Pro-opposition political commentator Evren Barış Yavuz was arrested at his home Saturday morning following allegations made on social media alleging that Turkish defense firm Bayraktar had been involved in jet fuel sales to Israel. Bayraktar has denied the allegations, arguing in turn that Yavuz was hired by the opposition-controlled Istanbul municipality in order to slander the company.
Turkey announces restrictions on trade with Israel
On Tuesday, April 9, Turkey’s trade ministry announced a series of restrictions on exports to Israel following months of public pressure and outrage related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Although Turkish government officials have forcefully condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, Turkey’s ongoing trade with Israel has become a major point of criticism from across the political spectrum.
In Turkey’s local elections on March 31, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered major losses across the country, with the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) winning a plurality of votes for the first time since 1977.
In addition to other issues such as the failure to hike pensioners checks and persistent inflation of the Turkish Lira, the AKP’s refusal to cut off trade with Israel was identified as a reason for the party’s poor showing. The far-right Islamist New Welfare Party (YRP) had been particularly critical of Turkey’s ongoing trade with Israel throughout the election campaign and is believed to have significantly eaten into the ruling party’s base of support across Turkey.
The export restrictions announced April 9 included 54 types of products including jet fuel but stopped short of fully cutting off with Israel.
Yavuz arrested following social media post
Last week, pro-opposition political commentator Evren Barış Yavuz shared a post on social media with a picture of brothers Selçuk and Haluk Bayraktar who head Baykar, a Turkish defense company specializing in manufacture of drones. Selçuk Bayraktar is married to President Erdoğan’s daughter Sümeyye, and the family is known for their close connections to the ruling party.
The post in question showed a picture of the two brothers at a pro-Gaza rally with the caption ‘They sold jet fuel’.
On Saturday morning, Yavuz was arrested at his home on charges of ‘inciting the public to hatred and hostility’ and for producing ‘propaganda for a terrorist organization’.
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Yavuz is known for his pro-opposition commentary on political issues and has formerly worked for the Istanbul municipality in the Kadıköy district, according to Cumhuriyet.
Bayraktar responds, implicates Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
Responding to Yavuz’s post, Haluk Bayraktar characterized the allegations as ‘low’ and ‘dishonorable’, adding that the Baykar company has been among Gaza’s biggest sources of humanitarian aid from Turkey.
Bayraktar followed up this post with another alleging that Yavuz had been tasked by Istanbul’s opposition-controlled municipal government (İBB) with slandering the Baykar company, pointing to previous work by Yavuz for the İBB.
The İBB responded in a post saying that charges would be filed against Bayraktar for the allegations directed at the municipality and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, characterizing Bayraktar’s post as ‘polarizing’ and ‘divisive’. Referencing the commanding opposition victory in the local elections two weeks ago, the post read ‘Our nation taught you a lesson on March 31st, and will continue to do so.’
The Bayraktar brothers are seen as major allies of President Erdoğan. Since 2019, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has become Turkey’s most prominent opposition politician; following his reelection on March 31, İmamoğlu is now seen as among the most likely candidates to challenge Erdoğan in Turkey’s next presidential elections in 2028.
Written for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
