Hakan Şükür, the former Galatasaray and Turkey striker, has said that people in Turkey are afraid to mention his name, according to remarks reported in an interview. Şükür, who was a key figure in Turkey's 2002 World Cup team, has lived abroad since leaving the country amid legal troubles.
Turkish authorities issued an arrest warrant for Şükür in 2016 over alleged links to the movement of US-based cleric Fethullah Gülen, who Ankara accuses of orchestrating a failed coup that year. Şükür has denied the accusations. His assets in Turkey were seized, and he has since resided in the United States.
In the interview, Şükür described a climate of fear in Turkey, saying that people avoid naming him publicly. The comments underscore the broader crackdown on dissent that followed the 2016 coup attempt, which saw tens of thousands arrested and many media outlets closed.
Şükür remains a celebrated figure among many Turkish football fans for his goal-scoring record and his role in the national team's World Cup run. However, his political troubles have made him a polarizing figure in Turkey.
