Turhan Çömez to pay 50 bin lira in compensation to Minister Ersoy

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy won the moral compensation lawsuit he filed against İYİ Parti MP Turhan Çömez on the grounds that his personal rights were violated. The Istanbul 33. Asliye Hukuk Mahkemesi ruled that the allegations raised by Çömez about Minister Ersoy in a video published on YouTube in 2025 were unfounded. The court decided that Çömez should pay 50 bin lira in moral compensation. In the video that was the subject of the lawsuit, Çömez had alleged that forest lands in the Bodrum Kissebükü region were allocated to Minister Ersoy's company and that rent was generated in this context. The court ruled that these allegations constituted an attack on personal rights.

In another moral compensation lawsuit filed by Minister Ersoy because the same allegations were published in Sözcü Gazetesi, the Istanbul 15. Asliye Hukuk Mahkemesi also issued its decision. The court ruled for 50 bin lira in moral compensation against the author, the chairman of the board of directors, and the responsible company of the newspaper. This decision shows the legal consequences of similar allegations also being featured in media outlets. Both lawsuits are important in terms of the judiciary's evaluation of the forest land allocation and rent allegations discussed in the public eye.

Turhan Çömez serves as the İYİ Parti Balıkesir MP for the 28th Term. Çömez had previously come to the agenda with his statements and allegations on various issues. Minister Ersoy, on the other hand, is known as a businessman who has been active in the tourism sector for many years. Ersoy was appointed as the Minister of Culture and Tourism in 2018. This lawsuit constitutes an important example of how allegations raised by a politician against a minister are evaluated by the judiciary.

Court decisions also bring the balance between the protection of personal rights and freedom of expression to the agenda. Legal experts state that such lawsuits reflect the delicate balance between the public interest and individual rights. It is emphasized that politicians and public officials should be open to criticism, but unfounded allegations can violate personal rights. These decisions can set a precedent in similar situations.

The allegations regarding the forest lands in the Bodrum Kissebükü region had previously been discussed on various platforms. Minister Ersoy had denied these allegations and resorted to legal remedies. While the court decisions confirm that the allegations are unfounded, they also put an end to the speculation formed in the public eye. This development is being closely followed both politically and legally.