Bünyamin Tekin
A Turkish judge who presided over the court that arrested American Pastor Andrew Brunson on bogus terrorism charges in 2016 displays an arsenal of weapons in his office at a courthouse in Turkey’s western İzmir province and drives a Porsche Taycan, valued at more than 6 million lira ($186,000) in Turkey, sparking accusations of corruption and possessing unlicensed firearms, according to a report by BirGün daily.
Born in Elazığ in 1971, Judge Oktay Tabur has held several key positions throughout his career, most notably presiding over the case of American Pastor Brunson. The case, which nearly led to a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and the United States, saw Brunson released in 2018 following intense pressure from then-US President Donald Trump.
According to Timur Soykan of the BirGün daily, Tabur, the president of the İzmir Judicial Commission, has in his office a display that includes 13 handguns and seven long guns.
A photograph captured Tabur posing in front of the weapons with senior officials from the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) during a visit on May 2.
Tabur was appointed to the İzmir Judicial Commission in January 2021 by the HSK, marking a significant promotion in his judicial career.
Tabur’s luxurious lifestyle has also been a subject of interest. He frequently arrives at the courthouse in a Porsche Taycan and maintains an opulent office that rivals that of İzmir Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, as evident from photos of their meetings circulating online.
The office of the Chief Judge of Izmir🇹🇷. He is with the chief Inspector of the Council of Judges & Prosecutors. He admits that all guns and rifles belong to him, the Minister of Justice and the President of the Court of Cassation liked him displaying his guns in the office. https://t.co/MrY1ahlgUP
— Ali Yıldız (@aliyildizlegal) May 29, 2024
The photo in question, taken in Tabur’s office, shows him with HSK Inspection Board President Osman Nuri Yiğit and MPs Mehmet Şirin Işık and Murat Gülaç. When queried, Tabur confirmed the weapons were his, stating, “All the weapons are licensed and belong to me. The long guns are licensed hunting rifles.
However, according to military sources who spoke to Turkish Minute, at least two of the rifles are not hunting rifles but most probably assault rifles. Although there is a possibility that they are airsoft replicas, the claim by the judge saying they are all registered and licensed refutes this possibility, since airsoft replicas do not require the owner to register them.
In Turkey, individuals cannot own assault rifles, and possessing an unlicensed firearm without any other criminal activity carries a three-year prison sentence.
“I have nothing to hide. My office has been visited by the president of the Supreme Court of Appeals and inspectors from the Ministry of Justice, all of whom have expressed their admiration,” Tabur told BirGün.
Addressing questions about his Porsche Taycan, Tabur said, “I trade on the stock market. There is no doubt about the source of my money. I have declared my assets to the Ministry of Justice. Everyone is aware of the timing and method of the car purchase.”
Pastor Brunson’s case was a high-profile trial that saw Brunson accused of espionage and terrorist affiliation. His eventual release in 2018 followed significant diplomatic pressure from the US, including threats of sanctions from President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Brunson’s release did not help ease the tension between Turkey and the US over several contentious issues at the time, including demands for the extradition of cleric Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish cleric living in the US whom President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan considers his arch enemy and accuses of orchestrating a coup against him in 2016. Gülen denies the accusations.
The Turkish judiciary has faced numerous allegations of corruption and political influence, particularly following the 2016 failed coup. Recent developments have seen key judicial figures, such as İstanbul’s former chief public prosecutor İsmail Uçar, make corruption allegations that rocked the legal community. Uçar’s unexpected promotion to the Supreme Court of Appeals has been viewed by some as an attempt to silence him.
“The behavior of this judge is not an isolated case, but part of a broader pattern of corruption and lack of integrity among high-ranking figures in the Turkish judiciary,” Brussels-based lawyer Ali Yıldız told Turkish Minute.
“It may even constitute a disciplinary offense that undermines the sense of dignity and trust that his official title requires, or that results in erroneous or inappropriate actions that lead to the loss of honor and reputation of the profession,” he added.
“The fact that this judge reportedly conducted the sham trial of Pastor Brunson confirms the observation that judges and prosecutors who please the executive branch feel entitled to do as they please.”