Weekly Turkey Report: 2nd Week of December 2025 – Sex, Drug Allegations, and the Kurdish Question

Executive Summary

• Turkey’s domestic agenda was dominated by allegations involving sexual abuse, “group sex,” and narcotics, while political parties escalated demands over the terms of the PKK’s prospective disarmament.
• The current track does not resemble a Kurdish peace process; reportedly with Abdullah Öcalan’s involvement, the emphasis has shifted from Kurdish rights and demands to PKK demobilization and the inclusion of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
• A major media scandal erupted after the arrest of Habertürk’s conservative editor-in-chief—at a time when the outlet is under TMSF control—on accusations ranging from narcotics to organized criminal profiteering.
• Parliament faced a serious scandal after reports that underage female interns working at the TBMM restaurant were subjected to sexual abuse by parliamentary staff over a prolonged period.
• U.S. President Donald Trump publicly claimed he asked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to release certain detainees and that Erdoğan complied.
• Competing “Terror-Free Turkey” reports from the AKP, MHP, and DEM outlined sharply different legal and political frameworks, especially on accountability, sentencing relief, and Öcalan’s status.
• In the İBB/İmamoğlu case, multiple “confidential witnesses” reportedly withdrew; the trial is scheduled to begin on 9 March, and the indictment has been uploaded to UYAP.
• The Central Bank cut rates again, while EU RASFF alerts and severe distress in textiles/ready-to-wear underscored deepening economic fragility.

Political and Judicial Developments

Habertürk Arrest and the TMSF Context

The week’s headline event was the arrest of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the conservative editor-in-chief of Habertürk—an outlet seized by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF)—on allegations reportedly spanning narcotics, “group sex,” and profiting through an organized criminal structure.

TBMM Intern Abuse Scandal

A major scandal erupted in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) after reports that underage girls working as interns in the TBMM restaurant were subjected to sexual abuse by parliamentary staff. The abuse was said to have continued for years, and it was reported that some staff used possessive language about interns—such as “this one is mine, that one is yours.”

Trump’s Claims on Detainee Releases

In remarks that again drew attention to the state of Turkey’s judiciary, U.S. President Donald Trump told Politico that he called President Erdoğan and requested the release of certain detained individuals, adding that Erdoğan complied. Trump said: “He released some people who had been going through trials for years and other things. I said you must release them, and he did.”

Erdoğan: Lift Özgür Özel’s Parliamentary Immunity

Presidential motions seeking the lifting of legislative immunity were referred by the Speaker to the Joint Commission formed from members of the Constitutional and Justice Commissions. The list includes CHP Chair and Manisa MP Özgür Özel, alongside six other MPs: CHP İstanbul MP Cemal Enginyurt; İYİ Party Gaziantep MP Mehmet Mustafa Gürban; CHP Edirne MP Ahmet Baran Yazgan; CHP Deputy Group Chair and Mersin MP Ali Mahir Başarır; İYİ Party Muğla MP Metin Ergun; and CHP Zonguldak MP Deniz Yavuzyılmaz.

Another Journalist Arrested

Journalist-author Enver Aysever was arrested on charges of “inciting hatred and hostility among the public or humiliation” over remarks made during a YouTube broadcast targeting right-wing groups. It was claimed that “perception management” was attempted through clipped excerpts circulated on social media after his comments regarding Hasan İmamoğlu’s statements.

The Kurdish Question and the “Terror-Free Turkey” Debate

Why This Is Not a “Kurdish Peace Process”

Turkey’s political discussion centered on the PKK’s prospective disarmament and the inclusion of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), rather than Kurdish rights and demands—reportedly with Abdullah Öcalan’s involvement in shaping the agenda.

AKP’s “Terror-Free Turkey” Report

Details emerged from the AKP’s 60-page, 10-chapter report. Three themes stood out: neutralizing Kandil’s influence; adherence to the “10 March Agreement”; and preventing the formation of any new structure in Syria after Kandil is rendered ineffective.

Key proposals included:

• The state’s authorized institutions would formally declare that the organization has fully dissolved, while emphasizing that “Parliament can pass laws.” The report then draws a line between those “involved in crime” and those “not involved.” For PKK members deemed involved in crime, provisions of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) would apply.
• After conditions are met, offenses linked to organization membership, aiding/harboring the organization, and terror propaganda would be dropped. For those with ongoing cases, prosecutions would be dismissed. These individuals could be released under five years of judicial supervision. Those in the mountains could also surrender under the same framework; after court procedures, they would be placed under supervision and required to sign in weekly.

MHP’s Report Submitted to Parliament

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) submitted its 120-page “Terror-Free Turkey” report to the Speaker of Parliament. Deputy Chair Feti Yıldız stated: “What can be done legally is conditional. The organization’s complete dissolution and the delivery of weapons depend on the security forces establishing these facts.”

Notable points included:

• If individuals not involved in crime surrender, they would not be imprisoned; however, this does not mean they will face no legal consequences, as they would still be subject to supervised release.
• Improvements to the status of inmates under the “Terror-Free Turkey” framework would require the TBMM to amend the execution law.
• Amendments to the Anti-Terror Law are presented as necessary; without such changes, conditional release assessments cannot be made.
• A tiered system is proposed based on position within the organization—reducing, postponing, or lowering criminal responsibility under specified conditions.
• For those prosecuted for membership, if conviction occurs, courts could propose “deferment of the announcement of the verdict.” Yet, continuing prosecutions is framed as inconsistent with the spirit of the current track; therefore, a special legal mechanism to suspend proceedings (“suspension of trial”) is proposed.

DEM Party’s Report: Öcalan, Releases, Constitutional Change

One of the most striking sections of DEM’s report focuses on Abdullah Öcalan, describing him as “the principal actor in the history of the Kurdish people’s attainment of existence and dignity.” The report argues that “the legal approach toward Öcalan simultaneously reflects the legal approach toward the Kurdish people,” and calls for Öcalan’s “physical freedom,” stating that:

“Öcalan should be able to meet with the delegations, individuals, and members of the press he chooses, in terms of the requirements of the process and the socialization of peace. At this stage—and until the ‘principle of hope’ is implemented—conditions must be ensured for free work, access, accommodation, and communication.”

The report does not directly include Selahattin Demirtaş’s views, but mentions his name four times and advances the following demands:

• All prisoners tried and held for political reasons—especially Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ, Can Atalay, and Osman Kavala—should be released.
• The securitized approach to the Kurdish issue has expanded “enemy criminal law” practices against opponents; the presumption of innocence and the right not to be stigmatized have been effectively suspended.
• In regulations regarding those who lay down arms, there should be no distinction between “those who committed crimes” and “those who did not.” Ensuring access to employment and social-security rights, and preventing restrictions on freedom of expression, is described as essential.
• The track should be “crowned” through constitutional arrangements. The report calls for amendments to Article 42 (mother-tongue education), Article 66 (definition of citizenship), and Article 127 (administrative tutelage), and for rewriting the Constitution’s preamble “in a peace-oriented language.”

Separately, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli met the DEM Party’s İmralı Delegation in Parliament. After the meeting, Pervin Buldan said the process had entered a second phase and required a “peace law.” Bahçeli reportedly endorsed the statement, saying, “I sign my name under it.”

İBB / İmamoğlu Case

Confidential Witnesses Reportedly Withdraw

CHP Chair Özgür Özel said the confidential witness known as “Meşe” was removed from the file and replaced by another confidential witness, “İlke.” He also stated that Ahmet Taşçı withdrew from confidential-witness status via a petition to prosecutors, and recalled that two confidential witnesses had previously withdrawn.

Trial Timeline and Scale

The İBB case—covering 402 defendants including Ekrem İmamoğlu—is scheduled to begin on 9 March. The long-awaited indictment has been uploaded to UYAP. The 40th High Criminal Court reportedly indicated that the trial is projected to conclude in 12.5 years—meaning İmamoğlu would be 67 years old by the time proceedings end.

Economy and Markets

Central Bank Rate Cut

The Central Bank cut the policy rate by 150 basis points from 39.5% to 38%. It also lowered the overnight lending rate from 42.5% to 41% and the overnight borrowing rate from 38% to 36.5%.

Minimum Wage Talks: TÜRK-İŞ Withdraws

The Minimum Wage Determination Commission convened its first meeting to set the 2026 wage. After meeting Labor Minister Vedat Işıkhan, TÜRK-İŞ Deputy Chair Ramazan Ağar announced that TÜRK-İŞ would not participate in the minimum-wage determination process.

EU RASFF Alerts on Turkish Exports

According to the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), Turkey ranked as the country with the highest number of risk detections in exported food products during 2024–2025. Roughly 73% of notifications were categorized as “serious risk,” with particularly severe findings—especially pesticides and toxins—in fruits and vegetables, dried figs, pistachios, and spices.

Textiles and Ready-to-Wear in Deep Distress

Turkey’s textile and ready-to-wear sector is facing one of the harshest periods in its history. Recent figures indicate that hundreds of businesses have suspended production and around 300 companies have applied for concordat (bankruptcy protection). Job losses are nearing 300,000, while export performance has declined sharply.