Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek dismisses EU sanctions proposal

The European Parliament’s draft report on Turkey proposes placing Justice Minister Akın Gürlek on a sanctions list. Gürlek issued a written statement rejecting the suggestion, calling it "a futile effort to target Turkey’s judicial institutions and undermine national sovereignty." He affirmed that Turkish courts operate independently under the constitution and warned that no one should try to place the judiciary under pressure or tutelage.

Slovenian Green MEP Vladimir Prebilič publicly said he would request EU sanctions against Gürlek, prompting the minister to respond on X, repeating his defence of the judiciary and warning that Turkey will continue to safeguard its legal order. Analysts note that if the sanctions are adopted, they could include freezing assets and restricting financial transactions within the EU, though no immediate measures have been taken.