Weekly Turkey Report: 2nd Week of October 2025
Summary
Turkey is showing the classic signs of “El Salvadorization”—a rapid slide into gang violence, institutional corruption, and the normalization of political impunity. While high-profile scandals and power struggles dominate headlines, the country’s deeper social decay—driven by economic despair, organized crime, and state complicity—is becoming impossible to ignore.
The Gangland Murder That Shocked Istanbul
Two years after the politically motivated assassination of former Grey Wolves (Ülkü Ocakları) leader Sinan Ateş, one of the case’s key figures, attorney Sedat Öktem, was gunned down in central Istanbul with a Kalashnikov rifle by a group of young assailants, two of them under 18.
Öktem had been charged with aiding the murder but released after nearly two years in detention—reportedly following a visit by the Grey Wolves’ current chairman. Despite a police report warning that he was at risk of assassination, authorities failed to protect him.
He was also known for his close ties to several rising Istanbul gangs with bizarre names such as the Daltons, the Caspers, and the Redkits. These groups recruit uneducated youth from the city’s outskirts and are involved in a broad spectrum of crimes, from drug and human trafficking to contract killings and nightclub management.
For many young people disillusioned by economic collapse, gang membership now provides both social identity and financial survival. These criminal networks maintain strong loyalty systems—supporting imprisoned members and their families—thereby silencing internal dissent.
This development signals Turkey’s transformation into a Latin American–style narco-state, serving as a hub for drug and money flows amid police corruption, judicial decay, and the direct involvement of MHP-linked elements. The Syrian war’s open-border policy has only accelerated this spiral by giving gangs easy access to automatic weapons.
Erdoğan’s Political Siege of the CHP Expands
The ruling bloc continues its legal and administrative siege of the opposition CHP. The 8th Administrative Court accepted an AKP appeal, suspending the appointment of the CHP’s Bayrampaşa deputy mayor—won by lottery—on the grounds that the candidate presided over the same session.
In Ankara, prosecutors sought Interior Ministry authorization to investigate Mayor Mansur Yavaş and his chief of staff for “abuse of office” related to a concert organization. Yavaş dismissed the accusations, saying he was ready to testify anytime and had “nothing to hide.”
Erdoğan Still Blocks Demirtaş
Turkey appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Grand Chamber to reopen the case of imprisoned former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, effectively preventing his release by filing just before the deadline. The move reignited doubts about the government’s sincerity in its newly dubbed “terror-free Turkey” initiative.
MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli urged PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to expand his earlier “disarm and dissolve” call to include Syria’s SDF/YPG, and suggested sending a parliamentary delegation to meet Öcalan at İmralı Prison. “Messages should be received firsthand and shared with the public,” Bahçeli said.
No Justice for the Sick and Detained
Manager Ayşe Barım, initially released to house arrest but reimprisoned after a prosecutor’s objection, suffered a heart attack on October 2. Her lawyer announced that doctors have scheduled open-heart surgery, yet the court has refused to grant release.
Police Raids Target Pro-Government Business Giants
Police detained 21 suspects—including Istanbul Gold Refinery owner Özcan Halaç and CEO Ayşen Esen—for allegedly obtaining over $12 million in fraudulent export subsidies through fake precious metal exports totaling $543 million.
Former AKP MP Arrested After Criticizing the Party System
Former AKP lawmaker Hüseyin Kocabıyık was detained after publicly exposing the AKP’s internal patronage culture:
“The AKP gives something to everyone. They made my wife a governor, then joked, ‘We nailed you down.’ When I objected, they took it back. That’s how the system works—so everyone stays silent.”
Kocabıyık, anticipating arrest, said:
“Prison is no problem for a wise person—it can be a place of renewal. But imprisoning innocent people unjustly is horrific.”
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Halkbank’s Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Halkbank’s request to dismiss its case over alleged violations of Iran sanctions, causing the bank’s shares to drop more than 6% in a single day.
Celebrity Drug Bust Rocks Istanbul
Dozens of actors and singers were detained for alleged drug use, including Dilan Polat, Engin Polat, Hadise, İrem Derici, Kubilay Aka, Kaan Yıldırım, Berrak Tüzünataç, Demet Evgar, Duygu Özaslan, Zeynep Aral, Özge Özpirinçci, Feyza Altun, Derin Talu, Deren Talu, Metin Akdülger, Ceren Moray, and Mert Yazıcıoğlu.
They were taken into custody in dawn raids at 6 a.m. and released later that evening, prompting widespread criticism that the operation was a publicity stunt amid deepening social unrest.
Environment and Economy: New Losses
A new bill before Parliament aims to lift protection from national parks, allowing construction in forests and coastal areas deemed “in the public interest.”
Meanwhile, Eroğlu Holding’s textile brand Colins has shut down production in Aksaray, laying off about 1,500 workers, and moved operations to Egypt.
In a symbolic move, the government is reportedly preparing to return Gülhane Military Medical Academy (GATA)—closed after the 2016 coup attempt—to the Ministry of Defense, restoring its status as a military hospital.
Discover more from Atlas Think Center
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.