CHP On Police Detentions: Thieves Chasing Police In Turkey

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Haluk Koç commented on Tuesday on the detentions of police officers who conducted a corruption operation that implicated various high-ranking state officials and went public on Dec. 17, stating that police are chasing thieves all around the world, but in Turkey, it is the other way around.

During a press conference at the CHP's headquarters in Ankara on Wednesday, Koç stated: “While the police are chasing thieves all around the world, the opposite is happening in Turkey. The scene is the same. Handcuffs, media servitude and defamation campaigns are happening in the middle of the night… You should have no doubt that the dens of those proclaiming ‘We will enter their [supporters or members of the Hizmet movement] dens' will also be entered tomorrow [in the future].”

Koç further stated that the CHP is defending an independent justice system that will be completely purified of politics. He added that "everyone needs justice to serve them at one point or another" and that the courts should not operate on orders from politicians. “The CHP says the judicial system must be based on universal law rules. Those at the top, the sneaky cadre, will understand those calls one day, but it will be too late for them…. Those who establish traps will fall in those same traps one day.”

The İstanbul Police Department's Counterterrorism Unit launched simultaneous raids in 22 provinces of Turkey early on Tuesday. Turkish media outlets reported that police raided at least 200 venues and dozens of suspects were taken to Haseki Education and Research Hospital for health screenings that day.

The operation came two days after Erdoğan talked about a plan to assign “super judges” to lead an impending operation against the faith-based Hizmet movement, which is inspired by the teachings of Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen.

Erdoğan frequently blames the movement for orchestrating the graft operation as a means to topple the government -- a charge denied by Gülen. Erdoğan has not provided any evidence to prove his claim. Erdoğan has been voicing threats such as "we will enter their dens" since Dec. 17.

The prime minister has publicly stated that his government is planning a sweeping operation against Hizmet members after months of "gathering evidence." Observers believe that Tuesday's operation is a way for the government to cover up the recent corruption scandal. (Cihan/Today's Zaman)

SHOTLIST
TURKEY, ANKARA, 23 JULY 2014

VAR of the Hsluk koç's statements

DURATION: 06:35