Bünyamin Tekin
Hayrünnisa Gül, the wife of Turkey’s former President Abdullah Gül, reported that cash went missing following a security search at London’s Heathrow Airport, according to Turkish media reports that were later confirmed by the UK police.
Turkish media reported that Hayrünnisa Gül was in the UK with her husband to attend a meeting at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and that three envelopes containing British pounds and euros disappeared from her bag after a security search at Heathrow on September 13.
While Abdullah Gül no longer holds office, the treatment of his wife during security checks may be seen as a potential violation of international norms regarding the handling of former state officials and their families.
Speaking to Turkish media, Abdullah Gül’s spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating that British and Turkish authorities were informed.
The press office of the Metropolitan Police told Turkish Minute that a search was conducted at Heathrow but refrained from further comments. They also stated that on September 15, a theft allegation was filed after a woman reported missing cash, adding that there is no indication of where or when the envelopes containing cash were last seen. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from retail outlets in West London, and no arrests have been made.
The Turkish media linked the search to the theft, though there has been no official connection established between the two events.