🇹🇷Week of October 19

Turkish authorities ordered the detention of 60 suspects in an operation against visa consultancy companies accused of locking up the visa appointment system with bots and reselling slots for 300 euros. The scheme was valued at 370 million lira. WhatsApp correspondence among the suspects was uncovered in the investigation.1234

The companies allegedly promised guaranteed visas and appointments to clients while blocking the booking system so ordinary applicants could not secure slots. Hürriyet reported the operation targeted visa companies over the bot scheme, and Diken described it as an 'unjust benefit' operation with 60 detention orders.256

Milliyet reported that the WhatsApp messages showed organizers discussing clients, including a line about a girl who arrived and was given the same material. The correspondence was cited as evidence of how appointments were sold.78

Turkey's Cybersecurity Presidency (Siber Güvenlik Başkanlığı) issued a national-scale warning over security flaws in the PHP programming language, publishing a statement on the PHP vulnerability. The alert was carried by state, pro-government and opposition outlets alike on Wednesday and Thursday.1234567

The flaw was detected in PHP worldwide, and government websites were temporarily shut down globally as a result. Turkish coverage described the alarm as global and reported that Turkey was on alert.89

An emergency scan was launched in Turkey in response to the vulnerability, according to opposition outlet Onedio, which reported the national scan alongside the global cybersecurity alarm.10

Turkey's Official Gazette published a slate of senior appointments and dismissals across ministries and public bodies, including 28 appointments and 8 removals. Kutluhan Taşkın was named deputy minister of Treasury and Finance, and the Capital Markets Board (SPK) received a new head. The decisions were signed by President Erdoğan.12345

Sütcü and Gönül were removed from their posts in the same round of decisions. The gazette also recorded senior changes at the SPK and the KGK, and critical appointments across 5 ministries.1246

A separate gazette notice on 20 October 2026 carried further appointment and dismissal decisions for some ministries and public institutions. Outlets reported the round without naming a dispute over its contents.78910

Attributed claim: Esenyurt Municipality trustee Can Aksoy was removed from his post, with oppositional Medyascope reporting the removal as fact and oppositional birgun.net presenting it as an allegation. Pro-government outlets had earlier reported the same removal as fact. No reason for the removal or successor was stated.1112

Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia signed a defence memorandum of understanding known as the Bedir Memorandum at a ceremony in Doha. The four countries cast the agreement as a step reflecting their resolve to strengthen joint cooperation and develop strategic partnerships.123

Turkey's Defence Industry Agency head, Prof. Dr. Görgün, called the memorandum a strategic step. Turkish coverage presented the deal as following an earlier arrangement referred to as the Mecca agreement, with Uzmanpara reporting that Turkey holds the largest share.456

Qatar said the Bedir Memorandum will help meet the needs of allied and friendly countries. Turkey's Communications Director Duran also issued a message on the memorandum.78

MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli said the fund investigations should be treated as an opportunity for acquittal and cleansing, and that the strongest sanctions under the law will be applied to those who covet the nation's lawful savings. He described interest relationships in municipalities as a moral deficiency.123

Bahçeli framed the party's goal as the construction of Turkey as a leading country and a superpower, and said no attempt to sabotage the climate of peace and trust is acceptable.45

On Cyprus, Bahçeli said the Turkish Cypriots will remain there and called a United Cyprus Federation a complete fantasy.6

The remarks came as a parliamentary research commission is being formed to examine the fund scandal, which has drawn in political figures and remains under investigation.789

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek said the Fund Guide will not be postponed, ruling out a delay in its implementation. He also said sanctions will be increased, without specifying which measures or against whom.123

Şimşek said final payments in the fund liquidation will be made according to share ratios. A process has been started for those who earned 10 million TL or more, according to Uzmanpara.45

Coverage of Şimşek's remarks was uniform across camps: pro-government Sabah, Habertürk and Uzmanpara, oppositional Sözcü and business outlet Bloomberght all carried the same statements on the Fund Guide and the liquidation payments. No outlet in the cluster disputed the content of what Şimşek said.43521

Can Aksoy, appointed as a trustee to the Esenyurt Municipality and serving as its deputy mayor, was removed from his post. The removal was reported on Monday by outlets across the political spectrum, from pro-government Yeni Şafak and NTV Haber to oppositional Diken, Cumhuriyet and Nûmedya24.12345

A replacement was appointed from Van, which is itself under trustee administration, according to Nûmedya24. Cumhuriyet reported that Aksoy was withdrawn to the center.35

Attributed claim: Coverage of the removal divided over how firmly it was established. Pro-government Hürriyet, Haber 7 and Habertürk reported the removal as fact, while oppositional birgun.net presented it as an allegation.6789

Medyascope reported that the trustee appointed to the Esenyurt Municipality was removed from office. The reports did not state a reason for the removal or name a successor.10

Turkish authorities detained 36 people across 14 provinces in an operation against an illegal trade in human eggs, Interior Minister Gürlek announced. The network moved women abroad and had their eggs sold, according to the accounts.1234

Investigators counted 41 women who sold eggs a total of 811 times through the network, which profited from the trade in human reproductive material. The operation targeted doctors and organizers as well as the women involved, with suspects taken into custody.254

The case surfaced after a man reported his wife to CİMER, Turkey's presidential communication center, prompting the launch of the operation.31

Aid and damage clearance spread across the city as crews worked to erase traces of the downpour. Tekirdağ sent disaster support to Istanbul, and the governor said financial aid had been paid to flood victims.12

The flooding also struck Kocaeli, where the combined death toll across the two provinces reached 9, according to NTV Haber.3

Istanbul prosecutors have asked a court to arrest 15 suspects in a money-laundering investigation, among them Emir Sarıgül, and requested judicial control orders for two others. The suspects' statements to the prosecutor's office have been completed, and the case has been sent to court.123

Journalist Murat Ağırel is among those facing an arrest request in the same investigation, according to the prosecutor's filing.41

Attributed claim: TRT Haber reported that 17 suspects were brought to the courthouse in Istanbul, while Hürriyet and Sözcü put the number of suspects named in the arrest request at 15, with two more sought under judicial control.512

Emir Sarıgül reported to the police as part of the operation, and 17 people were taken to the courthouse, Dünya reported.6