Letter from Istanbul

It is hard to look away from Turkish courtrooms. Each hearing brings its share of surprises, confusion or troubling infringements on rights. Anyone who has ever sat in one of these cold, bureaucratic courtrooms knows that the judicial drama in Istanbul or Ankara is far from ordinary. For just over a week, however, a wave of indictments has caused particularly intense concern.

The most notable arrest has undoubtedly been that of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, likely the most influential television presenter within circles of power. Prosecutors accused him of “drug use” and facilitating encounters for “financial and sexual benefit.” Since his statement before the prosecutor, several testimonies of harassment and sexual assault have been added to the case file.

This case stands out: Not only does it target a wealthy and influential figure – already a rarity – but it also offers a glimpse into the internal power struggles among the regime’s Islamist elite, as part of what appears to be a succession battle at the highest level of the state.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy was known for his close ties to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s inner circle, receiving regular invitations to travel aboard the president’s planes. His career had been spectacular and was still on the rise. Barely 40 years old, he was editor-in-chief at the pro-government channel Habertürk, one of the country’s best-known news broadcasters. Just days before his December 9 arrest, he had conducted an interview with Ömer Celik, spokesperson for the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the ruling party since 2002. It was his second interview with Celik in less than six months.

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