13.11.2025 10:18
Speaking at a rally organized by his party in the Sultanbeyli district of Istanbul, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel criticized the indictment prepared as part of the investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, stating, "They are accusing Mayor Ekrem, saying he did it to get rich. Ekrem's wealth before entering politics is well-known, and the properties he has acquired are clear. Our friends are innocent. The indictment is a document of slander. It is not just empty; it is completely empty."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel addressed party members in Sultanbeyli Square as part of the rallies initiated by his party following corruption and terrorism investigations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).
At the beginning of the rally organized under the slogan "Defending the will of the nation," a moment of silence was held for the soldiers who were martyred in the military cargo plane crash in Georgia. The National Anthem was sung, and CHP Arnavutköy District Chairman Tekin Aras offered a prayer.
REITERATED THE REQUEST FOR LIVE BROADCAST Addressing the crowd gathered at the rally, Özel stated that they were attacked to be weakened, and despite being angry and sad, they have resisted since March 19. Özel expressed happiness over the release of Ahmet Özer, who was present at the rally, and noted that they are waiting for the day when the detained mayors and council members will regain their freedom.
Özel stated that they have been waiting for months for the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to prepare the indictment and reiterated the request for the trials to be broadcast live.
"THE INDICTMENT IS NOT JUST EMPTY, IT IS COMPLETELY EMPTY" Claiming that the presumption of innocence is being undermined every day by the prosecutor's office without a trial, Özel stated, "The expression 'Ekrem İmamoğlu criminal organization' and the published charts were also made during the Ergenekon and Balyoz cases."
Özel argued that there are contradictions in the indictment and asserted: "Look, 15 secret witnesses, 76 accusers, that is all the indictment consists of. It contains 'as far as I remember' 969 times, '-mışlar', '-mişler', '-muşlar' 691 times, 'I heard that' 546 times, 'as far as I know' 516 times, 'it could be' 499 times, 'I have no information' 370 times, 'I think it is so' 235 times, 'I felt' 9 times... They made an indictment by saying these. Look, there is an allegation in the indictment, there is no evidence. They say, 'Are you going to say it's empty?' I don't say it's empty. The indictment is not empty; it is completely empty."
"THIS IS FABRICATING A CRIME FOR A CRIMINAL, FINDING EVIDENCE TO FABRICATE A CRIME" Özel stated that if there is a crime, it should be pursued, saying, "This is how you pursue a crime. You send an inspector to the municipality, they audit. They look at the tender, find the crime, search for evidence, go to the criminal from there, and impose the penalty. But what is being done today is not going from crime to criminal, but fabricating a crime for the criminal indicated by Tayyip Bey, 'Who is the criminal?' 'Ekrem İmamoğlu,' this is fabricating a crime for this criminal. It is finding evidence to fabricate a crime. Because they couldn't find evidence, they create accusers, they create secret witnesses. I say to the Chief Prosecutor who said on September 2, 'We do not keep anyone in custody solely based on witness statements, if there is, let us know and we will release them immediately.' Many of our friends, starting with Kadriye Kasapoğlu, are inside solely based on witness statements. It is your duty to release them immediately." he stated.
"MAY GOD BE PLEASED WITH YOU" Recalling that he had previously criticized the prosecutor of the case, Özel also made the following claims: "When I see this indictment written by the prosecutor and defended by the chief prosecutor, I say to him, may God be pleased with you. I could never explain this indictment, which is a political indictment, as beautifully as you have. You say, 'Their aim is to make Ekrem İmamoğlu the candidate of the CHP.' You say, 'For this reason, their party should be closed.' You say, 'The Supreme Court Chief Public Prosecutor's Office should take action to close the CHP.' You are confessing with your own mouth that this case is not legal, that what is said to President Ekrem and other friends does not reflect the truth, that your aim is political, and that the order came from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."
Özel stated that they have established a website against the indictment and asked citizens to visit this site to see their responses to the accusations.