Arınç slams Maduro’s capture, urges judicial reforms in Turkey

WISE NEWS PRESS / ANKARA, TURKEY — JANUARY 05, 2026

Former Turkish Parliament Speaker and High Advisory Board member Bülent Arınç condemned the US-led capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, warning that Turkey must urgently implement judicial reforms to protect its "internal front."

Reacting to the operation on social media, Arınç described the incident as a "terrifying" collapse of international law and emphasized that Turkey cannot rely solely on rhetoric to face global chaos. He argued that strengthening the nation's domestic resilience, a goal frequently cited by President Erdoğan, requires the immediate release of political prisoners, journalists, and ill inmates, alongside a return to the reformist spirit of the AK Party’s early years.

"A Terrifying Display of Double Standards"

Arınç sharply criticized the contradiction in US foreign policy, noting that President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who faces arrest warrants for war crimes—just days before kidnapping Maduro to stand trial in the US. "Hosting a man seen as a 'murderer' by much of the world while abducting another is a horrific message to send," Arınç stated, adding that international bodies like the UN and NATO are losing their functional legitimacy. He warned that such lawlessness suggests any sovereign leader could face similar threats if their country remains divided internally.

The "Prescription" for a Stronger Internal Front

To fortify Turkey against external interventions, Arınç provided a specific "prescription" for the government to follow:

• Freedom for Political Prisoners: Arınç called for the immediate release of those imprisoned for their thoughts, as well as journalists and critically ill prisoners.

  
  

• Redefining Terrorism: He urged the judiciary to stop sentencing individuals as "terrorists" if they have never resorted to violence or even "held a knife."

• Social Peace: Arınç emphasized that concluding the process toward a "terrorism-free Turkey" and mending social fault lines is essential for national unity.

• Return to Early AK Party Ideals: He argued that the government must launch a major reform movement similar to its 2002-era democratic initiatives to regain internal strength.

Concluding his analysis, Arınç stated that the path to a more resilient Turkey is clear and that the responsibility now lies in "watering the sapling" of reform to ensure a peaceful and inclusive future for all sectors of society.

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