Turkey’s main opposition party chair, Özgür Özel, has accused a lawyer and several prosecutors of orchestrating a “bribery and testimony market” linked to ongoing investigations targeting Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) officials. The lawyer at the center of the scandal, Mehmet Yıldırım, was arrested while allegedly attempting to flee the country—just hours after Özel made the allegations during a rally in Istanbul’s Tuzla district on Tuesday (August 6).
| Turkey: Lawyer arrested in bribery scandal against opposition |
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| Turkey: Lawyer arrested in bribery scandal against opposition |
According to Özel, Yıldırım acted as an intermediary between prosecutors and the families of detained İBB personnel, soliciting large sums of money in exchange for promises of favorable legal outcomes—such as reduced charges, early release, or improved detention conditions. Yıldırım allegedly presented himself as a messenger from the prosecutors and offered legal representation under that pretense.
“These are not just claims,” Özel told the crowd. “We have the dates, times, bank receipts, surveillance footage, and recorded phone calls. I will present all this evidence to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors [HSK] today.”
Lawyer arrested while trying to flee
Later that evening, journalist İsmail Saymaz reported on X (formerly Twitter) that Yıldırım had been detained by Istanbul police on the orders of the city’s Chief Public Prosecutor. He was reportedly caught in the southern province of Antalya while attempting to flee the country. Authorities have not disclosed his intended destination.
“Yıldırım was caught in a scene straight out of a movie,” Saymaz wrote.
Özel stated that Yıldırım not only collected money directly from detainees’ families—who withdrew cash from banks and handed it over in person—but also visited businesses, claiming connections with prosecutors to extort money. He further alleged that Yıldırım coordinated arrest and testimony dates and even arranged phone calls between detainees and prosecutors to bolster his image of influence.
“This isn’t just corruption. It’s the hijacking of justice,” Özel said.
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| Turkey: Lawyer arrested in bribery scandal against opposition |
Pressure mounting on opposition municipalities
The scandal has emerged amid what opposition leaders describe as an escalating crackdown on municipalities held by the CHP. After sweeping the 2024 local elections—including retaining Istanbul and Ankara—the party has faced a wave of investigations and legal actions targeting its local governments.
- Crackdown on opposition continues with new arrests, investigations
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One of the central figures in this pressure campaign is three-time incumbent and currently imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, widely seen as a viable presidential challenger. Many observers believe the legal cases aim to sideline İmamoğlu before the next national election, for which he remains the opposition’s presidential candidate despite his incarceration. He is currently held in Marmara Prison pending trial.
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At the rally, CHP’s Istanbul provincial head, Özgür Çelik, read a letter from İmamoğlu, in which the mayor highlighted the municipality’s accomplishments in Tuzla since 2019. He cited nurseries, municipal kitchens, job placement centers, and public housing projects as examples of socially oriented governance under CHP leadership.
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Detained mayor’s health raises alarms
Another detainee spotlighted by Özel was Mehmet Murat Çalık, the currently imprisoned Mayor of Beylikdüzü. Özel emphasized that Çalık has not been convicted and condemned his detention as unlawful.
He also drew attention to Çalık’s deteriorating health: a two-time cancer survivor, Çalık has reportedly lost 15 kilograms (33 lbs) while in custody. Doctors recently detected a mass in his neck, raising concerns about a potential recurrence of lymphoma. He underwent surgery in early July, and his legal team warns that prison conditions pose a serious risk to his life.
Medyascope'u destekle. Medyascope'a abone ol.
Medyascope’u senin desteğin ayakta tutuyor. Hiçbir patronun, siyasi çıkarın güdümünde değiliz; hangi haberi yapacağımıza biz karar veriyoruz. Tıklanma uğruna değil, kamu yararına çalışıyoruz. Bağımsız gazeteciliğin sürmesi, sitenin açık kalması ve herkesin doğru bilgiye erişebilmesi senin desteğinle mümkün.
“My eyes and ears are now on the Forensic Medicine Institute,” Özel said, urging the authorities to take immediate action on medical grounds.
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Özel renews call for early elections
Özel also reiterated his demand for snap elections, suggesting November 2 as a possible date. He criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for avoiding direct public engagement, saying:
“I am everywhere in Turkey—where are you, Erdoğan?”
He described the president as a “man of the back rooms,” implying that Erdoğan has become disconnected from everyday citizens and shielded from public accountability.
The Tuzla rally marked the 43rd “Defend the National Will” protest organized by the CHP—a broader campaign aimed at resisting what the party sees as increasing authoritarianism, judicial politicization, and democratic erosion under the AKP government.
With Yıldırım now in custody and Özel preparing to submit formal evidence to the judiciary’s top oversight body, the scandal could mark a turning point in Turkey’s deepening institutional crisis—further straining public trust in the rule of law and the country’s justice system.
