Trial of the “Sakallılar” criminal organization begins in Diyarbakır: 62 defendants face the judge

The trial has begun at the High Criminal Court regarding a group in Diyarbakır that allegedly identified themselves as “Salafists-Sakallılar,” pressured local tradespeople under the guise of a religious community, and demanded extortion money.

There are 62 defendants in the case, 22 of whom are in custody. The defendants face various charges including shooting at workplaces, armed robbery, assault, deprivation of liberty, and activities within the scope of an organized criminal group. It is expected that 43 victims will be heard in the hearings until Friday.

It was observed that some of the defendants present at the hearing had shaved their beards and arrived at the courtroom in clean clothes. İbrahim Durmaz, who is alleged to be the leader of the organization, his cousin Muhammed Durmaz, and Hüseyin Elhatısaru, in whose home a large number of unlicensed weapons were reportedly seized, presented their defense.

İbrahim Durmaz denied the accusations against him; he claimed that he did not know the victims and that he had not spoken to his cousin Muhammed Durmaz or Hüseyin Elhatısaru for a long time. Upon the presiding judge's question, “You say you haven't spoken for 3 years, but there are intimate photos of you taken together last year,” Durmaz replied, “It could be that we ran into each other in a setting. They wanted to take a photo, and I couldn't refuse.”

The presiding judge also asked about a photo found in the digital image of Durmaz's phone, which reportedly showed an AK-47 Kalashnikov rifle on a table. Stating that he did not remember the photo, Durmaz said, “I might have downloaded it from Google by mistake,” and argued that the weapon did not belong to him.

ACCUSATIONS IN THE INDICTMENT

In the 350-page indictment, it was alleged that the structure attempted to hide itself under the guise of a religious community to avoid the attention of police and judicial authorities. It was claimed that the gang reached out to people involved in debt disputes and imposed so-called rulings on the parties by saying, “We will collect your money.”

The indictment stated that the suspects created fear and pressure on the public with the illegal weapons they obtained; that they gave inconsistent statements when caught; and that they threatened victims to make them withdraw their complaints. It was alleged that extortion was specifically demanded from alcoholic entertainment venues and various businesses.

The case file included allegations that jewelry stores, beauty centers, hotels, cafeterias, beverage markets, automotive dealerships, and car rental companies were targeted. It was reported that some tradespeople were called via WhatsApp to demand money, and that the phrase “a penalty has been issued” was used in the threats.

The indictment also included allegations of connections to the criminal organization known as the “Daltonlar.” It was claimed that the Istanbul-based structure had the “Sakallılar-Salafists” group carry out some armed attacks in Diyarbakır, and that some businesses in Istanbul and Diyarbakır were shot at simultaneously on the grounds that they did not pay extortion money.

The investigation file also stated that some of the victims withdrew their complaints due to pressure, despite having suffered financial losses. It was alleged that international phone lines and internet-based applications were used in the threats, and that motorcycles and ski masks were used in the attacks.

The indictment stated that the organization presented itself as a structure that supposedly “distributes justice” by referencing religious values, and that it attempted to implement its own decisions instead of the Constitution and the laws. The trial of the defendants will continue with the taking of victim statements.