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TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Türkiye detains Istanbul district mayor in corruption probe, says state media
Turkish police detained 40 people including the mayor of Istanbul's central Beyoglu district as part of a corruption investigation, state broadcaster TRT Haber said on Friday, the latest wave in a crackdown on the opposition. Beyoglu mayor Inan Guney from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) was the 16th mayor to have been taken into custody in the crackdown, in which more than 500 people have been detained in less than a year. Among those in prison is Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, who is being investigated on charges of corruption and links to terrorism. The CHP denies the charges and calls them an attempt to eliminate a democratic alternative, a charge the government rejects. TRT Haber said those held in the latest operation are suspected of involvement in fraudulent activities at companies linked to the Istanbul municipality. Arrest warrants were issued for 44 people, including the 40 detained, it said. On Thursday, CHP mayor Ozlem Cercioglu from the western city of Aydin joined Erdogan's governing AK Party, citing disagreements with the CHP administration. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel told reporters, without providing evidence, that AK Party officials had threatened Cercioglu with legal investigations into her municipality and arrest unless she joined the party. AK Party deputy chair Hayati Yazici called Ozel's allegation 'completely untrue'. Cercioglu also rejected the claim.
Forbes
25-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Turkey Legalizes Medical Cannabis Sales In Pharmacies
A technician inspects the leaves of cannabis plants growing inside a controlled environment in North ... More Macedonia. Photographer: Konstantinos Tsakalidis/Bloomberg Turkey has passed a landmark bill that legalizes the sale of cannabis products for medical use in pharmacies, marking a step forward in expanding patient access to such treatment. The Turkish Parliament this week approved a bill that allows the sale of cannabis-based products in pharmacies with a prescription. The bill, introduced by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, published in the Official Gazette yesterday, regulates access to medical cannabis products that are non-intoxicating and low in THC, such as those containing CBD. It amended a number of laws, including the narcotics law and regulations related to pharmacies and shops that sell poisonous or effective chemical substances. These regulations reportedly aim to meet healthcare needs through domestic production, reduce dependence on imports, and prevent the use of unregistered products. The changes, therefore, are expected to boost the legal production of low-THC medical cannabis in Turkey. Under the new rules, the cultivation of medical cannabis will be supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, while processing, export, licensing, registration, and authorization for sale will fall under the oversight of the Ministry of Health. By amending the narcotics law, medical cannabis products will now be available through pharmacies. Furthermore, each product will be tracked from production or import all the way to patient use through a centralized tracking system designed to block counterfeit, smuggled, or unauthorized products from entering the legal market. The law limits medical cannabis sales to pharmacies in order to block access through unregulated retail and online markets, with the aim to protect public health and ensure product safety. Concerns Over Medical Cannabis Bill Before the bill became law, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) criticized the proposed cannabis regulation, arguing that there is not enough scientific evidence to support the medical benefits of cannabis and warned that its widespread use could lead to serious physical and mental health risks. In December 2020, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the United Nations' drug policy-making body, reclassified cannabis and cannabis resin under an international category that acknowledges their medical value. The association also urged lawmakers to remove the cannabis-related measures from the bill, which has also faced criticism from members of some opposition parties. While the new law will allow people to purchase low-THC medical cannabis products from pharmacies, easing access for treatment, cannabis remains illegal in Turkey for recreational use. In 2016, legislation allowed the use of sublingual cannabinoid medications, such as Sativex, with a doctor's prescription. The new law, however, is expected to make it easier for medical cannabis patients to obtain cannabis products from pharmacies with a prescription. This reform is also viewed as a significant step toward supporting Turkey's entry into the cannabis-based product market and boosting its international competitiveness. Turkey is, in fact, not new to cannabis cultivation, particularly hemp, which is legal in several provinces for medical and scientific purposes. According to data from TurkStat, compiled by the state-run Anadolu news agency, Turkey's cannabis seed production surged about 70% year-on-year in 2024, reaching 556 tons, up from 273 tons in 2020. Turkey now joins other European countries where medical cannabis is legal, such as Italy and Germany, which, however, allow products with higher levels of THC. Ukraine has also recently legalized medical cannabis.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Istanbul mayor given fresh prison term for ‘insulting' official
A court has sentenced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the main rival of Turkey 's President Tayyip Erdogan, to a fresh prison term, the country's state broadcaster TRT has reported. Mr Imamoglu has been in jail, pending trial, since March over separate corruption charges. He was sentenced on Wednesday in Istanbul to one year and eight months in prison for insulting and threatening the chief prosecutor of the city. The new sentence must be confirmed by two appeals courts. This is the second time that Mr Imamoglu has been convicted of insulting public officials. In 2022, he was sentenced to two years and six months in jail for criticising election board officials over a decision to cancel 2019 Istanbul elections, in which he defeated the ruling AK Party candidate. He has appealed that sentence, but it has not yet been reviewed. Mr Imamoglu denies the charges. "I've been fighting against the abuse of the judiciary and against its use as a political tool. This is indeed an insult against our nation," he was quoted as saying by broadcaster Halk TV and other Turkish media. The 2022 conviction, if upheld, could prevent him from participating in future elections. Istanbul University in March annulled Imamoglu's university diploma, without which he cannot stand as a candidate for president. Since October 2024, police have detained more than 500 people, over 200 of whom were then jailed pending trial, under investigations into municipalities run by the main opposition CHP, Mr Imamoglu's party. The CHP denies corruption allegations and calls them , a charge the government rejects. Wednesday's hearing was held inside a courthouse-prison complex in Istanbul's Silivri district, a site often used for high-profile and politically sensitive trials and where Mr Imamoglu is currently being held.
Arab News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Istanbul mayor hit with new jail term for insulting prosecutor, media say
ISTANBUL: An Istanbul court on Wednesday sentenced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the main rival of Turkiye's President Tayyip Erdogan, to a fresh prison term, state broadcaster TRT reported, extending a crackdown on the opposition. Imamoglu, who has been in jail pending trial since March over separate corruption charges, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison for insulting and threatening the chief Istanbul prosecutor. The prison sentence must be confirmed by two appeals courts. It's the second time Imamoglu has been convicted of insulting public officials. In 2022, Imamoglu was sentenced to two years and six months in jail for criticizing election board officials over a decision to cancel 2019 Istanbul elections, in which he defeated the ruling AK Party candidate. He has appealed that sentence but it has not yet been reviewed. Imamoglu denies the charges. 'I've been fighting against the abuse of the judiciary and against its use as a political tool. This is indeed an insult against our nation,' Imamoglu was quoted as saying by broadcaster Halk TV and other Turkish media. The 2022 conviction, if upheld, could prevent Imamoglu from participating in future elections. Istanbul University in March annulled Imamoglu's university diploma, without which he cannot stand as a candidate for president. Since October last year, police have detained more than 500 people, over 200 of whom were then jailed pending trial, under investigations into municipalities run by the main opposition CHP, Imamoglu's party. The CHP denies corruption allegations and calls them a politicized attempt by the government to remove electoral threats against Erdogan, a charge the government rejects. Wednesday's hearing was held inside a courthouse-prison complex in Istanbul's Silivri district, a site often used for high-profile and politically sensitive trials and where Imamoglu is currently being held.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
PKK disarmament opens new page for Turkey, Erdogan says
ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday called for full support of the disarmament of Kurdish militants that began with a handover of the first batch of weapons by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) forces, a step he said opened a new page for the country. Thirty PKK militants burned their weapons at the mouth of a cave in northern Iraq on Friday, marking a symbolic but significant step toward ending a decades-long insurgency against Turkey. "As of yesterday, the scourge of terrorism has entered the process of ending. Today is a new day; a new page has opened in history. Today, the doors of a great, powerful Turkey have been flung wide open," Erdogan told members of his AK Party in Ankara. He said the recent steps have united the nation, and now the parliament will play a critical role in setting up a legal framework for completing the disarmament process. "I hope that our parliament will support this process with the broadest possible participation," Erdogan said. Ankara has taken steps toward forming a parliamentary commission that will oversee the disarmament and PKK's transition into democratic politics. The PKK, locked in conflict with the Turkish state and outlawed since 1984, decided in May to disband, disarm and end its separatist struggle after a public call to do so from its long-imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan. After a series of failed peace efforts, the new initiative could pave the way for Ankara to end an insurgency that has killed over 40,000 people, burdened the economy and wrought deep social and political divisions in Turkey and the wider region.
