06.06.2025 09:40
The leader of the CHP, Özel, commented on the investigation launched against him due to his remarks directed at Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek after the holiday prayer, saying, "I stand by everything I said that day. From now on, no one will make us experience those images that we do not deserve. I will make those who do so deeply regret it."
CHP General Chairman Özel performed the holiday prayer at the Hatuniye Mosque in Manisa, his hometown, due to the Kurban Bayramı (Feast of Sacrifice). After greeting the congregation one by one, Özel made a statement to the press. He said that they would fulfill their duties and visits today and wished all citizens a happy Kurban Bayramı.
"THIS HOLIDAY DOES NOT FEEL LIKE A HOLIDAY TO US"
Özel stated, "However, this holiday does not feel like a holiday to us. Many of our friends have been unjustly and unlawfully arrested based on slanders. For a large-scale perception management, the bright mayors of the CHP, especially our Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor, are being discredited by being constantly associated with various crimes and criminals in a storm of slander. The referee is always the nation. It happens in front of the eyes of the nation. Our friends were elected with record votes a year ago. We are a party that has accepted the result of the election we lost, has been the second party for 47 years, but has not uttered a word to the nation, has seen all the responsibility in itself, and has succeeded through hard work. We received 6% of the votes in Manisa, and we also received 60% in the last election. When we got 6%, we did not attempt a coup or slander; we looked for the fault in ourselves and worked harder. For 47 years, we have been the second party, and we have been patient, but unfortunately, the AKP could not show our 47 years of patience in 47 months, not even in 47 days, between the local elections they lost and the presidential elections. They launched a discrediting campaign against the CHP and successful mayors, one of whom was on the way to the presidency, and they are doing great injustice. They are violating the rights of the people. They are doing wrong, and it is shameful."
"TRIALS SHOULD BE BROADCASTED ON TELEVISION"
Reiterating the call for the trials of arrested CHP mayors and bureaucrats to be broadcast live on television, Özel said, "In the upcoming process, we will continue our struggle. Of course, the state of the judiciary is evident, but sooner or later, the truths will come out. I express to all my friends with great confidence that all trials should be conducted on television, and the accusations, the responses given to them, the indictment, the slander, the evidence against them, and their innocence should be broadcasted on television. I wish for all of us to reach tomorrows that feel like holidays."
"THE STATE OF THE TRADESPEOPLE IS PITIFUL"
Özel pointed out that the current economic situation in the country does not allow citizens to celebrate the holiday, indicating that a major economic crisis is being experienced. He stated that in Turkey, where the hunger threshold has reached 24,000 lira, retirees are told to "make do with 14,000 lira," while the minimum wage is 22,000 lira, and that farmers have been left alone and helpless in the face of significant difficulties, especially due to the frost disaster.
Özel said, "The state of the tradespeople is pitiful. One in three people is unemployed, four out of ten young people, and four out of ten women are unemployed. Under these conditions, we hope to bring the ballot box to our nation as soon as possible, to achieve early elections, to end this suffering, and to bring smiles to faces in Turkey."
"I STAND BY WHAT I SAID"
Özgür Özel also addressed the investigation opened against him due to his remarks about Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, stating:
"If there is any investigation, the principle is to try without detention. Detention is an exception. Unfortunately, they have made an exception the rule and the rule an exception. They are arresting anyone who comes their way. They are searching the house of our friend who has been married for six months, making the new neighbor a witness. They have two police officers on each of their arms, making it seem like there is a large criminal organization, reviving the images we left behind 50-60 years ago. It touched my blood. I felt pain. I continue to feel pain. No one can treat my mayors and bureaucrats the way politicians were treated during the coup period. I tell those who create those images: 'Everyone will be careful. I will not see those images again.' I stand by the same sentence. If you exceed the authority granted by the Constitution and the law, if you arrest any CHP member who comes your way, if you transfer them to prisons 600 kilometers away, there is injustice and unlawfulness here. It is my duty to seek the rights of this party against this. I stand by what I said that day. From now on, no one will make us experience those images that we do not deserve. I will make those who do so regret it a thousand times."
"THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE CANNOT BE CARRIED IN THIS WORLD OR THE NEXT"
Özel recalled the times when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was arrested and said:
"Such a thing should not happen in any municipality in Turkey. Remember. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was accused of bribery, extortion, aiding a terrorist organization, abusing his position, and causing public harm. He was never arrested by barging into his house at 6:00 AM with Emine Hanım by his side, searching his house, and taking him away from his children. He was never arrested. All trials were conducted without detention. He was found guilty and would go to prison. It was done by summons. The police did not come and take him by the arm. He went to prison with drums and zurnas, and he came out of prison with drums and zurnas. He wrote poetry books in prison. He boasted that he broke visitor records. Today, Ekrem İmamoğlu is being tried while in custody, having his diploma revoked at iftar time, and being taken away from his wife after his house was raided at sahur. On such a day, let someone raise the voice of the innocent people of this country to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He is doing today what was not done to him. Yesterday, he said, 'I was treated badly, I was victimized,' and he is doing a thousand times more of what he complained about. Oppression cannot be a means of prosperity. Let him not forget this. He is violating the rights of the people. This right cannot be carried in this world or the next."