Abdullah Bozkurt/Stockholm
A Turkish national accused of leading an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) network operating across Turkey, Georgia, Gaza and several African countries has been acquitted of all terrorism-related charges despite an indictment detailing the group’s activities, finances, weapons possession and jihadist propaganda efforts.
Osman Akın, a Turkish citizen of Kurdish origin who operates under the alias Mamoste Osman El Kurdi, and six associates were acquitted during the final hearing of their trial last month at the Diyarbakır High Criminal Court.
The ruling once again highlights what critics describe as the Turkish government’s longstanding pattern of leniency toward jihadist networks. Under the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, courts have repeatedly released or acquitted individuals accused of ties to extremist groups, reinforcing concerns about what observers call a “revolving door” policy for jihadist suspects.
Akın quickly resumed his activities after being released from prison on May 5, 2024, pending the outcome of the trial. Since then he has returned to preaching, recruiting and promoting violent jihad through various platforms and front organizations. With the court’s acquittal in early May, all charges against him were formally dropped, including accusations of membership in a terrorist organization and financing terrorism.
Akın was initially arrested in May 2023 along wit dozens of other ISIS suspects in what Turkish authorities at the time portrayed as a major counterterrorism operation against the jihadist group. During searches conducted as part of the investigation, law enforcement officers recovered multiple firearms and ISIS-related materials from residences linked to the suspects.
The operation ultimately proved short-lived. Akın was quietly released before the trial concluded, and most of the other suspects detained in the crackdown were subsequently freed as well. They were later acquitted of all charges.
Rather than disappearing from the scene, Akın’s network appears to have restructured itself over the last two years, establishing new entities that serve as fronts for jihadist activities.
One such organization identified by Nordic Monitor is the Bridge to Hope International Humanitarian Aid Association (Umuda Köprü Uluslararası İnsani Yardım Derneği, or BIHA), which surfaced publicly in June 2025. Presented as a humanitarian charity, the organization has expanded operations in multiple countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Official records filed with Turkey’s Interior Ministry show that BIHA was formally incorporated on February 26, 2025, under registration number 21-020-086. The approval is notable given that Turkey’s Security Directorate General, which operates under the same ministry, had previously identified individuals associated with the group as terrorism suspects in intelligence and investigative records.
BIHA maintains accounts at Turkey’s state-owned lender Ziraat Bank and conducts transactions in Turkish lira, US dollars and euros. Critics argue that the group’s ability to access the formal banking system raises serious questions about oversight and the effectiveness of Turkish counterterrorism financing measures.
According to information gathered on the organization, BIHA has operated in a number of conflict-prone regions while presenting itself as a humanitarian aid provider. Investigators and security experts have expressed concerns that such activities may provide logistical support and cover for extremist networks.
The group’s primary propaganda platform is Ahlak ve Sünnet Dergisi (Morality and Sunnah Magazine), which publishes ideological material promoting jihadist doctrines. In addition to the magazine, the network produces books, pamphlets and online content aimed at spreading its message and recruiting followers.
Although headquartered in Diyarbakır, the organization maintains offices and affiliated structures in several Turkish provinces, including Muş, Şırnak, Adana, Yalova, Ankara and Ağrı.
The potential danger posed by the network became evident in December 2015 when an ISIS cell in Yalova, a coastal province near Istanbul, engaged in a deadly gun battle with Turkish police. The clash resulted in the death of three police officers and six ISIS militants.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the cell had been organized through the local branch of Akın’s Ahlak ve Sünnet network. Members had armed themselves, established an operational structure and were reportedly preparing to travel abroad to join ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Despite the deadly consequences of the Yalova case, Turkish authorities did not substantially alter their approach toward the network. Remarkably, Akın and his associates were acquitted by a court only months after the incident, reinforcing criticism that jihadist groups continue to benefit from judicial leniency in Turkey.
According to an intelligence assessment prepared by Turkey’s Security Directorate General (Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü), Akın works closely with Amer Onay, another Turkish citizen of Kurdish origin who uses the nom de guerre Molla Ensarullah. The report states that Akın assisted Onay in recruiting militants for jihadist organizations in Turkey and neighboring countries.
Security documents further indicate that the network maintained links with ISIS facilitators operating outside Turkey and played a role in directing recruits to conflict zones.
Despite facing at least 11 outstanding arrest warrants in separate terrorism-related investigations, Akın continues to operate freely, primarily from Syria. His presence there has raised questions about why Turkish authorities have not sought his return, particularly given Ankara’s extensive influence in northern Syria and its close relationship with the government of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
The case is likely to fuel further criticism of Turkey’s counterterrorism policies and judicial practices, particularly amid growing concerns that ISIS-linked networks continue to enjoy a degree of freedom to reorganize, recruit and operate both inside Turkey and beyond its borders.
