Süleyman Soylu

Imprisoned co-leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş has been acquitted of insulting Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu at a hearing held in Ankara on Jan. 17 under heavy security measures.

The number of people in Turkey who have died as a result of drug use doubled in 2017 from the previous year, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on Jan. 10.

A total of 48,305 people were arrested across Turkey in 2017 for suspected links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the July 15, 2016 defeated coup, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on Jan. 9.

Opposition politicians and lawyers have filed a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu over his suggestion that it is the “police’s duty to break drug dealers’ legs” earlier this week.

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has vowed to step up the fight against drugs being sold outside schools, saying that police officers should not hesitate to use force against those selling drugs to the country’s youth.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is “uncomfortable” with Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Group Chair Özgür Özel has said, as a bitter war of words between the CHP and Soylu continues.

The death of a suspected outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant at a police headquarters has been debated in parliament, with Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Filiz Kerestecioğlu asking Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu how he died.

Cooperation on security between Turkey and its neighbor Iran is “vital” for the region, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on Dec. 9.

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu will meet his Iranian counterpart Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli in Iran on Dec. 9, according to the ministry. 

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu criticized on Nov. 16 the indifference of Western countries to the migration issue, which has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.