‘Fund crisis’ article stirs up AKP circles

An article published in Yeni Şafak regarding the “fund crisis,” which is stated to have directly affected approximately 500 thousand investors, has created a debate within circles close to the AKP.

Ersin Çelik, the Editorial Manager of the newspaper's website, stated in his column that if investor grievances are not addressed, markets are not regulated, and no steps are taken against those responsible, it could lead to political consequences.

Çelik wrote that at a time when Turkey is taking critical steps in the fields of foreign policy, diplomacy, and the defense industry, if those who “seize the savings of the public by standing close to or appearing close to the government” are not held accountable, a “very major political fracture” could occur.

Çelik's reference to the Ukraine example in his article, where he argued that corruption paved the way for Volodymyr Zelenskyy's presidency, also caused the controversy to grow. Following the article, harsh criticisms were directed at Çelik, Yeni Şafak, and Albayrak Media, the group to which the newspaper belongs, on social media.

SUPPORT POSTS AND TBF STATEMENT

Following the reactions, Yeni Şafak columnist İsmail Kılıçarslan shared Çelik's message on his X account, stating, “It is an honor to be lynched for standing up for the country and against the conspiracy plotted against Tayyip Erdoğan.” Journalist Taha Hüseyin Karagöz, who is close to the government, also made a post containing the words “Ersin Çelik is a man of integrity.”

The Turkish Press Federation, chaired by Sinan Burhan, also issued a written statement, noting that the debate should be evaluated within the scope of freedom of expression. The statement emphasized that it is important for warnings regarding economic contraction, citizen grievances, and loss of trust to be discussed in the public sphere.

In the federation's statement, it was expressed that while a journalist's analyses can be criticized, there is a difference between “criticism and lynching, objection and targeting.”

Ersin Çelik, in his article dated September 25, 2026, addressed the reactions, stating that he had received numerous calls from political circles and colleagues over the past two days. Writing that he is grateful for the existence of friends who know him and warn him with sincerity when necessary, Çelik used the expressions, “May God not lead us astray from the right path. May He not let us falter. May He not divert us from the truth.”