Erdoğan's distant relative detained for criticizing ruling AKP in social media video

A distant relative of President Erdoğan has been detained after saying in a social media video that officials in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) were committing acts of “betrayal” against the country. He said that he had documents to prove this and that Erdoğan was surrounded by “betrayers.”

Duvar English

Turkish police late on July 1 detained a distant relative of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over his criticism of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in a live social media video, Halk TV reported.

Yahya Birinci, the brother-in-law of President Erdoğan's brother Mustafa Erdoğan, was taken to the Istanbul Police Station and his electronic items were seized.

After singing a song written for mafia leader Sedat Peker, Birinci said: “These corrupt politicians are hearing our voices but are pretending not to hear...Let them speak with me, I have documents.”

Peker has been recently dishing the dirt on members of Erdoğan’s AKP through a series of tell-all videos that have captivated the nation.

“There is no honor left in the politics in this country. Let those corrupt people [in reference to government officials] take me. Let them take me so that we can speak. I am fed up,” Birinci said.

“Mr. President, how is that you are keeping these shameless people at these posts?” Birinci asked in his video. 

In response to a commentator's remark that “Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will have you taken,” Birinci said: “Hopefully. I am waiting for that because those next to him are betrayers. I have submitted a letter, but they have not taken that to him, I have the documents.”