First Week of March 2026 – İmamoğlu trial starts

Weekly Turkey Report: First Week of January 2026 – İmamoğlu trial starts

Istanbul Municipality Trial: Proceedings Begin with 402 Defendants

A trial arising from an investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) is set to begin. The case involves 402 defendants, 106 of whom are in pre-trial detention, and will be heard in Courtroom No. 1 at the Marmara Open Prison complex in Silivri.

Among the defendants is Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The defendants face 143 alleged acts across 17 charges; the case centers on certain municipal tenders, relations with public officials, and various allegations of misconduct.

🌍  FOREIGN POLICY

Turkey–Iran Relations and the Ballistic Missile Incident

President Erdogan, showed no comparable sympathy for the thousands of Iranians who lost their lives during protests in Iran. It has been reported that the Turkish government coordinated with Tehran on the detention of individuals who organized protests against the Iranian regime inside Turkey. According to NewsNation, some of those detained in Turkey were subsequently executed in Iran.

The Ministry of National Defence (MSB) issued a statement regarding ballistic ordnance that landed in Hatay: “A ballistic munition determined to have been fired from Iran and directed into Turkish airspace has been neutralized by NATO air and missile defence assets positioned in the Eastern Mediterranean.” In the aftermath, Foreign Minister Fidan conveyed Turkey’s objection to Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi.

A notable op-ed appeared in the Wall Street Journal: “After Iran, Turkey must urgently be reined in. As the regional threat posed by Iran is neutralized, the US and Israel must not allow Turkey to take its place.” 

🕊️  PEACE PROCESS

Ocalan’s Assessment and DEM Party’s Diplomatic Moves 

DEM Party shared an assessment written by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan one day after the joint process commission report was published. Ocalan extended his thanks to Sirri Sureyya Onder, a member of the Imrali Delegation. Ocalan stated: “To liken the resulting report to those previously produced by parliamentary commissions is to fail to grasp the historical significance of the step taken,” adding that the report would compel all political actors to develop grounded, practical policies.

Addressing parties that opposed the report, Ocalan said: “It is important in every respect that they correct their mistakes without delay, in line with the duties and responsibilities demanded by the struggle for democracy and freedom.”

DEM Party Imrali Delegation members Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar traveled to Edirne to visit former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas, who is held at Edirne F-Type Prison. Following the meeting, delegation members stated that Demirtas would make positive and constructive contributions to the process.

According to Omer Ocalan, the PKK leader also commented on the “Right to Hope,” saying: “The right to hope is important. My status was also discussed in parliament. My status is of course significant — it needs to be clarified. My status is, at the same time, the status of the Kurds.”

🗣️  POLITICS

Bahceli: “If the Home Front Cracks…”

MHP leader Devlet Bahceli, arguing that events in Iran had clarified “the importance of the home front and the value of national unity and solidarity,” asked: “Do those heedless enough to sneer at the goal of a Turkey free from terrorism now see more clearly what we are doing and what we are aiming for?”

Claiming that Turkey had “stepped back from the brink of catastrophe,” Bahceli added: “If our home front cracks, I wonder when you hope to see that our flanks will fill with poisonous factions.”

⚖️  JUDICIARY

Bolu Mayor Tanju Ozcan Arrested

Thirteen people, including Bolu Mayor, a member of CHP, Tanju Ozcan, were arrested in an operation launched on charges of “irtikap” — a crime defined as a public official using their influence or position to obtain personal benefit or to benefit another party.

The Ministry of Interior removed Tanju Ozcan from his post as Bolu Mayor following the arrest warrant issued against him. 

Former TUSIAD Chair Acquitted on One Count, Sentenced on Another

A verdict was reached in the trial of former TUSIAD President Orhan Turan and High Advisory Council Chair Mehmet Omer Arif Aras. The court acquitted both defendants on charges of “serial attempts to obstruct a fair trial,” but sentenced them to 1 year, 3 months, and 18 days in prison for “publicly disseminating misleading information.” The court also ruled to defer the pronouncement of the verdict.

Council of State: Constitutional Court Rulings Not Binding

The 5th Chamber of the Council of State (Danistay), in its ruling on the “Peace Academics” case, held that the Constitutional Court’s violation findings are not binding. The court ruled that simply signing the declaration could be considered sufficient grounds for dismissal from a university, and argued that the Constitutional Court’s order for a “retrial” does not create a mandatory obligation for lower courts. 

TMSF Trustee Appointed to Companies of Erden Timur

As part of a money laundering investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as trustee to manage the companies owned and co-owned by businessman and former Galatasaray Sportif A.S. Acting Chairman Erden Timur.

📊  SOCIETY

2025 Femicide Report: At Least 294 Women Killed

According to the 2025 report published by the Platform to Stop Femicide, at least 294 women were killed by men in Turkey throughout the year, while 297 women were found dead in suspicious circumstances.

The report noted that the majority of women were killed in their homes and most often by men close to them, while firearms were highlighted as the most commonly used weapon in these killings.

🎤  CULTURE & LAW

Prosecutor Launches Investigation into Singer Hande Yener 

The Mugla Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into singer Hande Yener. The probe was initiated on allegations that the artist “targeted the constitutional order” and made “remarks insulting the President” through chants she led with the audience and statements she made on stage during a concert.

The prosecutor’s office sent an instruction to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for Hande Yener to be interviewed as a suspect. The investigation file includes the chant “Zipla zipla ziplamayan Tayyipci” (Jump, jump, those who don’t jump are Tayyip’s supporters) and other remarks made on stage.

🏛️  PARLIAMENT

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Hosts Ramadan Iftar

Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Speaker Numan Kurtulmus hosted a large iftar dinner at parliament on March 3, 2026, in honor of Ramadan. Political party leaders, members of parliament, cabinet ministers, senior bureaucrats, and former speakers were among the guests. Attendees included President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakirhan, Saadet Party Leader Mahmut Arikan, DEM Party Imrali Delegation Member and TBMM Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan, and HUDA PAR Leader Zekeriya Yapicioglu.

💰  ECONOMY

Turkey Spent $12 Billion in a Single Week

The impact of geopolitical turbulence on the Turkish economy is becoming clearer. According to a report published by Bloomberg, Turkey spent $12 billion in just one week in an effort to stabilize the Turkish Lira (TL) against the shock waves of the crisis.

TUIK Announces February Inflation Data

TUIK (Turkish Statistical Institute) released its February inflation figures. Monthly inflation came in at 2.96%, while the annual rate was announced as 31.53%.