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Erdogan Appoints Controversial Prosecutor as Justice Minister

Published February 11, 2026, 09:20
Erdogan Appoints Controversial Prosecutor as Justice Minister

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appointed Akin Gurlek as the new Minister of Justice. Gurlek is the head of the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office and has been criticized for the sweeping crackdown on the Republican People's Party (CHP) and investigations against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The appointment of Gurlek has provoked strong reactions from the opposition, which accuses him of politically motivated actions. CHP Vice President Gul Ciftci described the appointment as a "clear reward for the operations he carried out against our party." Erdogan also replaced Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya with the governor of Erzurum, Mustafa Ciftci. The reasons for the reshuffle have not been disclosed. Gurlek's appointment is the first government reshuffle in Turkey since the 2023 elections and marks a change in the leadership of the Ministry of Justice, at a time of increased political tension and criticism of the independence of the judiciary.