09.05.2026 13:34
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek responded to CHP leader Özgür Özel's claim that "Akın Gürlek is also tapping Erdoğan's phones," saying, "These allegations are a clear attack on the seriousness of the state and our national security."
While CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's remarks targeting Justice Minister Akın Gürlek on a television program became a hot topic, a notable response came from Minister Gürlek.
ÖZEL'S "ENCRYPTED PHONE" ALLEGATION
In a live broadcast, CHP leader Özgür Özel alleged that Justice Minister Akın Gürlek communicated with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan via an encrypted phone. Özel stated, "He communicates with Erdoğan via an encrypted phone. He provides all information regarding judicial processes through the encrypted phone. He tells his close associates, 'I am even wiretapping Erdoğan, they can't do anything to me.'"
GÜRLEK'S "SMEAR POLITICS" RESPONSE
Responding to Özel's statements on his social media account, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek vehemently denied the allegations. Gürlek emphasized that they are working in line with the vision of the Century of Türkiye, stating, "Our aim is to combat criminal networks, ensure family peace, and establish justice."
Labeling Özel's words as "baseless allegations," Gürlek argued that these statements represent "an attempt to cover up political exhaustion with smear politics."
"ATTACK ON STATE DIGNITY"
Gürlek described the targeting of state communication conducted with the President as "a clear attack on state dignity and national security." Emphasizing the independence of the Turkish judiciary, the Minister stated, "The Turkish judiciary takes orders from no one and does not bow to threats."
Here is the full text of Minister Gürlek's statement;
"In line with the vision of the Century of Türkiye set forth by our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as a member of the Government of the Republic of Türkiye, we work day and night to make the Century of Türkiye the Century of Justice.
Our aim is to protect our children from crime, our families from unrest; to combat all criminal networks from street dealers to kingpins, from money launderers to betting gangs; to hold accountable criminal organizations looting municipalities, and to resolutely move forward to solve cold case files.
Throughout our professional career, we have fought against terrorist organizations, criminal networks, and tutelage groups solely with the power of law. We have not heeded attacks on our personal honor or state institutions, neither yesterday nor today.
The baseless allegations made by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel targeting me on a television channel are a manifestation of a 'smear politics' that tries to cover up political exhaustion with fictional scenarios.
Özel, who describes ongoing judicial processes as a 'coup,' is in fact acting as a patron for criminals. Equating the struggle of those who defended democracy at the cost of their lives on July 15 with his own fear of a 'nullity' case is, to say the least, a major distortion and impertinence.
Attempting to tarnish our communication with our President regarding our state duty through despicable slanders is the product not of a main opposition leader, but of an understanding of politics that has lost its sense of responsibility. These allegations are a clear attack on state dignity and our national security.
I remind Özgür Özel, who threatens our judges and prosecutors by saying 'they will be afraid' and tries to manipulate judicial processes: The Turkish judiciary takes orders from no one and does not bow to threats. The facts in the files are too solid and strong to be affected by the wind of lies Özel has concocted.
Just as we have won cases against the same individual's previous slanders, we will take the necessary legal steps against his new slanders as well. The wisdom of our nation will, as always, render this politics of lies futile."