir Çayan Kitabı”, published by Dipnot Yayınları in June, describing it as “organization propaganda”. The publisher’s general editor, Emirali Türkmen, faces a case on the same charge, with a hearing set for 23 February 2027. Dipnot said: “Books are not instruments of crime; thoughts are not evidence of crime.”
Illegal betting operation across 33 provinces
Operations led from Eskişehir covered 119 suspects in 33 provinces. The Interior Ministry said suspects obtained bank accounts and mobile lines from third parties to move money for illegal betting sites.
🏛️ Politics
Bekir Bayrakdar appointed Deputy Minister of Treasury and Finance
The Official Gazette published a decision signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appointing Bekir Bayrakdar, head of the Revenue Administration since 2019, as Deputy Minister of Treasury and Finance. Since May 2026 he has chaired the board of the Türkiye Development and Investment Bank.
Foreign Minister Fidan leaves hall during Israeli President Herzog’s speech in Baku
At the 7th CICA summit in Baku, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his delegation left the hall as Israeli President Isaac Herzog began speaking; delegations from more than 10 countries did the same, according to Anadolu Agency.
🤝 Ruling Government (AKP, MHP, CHP and DEM coalition aka People’s Alliance)
Üsküdar acting mayor Dündar Ziya Gültekin (AKP) dies after road accident
Gültekin died after a three-vehicle collision on the Anadolu Motorway near Kaynaşlı, Düzce, on 15 October; five people were injured. He took the Üsküdar municipality for the AKP after a re-run vote on 8 September (23 votes to 19), following the arrest and removal of CHP mayor Sinem Dedetaş. AKP Düzce chair Hasan Şengüloğlu confirmed the death.
🗳️ Opposition Parties (New Party and İYİ Party)
New investigation opened into İmamoğlu over remarks made in his defence
Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an ex officio investigation into Ekrem İmamoğlu for “aleni hakaret” (public insult) of public officials, over remarks at the 15 October hearing of the İBB (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) case, where he described a phone call with Justice Minister Akın Gürlek.
İmamoğlu ties Istanbul floods to the İBB case and asks for Kılıçdaroğlu as witness
On the second day of his defence before Istanbul’s 33rd High Criminal Court, İmamoğlu said the case is politically motivated and rests on cooperating defendants’ confessions rather than bank records or wiretaps. He asked that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu be heard as a witness on the takeover of the CHP Istanbul organisation, and denied that he sought a USD 2 billion fund for a presidential run. The trial has 436 defendants, 53 of them detained.
CHP names Mehmet Ali Yüksel Istanbul provincial chair, replacing Gürsel Tekin
Müslim Sarı, spokesperson of the Kılıçdaroğlu-led CHP, announced on X that Mehmet Ali Yüksel was appointed Istanbul provincial chair in place of Gürsel Tekin, thanking Tekin for his service.
Party of European Socialists suspends CHP membership and admits YENİ Parti
The PES Presidium meeting in Brussels suspended CHP’s membership and unanimously accepted YENİ Parti’s application. ANKA sources described it as a suspension, not an expulsion, which can be reviewed. The Socialist International took a similar step on 1 October.
YENİ Parti’s Ayşe Ünlüce elected acting president of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye
The TBB Assembly elected Eskişehir mayor Ayşe Ünlüce (YENİ Parti) over Kocaeli mayor Tahir Büyükakın (AKP) in a fourth round, 417 votes to 369, after rounds that ran 409–369, 403–385 and 406–363. The CHP fielded no candidate and backed Ünlüce. The post fell vacant after Mersin mayor Vahap Seçer was arrested and removed.