07.11.2026 12:10
Mirkan Günay Topçu, the lawyer of Beşir Ömer Demir, Mustafa Sarıgül's close bodyguard, stated that his client was a victim who had been forced to remain silent for years under the pressure of influence, and said: "The victim of sexual assault can be a woman or a man; the fact that the victim is a man cannot be a justification for making what he experienced a subject of mockery, exposure, and tabloid gossip."
The investigation process carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, involving allegations of "money laundering," "sexual assault," and "abuse," continues, and new developments have occurred in the case file, in which Mustafa Sarıgül's ex-wife Aylin Kotil and their sons Ömer and Emir Sarıgül are also named. Beşir Ömer Demir, Mustafa Sarıgül's close bodyguard, who is named in the investigation, made a statement through his lawyer and used striking expressions.
"WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE CHARACTERIZATION 'HE IS OUR SON'"
Lawyer Mirkan Günay Topçu denied the claims that his client testified out of fear of going to prison and made the following assessment: "Our client is the victim of this case file. Under the influence and pressure of a political figure many times more powerful than himself, he was forced to remain silent in fear for years. We absolutely do not accept Mr. Mustafa Sarıgül's characterization of our client as 'he is our son.' What our client experienced was not a father-son relationship, but a relationship of power and dependency that constitutes the source of the victimization. The claim that our client gave his statements out of fear of going to prison is also contrary to the truth. Our client has not been involved in any crime and gave his statements of his own free will."
"THE VICTIM BEING MALE CANNOT BE A REASON FOR RIDICULE AND EXPOSURE"
Emphasizing that the statements in the investigation file were leaked and that photographs of his client were used to target him, Atty. Topçu reacted to the public lynching: "Our client and his family are facing an open public lynching. The victim of sexual assault can be a woman or a man; the victim being male cannot be a reason for making what he experienced a subject of ridicule, exposure, and tabloid gossip. Our client is being victimized once again, first by the abuse he was subjected to, then by the images recorded and disseminated without his consent in 2024, and today by a severe exposure."
LEGAL PROCESS AND ACCESS BLOCKING WARNING
Stating that the confidentiality decision was violated, Lawyer Topçu called on journalists, commentators, and media organizations to immediately remove content featuring his client's face and identity. He announced that if the violations continue, criminal complaints will be filed under Articles 134, 136, and 285 of the Turkish Criminal Code, access-blocking applications will be made, and lawsuits for material and moral compensation will be filed.
The full statement made by Atty. Topçu is as follows:
"Due to the publications made in the press and on social media in recent weeks about our client Beşir Ömer Demir, an obligation to inform the public has arisen in order to protect our client's personality rights and human dignity.
Our client has stated to the competent judicial authorities that he was subjected to sexual assault and abuse by Mustafa Sarıgül, whom he served as a close bodyguard for many years. Our client is the victim of this case file. Under the influence and pressure of a political figure many times more powerful than himself, he was forced to remain silent in fear for years. We absolutely do not accept Mr. Mustafa Sarıgül's characterization of our client as "he is our son." What our client experienced was not a father-son relationship, but a relationship of power and dependency that constitutes the source of the victimization. The claim that our client gave his statements out of fear of going to prison is also contrary to the truth. Our client has not been involved in any crime and gave his statements of his own free will.
We do not accept the third-party statements reflected in the press that portray our client as part of or an intermediary in the events that occurred. Our client has not played a role in anyone's victimization. We will make all our statements regarding these statements only before judicial authorities.
Our client is being victimized once again, first by the abuse he was subjected to, then by the images recorded and disseminated without his consent in 2024, and today by a severe exposure. Statements in the investigation file, which has a confidentiality decision, are being leaked, our client's most private life is being turned into tabloid material, and in most of the news reports, even in detention reports concerning other persons, our client's face and photographs are used. Our client and his family are facing an open public lynching. The victim of sexual assault can be a woman or a man; the victim being male cannot be a reason for making what he experienced a subject of ridicule, exposure, and tabloid gossip.
We invite all persons and media organizations, including journalists, commentators, and social media accounts, that share our client's photographs or statements concerning the investigation file and thereby make him a target, to immediately remove these posts, and we warn of the legal and criminal liability that will arise otherwise. We request that media organizations not use images showing our client's face and identity, and that they remove or anonymize those already published.
Our client's rights to complain and to participate in the case concerning the sexual assault and abuse he was subjected to are reserved. Criminal complaints will be filed under Articles 134, 136, and 285 of the Turkish Criminal Code against all persons who violate the privacy of private life, unlawfully disseminate personal data, and violate the confidentiality of the investigation; access-blocking applications will be made for publications containing violations; and all legal remedies, including material and moral compensation, will be pursued.
The legal assessment of the events belongs to independent judicial authorities. Our client trusts the judiciary and will follow the process to the end. We ask the public and the press to respect the human dignity and private life of our client, who has paid the heaviest price in this case file. All future statements on behalf of our client will be made only by his attorney.
Respectfully announced to the public."