Report: "Turkey’s Human Rights Regression over the Past Decade: How Emergency Measures Became the Rule, from Scapegoats to Everyone" by Hakan Kaplankaya, The Institute for Diplomacy and Economy
Over the past decade, mechanisms introduced as exceptional responses to a specific security threat became embedded in ordinary governance and were progressively applied to a widening range of actors: from the Gülen Movement to Kurdish political actors, journalists, academics, civil-society organizations, LGBTI activists and other religious communities and, most recently, the main parliamentary opposition. The period has been marked by a durable expansion of executive power and a corresponding weakening of the institutions that ordinarily constrain it: the courts, the media and civil society.
The scale of Turkey’s transformation is recorded by every major international index. Freedom House downgraded Turkey from “Partly Free” to “Not Free” in 2018 and has since placed it among the ten countries with the steepest decline in freedom over the past decade. In the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, Turkey fell from 80th in 2015 to 118th of 143 countries in 2025. The Economist Intelligence Unit classifies it as a “hybrid regime” close to the authoritarian threshold, V-Dem as an electoral autocracy, and Reporters Without Borders ranked it 163rd of 180 for press freedom in 2026. Its score in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index fell to a record-low 31 in 2025.
The findings of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the European Court of Human Rights, together with the trajectory of independent indices, describe a consistent decline in democratic standards, the rule of law and human-rights protection in Turkey. On these measures, Turkey now ranks among the clearest cases of democratic backsliding of the past decade.
The lesson reaches beyond Turkey. The rule of law cannot be suspended for one disfavored group without being weakened for all. How far this democratic backsliding will go remains an open question. What is already clear is that those who turn a blind eye to the scapegoats may become the next victims soon.
"Turkey's Libya maritime win no guarantee for Saddam Hifter's presidential ambitions" by Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor
Analysts caution that Libya’s political divisions and the competing agendas of regional stakeholders will ultimately expose the limits of Turkey’s leverage and that talk of imminent reunification brokered by Turkey may well prove immature.
Turkey would not be in a position to deliver full consensus on a unity agreement on the Western Libyan side “without producing some kind of instability and violence, which is explicitly the thing they don’t want to have,” Emadeddin Badi, a Middle East analyst at Chatham House, noted. Moreover, there are differences in eastern Libya as well over “elevating Saddam as much as this,” Badi added.
"Thrown Punches and Missed Warnings: Inside a Billion-Dollar Fund's Collapse" by Ugur Yilmaz, Kerim Karakaya, and Tugce Ozsoy, Bloomberg
The internal disputes grew so heated that on one afternoon in February, Tezmen’s most trusted lieutenant, Emir Munir Sarpyener, got into a shouting match with other top executives, according to people familiar, who asked not to be identified speaking about internal matters. Things kept spiraling out of control, they said, to the point where punches were thrown. Some executives began to resign rather than sign off on transactions they opposed.
“Many of those who dared to raise concerns about these funds were silenced or threatened,” said Murat Gulkan, chief executive officer of OMG Capital Advisors in Istanbul. “This suggests the problem goes much deeper, pointing to a more fundamental failure in regulatory oversight.”
Report: PKK Founder Ocalan Moves to New Residence on Imrali Prison Island
Jailed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) founder Abdullah Ocalan has moved into a newly built residence within Imrali prison complex and begun helping shape the group's dissolution, journalist Nuray Babacan reported on October 21, citing unnamed politicians following the peace process.
In her column for the Nefes daily, Babacan said Ocalan had recently moved into the residence and was helping prepare lists related to the group's dissolution through a new body she called the "Dissolution Commission."
Turkey Court Orders Opposition Leader Ozel to Pay Justice Minister Damages
A Turkish court on October 20 ordered Ozgur Ozel, leader of the opposition New Party and former chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), to pay Justice Minister Akin Gurlek 750,000 lira in damages over allegations that the minister owned real estate beyond what he could afford on his government salary.
The court in Istanbul awarded Gurlek part of the compensation he sought for damage to his reputation and dismissed a separate lawsuit Ozel had filed over the minister’s remarks about him.
Ozel’s lawyer, Sedat Aslantas, said that the court had failed to obtain evidence necessary to assess the allegations.
The court reportedly rejected a request to obtain official records that could establish whether Gurlek owned or had previously owned the properties Ozel cited.
Journalist Murat Agirel and 14 Others Arrested in Money Laundering Probe
An Istanbul court on October 19 jailed journalist Murat Agirel and 14 others pending trial in a money laundering investigation involving relatives of opposition lawmaker Mustafa Sarigul.
The investigation began after two German nationals alleged that companies in Turkey and abroad had been used to transfer large sums of money of unclear origin. The complainants also alleged they provided Agirel with information and documents and were later threatened after the material reached people implicated in their allegations.
Agirel was detained at his home on October 16, while already under house arrest in a separate investigation into his reporting on Turkey’s investment fund scandal.
Agirel denied passing documents to the Sarigul family. He said he told his source he would verify the material and give those concerned a chance to respond to the allegations.
Sarigul’s son, Omer, and his former wife, politician Aylin Kotil, were among those jailed. Two other suspects were released under judicial supervision. Agirel was jailed on suspicion of aiding a criminal organization without being a member.
Opposition Bolu Mayor Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison
A Turkish court on October 20 sentenced Tanju Ozcan, the suspended opposition CHP's mayor of the northwestern city of Bolu, to more than seven years in prison for extortion over allegations that businesses faced pressure to donate money to a foundation he chaired.
Ozcan denied all charges in his defense on October 19. The trial involved 19 defendants; the court convicted eight and acquitted the remaining 11.
The court also convicted Ozcan of aggravated fraud over donations collected to fund animal sacrifices and handed down a separate suspended prison sentence for each of 34 donors. It acquitted him of bribery and violating a law governing relations between public institutions and foundations.
The Bolu 3rd High Criminal Court also imposed a four-year ban on Ozcan's participation in politics.
The court did not order Ozcan's release. He has remained in jail since March.
Suspended deputy mayor Suleyman Can and Ali Sariyildiz, a former executive of the I Love Bolu Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation (BolSev), which Ozcan founded, received the same prison sentence.
Turkey Jails Two Opposition Mayors and Dozens of Others In Corruption Probes
A Turkish court ordered Milas Mayor Fevzi Topuz and his son, Doruk Topuz, jailed pending trial as part of a corruption investigation. Fevzi Topuz belongs to the main opposition CHP and leads Milas, a district in Mugla province in southwestern Turkey.
Police detained the mayor on October 20 during raids across 13 provinces after prosecutors issued detention warrants for 35 people.
The court ordered 18 suspects, including the mayor and his son, jailed pending trial. It placed two other suspects under house arrest and released 15 under judicial supervision.
In a separate investigation targeting the opposition-run municipality of Cukurova in the southern province of Adana, a court ordered Mayor Emrah Kozay, his predecessor Soner Cetin and 32 others jailed pending trial.
Gendarmes initially detained 44 people and searched municipal offices in Cukurova, a district of Adana, during raids on October 19. Authorities subsequently detained five more suspects, bringing the total to 49.
After questioning at an Adana courthouse, authorities released 15 suspects under judicial supervision. Three deputy mayors were among those jailed, while a fourth was released under supervision.
Constitutional Court Rejects Bid to Force New Party to Change Name
Turkey’s Constitutional Court has rejected a request to invalidate the name and emblem of the New (Yeni) Party and remove it from the political party registry, allowing the party to retain its name.
The Innovation Party, whose name means “Yenilik”, had petitioned the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation to require the New Party to change its name, arguing that it closely resembled its own.
The prosecutor’s office initially gave the New Party a deadline to change its name. After the deadline expired on September 18, it referred the case to the Constitutional Court.
The court rejected the Innovation Party’s request by a majority vote.
Turkey Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate To 36 Percent in First Reduction in Nine Months
Turkey’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to 36 percent from 37 percent on October 22, delivering its first rate reduction in nine months.
The Monetary Policy Committee, led by Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan, lowered the one-week repo rate by 100 basis points. It also reduced the overnight lending rate to 39 percent from 40 percent and the overnight borrowing rate to 34.5 percent from 35.5 percent. The bank retained its medium-term inflation target of 5 percent.
The bank said recent data indicated that underlying inflation was slowing and domestic demand remained weak. However, it added that geopolitical tensions were keeping energy prices elevated and threatening further progress in bringing inflation down.
The central bank did not commit to further cuts, saying future policy decisions would depend on inflation data and expectations.
Goldman Sachs, S&P warn Turkey's economic program faces election-year risks
Fitch Ratings said in a statement on October 19 that Turkey’s leasing and factoring companies face rising asset-quality risks and weaker profit margins in 2026 and 2027, as high funding costs and financial pressure on small and medium-sized businesses threaten borrowers’ ability to meet their obligations.
The share of leasing loans classified as nonperforming fell to 1.9 percent, but Fitch expects the ratio to rise toward the end of this year and into 2027. Factoring companies reported a nonperforming loan ratio of 2.3 percent.
Turkey risks further losses in its central bank reserves after a $30 billion decline over the past 12 months, US investment bank Goldman Sachs warned. Interest rate cuts and election-related risks could trigger additional outflows and undermine the country's economic program, the bank said in an assessment.
Domestic demand remained weak, but Goldman Sachs' activity indicator pointed to an emerging recovery. A rebound in demand, combined with looser fiscal and monetary policies, could slow further progress in bringing down underlying inflation, the bank said.
Goldman Sachs also flagged loan growth as a key indicator to watch in the coming months, noting that borrowing tends to accelerate when the central bank cuts interest rates.
Turkey's tight monetary policy and shift away from unorthodox economic policies underpin its sovereign credit rating, but slowing disinflation and the approach of elections will test the central bank's commitment to maintaining discipline, Karen Vartapetov, S&P Global's director and sovereign lead analyst for Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey, told Reuters.
"It's still not clear how sustainable these tight monetary and macroeconomic policies are in light of the upcoming electoral effects. That's what we're monitoring," Vartapetov said in an interview.
Vartapetov also said S&P viewed Turkey's investment fund crisis primarily as a governance and supervision issue rather than a broader threat to financial stability. "What would be important is what sort of lessons the authorities learned and what sort of improvement in supervision is going to take place," he said.
Nearly 93,100 Small Businesses Closed in Turkey in First Nine Months
A total of 93,095 small businesses closed in Turkey during the first nine months of 2026, up 11.8 percent from the same period last year, according to figures from the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK). Closures rose by 9,793 to 83,302 between January and September 2025.
Istanbul recorded the most closures, at 10,956, followed by the western province of Izmir with 6,421, the Mediterranean province of Antalya with 5,009, the capital Ankara with 4,862, and the northwestern province of Bursa with 4,246.
Norway's Sovereign Wealth Fund Reviews its Holdings After Investment Fund Scandal
Norway's sovereign wealth fund said it was among the investors affected by Turkey's investment fund crisis and had reviewed its stock holdings in the country. "We're more the victim than the perpetrator here," Trond Grande, deputy chief executive of Norges Bank Investment Management, said on a call with reporters.
Grande said the fund closely scrutinizes its investments when concerns arise. It had assessed its Turkish holdings and external managers operating in the country, he said, without providing further details.
Turkey Approves Investor Repayment Law as Fund Scandal Arrests Reach 114
Mahmut Sutcu, chairman of Turkey’s Capital Markets Board (SPK), submitted his resignation on October 19, citing health concerns, as the country continued to grapple with the fallout from a sprawling investment fund scandal, media reports said.
Sutcu, who took over as chairman in May, stepped down days after prosecutors received official authorization to investigate his predecessor in connection with the scandal. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally removed Sutcu from office in a decision published in the Official Gazette on October 20.
Turkey's parliament approved legislation on October 22 to govern repayments to investors and recover assets unlawfully withdrawn from investment funds. The law allows interim payments of up to 1 million lira (about $20,000) and requires inflation adjustments when calculating repayments.
The crisis erupted in September when investment funds failed to meet withdrawal requests, leaving nearly half a million investors facing losses and unable to access their savings.
Separately, an Istanbul court ordered 15 more suspects jailed pending trial on October 24, bringing the total number of people jailed in investigations into the scandal to 114. Among those jailed were Altinbas Holding executive Inan Altinbas and former deputy governor of the central bank Taha Cakmak. The court released seven other suspects under judicial supervision.
Turkey Detains 15 In Raids Over Alleged Gulen Links, Jails Three Others
Turkish police detained 15 people in raids across three provinces centered on Istanbul on October 20, including serving public employees and people dismissed from public service under emergency decrees, over alleged links to the Gulen movement.
Authorities cited activities such as depositing money at Bank Asya, providing scholarships to students, performing animal sacrifices, and making donations as grounds for the detentions.
Separately, a Turkish court jailed journalist Mehmet Yilmaz, a former editor at the Bugun and Zaman newspapers over alleged links to the Gulen movement.
Authorities Jail 19 In Financial Crimes Investigation Targeting Suleymanlilar
A Turkish court ordered 19 people jailed pending trial on October 22 in the latest phase of a financial crimes investigation targeting individuals linked to the Suleymanlilar religious community.
Prosecutors are investigating allegations of establishing or leading a criminal organization, membership in a criminal group, money laundering, fraud against public institutions and tax violations.
Police initially detained 22 people during raids on October 19, later increasing the total to 24.
After police and prosecutors questioned the detainees, authorities brought all 24 before court. The court ordered 19 jailed pending trial and released five others under judicial supervision.
Journalist Ari Again Jailed on Disinformation Charges
A Turkish court on October 21 ordered journalist Ismail Ari, a reporter for the Birgun daily, jailed pending trial on a disinformation charge following a complaint by Ebubekir Sahin, the former chairman of Turkey's broadcasting regulator.
Ari had reported on the appointments of Sahin's relatives to positions at the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK). He also published a separate report on Sahin's daughter's appointment to Turkey's Competition Authority without a competitive civil service examination.
Police detained Ari on October 20 over allegations of insulting a public official in connection with his duties and publicly disseminating misleading information.
Ari appeared before prosecutors on October 21, who sought his pretrial detention on the disinformation charge. The court granted the request and ordered him jailed pending trial.
Turkey and Canada Upgrade Ties to Strategic Partnership, to Launch Free Trade Talks
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on October 22 to upgrade bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, expanding cooperation in trade, energy, defence and other areas during Carney’s two-day visit to Turkey.
Speaking at the presidential palace in Ankara, Erdogan said the two countries were “starting a new era” in their relationship and praised Carney for his “common sense and acumen.” He said negotiations on a free trade agreement would begin before the end of 2026.
Carney said the strategic partnership would rest on four pillars and include a three-year action plan.
Canadian and Turkish ministers signed cooperation agreements covering energy, defence and air transport.
In a joint statement, the two leaders pledged to expand cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, liquefied natural gas and renewable energy. They also agreed to encourage investment and dialogue between representatives of their nuclear industries. The statement did not announce an agreement to build a nuclear power plant.
The first round of negotiations toward a comprehensive free trade agreement is scheduled for November 30 to December 4, 2026, in Ankara.
Export Development Canada and Turk Eximbank also signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on projects in third countries, aiming to help Canadian and Turkish companies pursue opportunities in international markets across various sectors.
In Istanbul, Carney met with Turkish business leaders and investors to promote investment in Canada’s energy, mining, aerospace and defence industries. He also announced a Canadian trade mission to Turkey in 2027, to be led by the minister of international trade.
Speaking to reporters in Istanbul on October 23, Carney said Canadian engineering firm AtkinsRealis was competing for a role in building Turkey’s planned third nuclear power plant. He said the prospects for Canadian involvement had improved considerably over the past year.
“If you had asked us a year ago how we would have pegged the chances, they would have been very low. Now there are good chances. There’s real competition, of course,” Carney said, adding that a decision could come before the end of the year.
Carney also said his team raised LGBTQ+ rights with Turkish officials during meetings the day before. He stressed that Ottawa’s decision to pursue partnerships did not amount to endorsing the Turkish government’s policies. Carney did not meet with LGBTQ+ or human rights groups during his visit.
Eight Countries Hold First Expanded Foreign Ministers’ Talks in Istanbul
Foreign ministers from eight countries met in Istanbul on October 23 for their first talks in an expanded diplomatic format, bringing together the European E3 group of Britain, France and Germany, along with Italy, and the R4 group of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt.
The talks focused on the Palestinians, developments in Yemen and the Strait of Hormuz, and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted the meeting and praised the format as a way to develop common policies and agree on practical steps. He said all eight countries “do not want the war to spread further” in either the Gulf or Ukraine.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the countries had agreed to continue the discussions at regular intervals after very constructive discussions.
Fidan also hosted the seventh meeting of foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the R4 grouping.
Separately, he held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Pakistan, Britain, France, Italy and Germany.
Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia Sign Defence Cooperation Accord
Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia signed an agreement on October 21 to expand defence cooperation and strengthen their defensive capabilities, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said.
The four countries signed the “Badr Memorandum of Understanding” in Doha, signalling their intention to deepen cooperation and develop partnerships, the ministry said in a statement. The agreement aims to strengthen ties between the countries’ defence industries and expand collaboration on security and shared objectives, according to the ministry.
Haluk Gorgun, head of Turkey’s Defence Industry Presidency, said the accord laid the foundation for strategic cooperation in joint production and technology development.
Mecca Defense Pact Sets 10-Year Minimum Commitment After Ratification
Turkey’s defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan would require the three countries to support one another for at least 10 years after all three complete their ratification procedures, rather than from the date of signing, according to the full text published by Middle East Eye.
The Turkish government submitted the agreement to parliament for approval on October 20.
Under the pact, the three parties will determine the scope and nature of assistance after objectively assessing the support required. They will cooperate within the limits of their available resources, “including military means and capabilities,” the text states.
The agreement has no expiration date. Each country may withdraw only after the initial 10-year period, by giving the other parties at least three months’ written notice. However, the agreement says activities and projects agreed upon before a country’s withdrawal would continue.
The government plans to seek parliamentary authorization to deploy military personnel to Saudi Arabia under the joint defense pact, a ruling AK Party lawmaker told Reuters on October 21.
The lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the government would submit the deployment mandate to parliament after lawmakers approve legislation ratifying the agreement. The lawmaker added that Turkish troops deployed to other countries under the pact would not take part in offensive operations.
Eastern Libya Parliament Approves Maritime Deal with Turkey, Drawing EU, Israeli and Greek Criticism
Libya’s eastern parliament approved a maritime delimitation agreement with Turkey on October 20. In a statement published on its website, the House of Representatives in Benghazi said it had ratified the agreement and revoked a 2020 decision to boycott Turkey.
Turkey and Libya’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli signed the maritime deal in 2019 to counter Greek and Cypriot claims in the eastern Mediterranean. The deal had remained without formal approval for years as Libya was divided between rival administrations.
Several sources told Middle East Eye that the parliament’s decision coincided with a reported visit to Tripoli by Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. A Libya-based source familiar with the issue told the publication that Kalin had built close ties with eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar and made progress toward securing approval for the deal.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision, saying the memorandum of understanding safeguarded the two countries’ mutual rights and interests under international law and the principle of equity, while helping deepen bilateral cooperation.
The European Union criticised the agreement, reiterating that it infringed on the sovereign rights of third countries and did not comply with the law of the sea. The bloc said it considered the memorandum “null and void”.
Israel also condemned the decision, accusing Turkey of seeking to destabilize the eastern Mediterranean.
In response, Greece and Egypt agreed in principle to begin talks on extending their exclusive economic zone agreement eastward, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported, citing the Greek government.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty agreed on the initiative during a telephone conversation and rejected the ratification of the maritime memorandum by Libya’s eastern parliament.
Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on October 23 that Libya’s rival eastern and western administrations could be nearing reunification, suggesting Ankara expected progress toward ending the country’s division.
“We have now reached a stage where the conditions are ripe to permanently secure the reunification of the east and the west,” Fidan told journalists after hosting foreign ministers from Europe and the region in Istanbul. “Both sides have military structures. These structures need to be brought together under a national army,” he said.
Erdogan Dismisses Adviser Over Criticism of School Headscarf Restrictions
Turkish President Erdogan dismissed chief presidential adviser Oktay Saral on October 25 amid tensions with Azerbaijan over restrictions on headscarves in schools, Middle East Eye reported. Saral confirmed his dismissal to the outlet, saying, “I have absolute respect for the president’s decision.”
MEE reported last week that Azerbaijan had demanded Ankara dismiss Saral and prosecute social media commentators who had insulted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
“Saral’s ouster would encourage Aliyev to participate in the Turkic states summit,” an Azerbaijani source told MEE, adding that the likelihood of Aliyev attending had been below 50 percent before the decision.
The dispute escalated on October 21, when Azerbaijan barred 31 Turkish nationals from entering the country after they criticized restrictions on headscarves in schools. The restrictions followed the introduction of school uniform rules prohibiting additions deemed incompatible with secular education.
Those barred included Fatih Erbakan, leader of Turkey’s New Welfare Party, and Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), as well as journalists, bloggers and religious writers.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said the individuals had used social media and other online platforms to make statements “targeting the sovereignty, national security, constitutional order, people and leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
The ministry also accused them of calling “for the violent overthrow of the government” and promoting violence motivated by religious radicalism and religious hatred.
On October 21, Erdogan spoke by phone with Aliyev and invited him to attend the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Ankara. Statements from the Turkish and Azerbaijani presidencies said the leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional and global developments but made no mention of the headscarf dispute.
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