Turkish Interior Minister meets with parliament speaker amid mafia controversy

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu met with Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop on June 16 amid the ongoing controversy over his remarks that a politician receives a monthly payment from mafia leader Sedat Peker.

Wednesday June 16 2021 03:52 pm

File photo.

Duvar English

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has met with Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop following days of controversy over a politician reportedly receiving a monthly payment from mafia leader Sedat Peker.

Soylu last month said that a politician receives $10,000 a month from Peker without giving the person's name, triggering a debate on who is on the mafia leader's payroll.

The minister's remarks came after Peker accused Soylu of committing various crimes.

While opposition politicians repeatedly asked Soylu to reveal the name, the minister, as well as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has been silent on the issue.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu previously called on Şentop to reveal the name and said that his silence would mean that he is the one receiving the money.

Şentop then slammed Kılıçdaroğlu for making the suggestion, adding that it was the minister himself who could reveal the name.

He also said that he wrote a letter to Soylu to ask for all the necessary information on the issue in order for the relevant judicial proceedings to start.

No statement was made following the meeting that lasted for half an hour on June 16.