29.03.2025 14:40
While the news about Ekrem İmamoğlu being arrested and removed from office along with 50 others as part of the İBB investigations remains a hot topic, the recent serious illness of one of these individuals, İBB Secretary General Mahir Polat, who was taken from prison to the hospital, has sparked controversy. In this regard, MHP member Feti Yıldız wrote, "There is no enemy criminal law in Turkey. The right to life is above all other rights."
The message published yesterday by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli included the statement regarding the İBB arrests: "It must be immediately determined who is guilty and who is innocent. Law is necessary for everyone," after which MHP Deputy Chairman responsible for Legal and Election Affairs, Feti Yıldız, also shared a statement.
Yıldız, without naming anyone, said regarding the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat, who was taken to the hospital after being arrested, "Other measures should be considered instead of arrest."
"THERE IS NO ENEMY CRIMINAL LAW IN TURKEY"
In a message shared on his social media account, Feti Yıldız stated:
"Criminal procedure is a long and meticulous process aimed at reaching material truth, where questions are answered regarding whether the act constituting the crime has been committed, if so, who the perpetrator is, and what the connection between the perpetrator and the act is, without leaving any room for doubt, and what sanction should be applied in accordance with the act. The terms we hear most frequently in recent months are the presumption of innocence and enemy criminal law. According to Article 38/4 of the Constitution, no one is considered guilty until their guilt is established by a court ruling. This regulation expresses a presumption. The presumption is actually foreign to Criminal Procedure. The principle that does not contradict Criminal Procedure is that the accused benefits from the doubt.
Whether most protective measures, especially those restricting freedom for the purpose of public interest, are compatible with the presumption of innocence is actually a subject of academic debate. If the principle of "proportionality" in Criminal Proceedings is not being trampled upon, and there is no absolute necessity, other measures should be considered instead of arrest. The claim that enemy criminal law is applied to detainees is nothing but a disgusting slander. There is no enemy criminal law in Turkey. Let us reiterate once again… It is a legal obligation to provide treatment for a detainee whose life is in danger. Execution can be carried out later. The right to life is above all rights."