26.02.2026 13:33
In a live broadcast, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced that 292 lawyers visited the imprisoned crime organization leader Adnan Oktar within a month. Minister Gürlek said, "Why do 292 lawyers visit the crime organization leader? Because lawyers are being used as couriers."
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek made striking statements regarding the lawyer meetings of those detained for terrorism and organized crime. Minister Gürlek pointed out that the leader of the criminal organization, Adnan Oktar, was visited by 292 lawyers in one month, indicating allegations that some lawyers were used as "couriers" within the organization.
"WHY WOULD 292 LAWYERS VISIT A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION LEADER?"
Gürlek stated in a live broadcast on NTV that this high number of visits is far beyond a normal professional meeting. "In one month, 292 lawyers visited the leader of the criminal organization, Adnan Oktar. Why would 292 lawyers visit a criminal organization leader? Because lawyers are being used as couriers," he expressed. Minister Gürlek claimed that some lawyers conveyed the leader's instructions to the outside and sent messages like "do not become a whistleblower" to boost the morale of the detainees.
"WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING AS A MINISTRY"
Gürlek also added allegations of pressure regarding the transmission of internal organization instructions and preventing whistleblowing. Emphasizing that they are closely monitoring this situation as a ministry, Gürlek stated that they are planning a new legal regulation regarding the individuals he defined as courier lawyers. It was reported that this regulation would be conditional on a court decision and material evidence.
Gürlek said, "If a lawyer has acted as a courier for the organization, has carried news from the outside, and has provided moral motivation to the organization's members outside at the instruction of the organization leader, we will take necessary actions." Gürlek argued that the bill would focus on combating criminal organizations without undermining the right to defense. Discussions on combating criminal organizations and prison management had previously come to the fore with tensions experienced with professional organizations regarding the role and rights of lawyers. However, with this statement from Minister Gürlek, the issues of visits to detainees and internal communication within the organization once again became the focal point of public attention.