Justice Minister Akın Gürlek: Faith and religious values cannot shield criminal activity

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said faith and religious values cannot be used as tools or shields for criminal activities. Gürlek said necessary steps were being taken against organizations that commit crimes and obtain illicit gains by exploiting citizens’ religious feelings.

Scraper SystemAugust 17, 2026, 04:03 PM

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek: Faith and religious values cannot shield criminal activity

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said faith and religious values can in no way be turned into tools or shields for criminal activities.

In a statement posted on his NSosyal account, Gürlek said the Republic of Türkiye continued its fight against criminal organizations and gangs within the framework of the principles of the rule of law, regardless of who they were or under what guise they operated.

Gürlek said necessary steps were being taken against organizations that commit crimes and obtain illicit gains by exploiting citizens’ faith and religious feelings. He cited the Alihan Kuriş criminal organization as one example of the fight being conducted in this context.

Gürlek noted that the fundamental criterion was not the identity of any faith, religious organization or community, but criminal acts and structures linked to those acts. He said the state would continue to protect citizens’ freedom of faith and worship while combating acts defined as crimes.