Justice Minister Akın Gürlek stated that the circular titled 'Combating Organized Crime Groups,' sent to 81 provinces, aims to ensure judicial processes against crime syndicates that are structured in cities, exploit youth, conduct crime propaganda on social media, and dare to intimidate citizens through extortion, threats, looting, and armed actions are carried out more swiftly, effectively, and comprehensively.
Minister Gürlek used the following expressions in his statement: 'Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; we continue our fight against organized crime groups that target the peace of our nation, the labor of our tradespeople, the future of our youth, and public order with unwavering determination.
A CIRCULAR WAS SENT TO 81 PROVINCES In this context, upon our instruction, our General Directorate of Criminal Affairs has sent a new and comprehensive circular titled 'Combating Organized Crime Groups' to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices of 175 High Criminal Courts in 81 provinces.
With this circular; it is aimed that judicial processes against crime syndicates that are structured in cities, exploit our children and youth, conduct crime propaganda on social media, and dare to intimidate our citizens through extortion, threats, looting, and armed actions are conducted more swiftly, more effectively, and comprehensively.
'NO BREATHING ROOM WILL BE GIVEN TO ANY CRIMINAL' Investigations will be conducted by our specialized public prosecutors on organized crimes; multiple prosecutors will be assigned when necessary; uninterrupted and zero-tolerance coordination will be ensured with law enforcement units; no breathing room will be given to any criminal.
These structures will be targeted for eradication from their roots, not only with their street-level triggermen but also together with their leaders, instigators, financial sources, and the crime proceeds they attempt to launder through methods such as crypto assets, illegal betting, and similar means.
All sanctions foreseen by our legal system will be applied in the heaviest manner against those who try to draw our children and youth into the dark web of crime organizations, and the issue of increasing the penalty in cases where children are exploited for organizational purposes will be meticulously observed in all investigations.
'NO TOLERANCE WILL BE SHOWN FOR THREATENING LANGUAGE AND DIGITAL GANGS' Immediate action will also be taken against content on social media that glorifies crime groups, instills fear, and directs children and youth to crime; no tolerance will be shown for crime propaganda, threatening language, and digital gangs.
Safe application, confidentiality, and witness protection mechanisms will be operated most effectively under the state's guarantee; our tradespeople who earn their bread with sweat will never be left to the mercy of gangs. Our chief public prosecutors' offices, public prosecutors, police, gendarmerie, and all relevant units in high criminal centers will continuously monitor the fight on the ground through regular coordination meetings.
No matter who hides behind which mask; we will never give way to street gangs, organized crime groups, structures targeting our children, those trying to extort our tradespeople, and those disturbing the peace of our citizens. Our state will continue to stand by its citizens, tradespeople, youth, and children at all times.'
