AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik Criticizes European Parliament Over Sanctions Proposal

AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik has strongly condemned a European Parliament (AP) proposal to include Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek in an EU sanctions list, labeling the move a disrespectful and colonial-style political intervention.

Key points

• The proposal to sanction Minister Akın Gürlek is included in a draft Turkey report scheduled for a vote in the European Parliament on June 17, 2026.
• Ömer Çelik described the rhetoric used by the European Parliament members as a 'political shame' and a misuse of the institution's values.
• The Turkish government maintains that the sovereignty of the Republic of Turkey is not a subject for debate and rejects the targeting of its cabinet members.
• Çelik suggested that the European Parliament should focus on sanctioning European politicians who support the conflict in Gaza rather than targeting Turkish officials.

Why it matters

The dispute highlights ongoing diplomatic tensions between Turkey and the European Union regarding judicial independence and the European Parliament's role in monitoring Turkish domestic affairs.