🇹🇷Week of August 17

Turkish Justice Minister Gürlek announced that authorities have seized all assets of 818 suspects across all 81 provinces as part of a financial investigation into four organized crime groups. The operation targeted groups described as 'new generation' criminal organizations, including the Daltonlar, Gündoğmuşlar, Şapkalılar, and Barış Boyun groups.12345

The asset freeze covers the suspects' entire property and accounts, according to the minister's statement. The measure was announced as a coordinated action against the four criminal networks, with the investigation described as a financial probe.124

Takvim published a name-by-name list of the suspects, identifying the four groups as Daltonlar, Gündoğmuşlar, Şapkalılar, and Barış Boyun. The list was presented as part of the newspaper's coverage of the financial investigation.5

In response, Iran has issued an ultimatum to the United States, demanding the lifting of the blockade or warning that the war will expand. This comes amid ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained closed for six days after the US Treasury Secretary signaled a deal.12

The threat to Oman was reported by multiple Turkish outlets, including pro-government and oppositional media, with headlines such as 'Trump's open threat to Oman: If they get in our way, we will bomb them' and 'US President Trump targeted another country after Iran: We will bomb them badly.'342

In the second hearing of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) case, the court did not allow Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to present his defense, a request that was rejected. The first day of the second hearing saw statements taken from defendants who are not in custody.123

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel attended the hearing and criticized the court president, calling him 'beyzade' (a term implying arrogance). Ozel said, 'Here, not even a show trial is being conducted anymore.'14

The second hearing of the IBB case began with Ozel present, and Imamoglu's request to make a defense statement was denied. The court proceeded with the defense statements of non-custodial defendants.32

Yemen's Houthi forces attacked a Saudi Arabian landing ship and struck two cities in Yemen with ballistic missiles, according to Turkish media reports. The Yemeni government said the Houthis launched five ballistic missiles at the Bab el-Mandeb region.123

The attacks came after the signing of the Mecca Agreement, a defense pact among Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. One outlet described the move as a step that would increase tensions following the agreement.41

Later reports said the Houthis targeted Saudi ships with ballistic missiles, extending the series of attacks.5

Asuman Şen, the AK Party candidate, won the Menderes municipal deputy mayoral election, giving the AKP control of the municipality in İzmir. The vote followed the arrest of Menderes Mayor İlkay Çiçek as part of a corruption investigation, and the CHP referred him to its disciplinary board with a request for expulsion.123

The election deepened a public rift between the CHP and the New Party (Yeni Parti), with each side blaming the other for the loss. CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu instructed voters to support the New Party's candidate, while a New Party official, Müslim Sarı, admitted that even party members had not listened to the 'butlan' (nullity) argument.456

Attributed claim: The vote was marred by a fistfight, as reported by BBC News Türkçe. Pro-government outlets framed the result as a victory for the Cumhur İttifakı (People's Alliance), while oppositional outlets highlighted the CHP–New Party conflict as the cause of the AKP win.78

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was the first to congratulate Asuman Şen on her victory, according to Sabah. The result marks a shift in the political control of the Menderes municipality from the CHP to the AKP.9