05.07.2025 16:00
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, made a statement following the detention of the mayors of Adana, Antalya, and Adıyaman. Özel said, "They are detaining and arresting Aziz İhsan Aktaş for any municipality from which he has received payment and issued an invoice. Has this Aziz İhsan Aktaş not worked with any municipality or public institution other than the CHP? We are the exception; the rule is to work with the AK Party."
The Mayor of Adana Metropolitan Municipality, Zeydan Karalar, the Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, Muhittin Böcek, and the Mayor of Adıyaman, Abdurrahman Tutdere, were taken into custody today, following which the CHP Central Executive Board convened under the chairmanship of CHP Chairman Özgür Özel.
After a meeting lasting approximately 3.5 hours, Özgür Özel made a statement, saying, "Aziz İhsan Aktaş is being taken into custody and arrested for any municipality from which he has received payment and issued an invoice. So, has this Aziz İhsan Aktaş not worked with any municipality or public institution other than the CHP? We are the exception; the rule is to work with the AK Party. The Supreme Court, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, maritime ports, electricity companies, Turkish Airlines, the rectorships of Pamukkale and Uludağ Universities, public hospitals in 20 provinces, AK Party municipalities such as Trabzon Metropolitan, Kocaeli Metropolitan, Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan, Ordu Metropolitan, and again AK Party municipalities like Bahçelievler, Fatih, Zeytinburnu, Eyyubiye, Karaköprü, Antakya, and Adapazarı have been working with him for years. In previous years, he also worked with Balıkesir Metropolitan, Şanlıurfa Metropolitan, and while he was with the AK Party, Afyonkarahisar. There is a complete list of these. Aziz İhsan Aktaş's relationship with AK Party municipalities. If any of these were from a CHP municipality, they would be inside." he reacted.
After a meeting lasting approximately 3.5 hours, Özgür Özel stated:
"We are in a country where the government is trying to maintain its grip on power and somehow get through until the elections, ultimately turning into a repressive regime out of fear of the people and avoidance of the ballot box. Unfortunately. And today, we woke up to news that would make those who hear it say 'no way' early in the morning.
A handful of people within this government declared war on this nation on March 19, bringing along 3 judges, 3 prosecutors, and 3 secret witnesses. This declaration of war is not only against us but against democratic politics. The solidarity and common findings expressed by all parties outside the Cumhur Alliance, from the far right to the far left, were also in this direction. It is very clear that they no longer want to govern this country with the consent of the people. They want to eliminate the ballot box and are rehearsing for it. They are imposing an authoritarian regime on the people where there is no ballot box.
We have been resisting in the squares for 108 days. Without any evidence, they have been keeping our İBB President, our presidential candidate, our mayors in Istanbul and Adana, many of our council members, and our bureaucrats in prison for 108 days.
"THE NATION HAS BECOME EVEN POORER IN 108 DAYS"
In 108 days, they spent 150 billion dollars, which means what they did cost 6 trillion lira. In 108 days, the nation has become even poorer, the reputation of our country has been further damaged, our internal peace, unity, and solidarity have weakened and regressed. We are with those who are trying to turn this country into a place that harms the hope for peace in these lands, the hope for living together, the hope for a prosperous Turkey, and the hope for full membership in the EU, isolating this country and trying to govern it with oppression.
They have not been able to present the slightest concrete evidence against our friends they are holding inside. You have seen our stance regarding the operation against Manavgat Municipality. Our friends are going to Manavgat to hold necessary discussions with public authorities, administrative authorities, political authorities, judicial authorities, and our party. According to the report they will provide; the CHP will adopt the most sensitive stance required. No one should have any doubt about this. However, everyone knows that they have not been able to make progress with the secret witnesses they named after trees, who were threatened with their children and made to sign slanderous documents in tears.
"THEY ATTACKED OUR MAYORS"
In this atmosphere, we woke up again this morning to darkness, to a dawn operation. A crime syndicate leader, who is involved in crimes from head to toe; instead of expressing what they know, they expressed what they thought they knew or part of what they knew to a party, and they did not hesitate to attack mayors who have gained recognition in their countries for their duties and have received awards worldwide.
Abdurrahman Tutdere, who is recognized by the whole world as a community leader during the earthquake, was detained. He is a friend who was nominated not by us but by the grieving Kurds, Turks, AK Party members, and CHP members, who always came to us asking for something for Adıyaman, who is connected to Adıyaman. Their claims are completely nonsense, completely hearsay, completely slander.
"THEY CAME TO ZEYDAN KARALAR'S DOOR"
In Adana, Zeydan Karalar, the Mayor of Seyhan in 2024, and the Mayor of Adana Metropolitan Municipality between 2029-2024. He is a mayor elected with the support of all Adanalı people, far above the CHP's voting potential, and who had his door knocked on this morning. The door is opened by his retired teacher wife, and upon seeing the situation, they say, 'Where is Zeydan Karalar? We came to take him into custody.' His wife says, 'He went to Gebze,' and gives his open address in Gebze, and this time the teams go to Gebze and take Zeydan Karalar into custody.
Our Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, Muhittin Böcek, the pride of the Yörüks, has been serving as mayor uninterrupted for 26 years. He is the first mayor in history to win the Antalya Municipality consecutively from any party.
So, what could be the common factor that brings these three mayors, Ekrem Mayor, and the mayors in Istanbul together? How could it be? There is a crime syndicate leader. His name is Aziz İhsan Aktaş. As reported by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office after the operation against Beşiktaş Municipality, there is someone named Aziz İhsan Aktaş who has established a crime syndicate. He is accused of distributing bribes to municipalities. And it is thought that there is a suspicion in all the work done by this person; operations are being carried out in every municipality he has worked with so far. Which municipalities, you ask? The municipalities in Istanbul; first Beşiktaş, Avcılar, Seyhan, Ceyhan. Now also the municipalities of Adıyaman and Adana. The contract with Adıyaman Municipality has expired and has not been renewed. There is none for this period with Adana Metropolitan Municipality, nor for the previous period. Zeydan Mayor, while managing Seyhan 8 years ago, made a payment for a previously made contract. Since his name is mentioned, here you have Zeydan Karalar.
"HAS THIS AZİZ İHSAN AKTAŞ NOT WORKED WITH ANY MUNICIPALITY OTHER THAN CHP?"
They are taking Aziz İhsan Aktaş into custody and arresting him for any municipality from which he has received payment and issued an invoice. So, has this Aziz İhsan Aktaş not worked with any municipality or public institution other than the CHP? We are the exception; the rule is to work with the AK Party. The Supreme Court, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, maritime ports, electricity companies, Turkish Airlines, the rectorships of Pamukkale and Uludağ Universities, public hospitals in 20 provinces, AK Party municipalities such as Trabzon Metropolitan, Kocaeli Metropolitan, Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan, Ordu Metropolitan, and again AK Party municipalities like Bahçelievler, Fatih, Zeytinburnu, Eyyubiye, Karaköprü, Antakya, and Adapazarı have been working with him for years. In previous years, he also worked with Balıkesir Metropolitan, Şanlıurfa Metropolitan, and while he was with the AK Party, Afyonkarahisar.
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There is a complete list of these. The relationship of Aziz İhsan Aktaş with the municipalities governed by the AK Party. If any of these were governed by the CHP, they would be inside. The Bahçelievler Municipality has awarded the latest and largest tender. If it were governed by the CHP, they would be arrested right now. Why are they not arrested? Because they benefit from the rule that 'the AK Party does not show its dirty laundry, all kinds of issues are known within the AK Party, resolved internally, and do not reach the judiciary.'
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