ŞIRNEX - AKP-led Beytüşşebap Municipality married dozens of foreign women brought from Çorum, Ankara and Istanbul in exchange for money. 

 

It was revealed that Elkê (Beytüşşebap) District Municipality of Şirnex (Şırnak) province, which is ruled by Justice and Development Party (AKP), married foreign women to Turkish citizens in exchange for money. It is learned that R.Ö., in charge of Marriage Directorate of Elkê Municipality, performed fake civil marriages to 45 foreign women residing in Ankara, Çorum and Istanbul in return for 150 thousand Turkish Liras. It is claimed that R.Ö. retired after the investigation opened by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

 

While the names of 45 women are mentioned in the investigation file, the sources we contacted stated that the number is 75.

 

DEPLOYED OFFICERS THREATENED 

 

It was also alleged that the Director of Land Registry Office in Beytüşşebap, who was assigned to the investigation, withdrew from the investigation commission due to threats and went on leave to his hometown, and that pressure was exerted on the judicial authorities to close the investigation. 

 

INVESTIGATION REQUEST FROM THE DISTRICT GOVERNORSHIP 

 

In the petition sent by the Beytüşşebap District Governorate to the municipality on 2 September, it was stated that the marriage of a man named M.K. with Moroccan citizen D.F. on 31 October 2024 was not in compliance with the ministry's instruction dated 29 April 2016. 

 

In the petition we received, there were also allegations that the said transactions were "carried out through an intermediary for a certain fee" and in this context, it was requested that the necessary disciplinary investigation be opened against the marriage officer in question within the framework of the provisions of the "Civil Servants Law No. 657 and the Regulation on Municipal Disciplinary Supervisors". 

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut