Turkey Weekly 3 – 9 August 2026
Turkey Today – 09.08.2026
The bill prepared as part of the Peace and Democratic Society Process and approved by a majority vote in Parliament’s Justice Committee will be put before the General Assembly tomorrow.
Speaking about the framework law, Mansur Yavaş said, “What Turkey needs is not agreements reached behind closed doors, but a broad social consensus established in full view of the people.”
The detained politicians Selahattin Demirtaş and Selçuk Mızraklı, who issued a joint statement regarding the framework law, thanked Abdullah Öcalan, saying, “We must move this process forward, share our suffering and leave it behind, and walk hand in hand towards the future.”
Turkey Today – 08.08.2026
The “Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration” bill submitted to the Parliament’s Justice Committee was approved in its entirety in a vote.
Saturday Mothers gathered at Galatasaray Square in week 1115 and demanded the perpetrators of the murder of Süleyman Cihan – who was arrested on 29 July 1981, tortured to death and buried in the unclaimed graves – to be brought to trial.
In a statement issued this Wednesday regarding the health of Hayrettin Adak, a prisoner with a medical condition being held at the S-Type Closed Prison, the Prison Commission of the IHD’s Izmir Branch called for Adak’s right to access treatment to be guaranteed.
A survey carried out by SAMER Research among 800 CHP voters in 17 provinces revealed that the New Party, founded by Özgür Özel after he left the CHP, has found significant support amongst the party’s grassroots.
Semra Demir and Kürşat Bafra, lawyers from the Lawyers Association ÇHD who were arrested ahead of the NATO Summit, have been released. Turkey Today – 07.08.2026
The parliamentary Justice Commission has begun considering the framework law bill. MHP Deputy Chair Fethi Yıldız read out Abdullah Öcalan’s 27 February Call for Peace and a Democratic Society.
The New (Yeni) Party announced today that 232 mayors, including 28 city mayors, have joined its ranks after resigning from the CHP.
An application has been filed with the Department for the Investigation of Unsolved Crimes under the Ministry of Justice to reopen the Musa Anter case. Musa Anter, a Kurdish journalist and writer was murdered by the Gendarmerie Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism (JİTEM) in Diyarbakır in 1992.
Speaking at the Digital Media Workshop held in Iğdır, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek signalled new restrictions and legislative measures regarding online journalism. Gürlek said of online journalism: “It absolutely must be brought together under a single umbrella.”
Turkey Today – 06.08.2026
The Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court, which was reviewing the detention orders in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) case, ruled that the detention of 53 individuals – including Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu – should continue.
At a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by President Tayyip Erdoğan, the latest stage reached in the process and the roadmap were assessed in the context of the draft framework bill.
Özgür Özel, the new party leader, said regarding the draft framework bill: “We will continue to uphold the stance we have maintained since the past—and which we have not yet abandoned—that this issue should be resolved within Parliament.”
The Beyoğlu District Governor’s Office has extended the suspension of Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, who had been removed from office, for a further two months.
In Varto’s Çalıdere village, the tent vigil launched by villagers opposing the geothermal power plant is now in its 95th day.
Turkey Today – 05.08.2026
The framework draft, titled the “Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,” has been submitted to the Parliament Speaker’s Office. The Justice Committee will begin discussions on Friday regarding the bill.
Speaking about the framework law, AKP Group Chair Abdullah Güler said that the bill would be debated in Parliament, adding that “necessary amendments will be made as needed.”
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested New (Yeni) Party chair Özgür Özel and MP Veli Ağbaba’s parliamentary immunity be lifted as part of an investigation on allegations of aggravated bribery.
In the election for acting mayor held following the arrest and suspension from office of Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş, the CHP’s candidate, Sibel Tan Çetinkaya, was elected.
Turkey Today – 04.08.2026
MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli has signed the framework law proposal titled “Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration.”
AKP’s Abdulhamit Gül and Cüneyt Yüksel visited the New Party at the Parliament to brief them on the framework bill. Murat Emir, Deputy Group Chairman of the New Party, said after the meeting that they had not seen a concrete draft text.
At the closed-door group meeting to be held tomorrow by the AKP Parliamentary Group, a briefing will be given on the draft bill entitled ‘Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Cohesion’.
The release of Aydın Altığ, who has been imprisoned for 31 years, has been blocked for a second time for a period of six months.
In Bursa, six CHP district mayors and municipal councillors have resigned and joined the New Party. There are no longer any CHP mayors in the city.
Turkey Today – 03.08.2026
In yesterday’s meeting with the DEM Party İmralı Delegation, Abdullah Öcalan said: “The law to be enacted by politics is the key to paving the way for this process. The door to a Democratic Republic is being opened fully.”
The draft ‘framework law’ was opened for signatures by AKP MPs before being submitted to Parliament.
Prisoner Aydın Oğuz has not been taken to hospital for 16 days despite his broken foot after refusing to comply with the prison’s “oral-cavity search” imposition.
Furkan Oğlak, who was arrested after being subjected to a racist attack for listening to a song in Kurdish, has been transferred from Kastamonu Type E Prison to Karabük Type T Prison.
Following the announcement that the Justice Ministry would be reopening the investigation into the assassination of journalist Uğur Mumcu, his family requested a meeting with Justice Minister Akın Gürlek. The meeting is due to take place on Thursday.