Suat Toktaş responds to Barış Yarkadaş's 'gift' remarks: 'You think everyone is like you...'

A heated exchange has erupted between journalist Barış Yarkadaş and former Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek, stemming from a shared social media post concerning parliamentary immunity. The controversy gained a new dimension when economic commentator İbrahim Kahveci weighed in.

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The commissions discussing 'immunity files' will not take a holiday. It seems Turkey is in for a 'hotter summer.'

Yarkadaş and Gökçek had both posted an image of a decision published in the Official Gazette on July 17, 2026, stating that commissions discussing "immunity files" would not take a holiday, suggesting a "hotter summer" for Turkey. Kahveci criticized this, questioning if they would follow orders even if dressed as priests. In response, Yarkadaş launched a strong personal attack on Kahveci, accusing him of defending corruption in AKP municipalities while working for AKP media, facing a stock manipulation lawsuit, and now attempting to cover up corruption in CHP municipalities under instruction.

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Would they wear priest's robes if the command centers told them to?

Yarkadaş further directed his accusations at Halk TV General Manager Suat Toktaş and the channel's owner Cafer Mahiroğlu. He alleged that Kahveci's actions were motivated by receiving "gifts" for Toktaş and Mahiroğlu, in addition to his salary, suggesting this was a formula found because Kahveci's salary was lower than others at the channel. Yarkadaş urged Kahveci to continue his lies and distortions, predicting more gifts would follow his critical tweet.

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When I first knew you, you were defending corruption in AK Party municipalities in the AKP media... Now you are at HALK TV. You are trying to cover up corruption in CHP municipalities with the instructions you receive.

Suat Toktaş, General Manager of Halk TV, issued a fierce rebuttal to Yarkadaş's claims. Toktaş addressed Yarkadaş directly on social media, stating, "You think everyone is like you. 'Dignity' may no longer mean anything to you, but it is an important value to me. Lies have become ingrained in your mouth, and you have no boundaries left. If you cannot prove it, you are a scoundrel."

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What for? In return for receiving gifts for Suat and Cafer, in addition to your salary. You found this formula because your salary was lower than İsmail's and Ebru's. You will receive quite a few gifts after this tweet of yours... Continue lying and distorting, İbrahim!