Erdogan Appoints Prosecutor Behind Opposition Crackdown as Turkey’s Justice Minister

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has appointed Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek as the country’s new justice minister, a move that has intensified political tensions and drawn strong criticism from opposition leaders.

Gurlek, who has led sweeping legal actions against the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), replaces Yilmaz Tunc in the first cabinet reshuffle since Turkey’s 2023 elections. The Official Gazette also confirmed the appointment of Erzurum Governor Mustafa Ciftci as interior minister, replacing Ali Yerlikaya.

Since becoming Istanbul’s chief prosecutor in 2024, Gurlek has overseen extensive investigations and arrests targeting opposition figures, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu — widely viewed as Erdogan’s leading political rival. Imamoglu has been jailed since March of last year.

A major indictment issued in November accused Imamoglu of leading a large corruption network and sought a prison sentence exceeding 2,000 years. The case, which involves hundreds of defendants connected to Istanbul’s municipal administration, triggered Turkey’s largest street protests in a decade. The first hearing is scheduled for next month.

Opposition leaders condemned Gurlek’s elevation to the justice ministry as evidence of political interference in the judiciary. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel described the appointment as a continuation of what he called a “judicial coup attempt” targeting his party, vowing that the opposition would resist mounting pressure.

Government officials reject accusations of politicized prosecutions, maintaining that Turkey’s judiciary operates independently.

The reshuffle comes amid heightened political polarization and growing scrutiny of Turkey’s legal system both domestically and internationally.