Controversial figure promoted: That name has become Deputy Police Chief of Istanbul

Muhammet Hanifi Zengin, known for his harsh interventions against women, journalists, and LGBTI+ individuals, has been appointed as Deputy Police Chief of Istanbul.

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Controversial figure promoted: That name has become Deputy Police Chief of Istanbul

The Istanbul Governor's Office has carried out extensive personnel changes within the Provincial Police Department as part of the 2025 summer term. According to the statement made by the Governor's Office, the new duty stations for 9 deputy provincial police chiefs, 12 district police chiefs, 17 branch managers, 4 deputy district police chiefs, and 7 deputy branch managers have been determined.

The most notable name among the personnel changes is Muhammet Hanifi Zengin. Zengin, who previously served as the Security Branch Manager and drew public reaction for his harsh interventions against women, journalists, and LGBTI+ individuals during protests held in Istanbul, has been appointed as Deputy Police Chief of Istanbul.

Zengin had recently come to the fore due to his style of intervention in numerous social protests held in Istanbul in recent years.

It had previously emerged that Zengin, who was moved from his position as Security Branch Manager to the Başakşehir District Police Department, was later removed from that post as well. Following this entire process, his appointment now to the position of Deputy Provincial Police Chief has brought about a new controversy.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SHARED THE LIST

According to the appointment list shared with the public by the Istanbul Governor's Office, the new assignments were made within the framework of summer term planning. The personnel changes include district police departments and various critical branch directorates. However, Zengin's promotion stood out as the most striking change on the list.

Here is the new appointment list

Deputy Provincial Police Chiefs

2nd Class Police Chief Abdurrahman Soğuksu – Deputy Provincial Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Hüseyin Kaya – Deputy Provincial Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Korkut Okyar – Deputy Provincial Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Muhammet Hanifi Zengin – Deputy Provincial Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Cemil Erim – Deputy Provincial Police Chief

3rd Class Police Chief Lütfü Doğan – Deputy Provincial Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Erdem Torlak – Deputy Provincial Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Mehmet Baysal – Deputy Provincial Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Gökhan Bambal – Deputy Provincial Police Chief

District Police Chiefs

2nd Class Police Chief Umut Karaöz – Arnavutköy District Police Chief

3rd Class Police Chief Mehmet Ali Taşcı – Bağcılar District Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Turgut Coşkun – Büyükçekmece District Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Turan Çelik – Beşiktaş District Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Murat Milletsever – Beyoğlu District Police Chief

3rd Class Police Chief Hakan Dulkadir – Başakşehir District Police Chief

3rd Class Police Chief Ömer Faruk Günay – Çekmeköy District Police Chief

4th Class Police Chief Çağlayan Kurt – Eyüpsultan District Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Osman Tinmazol – Fatih District Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Halis Erdoğan – Gaziosmanpaşa District Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Hasan Demirbağ – Küçükçekmece District Police Chief

2nd Class Police Chief Şinasi Yüzbaşıoğlu – Sarıyer District Police Chief

Branch Managers

3rd Class Police Chief Mustafa Parasız – Information Technologies and Communications Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief Salih Köse – Bosphorus Bridges Protection Branch Manager

4th Class Police Chief Cengizhan Zengin – Riot Police Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief Adnan Ayhan – Sea Port Branch Manager / Tourism Branch Manager (Acting)

3rd Class Police Chief Alper Erdem – Migration, Smuggling and Border Gates Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief Azmi İlker Çiftci – Sensitive Areas Protection Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief Mesut Döner – Legal Affairs and Investigation Branch Manager / Document Management Branch Manager (Acting)

3rd Class Police Chief Fatih Çetin – Construction and Real Estate Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief Yusuf Erkan – Istanbul Airport Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief İlyas Kayış – Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief Halil Çetinkaya – Intelligence Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief Mustafa Aktan – Anti-Smuggling Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief Orhan Şen – Financial Crimes Branch Manager

3rd Class Police Chief Muhsin Dumlupınar – Media-Public Relations and Protocol Branch Manager

4th Class Police Chief Esma Yavaşça – Strategy Development Branch Manager / Foreign Relations Branch Manager (Acting) / Interpol-Europol Branch Manager (Acting)

4th Class Police Chief Abidin Danış – Witness Protection Branch Manager

4th Class Police Chief Tunay Başarık – Traffic Inspection Branch Manager / Traffic Registration Branch Manager (Acting)

Deputy District and Branch Managers

4th Class Police Chief Yunus Gezer – Deputy Esenyurt District Police Chief

Police Assistant Koray Han Yavuz – Deputy Kadıköy District Police Chief

Police Assistant Adnan Aslan – Deputy Sultangazi District Police Chief

4th Class Police Chief Emrah Ata – Deputy Şişli District Police Chief

Police Assistant Alpaslan Ödevli – Acting Deputy Riot Police Branch Manager

Police Assistant Kürşat Mesut Özmen – Acting Deputy Riot Police Branch Manager

4th Class Police Chief Ahmet İzgi – Deputy Riot Police Branch Manager

4th Class Police Chief Can Coşkun – Deputy Anti-Smuggling Branch Manager

Police Assistant Erhan Akkuzulu – Acting Deputy Financial Crimes Branch Manager