"Crackdown or capital grab? Turkey state fund controls 1,000 businesses" by John Paul Rathbone, Financial Times
“The AKP has long used the TMSF both as a tool to regulate the economy and to channel resources towards companies close to itself, while sidelining those it views as rivals,” said Berk Esen, assistant professor of political science at Istanbul’s Sabancı University. The government may now be “trying to reshape who controls the economy, to reconfigure Turkey’s corporate structure”, Esen added.
The simplest explanation for the probes and asset seizures, analysts and business leaders say, is that the government wants to boost its standing among voters by showing it is tough on all kinds of corruption. Its aim is to demonstrate that Turkey’s courts are independent and that prosecutors are not singling out the opposition for legal action.
A darker possibility, analysts said, is that Turkey’s struggling economy has increased the need for Erdoğan’s ruling party to fund patronage networks ahead of the next presidential elections, scheduled for 2028.
"Mass return of Syrians from Turkiye reveals intriguing regional patterns—here’s why" by Omer Ozkizilcik, Turkiye Today
Among Turkish provinces, the largest percentage of returns occurred from Hatay, a province bordering Syria. Roughly 29% of all Syrians living in Hatay have gone back. Many Syrians in Hatay come from areas that are relatively less affected by the war and can therefore return more easily than refugees in Gaziantep, who mostly come from devastated parts of Aleppo. Gaziantep’s return rate stands at 18%.
Among all provinces adjacent to the Syrian border, Sanliurfa has the lowest return rate with 16%. Despite Sanliurfa being relatively less attractive economically, returns there have remained low because most Syrian refugees in the province are from Deir el-Zour. Since the SDF still controls the eastern side of the Euphrates River inDeir el-Zour, many refugees are unable or unwilling to return, fearing life on the front line.
"Venezuelan leaders offered U.S. a path to stay in power without Maduro" by Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald
According to the sources, Qatari mediators presented to the U.S. two formal proposals this year, one in April and another in September. Both outlined potential governing mechanisms without Maduro in power. Sources told the Miami Herald the offers through Qatar were made with Maduro’s approval.
The second proposal, presented in September, envisioned Maduro being replaced by a transitional government led by Delcy Rodríguez and Miguel Rodríguez Torres, with guarantees that the Venezuelan leader could seek exile in Qatar or Turkey.
Ocalan Urges Turkey to Recognize ‘Right to Hope’ for Life-Sentenced Prisoners
Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has called on the Turkish government to adopt the “right to hope,” a legal principle that allows prisoners serving life sentences to be considered for conditional release.
According to a statement from his lawyers, Ocalan, 76, said, “The ‘right to hope’ is a step the state must take. It needs to lift this burden. This issue affects thousands of people. From any perspective, it must be resolved. Law, politics, and justice all require it.”
MHP Leader Calls for Official Recognition of Alevi Cemevis
The leader of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, on October 14 called for lifting all barriers that prevent the official recognition of cemevis, Alevi houses of worship.
Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Bahceli said, “With a clear conscience and sincerity, I say we are both Alevi and Sunni, but above all, we are the Muslim Turkish nation. Our Alevi brothers and sisters are our own people. Their problems are our problems, their demands are our demands.”
He urged the government to take bold action to formally recognize cemevis as houses of worship, adding that it was time to “remove obstacles one by one.”
Former CHP Mayor Among 15 Arrested in Bursa Corruption and Bribery Probe
Fifteen people, including a former district mayor from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was arrested on October 14 in a bribery and organized crime investigation in the northwestern province of Bursa.
Turgay Erdem, who served as mayor of Bursa’s Nilufer district from 2019 to 2024, was among 22 suspects detained last week as part of the corruption probe launched by the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Seven people, including Erdem’s wife and brother-in-law, were released under judicial supervision, while one person remains at large.
Turkey’s Top Court Limits President’s Broad Economic Authority
Turkey’s Constitutional Court has annulled a legal provision that gave the president broad authority to make decisions directly affecting major economic activities, ruling that the measure violates the country’s constitution. The court emphasized that such sweeping powers cannot be exercised solely through a presidential decree.
The court found that the provision allowed the president to regulate a wide range of financial activities—including the movement of foreign currency, precious metals, securities, and related instruments—without specifying how or under what conditions this authority could be used.
The ruling also noted that such discretion violated constitutional protections, including the right to own property, conduct business, and enter into private agreements, reaffirming that only the legislature has the authority to impose restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms.
Turkey Posts Record $5.46 Billion Current-Account Surplus in August
Turkey recorded a historic current-account surplus of $5.46 billion in August, driven by strong tourism revenues and a reduced trade deficit, according to data from the central bank.
The country’s holiday resorts attracted millions of visitors from Europe and Russia, contributing to a $9.5 billion surplus in services, including $7.7 billion from tourism alone.
As a result, Turkey’s 12-month current-account deficit narrowed to $18.3 billion in August.
Turkey Raises $2.95 Billion in 5G Spectrum Auction
5G spectrum auction generated $2.95 billion in winning bids on October 16, as the country’s three major mobile operators—Turkcell, Turk Telekom, and Vodafone Turkey—secured key frequencies to roll out next-generation wireless services.
The auction, organized by Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), included frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands, both essential for nationwide 5G coverage.
Turkcell made the highest overall bid, paying $429 million for the A1 package in the 700 MHz band and winning four additional blocks in the 3.5 GHz range, bringing its total to $1.22 billion. Turk Telekom obtained the A3 package for $425 million and two 3.5 GHz blocks for a total of $1.1 billion, while Vodafone secured the A2 package for $426 million and one 3.5 GHz block, totaling $627 million.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said the auction would provide $2.13 billion in net revenue to the treasury, excluding value-added tax (VAT), and $3.53 billion including VAT, according to Anadolu.
Ruling Party Pushes Bill Allowing Hotels in Turkey’s National Parks
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has advanced a controversial bill that would permit the construction of hotels and tourism facilities inside Turkey’s national parks. The 30-article bill was approved by a parliamentary committee with the support of ruling party members.
If enacted, the law would authorize the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP) to allow accommodation and tourism developments in areas designated as being “for public benefit.” Private companies and individuals could obtain operating rights for up to 49 years, extendable to 99 years for operators deemed “successful.”
The draft legislation also allows individuals and corporations to obtain paid permits for transportation, energy, water, and other infrastructure projects within national and nature parks, provided they comply with approved zoning and environmental plans.
Turkey Plans New Law Allowing Prosecutors to Seize Crypto Wallets and Freeze Bank Accounts
A new reform package expected to be submitted to the Turkish Parliament in the coming weeks will grant prosecutors the power to seize cryptocurrency wallets and freeze bank accounts linked to financial crimes, the T24 news website reported.
The proposed legislation would also criminalize renting or leasing personal bank accounts for money-laundering activities, with offenders facing up to three years in prison. Both the account renter and the holder could be prosecuted, even if the holder did not intend to commit fraud.
Under the draft changes to the Criminal Procedure Code, banks and cryptocurrency exchanges would be authorized to freeze accounts suspected of containing illicit funds. Chief public prosecutors’ offices would also be given direct authority to seize such assets, including digital wallets.
OECD: Nearly One in Three Young People in Turkey Neither Working Nor Studying
Nearly one in three young people in Turkey is neither employed nor studying—the highest rate among OECD countries—according to the organization’s Education at a Glance 2025 report.
The report found that 31.3 percent of Turks aged 18 to 24 are not in employment, education, or training (NEET), more than double the OECD average of 14.1 percent.
Turkey also ranks lowest in employment rates for both high school and university graduates, at 63 percent and 75.4 percent respectively. This means that 24.6 percent of university graduates aged 25–64 are unemployed. Across the OECD, the average employment rate is 77.6 percent for high school graduates and 87.1 percent for university graduates.
Educational attainment remains low: half of Turkish adults aged 25–64 have not completed high school, compared with about one in five across the OECD. Only 26.9 percent of Turkish adults hold a university degree, compared with the OECD average of 41.9 percent.
Gender inequality is also significant—41.6 percent of young women are neither working nor studying, compared with 22.1 percent of young men. The gender gap across the OECD averages only 1.5 percentage points.
Meanwhile, public investment in education has declined. The share of Turkey’s national budget devoted to education dropped from 12.9 percent to 10.6 percent. In spending terms, Turkey allocates $4,032 per primary and secondary student and $10,825 per tertiary student—well below the OECD averages of $13,527 and $21,444, respectively.
Prosecutors Order Detention of 35 People in Expanding Can Holding Corruption Probe
Turkish prosecutors have issued detention warrants for 35 people, including the owners of Can Holding and a former university rector, as part of a widening investigation into Turkey’s largest private conglomerate on charges of tax evasion, fraud, and money laundering.
Those detained include company owners Sakir and Murat Can, their wives Betul and Zuhal Can, and Kenan Tekdag, the conglomerate’s chairman, who had previously been under house arrest. Former Bilgi University rector Remzi Sanver was also among those detained. Sanver is known for his prominent role in the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Turkey, where he previously served as grand master and returned to the post in 2023.
According to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the detentions were based on a new financial crimes report from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and additional evidence showing that the suspects played “active roles within the criminal organization.”
Investigators reportedly uncovered financial transactions totaling 88 billion lira (about $2.1 billion) of unidentified origin in the accounts of Can Holding and 121 affiliated companies between 2020 and 2021.
Former Central Bank Deputy Governor Arrested in Corruption Probe
Former Turkish Central Bank Deputy Governor Emrah Sener has been arrested in connection with a corruption and tender-rigging investigation involving the Interbank Card Center (BKM), the country’s main payment-processing network, in which the central bank is the majority shareholder.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that seven people, including Sener, 47, and former BKM CEO Baran Aytas, were taken into custody over allegations of misconduct related to two major BKM tenders. The investigation also involves claims of unlawful service procurements without formal bidding and the misuse of a corporate credit card assigned to Aytas.
The Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of Peace ordered the pretrial detention of seven suspects—Sener, Aytas, Bora Koc, Mehmet Fatih Demirbas, Birol Kanbir, Osman Arslan, and Muhammed Guven—who were among ten people detained in the operation. Three suspects were released under judicial supervision, while four others are believed to have fled abroad.
KESK’s March for Dismissed Workers Ends in Ankara, Blocked by Police
The Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK) launched a march from Diyarbakir on October 13 to protest the dismissal of public employees under Statutory Decrees (KHK). The march ended in Ankara on its fifth day, where security forces blocked the group from making a press statement in front of the Parliament.
After the march, KESK Co-Chairs delivered remarks criticizing the government’s handling of democracy and workers’ rights.
Co-Chair Ayfer Kocak said, “A peace process cannot be carried out in Istanbul, Izmir, or Ankara with democracy put on hold.”
“The public employees you dismissed are children of poor working families. They worked hard to earn their living and their jobs. They accuse us of being affiliated with terrorism, but we are affiliated with peace,” Co-Chair Ahmet Karagoz stated.
ECtHR Rules Turkey Violated Rights of 137 People Detained After 2016 Coup Attempt
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Turkey violated the rights of 137 people who were arrested and held in pretrial detention following the failed 2016 coup attempt over alleged links to the Gulen movement.
The Strasbourg-based court issued its judgment in the Case of Cetin and Others v. Turkiye on October 14, combining the applications into a single ruling due to their similar nature.
The ECtHR found a violation of Article 5 § 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, ruling that Turkish courts failed to provide “relevant and sufficient” reasons for keeping the applicants in pretrial detention. The court said the Turkish judiciary relied on “abstract and formulaic” justifications when ordering and extending detention, without conducting individualized assessments of each applicant’s circumstances.
Each applicant was awarded €3,000 in non-pecuniary damages.
Human rights lawyer Hakan Kaplankaya said the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has notified Turkey of an additional 4,800 applications concerning convictions for alleged membership in the Gülen movement based on the use of the ByLock messaging app.
Turkish Academic Arrested Over Online Poll on Dictatorship
Turkish academic and author Emrah Gulsunar has been arrested over a poll he posted on X asking whether seeking foreign assistance to overthrow a dictatorial regime could be considered legitimate.
After criticism suggesting the question referred to the Turkish government, Gulsunar clarified that his post was taken out of context and was not about Turkey. He said the poll was related to debates on whether opposition movements in countries like Venezuela are justified in seeking international support to challenge dictatorship.
Gulsunar, 38, was arrested and placed in pretrial detention on October 13, his lawyer Hasan Sinar announced on X.
AK Party and MHP Block Parliamentary Inquiry into Student’s Suspicious Death
Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and its far-right ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), on October 15 rejected a parliamentary motion to investigate the suspicious death of university student Rojin Kabais in the eastern province of Van.
The motion was introduced by the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). DEM Party lawmaker Oznur Bartin, who submitted the proposal, criticized the lack of transparency, asking, “Who was being protected, and why was this evidence delayed? This obstruction has prevented a proper investigation and helped cover up Rojin’s suspicious death—a murder.”
Kabais, 21, was a student at Yuzuncu Yil University in Van. Her body was found on the shore of Lake Van 18 days after she went missing about a year ago. Authorities initially ruled her death a suicide, a claim long rejected by her family and women’s rights activists.
The case gained renewed attention after a forensic report dated October 10 revealed DNA traces from two different men on Kabais’s body—one on her chest and another in the vaginal area—raising fresh suspicions of sexual assault.
Tufan Erhurman Wins Presidency in Northern Cyprus Election
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Chairman Tufan Erhurman won the presidency of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), securing 62.76 percent of the vote in the first round of the election on October 19, according to unofficial results. Independent candidate and incumbent President Ersin Tatar received 35.81 percent.
In his first remarks following the announcement of results, Erhurman said that foreign policy would continue to be conducted in close coordination with Turkey, adding, “No one should doubt this.”
The first political reaction came from MHP leader Devlet Bahceli, ally of the ruling AK Party, who criticized the low voter turnout. “The elections held in the TRNC had a very low participation rate. The fate of the Turkish Cypriot community cannot be represented by this rate,” Bahceli said. He added that the TRNC parliament should “urgently convene, declare the election results and the return to the federation unacceptable, and decide to join the Republic of Turkey.”
Contrary to Bahceli’s remarks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Erhurman on his victory, writing on social media that Turkey would continue to defend its sovereign rights and interests alongside the Turkish Cypriot people.
Opposition CHP leader Ozgur Ozel also commented on social media, indirectly addressing Erdogan and Bahceli. “The Turkish Cypriot people have responded to the mentality that intervenes from outside for its own interests and virtually invades the island to promote its side,” Ozel stated. “We hope those who resorted to black propaganda to gain support — and who are now expressing their displeasure on social media — have correctly understood the message of the Turkish Cypriots.”
Turkey Plans to Supply Military Equipment to Syria, Expand Cross-Border Operation Zone
Turkey plans to supply military equipment to Syria and finalize a deal that would allow it to target Kurdish militants along the entire Syrian border, Bloomberg reported, citing Turkish officials.
According to the report, Ankara intends to deliver armored vehicles, drones, artillery, missiles, and air-defense systems within the next few weeks. The equipment will be deployed in northern Syria, avoiding areas in the southwest to prevent tensions with Israel, the officials said.
The planned military support aims to help President Bashar al-Sharaa rebuild Syria’s armed forces after much of its arsenal was destroyed by Israel, the sources added.
Turkey and Syria have also discussed expanding a nearly 30-year-old security agreement that currently allows Turkey to strike Kurdish militants operating within 5 kilometers of the border. Ankara is seeking to extend this range to 30 kilometers (19 miles) and wants the Syrian government to restrict the Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) access to oil and gas revenues, arguing that the funds are being funneled to the PKK, the officials said.
Ocalan Calls on Barzani to Mediate Peace Talks with Ankara
Jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan has appealed to Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, to help advance peace talks with Ankara aimed at ending the four-decade conflict between the PKK and Turkey, Al-Monitor reported.
In a letter delivered to Barzani, Ocalan wrote that the outcome of the talks would “inevitably affect Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” adding, “My aim in this process is to bring about a lasting solution based on democratic principles.”
“It is of great importance that you also take on leadership of the process,” Ocalan said, according to excerpts of the typewritten letter shared exclusively with Al-Monitor.
Turkey Sends 81 Disaster Relief Experts to Gaza, Awaits Israeli Approval
Turkey has deployed 81 disaster relief experts along with necessary equipment and vehicles to the Gaza Strip, including teams assigned to locate the remains of 19 missing hostages, a defense ministry source said on October 16.
“There is already a team of 81 personnel in the area,” the source noted, referring to Turkey’s disaster management agency. “One team will specifically focus on recovering the bodies.”
When asked if the Turkish military might take part, the source explained that such operations fall mainly under the responsibility of civilian agencies like AFAD but added that the military could assist if necessary.
However, according to a Turkish official who spoke to AFP on October 17, the AFAD team remains stationed at the Egyptian border, waiting for Israeli authorization to enter Gaza and begin search and recovery operations.
“They are currently waiting at the border on the Egyptian side,” the official said. “It remains unclear when Israel will allow the Turkish team to enter Gaza,” the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Trump Calls Gaza Ceasefire Summit a “Tremendous Day for the Middle East”
US President Donald Trump hailed a “tremendous day for the Middle East” as he and regional leaders signed a declaration aimed at cementing a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners.
Following a brief visit to Israel, Trump flew to Egypt on October 13 for a Gaza summit, where he and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey signed the declaration as guarantors of the ceasefire deal.
“This is a tremendous day for the world, it’s a tremendous day for the Middle East,” Trump said.
Ahead of the meeting, a Turkish official told Reuters that Turkish President Erdogan, supported by some other unspecified leaders, diplomatically opposed the idea of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu attending.
German Foreign Minister Visited Turkey
German Foreign Minister Johann David Wadephul visited Turkey on October 17 and met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara. After their meeting, the two ministers held a joint press conference.
Fidan said the meeting included preparations for an upcoming visit to Turkey by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
He added that, besides EU and bilateral relations, they addressed regional issues, particularly the situation in Gaza. The ministers also discussed starting negotiations to update the Customs Union and reviving the visa liberalization dialogue between Turkey and the EU.
Afghanistan and Pakistan Agree to Immediate Ceasefire After Border Clashes
Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire during talks in Doha, both sides announced on October 19, following a week of intense border clashes. The agreement was signed by the defense ministers of both countries, with the participation of Turkish Intelligence President Ibrahim Kalin, after 13 hours of negotiations.
The ceasefire “has been finalized,” Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif posted on X, adding that both sides will meet again on October 25 in Istanbul to discuss “detailed matters.”
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the parties agreed to a complete and meaningful ceasefire.
Qatar’s foreign ministry, which co-mediated the talks with Turkey, said the follow-up meetings aim “to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner.”
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